With the FM e piano’s YOU CAN COMBINE the Rhodes samples for awesome electric piano’’s.

It is a great value

Thanks for the compliment! I appreciate it.

It takes awhile to learn. But once you understand Yamaha's way of thinking it becomes easier.

Thank you for watching! I appreciate it!

It is certainly my best value synth. By far! Thanks for watching!

Thank you for sharing

The combination of Cubasis (iOS) and MODX is very powerful. Since the MODX has a good (class compliant) audio/MIDI interface, you can send audio/MIDI data to and from the DAW without any perceptible latency. Best of both worlds, using MODX sounds combined with iOS instruments such as Pianoteq (pianos are a weak point of MODX/Montage), the sequencing and even mastering power of a DAW....and no mouse-clicking required. However, I recently upgraded from MODX8 to Montage (classic) 8, because I didn't really enjoy playing on the MODX8 keybed. I miss the "Rhythm Pattern" button, but I like having 8 buttons for switching the scenes.

It's not a "problem." Sounds and keybeds are a matter of taste and preference. Nothing more than an opinion. It is an awesome board and I use it live all the time

Interesting point, the keybed of my MOXF6 feels pretty sturdy in terms of sideways movement. I wonder, if both boards have the same keybed.

If I could afford a Montage and a Kronos I'd have both.

You can get a poly aftertouch keyboard for a lot less than the difference between the Montage and the MODX. I'm using an SY85 to control mine and it's also given me a load more control over the sequencer.

Absolutely right !!!

No polyphonic aftertouch in Montage keyboards.

Well, i'll stick to my older MOXF and added a Korg opsix ! Thats an "altered" FM beast and it loads DX7 patches :-))

Thank you. I appreciate the compliment.

Yes. The MODX7 has the same keybed as the MODX6. I have gotten used to it...for the most part.

There is the old school standard 5-pin din MIDI connectors on the back. Congratulations on your purchase!

sorry Darrick - I need new reading glasses

@@fergusfurlong Thank you. I appreciate it. So funny I almost decided not to upload it. I am glad I did.

@@darrickkeels6387 I'm glad and appreciate that you did

Thank you! I appreciate it!

Its exactly what I have been saying for years .. Roland makes some excellent instruments, no doubt, but it really bothers me that in those 1100 or so sounds of their sound source , like he points out here half of the sounds is so well known in your mind because they havn't been updated since the first U-110 module and JV and D-70 wich the latter I used for several years back in the 90'ies some of these sounds are not 20 but almost 30 years old now

Yes the constant upgrades is putting this "budget" keyboard way ahead of its peers.

You are right about the gateway drug because I really want the better keybed now lol! Thanks for stopping by my channel again.

Hate that term

LOVE my live sets and performances from narfsounds.com! Thank you, Narf! Now ... back to this excellent video from Darrick!

It's a really nice keyboard and especially great at half price!

So true. The keybed was the only thing which attracted criticism really. I would’ve bought a module version of this in a heartbeat. The sound module market just must be dead nowadays.

Michael Diaz Yeah same the Pianos are not that good I contacted Yamaha about it

Thank you for watching!

If the goal is for your daughters to learn how to play piano, I think the 88 is the best option. This will help them develop their finger strength. The MODX7 has the exact same keybed as the MODX6. The only difference is actually the amount of keys.

I believe you misunderstood me. I said the sounds in the FA series of workstation by Roland are dated.

@@darrickkeels6387 Yes! really sorry about confusion. Another question raised to me is I can not hear the sound module when playing a midi tracks from Garage Band, have you experienced this ? is it normal, even if I am able to use USB audio and record one midi track with the MODX into GarageBand that I can play to any vst but MODX connect ! Thanks and congrats for your videos

Yeah, the keybed lets it down a bit.. I play mine using an old SY85 for the most part.

I assume you are not talking about the keybed of the MODX8 as it has a graded hammer action?

@@yannic2248 The MODX8 bed is really nice, and even more so if you play piano. The 6 and 7 beds feel very cheap and are a bit too well sprung for the light weight of the keys. They could probably be fixed with some counterweights, but it's a lot of messing around.

Thank you for watching

Indeed! I have seen the new update features looks pretty cool for sure. Even the 2.0 update which I installed was a game changer. Technically it took it from a performance synth to a workstation. Thanks for taking the time to comment! I appreciate it.

@@darrickkeels6387 yes, definitely download the version 2.5 update for your MODX. You will not be disappointed. The new morphing feature alone is worth the download.

Yup the Fantom-0 is now the way to go in my opinion.

@@darrickkeels6387 How about Fantom-0 vs MODX8 ?

Thank you for the compliment! I like making videos like this. I have found that I am more prone to running into polyphony issues with the MODX than I am on the Korg Kronos, or even the Nord Stage 3. If I am only playing the MODX,the when using layers I try to only use "single part" sounds in the MODX. This helps to preserve polyphony. Many of the "multi part" sounds really seem to be designed to use alone. Also whenever it makes sense to use an FM sound as opposed to a AWM-2 sound I will do so thus taking advantage of both sound engines. The FM engine has its own 64 voices. But ultimately I am normally pairing the MODX with another keyboard of mine. In a live setting polyphony is not an issue because the MODX is handling auxiliary sounds (horns, strings, synth bass, flute, synth lead etc). I like the operating system of the MODX a lot better than the Kronos. But if I am running a one keyboard set up, I normally use the Kronos, it's just more powerful.

@@darrickkeels6387 short note i also have a kronos and from what i can tell from looking at the modx, i dont own one as yet but am considering buying one, to me the kronos operating system is far easyer then the modx ? cheers

sold my Kronos it doesnt sound that great to me sounds a bit sterile the 4gb piano is like well frankly i can get better piano for what i want out of a cheaper board. i hated the 2 minute plus bootup time and once a month even with a quality ups id get a crash. As far as keybeds goes yes its a bit better i had the 76. Then again I have a casio PX5S which is light but a lovely 88 hammer action on it I use it to control the rig basically. Unless im going for a break my finger slides on organ sounds

It will be my next video more than likely

Thank you I play a lot of 50s, 60s,70s music...and as an alternative to playing an arranger KB like Yamaha SX900 etc, I thought I would try to migrate to a synth, workstation etc like the Modx using the arps/patterns? thoughts? also is the key bed better on the MODx7?

I completely understand.😂😂😂

I am exactly in the same situation and I don't understand why Yamaha does not release a Rack version, would make everybody happy.

The Forte is a great keyboard

I watched parts of this video again to refresh my memory. I went to a local dealer and was able to compare the MODX next to the new Fantom 07/08. I must confess I was disappointed with the MODX keybed. It is not horrible, but my PSR-SX900 keybed is IMHO better than the MODX; the Fantom 08 is weighted so no comparison, but the Fantom 07 feels much better than the MODX. Derrick's review of the Fantom 0 Series is spot on that the Fantom 0 is a better choice than the MODX overall. The user interface is also a little easier for me than the MODX; I realize it is all subjective, but that keybed would be a problem for me.

@@luisphoto3 I've checked out the Fantom 0, and feel the MODX much better serves my needs, and is still king when it comes to value. Not that the Fantom 0 isn't good too. It largely comes down to the sounds. Do you play rock or synth pop? Do you use sampled sounds? Read my comments on Derrick's post about the Fantom 0 vs the MODX for more details.

@@luisphoto3 As you mentioned, it is subjective. My main task in most of my bands has been a lead player. Lead synthesizer & lead organ solos. I prefer the lighter action of my MODX6 than I do the action of the Fantom 06 or 07. I do play piano on it too, and have plenty of other keybed in my other keyboards If I want to MIDI to them or use them. Although for piano I'd agree the Fantom 0 keybed would be better action for piano, I still prefer the piano sounds on the MODX. The MODX6/7 keybed is light action, but not so light that it's no good like some kebeds I have tried where there is next to zero resistance. Overall I have no complaints at all with the MODX6 keybed, and my main keybed I previously used for many years was a Korg with a premium 61 keybed. I also have a Roland with a premium 76 keybed. I'm not wild about the Roland action on their keybeds, though I don't have any real gripes about it either. The action on a keybed really depends on the kind of material you play on it. Although I've only spent an hour with a Fantom 0 so far (but have spent much time listening to it's sounds via Roland VST's which are largely identical, or online videos), so far I prefer the user interface of the user interface of the MODX. Both the MODX and the Montage have the same "large" touch screen with large touch screen user interface. I really love it! Much better than most other keyboards for navigating. A larger screen is easier to see (especially when your wearing contacts), and a larger screen is much easier to press with your fingers. I found the Fantom 0 much more confusing to sort through it's various sounds, and I've found other people who own both keyboards later saying exactly the same thing. It is much easier to sort sounds via the touch screen (especially considering it's a larger touch screen) than it is to use the category buttons on the Fantom 0. I'm able to find an audition sounds much easier on the MODX. There is nothing "easy", intuitive or obvious about the operation of the Fantom 0 when you have to press the Zone button & then the "2" button under the release knob to enter B3 mode to find the B3 sounds, besides the terrible Zen-Core organ sounds I found when I pressed the organ category button. What is easy or obvious about that? And so much for everything runs in one mode. It doesn't. There are a number of reasons why I prefer the MODX to the Fantom 0. Instead of re-typing or copying my long thread about the topic here, please click on Darrick's other video comparing the Fantom 0 to the MODX. While I highly respect Darrick's comments as he really knows his stuff, andd so do I. We're both been into synths for decades and own a number of keyboards from Korg, Roland, Yamaha and others. I simply present an alternative point of view about the Fantom 0, and how the MODX better fits my own needs and likely a lot of other people too. I still think the Fantom 0 is a great keyboard, and I'd have absolutely no problem recommending one to people if I feel it best fits their needs, which it will for some people. I think the easiest way to sum it up is, if you play in 80s/70s rock cover bands as I do, I feel the MODX is the better keyboard for the majority of users. If you play synth pop, electronica, techno or house music, the Fantom 0 is probably the better keyboard for that kind of music. But I hope the Fantom 0 does well, and a bunch of sound collections eventually are made for it as I can load most of them into my VST's and would still benefit.

1000% agree the keyboard is terrible but after you play it long enough you get used to it. I agree to buy a used montage.

Modx is amazing keyboard. I'm not missing the montage. Don't dis my keyboard. Montage is over weight over priced keyboard.

good move its way better

Jimmy Jenkinson that is understandable, Cheap keybeds are a non starter. Some dont like the Nord keybeds but when I have played the stage at Guitar center i just love it

In my opinion it does feel cheap but I still have it and still play it. So I wouldn't call it problematic.

I did indeed use it but often times I had it connected to another keyboard if I was playing piano and EP sounds. However, nowadays I rarely use it live. I use Montage instead. Yes the MODX is lighter but I'd rather just take one keyboard than two just because the keybed is of poor quality. I am on the verge of selling it honestly.

Indeed you can. This works for the arpeggiator as well. And thank you!

I certainly wouldn't shy away from this keyboard even as a beginner or newcomer. Basic features like layering, splitting, playing a drum track , and of course playing sounds from the large sound library is fairly straightforward. The other deep parameters can be learned as the need arises or you can go step by step.

The keys on the 76 are the same as the keys on the 61. The only difference is the amount of keys. The only keyboard with a different key action in the line is the MODX8.

@@darrickkeels6387 Thanks. Maybe it will be different the next time I check it out at the store.

Holy cow, you still have a SY85? That was the first synthesizer I owned, back in 1993. Sold it when I got a Triton Extreme (and sampled my favorite SY85 voices for nostalgia).

@@janosKern1 I have 2.. 😜

If you plan on making full length songs on just your keyboard and you prefer a traditional style of recording the FA is the better choice. If what you need is a synthesizer with lots deep editing capabilities, modern DAW integration, a dizzying array of arps, effects and lots of hands on control that can easily be customized to your liking, the MODX is quite simply 3X the keyboard the FA is. If you never get used to the keybed, you could always buy a controller down the road or buy any used keyboard for the keys alone. I honestly haven't used my FA in over a year. Don't get me wrong it is a powerful board. But the MODX is almost a Montage. Truly.

No. It is a better feel. Not "premium" but it definitely feels like a keybed for a professional.

Besides better build quality and more options, more parts, endless rotary knobs, more sample storage, for me the keybed is an absolute no go. I even wonder how people can play on this cheapo feeling keys. I want to enjoy when playing my keyboards instead of feeling like an operator who operates the keyboard and presses the keys. The keybed difference between the Montage 6/7 and MoDx respectively is like playing electronig drums from the early nineties versus the real ones. This of course applies to all low class keyboards from other companies too (Korg Chrome, Roland Fa 06, and so on).

Yes the MODX8 does feel better. That's an option for some people who don't mind the size and a weighted keybed. But for keyboard players that want a lighter action and smaller footprint this may not be an option. So trying the keyboard is a must. Many people can live with it or don't really find it to be all that bad.

Yes in my opinion it does feel less cheap. However, the MODX6 doesn't feel all that different from other "entry level" professional keyboards in its price range. You may want to give it a try.

Yes my FA08 keys are very heavy and a bit sluggish too. Not unplayable by any means though

I would test out the keybed before purchasing. Keybed "feel" is very subjective. And as badly as I talked about the keybed it clearly didn't keep me from getting a MODX6.

Thx for d reply I have gotten D modx7 (07/23/20) D bed is not D best but it’s a (A++++)board)and this one with my Krome ex88 man I am ready. Keep doing what u are doing Great video.

Darrick Keels agree....key beds are so personal.....I think the modx6 keybed is really poor. However it doesn’t take long to get used to it. It quickly becomes (just about) acceptable and does the job.

As do I! Thanks for watching

Ah yes...the Ensoniq EPS16 Plus, I had one as well. The MODX is a great keyboard but its sequencer is quite limited. It is a pattern-based sequencer and definately doesn't have an "old school" workflow. The MODX (and Montage) are really performance synths. The sequencer it has came in an update and was only put in due to customers griping at the fact there was no onboard sequencer. Take it from a keyboardist who also owned an Ensoniq EPS16 Plus, you will be frustrated trying to record and mixdown entire arrangements if that is your frame of reference. I think you would be happier with a Roland FA workstation. It has great sounds and a traditional linear sequencer. I have recorded entire songs with that machine and it reminds me of an old school way of working, no DAW needed. Also the Korg Krome workstation has a traditional linear sequencer as well. The Yamaha is not a workstation at heart but a digital performance synth designed to be used with a DAW when you really want to do some serious recording. Hope this helps. Thanks for watching. I appreciate it.

@@darrickkeels6387 I'll take a good look at the Roland FA. Next week I'll be making a decision and update you with my choice. ThanQ!!

@@danjo2253 Did you decide on a keyboard?

@@darrickkeels6387 I sure did! I picked up the Roland FA 06 because it seem to fit my need and my budget! Also, it didn't take me too long to get familiar with it. I still have a lot to learn though. I'm actually a drummer who picked up the keys back in the 80's to be able to write my own vibes. You know how you're playing in a band and you hear something the guitar should be doing or the keys should be doing, but they never do! That's when I decided to get a little 4 track and start making it happen! Well I'm gonna see if there's any creativity left and make the best of it! ThanQ Darrick

I wish they were. Congratulations on your purchase BTW.

I would use a Montage personally if I were to use a keyboard with on board sounds as a MIDI controller. The Roland Fantom would also be a good choice due to excellent DAW integration.

I would definitely play the MODX before buying one to make sure the build quality and Keynes are okay for you

Keep in mind that you could get an 88 key MIDI controller that has aftertouch, which is something none of the MODX keybeds include. And on the used market, it might actually be cheaper to buy a MODX6 and an 88 key MIDI controller. However, aftertouch has not been well supported by the Montage sound collections or in modern keyboards in general unlike the old days.

@@n8goulet True, but I do have a Novation Bass Station 2 so at a pinch I could do a lead line with aftertouch on that if I was desperate for aftertouch. My modx8 (which I now have!) is so chock-full of other features its not something I'm going to miss.

I tend to agree. I like the preset sounds on my MODX more than my other keyboards

Is this better than the older moxf?

Yes, I have played the Fantom 6 and 8. Roland did a great job on those keybeds and hardware in general. . But what I found is once I got past the few shiny new sounds the others were dated sounding. Lots of sounds from their 90's keyboards and sound modules. In fact amongst Fantom owners on their forums it's probably the number 1 complaint. And the amount of insert effects is lacking, so making rich sounding sequences would be a major challenge for me. However, I have my eye on it as they continue to make updates.

@@darrickkeels6387 thanks for the heads up. I will bare that in mind. To be fair, there are some great VST plugins out there at the moment, with some super sounds. In fact, I think some of the big synth manufacturers might be accused of resting on their laurels, and trading on their name. If I were buying a keyboard now, after weighing up all the information, I might go for a good quality midi controller, like a Native Instruments, and surf the net for plugins. Arturia have produced some great ones. I have recently downloaded a demo of the Oberheim XA. It's really good.

@@darrickkeels6387 Hi. Just to let you know, I have just placed a deposit on, with the view to collecting it next weekend, a MODX 8. I was going to purchase a hard core synthesizer, but I went for the 8 instead. When I consider that this is practically a £3000 keyboard (except for a few details) for less than £1300, it just had to be done. I would like to thank you for putting me on the road to this decision. So if it goes wrong, it's all on you 😆Just kidding, my friend. All the best to you.

What you heard on this video is actually the preset CFX Grand 😂. No edits whatsoever.

@@darrickkeels6387 Its my bad sound perception. Swapped from FA08. Lol

Regarding Yamaha's clean sounds, yes I mostly agree. The good thing is, it is so easy to dirty up a sound if needed - some overdrive, distortion, treble roll-off etc. Fun times!

No. The MODX6 and 7 have the same keybed.

The MODX is a more rounded keyboard than the Nord Electro 6. The Electro is great for Clavs, EP's, Acoustic Piano, Organs and some light synth stuff. But if you need lead guitars, bass, drums, horns, strings, woodwinds, etc you will find the Nords are lacking high quality sounds in those departments (well they do have great strings but they are limited to 34 voice polyphony.) Also layering and split capabilities on the Nord is limited too. Simple, easy to use, practical but limited nonetheless. Now to your actual question...LOL...I think in terms of sound quality the MODX and the Kronos are equals. There are sounds like better in the Kronos (like the EP's). But there are sounds I like better on the MODX (i.e electric guitars). What really separates these two instruments is their other capabilities and workflows. The Kronos is more "powerful." A full-featured sequencer, sampler, 9 sound engines versus 2, a 60 GB SSD for storing sounds/samples, more robust setlist functionality, etc. However, it really comes down to your needs. If you have Kronos money you should probably be looking at the Montage instead. Do you need a full-featured sequencer on your keyboard? Do you do a lot of sampling? Do you have complicated sounds that require you to have access to 16 sounds all at once versus 8? If the answer to these questions is no, you may not need all the "extra power" of the Kronos. The Kronos touch screen and user interface is very dated but gets the job done. If you are just comparing sounds however that will come down to your personal opinion.

Also Kronos is sooo long in the tooth now Korg must surely be superceding it soon. Both Yamaha and Roland have updated their flagships - Montage and the new Fantom. Kronos is still very capable but Korg could drop a succesor at any moment.

The Kronos has more engines than the MODX or Montage, but I'm largely unimpressed with those engines such as the organ modeling, and was never much of a fan of the MS-20, Poly6, etc. I think the sampling engines are the most important along with the FM ability, and either Korg or Yamaha stack up pretty well. I use my MODX for sampling & FM, and my soft synths for engines of famous analog synths I actually cared about, like those from Moog, Oberheim, Roland & ARP. And I use organ modeling on the laptop that is generally a lot better than what the Kronos provides. So my advice is buy the light weight, affordable MODX and get a laptop and soft synths to fill any gaps and you'll come out ahead of the Montage.

😄