hi well I don't understand is this just a sound card and you need to put a headphone studio to hear the sound ? or when you plug the mic to the mixer all the sound comes from the mixer like we were on live and it's audible for everyone ?

Thanks for sharing this! I’m curious about which situations you use this? Have you tested distance?

I really loved the UI of this keyboard, It could have been the perfect keyboard for me, but the Library was too limited for me considering the ck88 was in the $1600 price range. Also the Layering being limited to 3 seemed kinda frustrating considering Roland Juno DS can do 16 splits and it costs considerably less, ($1200) not to mention the Juno has editable parameters to its sounds that the CK lacks. Finally I bought the keyboard primarily to use the lead synth and pad sounds but unfortunately, I was not satisfied with any of the Synth Lead sounds and with no way of tweaking them I felt like I could not justify the cost. The Organ feature is pretty legit though but ironically its the part of the Keyboard I never use in my live performances minus 1 or two songs. My take away is this: Yamaha ck series is overpriced for a keyboard that has such a limited sound library, but would make a great keyboard for musicians who are satisfied with the sounds, who want to primarily use the Piano/Organs/pads/certain instruments (not a fan of the strings or accordions for example) and those who are looking for a cery easy to use User Interface that isnt like every other 2 inch led screen with annoyingly difficult controls. In that realm the ck series thrives because honestly it had the most enjoyable interface Ive ever used on any Keyboard.

Very good and honest review. I feel very tempted to buy it. How do you see if phantom power is on? Usually mixers have an LED that shines yellow.

Nice job! I can put some of this to use. I have that Yamaha mixer. Do you think the small rig super clamp might adapt like you did the iPad at the end. this is a great descriptive video, thanks!!

I just finished watching your accessories video. Thanks, some great information! I was wondering if you could do a video on what you use your iPad and Phone for. What apps do you use? How do you use them? Thanks

I have this mixer. I like the eq for the mains and each channel and being in front to hear the sound and make adjustments. Awesome mixer.

I abuse and use this little mixer at least 3 days a week for solo shows and have started using it for 3 and 4 piece groups. Had it for just over 2 years still going strong with no issues. Love it!

Can you imagine a unit where the fader part detaches and becomes hardware Bluetooth controlled.

Can the three parts be on different MIDI channels each? So I could use it for sequencing with a DAW? E.g. Channel 1/ Part 1 = drums, Channel 2 / Part 2 = bass, Channel 3 / Part 3 = EP. Can you save that set/performance then? Cheers Edit: oops, just saw at the end of your video - no drums :-(

so the EQ is only accessable through phone, if u have set it, and close the app. will it save the presets you've set it to or ?

The "After 1984" also comes in the MX88. A quite decent recreation of the Oberheim.

That intro, legend

Awesome review, thanks! Had some doubts first but after seeing this I’m gonna get some donuts.

As soon as I heard that first sound I knew it was going to be Touch!!

Is the usb sending and receiving ? Can I use it to record from mics to Logic Pro?

That was a fantastic review, not holding back from detailed cons and pros. You are rare! That USB-B power-source thing has probably put me off buying it tbh... what a shame because almost everything else about it sounds great. And the labels wearing off so quickly (!). How depressing - surely that can't be hard for a manufacturer to get right. Thank you.

10:00 "...there's no "off" switch... how much does that save...": Actually, there is. Hold MENU down for about three seconds and it powers off. MENU button dims. Tap it and it powers back on. I found that by seeing a comment complaining about that suggesting it was a bug. Go figure. BTW: Behringer has the worst documentation I think I have ever experienced. It may be just because of the COIK. What is COIK you ask? Clear Only If Known. But that doesn't cover "never mentioned". And it would be helpful to know what they were thinking when they implement things... like SOLO and MUTE.

I was at GC today and a young brother was playing the 61 and 88. The Organ was great as was all other modeling. at $1000 & $1500, it better be. for the low end growl of a BS Hammond the onboard speakers break up early. Just Output to a real amp and speakers.

You have to hold "menu" for 3 seconds to turn the unit off

Thank's for the demo.

great video! I am looking at this mixer but I can't find any info if it can multitrack using an iphone... can you confirm if it can record multitrack using iphone and garageband app?

It is foolish to expect workstation synthesizer's functionality from a low-cost keyboard. People are too confused by the convenience of DAWs and soft synths. It's like expecting the performance of a luxury SUV on a bicycle. Instead, you should have mentioned that it has the same FSB keys as a high-end electronic organ (Electone) at a lower price point (better playability and quietness).

Bravo, nice style!

6 faders though, good video

You convinced me, today I'm going to buy it. I will use it as a second keyboard on top of my Hammond L100

If you hold the menu button it will turn off the power

Awesome review. You are very talented.

I own a CP88 and a CP73 will I like it or be disappointed?

Interesting. And thank you. I have NI Kontakt as well as the old B4 pug-in where the Lesley is turned on and off with the mod wheel. This keyboard is on my radar, for a live thing as well as a controller, but I'll need to make sure it does both applications well.

Awesome. Thanks. Can you tell me, how is the Latency (RTL) if it's used as an audio interface to a DAW PC,.. say, at 64 buffer sample? Thanks

when you hold down MENU buton, It will sleep the device.

I have a CK88 since a week, and I really love it. Surely a Yamaha YC or Nord have way more possibilities, but not all of us have 3k to spend on a stage piano... It's quite light but sturdy enough, and the sounds are more than adequate for use on stage with a full size band. The organ sounds and controls are also great for live use. I have a Roland FA-07 synth on top for most of the stuff that the CK can't do. I simply hook it up to the CK's audio inputs, plug the CK into the PA and that's it; ready to rock. No extra keyboards or sound modules required, no mini mixer. Life is simple again. I would recommend this keyboard to anyone who cannot afford to spend 3k on a stage piano.

I played this in a store last month, its not bad at all for what it is - a Nord Stage for people who don't have Nord Stage money.

Need to pay the camera guy a little more and get one that isn't drunk.....had to look away anytime the shaky cam angle was chosen......

Very informative. Answered close to every question I had about this little thing. Great video

10:02 - hold down the 'MENU' button

Thank you for this.

Great review, Paul! I'm intriqued by the CK61 for reasons not really discussed in the review or in the comments below - the benefit it has for songwriters. Imagine being in a space (NOT a studio) writing with a guitar player. You'll need an instrument that's not a boat anchor in size/weight, has speakers, and maybe batteries, and oh yeah - it would be nice if it doesn't sound like a toy. As a YC Reface without out a toy keyboard - plus. With really good sounding pianos and a variety of other "go to" sounds BIG PLUS. Now you've written your song and it's time to play it at the local coffee shop/pub. You sit down on the stool facing the audience, ask one of the servers if you can borrow the stand that holds their dirty dish tray, grab the 1/4" cable hanging from the mic stand. BOOM - you're performing in a space formerly reserved only for acoustic guitar players. No power needed, you have some ambient sound from the tiny speakers, and you actually have a piano sound that doesn't sound like a video game. Currently, I do that with the Roland GoKeys. The keyboard feel is awful, and the sounds are just barely passing. OR - I can roll in my massive workstation, ask for an extension cord, grab two chairs and balance the behemoth between them - and spend my allotted time telling everyone how awesome my song sounds when I press play in my home studio. Nah - give me a keyboard I can set up faster than it takes a guitar player to tune up. For a couple of hundred, me and my GoKeys can fly anywhere (oh yeah did I mention 62" combined length/width/height flies not only free but can be put in the overhead bins). For a few more hundred maybe I can gain features, like a better feel and better sounds than the GoKeys. And of course we haven't even mentioned that the CK61 will let me plug MY mic in and have my voice already EQ'd with the fx I like before the guitar player asks anyone in the crowd if they can borrow a capo. And last but not least - I can carry a backup keyboard with me to any gig that can be swapped into my setup quickly if the situation arises.

We have problems with out flow 8. First it switched of all audio for a few seconds if my headphone was to loud. Now it switches of the audio even without having headphones plugged in. Shuts of all signals for a few seconds. Can't use it that way. Then it opens the audio again. Anyone any ideas?

I own one of these and I think it’s main selling point was that it had two monitors outputs which I struggled to find on any other mixers of that size. The digital aspect is brilliant especially as you mix your audio from FOH. My main two uses are smaller acoustic sets and as a back up mixer for my X Air as it’s compact so easily to bring along. I have run my whole band throughout when it was needed and it handled it no problems. I bought it on its initial release so got it at the earlier price. I always use the app to set up up although generally it does recall the previous mix and then just use the faders for small adjustments throughout the gig if needed. As an X Air user having the faders on hand if you needs them if very reassuring.

Cheers, Paul. Yes, very useful.

📝 eat more doughnuts 📄 ✍️ Got it!

Great straightforward/balanced review of this rig, Paul. As noted, the CK has some very nice features including low weight, 3 way split, separate effects for each of 3 sounds, etc.) and a seductive set of live controls. If this is what attracts any one to it as a live rig, I understand. Can't fault any of that. However, when I played the 88 key version at the GC I wasn't that overly impressed with the sounds outside of the pianos (very good as usual with Yamaha). For $1000.00 in 2023 (61 key version), I also think it might be reasonable to expect more than 360+ sounds. I know the objective is to cover sounds usually needed for a live performance but what the heck. I could pick up a Casio CTS-500 at $379.00 (US) with fairly equal quality sounds (including a very nice German grand), 61 keys, low weight, backing styles, better speakers and 800 sounds, albeit with 64 note polyphony vs.128 on the CK. The CTS is very usable live, granted it is a much different machine. It is menu driven but a fairly simple menu system to operate. It is just one example of a worthy lower cost synth or arranger useful live; there are others, some a bit higher priced and some made by Yamaha. If your CTS falls off a stand or someone spills a drink on it at a club, I do not think you will cry as hard as losing a CK (LOL). To qualify, I generally love Yamaha products and presently own a PSR SX-900 and a MODX8+, two in a long line of Yamaha synths I have owned. Just not thrilled with this machine. Thanks for the great post.

I own it and use it in live gigging and for me it is the best digital mixer in its price.

But the strange thing with my CK88 in combination with MainStage is that pulling the physical drawbars out causes the software drawbars to be pulled in and vice versa. With my Nord Electro 6D I don't have that problem

I ordered mine from Amazon January 2021 at a very good discount even though I waited about 5 months for it! So, like you, I think it is great value and really handy. I utilize a battery bank to run it as there is no power outlet near where I use it most. I've never had the noise when I've turned it on. I think it's a great piece of kit. A fair review!

What you buy depends on budget, needs and how you'll use it. A stage piano isn't a work station or a synth. It won't cost as much and it won't be as heavy. Weight really matters when you start gigging with the thing. Also, sounds that are unimpressive when solo may be quite acceptable when playing with a band.

Enabling Bluetooth will allow the app to be location aware (based on other Bluetooth devices it sees). Therefore, Location Awareness needs to be enabled for all apps that use Bluetooth. It's irritating an non-intuitive, but I think it was named this way in Android because, if it was just called "Bluetooth awareness", many people would not understand the side effect that this provides (some) location awareness to the app.

The most important part about buying a keyboard is the action (in this price range). Having the best sounds means little if the action isn’t connecting with you. I’d choose the Yamaha MODX+6 for 500$ more. (From a live gigging perspective).