Apart from the metal plate covering the underside, the keyboard casing of the M06 is of silver/grey plastic, housing a 61-note synth-type keyboard. The M06 is very similar in appearance to the ES range, sporting the familiar Motif livery and most of the same controls, although their layout differs slightly in places. Those wishing to learn more about the background details may wish to swot up with the following articles: Motif 6/7/8 ( SOS September 2001), Motif Rack (June 2003), Motif ES6/7/8 (January 2004), and Motif Rack ES (May 2005). Since the Motif synthesis engine has been covered in detail in earlier SOS reviews, this review will highlight the crucial differences between the M0 and its recent and closest relatives, the ES and ES Rack. Indeed, the M0 could best be compared to a Motif ES rack in a keyboard with a sequencer bolted on - although some variations in the spec prevent this from being an entirely accurate description. Nevertheless, these economies have not compromised the actual Motif synthesis engine, which is still the same AWM2 four-element per voice, 16-part multitimbral engine found in the ES version. What this means in practice is that certain economies have been made compared to the ES keyboard version. Two models are available - the 61-note synth-action M06 and the 88-note 'balanced hammer' weighted-action M08, firmly based upon the previous models - but this time, Yamaha have aimed them more towards the semi-professional and home/project studio markets. The first of this new generation, the M06 on review here, is still a true Motif, despite the absence of that name in its title. The most recent models, the Motif ES Keyboard workstation and ES Rack, saw a number of enhancements and additions, not least of which was the resolution of an internal latency issue that dogged the earlier rack model. Yamaha's range of Motif instruments, which was launched in 2001 with the Motif 6, 7 and 8 keyboards, now enters its third generation. Looking to create a more affordable keyboard version of their Motif range of workstations, Yamaha have pared back the spec of the Motif ES a little - though not much - to create the M06 and M08.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. Archives
March 2023
Categories |