Yamaha YDS-150 Review - NOT What I Expected
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- Опубліковано 13 вер 2022
- #bettersax #saxophone #yamaha
Jay Metcalf reviews the Yamaha YDS-150 Wind Synth.
Yamaha YDS-150 Wind Synth imp.i114863.net/MXOb3K
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I have mine since about 1.5 years. It doesn't have the key response problems that you mentioned and finger pressure is not needed - but one needs fresh batteries. These problems occur when batteries are low. I always intended to use it for trying out quick things or have a lightweight instrument when transcribing (I have a bari) that I can quickly pick up or put down, not for practicing or performances. There is a midi controller which is pretty cool together with a synthesiser. I completely agree with you that sounds are bad and there is no bite control sensor, so for professional use I would recommend a professional wind synth from AKAI or Roland.
I use USB power. Makes the instrument weight less too.
“BeTtEr SaX” PLEASE STOP. I’m SURPRISED you haven’t compared the SELMER SUPREME to your garbage MADE IN CHINA saxophone to say they are EQUAL… Who made you the saxophone expert of UA-cam? Millennials? Listen. I can see right through you trying to cash-in on the market that Yamaha has tapped into. You’re going to do the same thing you did awhile back and make a manufacturing team in CHINA to make your own ELECTRONIC saxophone to quote-on-quote SAVE your VIEWERS… I’ll tell you what stop bashing other companies that have way more EXPERIENCE than YOU and try to actually give us some *****REAL MUSICAL ADVICE TO BETTER YOUR VIEWERS….. YOU ARE JUSSSSST LIKE it’s so dumb.
I think no one of this aerophones can be used for profissional use, because the sound is ever so cold, artificial and plane, and can not be compared with a real sax.
Aerophones shouldn’t replace saxophones, they add a sound category of their own. Have a listen to Bob Mintzer and his Yellowjackets. The saxophone is much closer in its sound expressivity to the human voice, I would even say, related.
I velcro a small usb charge battery to the back of the battery door with a tiny usb cable. It'll play fine for ages.
Thanks for the review on this! I was hoping the physical keywork would work similarly to the WX-5, but… with those sounds and especially no 1/4” jack, it hardly seems made for and professional purpose! Great video 😀👍
Thanks Carlos!
Mini to quarter adapter at the receiving end. Why do you need to wave a heavy cable around when you are playing?
@@ellwoodblooz it won't be as hot a signal as a 1/4"
That's because they have somehow managed to go backwards in every way since their WX products - and they failed to promote those properly. This thing is horrible. To me it even looks horrible - neither one thing nor the other, in a bad way. Built in sounds are inevitably horrible, built in speakers horrible, comedy mouthpiece and cheesy fake brass horn. What's to like here?
@@wd25a As a complete amateur at music who's never even touched a real sax - it looks sparkly I like it. 🤩So how much is it?
On Amazon £842 - that's not an amateur price! 🥵😵🥶See there is one thing about it that maintains that professional sheen - how expensive it is..
Think I will pass for now. 🤣
I live in Paris. I have no possibility to study at home. This sax has saved my life. And yes, despite some disadvantages, it is really very useful if you want to practice quietly.
PIckleball saved my sax life...wife plays and I practice at home!
Same experience here, I've had it for a while now and it got me so many hours of practice.
I bought my Yamaha YDS-150 6 months ago and I am quite satisfied with it as a practice instrument. I have no problem with key response on my sax. I have put the key respons setting to minimum and It’s very responsive. I like the mini jack input which I use for practice with backing tracks or just jamming with other music. The speaker in the sax does not sound very good, but the sound is better if you put it through a good speaker or headset. I think this is a great instrument for practice and travel !😊🎶🎷👍
I work in a shop that sells these. I have tried two or maybe three of them, never noticed any problems with keys not working or having to press them hard. Completely agree with everything else you said though: people who buy these are those that dont know what a wind synth is (and that there are better ones out there), and just buy it because it is a "saxophon, but digital"
That's what I did, I bought it 2nd hand because it's a "saxophon, but digital". I didn't want the aesthetics of an ugly wind controller on stage, I wanted something relatable for people when they see it. The sounds are what they are, still good enough for me.
No issues with mine, had it from when they were first launched and been fantastic for doing silent practice
Good to hear
@@bettersax thank you, as a beginner it’s been a great learning tool 👍
I totally agree. Very suitable for silent practice!
Finally!! Been waiting for this review👍
Thank you for an honest review. I was supposed to have been an early adopter when it was initially released. I returned it the the same day I received it. The lack of expressiveness and normal breath control/reed usefulness of ANY kind was a deal breaker!
This was a contender when I was trying to find a sax I could play without bothering the neighbours.. the key layout was a very strong attractor, but in the end I have no regrets going for the EWI solo instead... I just couldn't find any evidence of people liking this Yamaha beast :')
That might be a little strong, but I feel the involuntary tremolo on long notes is incredibly damning to its range of expression!
I've had mine for a few months and it has really taken my playing to the next level as I can practice all day and night now. I set the breath sensitivity all the way down so I would have to blow harder and thus increase my chops. I don't have the issue with button detection as bad as you but if I try to play extremely lightly, I do get glitches, though I've found how to make them happen intentionally and use them as extended techniques. You can also change the button sensitivity in the app to fix this.
I baught it 3 years ago, as I decided to begin playing Sax after a 25-year-break. The YDS lead me to buy a real Tenorsax again. Today I prefer to play a real Sax. But sometimes late at night I like to play music. And in this moments,I'm glad to own a YDS-150,because you can use it with headphones.
Good to hear this.
Peter here Jay. here in Australia the YDS150 is hard to obtain. I ordered mine as soon as I was aware they were available and it still took 8 months before receiving one of only a few to arrive in the country. Immediately I loved the key layout and the feel of the YDS. I play mine through speakers, and headphones if the wife complains. I think it sounds pretty cool through external speakers. I must report though that after a few months the octave key ceased to move and only responded to touch, plus the F# key would often, not sound at all. I returned the instrument to the shop and Yamaha replaced it with one they found in their warehouse which I eagerly gobbled up. I have been playing this replacement YDS for around 7 months now and report that the octave key failed again. No clicky clicky and responds to pressure only. Hasn't not worked though. No key issues so far!!!!. I play it almost every day for around 2 hours. I have a Yamaha YAS280 Alto and a Yamaha YTS 82Z Tenor, and also a Roland AE10 which I purchased just before the YDS came on the market, but I love playing the YDS150. I can sit outside and play and turn the speakers and backing tracks down, and annoy no neighbours. Can't do that with an acoustic. My acoustic playing has improved out of sight as I can practice tricky passages without anyone hearing them and the fingering transfers nicely to the acoustic. My only beef is that every time I start to play it I am always nervous some key is going to stop working and therefore make the thing useless. They cannot or do not repair these things. For those who choose to criticise the sound the thing to remember is that they are a wind synth, not a sax, so for people to can, it because it doesn't sound like an acoustic sax is a bit cruel. As a low volume (or no volume), practice instrument for sax players it gets a big tick from me. But....2 octave key issues in 2 new instruments in a short period of time seems like a build issue, and this is disappointing. The octave key gets a lot of work on a sax and this issue should not happen within the warranty period. Anyway, I'll cross my fingers it keeps working. I'd need to return the YDS to have it replaced but that could be a year or 18 months to get a replacement...tough decision as I would miss it terribly. Thanks for doing your review of the YDS150.
Enjoyed reading your review. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and experience.
Hey Jay, thanks for putting this video together, as many people, I was thinking about getting one of this for practing. However, when I saw at the store it did feel like a toy. It's a great idea, but Yamaha is not there yet. Maybe they take into consideration users feedback and develop a better second version.
Hi Jay, thanks for your review. I have been waiting for my YDS-150 for over a year and I have to say your review is spot on. If you don't press the keys with all your might, the tones wobble back and forth. The batteries need to be fully charged so that even loud sounds don't break off immediately, and the built-in speaker sounds like a kid's toy for $5. It looks quite nice, but it's not actually playable. I fear losing both embouchure and fingering for the "real" saxophone. Thanks again, great video!
Thanks for this review on this as well as the Roland AE 10
I'm looking forward to Yamaha's next attempt, the YDS-150 second generation. After their realization the practice instrument is something we want, a more serious effort may come to light.
yes, they should definitely try again on this.
Thanks Jay for this very honest review of the YDS-150. I have had mine for more than 6 months and I agree with all you have said.
- key responsiveness...I have to apply positive pressure to some keys to get them to register. This gets worse the more fingers you have down, ie. sometimes you need to work hard to find which finger you have relaxed pressure on. This can be very frustrating.
This does not appear to have any relationship to battery charge level, since I mostly play using fully charged batteries and/or USB power.
- some have commented that the key response is adjustable. This does NOT help at all with the problem we describe here and is more related to how quickly you can play. To play really fast sequences you need to set this to zero(0=most responsive) or the YDS-150 will skip notes even if you do press them hard enough
I do still use mine since there are times I need to practise quietly, but still play a real sax often to keep my embouchure strong
I have used it in live performances, using either a Soprano or Pan Pipes voice, on slow ballads and simple key signatures when I am confident I can apply appropriate key pressure.
[Frank L]
Great video Jay!
I'm playing a solo on the YDS-150 in my High school's marching show this year. It was a little tricky to get down at first, with the key distance and how you don't get the vibration, but overall it adds a really cool effect.
Ayo fellow marcher? :0
Damn this might sound gatekeeping-ish but I feel like soloists should not be able to use synthetic versions of real instruments if it makes playing said instrument significantly easier cuz it's kind of like cheating. Usually soloists are decided by skill and playing a synthetic instrument kind of reminds me of when people lip sync performances
@@isaiahd9947 Cant you still suck at synthetic instruments tho
@@isaiahd9947 I understand where you are coming from, while synthetic instruments have the ability to play in tune no matter the condition, this saxophone is much harder to play than my alto. The keys are made of plastic and have different strengths on how hard you have to push it down; also with how far away the keys are. This makes it where it’s actually more difficult to play an synthetic instrument like this one, over my alto or tenor.
@@isaiahd9947 A band's job (especially a marching band) is to entertain. If it makes the show better, anything is fair game.
It's like my old band directors opinion on using a capo. Sure, it makes some things easier, but the audience doesn't care and 99% of them won't even notice you're using it, they'll just notice if it sounds good or not. And if you're not playing for the audience, who are you playing for?
Great honest review!
Excellent review.
I really appreciate taking time and effort giving us the downlow on these instruments Jay, Thank you so much for all your videos!
I had one of these for almost 2 years... Keep reading to find out why I no longer have it.
1 - Key response is a setting that can be tweaked within the app. I found less issue with pressure needed, and more issue with response to speed of play.
2 - preset voices..I had 4-5 that I used, the rest were junk. I liked the harmonica and a few synth sounds.
3 - headphone jack could connect me to a mixer with the right cord. I did use mine during live performances with my trio and got positive feedback from audience members. I would use once per set at most. (Audio clips available upon request)
4 - Bluetooth connectivity is it's nicest feature. iRealPro and headphones allowed for completely silent practice.
--
When/how mine broke: The octave key stopped moving as designed. It would still work with normal pressure, but the key lost all motion. It was only a matter of time before it would activate when it wanted to, instead of when I wanted it to. I had purchased a 2-year maintenance plan managed thru Asurion. Filed a claim for repair easily and returned using a prepaid label. After about 2 weeks (I was getting periodic updates by email) they declared it unrepairable and reported that they were refunding my purchase cost in full. So basically, I rented the instrument for about 2 years for the cost of the maintenance plan. I will not be purchasing another. I got enjoyment with it, but not enough to start over.
Great video!
Well done doing an honest review!
Thanks so much for the thorough review. About 25 years ago, I bought a Yamaha WX-5 wind synth which required connector to a YLM-70 Tone generator control box. The system worked quite well for my purposes, although it was not a real simple set-up. Several cables are involved and a separate power amp and speaker are needed. What I liked most was the 256 tone generator sampled sounds, especially the double reeds (oboe, English horn, and bassoon) were very realistic when played through a quality amp/speaker. My WX-5 has been in the closet for a few years now because some of the keys no longer respond reliably. I was hoping this new Yamaha would be an improvement, but it doesn't promise much and doesn't have the double-reed instrument sounds I need most.
Good morning. Thanks for the description of YDS 150. A curiosity! Is it possible to emulate the sound of a violin with this instrument?
Jay - Thanks for all of the great content and reviews you provide. I am looking for a wind synth/midi controller for silent practive and to use with a DAW for music creation. What would you or others in the community recommend? I know that nothing can really replace an acoustic saxophone for practice. I am big on the fundamentals of air support and tone development, however it would be nice to have something to work though music, exercises, etc that is quiet. Thanks!
Thanks for the brutally honest review, Jay! I'll be waiting for the updated version after Yamaha watches your video!
🤣 You can wait a long time then...
Not so long after all! Shame the new one ain't all that great
Loved the way you read the bio with the music behind it.
Jay, have you tried to adjust the key and breath response with the software? I fixed those problems with it. I've been using it for silent practice for 2 years and I'm happy with it because the keys represent a real saxophone. That's what I'm about and just for practice at midnight))
At 4'07" (the view up the bell) there's a white tube thing sticking down into the bell from the body of the instrument. What does that do? Does it carry some of the sound down into the bell? in which case I can sort of see why the advertising blurb talks about the resonance. If it doesn't do that, what does it do?
YDS-150 owner here and yes the key registration is just terrible and i felt at first i was just bad at it but i actually tested out the same pressure thing you did and i had the same effect. It's a lovely tool but too inconsistent to recommend to anyone. For now.
thanks for the info
I work at a music store and we have had probably around 5 or 6 come in, and at least 3 have had key response issues before they even sold. (We did not send defective ones out to customers) Thanks for this review, I'm glad I am not the only one having this problem!
Great review, Jay! All your windcontroller reviews have been unbiased and very educational. Thanks! If you like saxophone style windcontrollers,, I'd love to hear your take on the Synthophone. It's an actual Yamaha Alto Sax hot-rodded with MIDI. It looks and feels like a real sax. 😀
What can i do if i get scratches on my saxophone? (when I search for it, it suggests that I use Acetone but I'm worried that it's going to ruin the lacquer)
I was buying and selling these when there was limited availability in the UK a year or two ago. I therefore had 6 or 7 of these over the period of a year. Everyone worked perfectly and was was a dream come true for practicing sax quietly. Had no issues with keys and response, particularly once setting it up properly. The EMEO takes this to another level now, but at well over twice the price, the yam is far better value if you want to finger practice. Even better value now the YDS-120 is out. Albeit they’re okay and work better as an expressive wind synth okay, I wouldn’t choose the Roland Aerophones over the yam for quiet sax practice.
Do you have an opinion on the EWI? did you review it?
I love mine. It’s great for figuring out things.
One advantage of the Roland AE -10 compared to other similar products is that it features a bite sensor to adjust the pitch so that it is possible to play bending notes.
Ooh, a bit harsh Jay.
A quarter inch jack plug is too long for the space in the width of the body of the instrument and more importantly the cable is heavy and would feel restrictive when holding the instrument out (like the MIDI cable on the WX series) hence the YDS150 uses a mini jack with a thin light cable, you use a mini to quarter adapter in your amp or P.A. -no drama.
The tiny built in speaker is useless unless you are practicing very quietly while everyone else is in bed and can’t find any old fashioned wired headphones to use. There’s a clue right there in the phrase ‘tiny speaker’. When played through an amp or headphones, (or into Garage Gand or Logic) it sounds pretty good.
I found I could improve the feel of the keys considerably by tweaking the ‘repeat rate’ in the in app, to the point they work just fine. It’s never as forgiving as an acoustic sax, where you can get away with a half-hearted press on some keys on fast licks some of the time, you always have to be very precise, but for practice that is a good thing, no? I concede though, that you do put far more demands on your instrument than me. I am a bar room honker, not a be-bop wizard.
FWIW I also have a WX5 which has the missing bite sensor but also has the added fuss of needing a separate midi synth digging out and setting up to be any use. So I never bother.
The YDS150 wins for quick convenient no fuss practice, it sits waiting on a soprano stand with rechargeable batteries in it and some headphones plugged in. Anytime I have time, I can work on a new number I have to learn or hit the scales. It’s not a sax, not close but it’s bloody handy tool for a sax player.
No, I don’t work for Yamaha 🍷👍
Glad to hear you are enjoying yours and getting good value from it.
@@bettersax “BeTtEr SaX” PLEASE STOP. I’m SURPRISED you haven’t compared the SELMER SUPREME to your garbage MADE IN CHINA saxophone to say they are EQUAL… Who made you the saxophone expert of UA-cam? Millennials? Listen. I can see right through you trying to cash-in on the market that Yamaha has tapped into. You’re going to do the same thing you did awhile back and make a manufacturing team in CHINA to make your own ELECTRONIC saxophone to quote-on-quote SAVE your VIEWERS… I’ll tell you what stop bashing other companies that have way more EXPERIENCE than YOU and try to actually give us some *****REAL MUSICAL ADVICE TO BETTER YOUR VIEWERS….. YOU ARE JUSSSSST LIKE it’s so dumb.
Thanks Jay. You’re a Gent. I do enjoy mine though It would be better at half the price 😉
And you are bang on, the brass bell is as useful as a chocolate fireguard, the marketing copy that describes it is written by someone that was tasked with justifying it. Rather than banging on about resonance they should have been honest and said it let’s the spit run out.
Stick the jack in the useless bell.
Thanks Jay for this review. I was about to buy the YDS a couple months ago but after looking at all the online reviews and watching your video today, I’m glad I didn’t ! I already have the Aerophone Go but I’m not a fan of the “click” keys. So I was shopping for a wind synth that I could play quietly when traveling and at night and that would have the feel of the real sax keys (or close to). If not the YDS, The Emeo seems to fit the profile but there’s no bite sensor and no onboard sounds. So it appears to be a bit more complicated to get that setup up and running. Would you be able to do a review of the Emeo by any chance and tell us what you think ? I’m concerned that the instrument would lag when connected to a computer.
Is it no problem to run it from it's small jack into effects units (6 mm jacks) and then into amp?
Looking forward for your insights on the new yds 120!!😊
Coming soon!
I’ve got a YDS120. I think it’s identical to the 150, except there’s no Bluetooth 😢, but the good news is that they’ve ditched the pointless bell and mouthpiece, so it slips easily into an overnight bag. I actually found it fits perfectly into the very cheap soprano sax soft cases you find on eBay, which are actually too short to fit a real one-piece soprano, but perfect to protect the YDS120 and store strap, off-board power pack, earphones etc. I don’t expect realistic sound quality, but I’ve had the odd bizarre note malfunction. Never sure whether it’s me or the 120. On balance, I think it’s worth the £400 or less that it costs. The YDS150 is overpriced IMO, and the Emeo eye-wateringly expensive.
I've got a different take on the YDS. I've been playing it a lot for 2 years in the summer when we spend a lot of time at a cottage in close proximity to neighbors. previously I had to wait until they were gone (and I ought to be at the beach myself) to practice on my Series II Tenor. This was a pain. At first, I had the same problem with the keys as you describe, but over time I've come to appreciate the precision it takes to play the notes cleanly. I've also spent lots of time experimenting with the dynamics and articulation on the simple mouthpiece. I find when I go back to my Selmer, my technique is very crisp and clean. while it may do little for my actual sound, it does allow me to practice tunes and technique without losing everything while I'm on vacation. It's clearly not intended to be a wind synth, but it has been a great practice machine when I can't play a regular horn. I also find that the awful sound is a good bit better with headphones on. The aux plug let's me do silent play alongs for hours.
My biggest gripe is that the palm keys are way too small for my fairly large hands. I'll probably Sugru them soon.
All the comments that disagree seem to all say "I like it because it let's me practice when I usually can't and it's not meant to be a wind synth." But like a wind synth also works when you cant practice and does all the same things and much more. It would make sense if the yds was like 100-200 bucks but for what it's actually going for is enough to get a good wind synth. Imo yamaha is scamming yall with the yds. I bet the bell is the most expensive part of the instrument and it doesn't even do anything 💀
I’m sure this would be fun to play on but I’m so used to my NuRAD and 4000s. Hard to switch off of Touch Keys and lose Octave rollers.
I got my Roland Aerophone AE-20 from Matt at Patchman Music who helped develop it. He set it up and tested it and knows these instruments. Highly recommend!
question: i wanna buy a soprano saxofoon. What do you advice? I was looking to yamaha yss-475 and the jupiter jss-1000Q
I had a Yamaha WX7 'EWI' back in the late 80s. I was playing sax professionally at that time, and thought the EWI would be a cool addition for some playing I was also doing with a rock band, because the variety of sounds I could get would be beneficial. But Yamahas designed it to work best with their dedicated EWI synthesizer, which they stopped production of (for reasons never explained as far as I could determine) about the same time they introduced the WX7. That left me with a controller for which I could find so suitable synthesizer that could properly use the breath and reed pressure inputs. It still worked, but was a shadow of what it could have been with the correct synthesizer. I eventually sold it and swore off Yamaha entirely as a company that would happily sell a customer half of an instrument, with the promise of soon selling the other half, only to fail on that promise.
Having said that, I did find the keywork, at least, on my WX7 to be pretty good by comparison with, say, my Selmer Super-80 soprano sax. By that, I mean that the amount of pressure I was used to putting on the real sax was about the same as what would make the WX7 'register' a key press.
Hi Jay,
Have you checked or heard how the Yamaha YDS-120 is, was really curious. Could you please give your opinion/review on it?
Thanks.
Thanks for that review, I tried this in a shop and I'm sticking to my Yaamaha W11. The octave keys or lack of them killed it for me. Have you tried and reviewed the new Emeo wind synth
“When I first saw this instrument, I said to myself, that has got to be good!”
when i first saw this i thought it was a grenade launcher
I bought mine because I can't seem to play softly enough to not disturb my neighbors. I am now able to practice anything, and I believe I'm getting better because of it. With regards to your complaint about the lack of the proper output plug, I think the designers figured you might be able to use an adapter to create the proper opening for the plug you want to use...
You could buy an 1/8" to 1/4" cable. But not many options there. Even more of a pain if you want to go wireless.
hello, thank you for your very sincere video on the subject, I was thinking of buying one
I sold my Yamaha YDS-150 after around 8 months for most of the reasons you mention. I purchased an EMEO which is so much better - the mechanism is identical to a sax and it works!
I have mine about a year and a half. I don't have any finger response problems. I agree with almost everything else you said except I think the baritone sounds pretty good. I bought it because I moved into an apartment and I don't want any complaints. So it fits my needs.
Also, it does eat batteries pretty quickly. May I suggest you change the batteries to see if it will improve the response?
I had the problem with brand new batteries and while plugged in. I'm glad yours is working properly. Yes, I agree that the baritone sax sounds are the best.
I attached an external battery that lasts for days and days.
Rechargeable batteries did the trick for me.
What hybrid would you recommend for practice instead of this one?
I don't have key issue. This works perfectly for private practice. There is an input jack that brings outside audio to the instrument. If you plug in your headphone, it is perfect device for private play along and casual scale practice. Almost every night I watch netflix shows and experiment all the silly musical ideas privately. I am beginner and it also helps me getting familiarized with correct pitch. For someone who just starting on saxophone like me, this is a great tool in my opinion. I really feel really lucky to own one.
Interesting, honest review. It simply reinforces my preference for a regular acoustic soprano sax.
Thanks for mentioning the key press glitch at the end. I have not tried one of these yet but have been looking at them. I grew up playing saxophone but am unable to do so now in the apartment that I live in due to noise. Having a sax I could play through headphones would be a game changer. I'll have to observe this issue and see where in progresses from here.
I live in an appartement also and I really love my Aerophone.
I got one of first YDS-150's. I returned it after just a few days. My Roland AE-30 rocks!
That was an brutal honest review! 👍
Hope you can do one on the EMEO as well.
If I can get my hands on one I will.
Emeo very solid but pricey. Comes with a lite version DAW which is excellent and a nice discount for the paid version DAW.
Great review…I am much more bullish on it for my purposes and it has served me well. Even the bell has turned out to be a blessing since it allows me to place it on a trumpet stand where it stands in my bedroom. That said, the keys aren’t perfect and the octave key and Bb are not reliable. My recommendation is to pay the increased price and get an Emeo. Once you do, you’ll NEVER regret it!
I played Sax for one year in 5th grade and want to learn it again, but for me its too loud to play it inside my apartment. But the thing is i like also the feeling from a real, saxophon and the vibration. Do you have any recommandation what I can/should buy or do?
I picked up an EWI 5000 a few months ago. I also considered the Roland Aerophones and read up on this one as well. I decided on the EWI because it is the most flexible, because it is not trying to be something it is not.
i've only been playing the sax for about a year and a half now, and i do want to know, what is the purpose for rollers on the pinky keys???
I wanted to buy this, but after this review I changed my mind. Now looking for the Emeo, did you test that one?
Yes watch my review here on UA-cam
Thanks for this review.
Can you also make such an unfiltered review for the AKAI EWI series? I'm planning to buy one of those and I'm really curious about your opinion as well.
The key Response has to be set with the keys to a certain number,you can also set breath control by the numbers, I don't use the built in speaker I have my horn plug into my mixer with two studio speakers, so far I have not had any problems with playing it, but it want take the place of a real saxophone but it is fun for a digital instrument.🎤🎧🎷
Is the 120 model any better? It at least doesn't have that superfluous brass bell. However, is the unreliable key action still a problem? It almost looks as though the 150 is just the 120, but with the brass bell attachment.
Thanks for this review Jay!
Reviewing the 120 very soon.
Excellent and honest / down to earth review.
I sold my YBS-62 after 21 years, and now use YDS-150, Aerophone AE-10 and AE-30. Having lots of fun with them. Look forward to a revamped version of YDS, as I love the ergonomics and feel of this instrument. Agree that there's no functionality for the bell and mouthpiece, but they look great ! Yes, I've had some issues with my original YDS, but they were resolved by Yamaha (keys intermittently not working, and a loose bell). With these e-wind instruments, I am currently supporting 2 concert bands, three church groups, clarinet choir, sax quartet, brass ensemble and a small wind/brass concert group named Sonus Venti. Strange as it may sound, I also enjoy playing at funerals with these instruments.
I am a retired engineer (after 40 years in the industry), and enjoying music as I've never experienced before. This new wave of formidable electronic instruments with saxophone keywork make it possible. At my age, I don't want to hold or carry a baritone sax any longer, and I am even considering selling my YTS-62 very soon.
Have you tried the YDS-120? I'm wondering if they fixed the problems you pointed out on the YDS-150....or not.
Have you tried the EMEO digital saxophone? I’d love to hear your thoughts on it.
I started playing a yas 62 alto 10yrs ago.not a fan. Sold it 5yrs ago and bought a cheap chineese tenor sax and still love it.
Bought the yamaha yds150 18 months ago to play soprano in a church setting. The inbuilt speaker is ok for home but i bought a blue ant 50w speaker for church use and using a 5m mono cable to marry the yds now the sound is fantastic.
Next i took a spare brass tenor mouth piece and replaced the yds mouth piece using a sleeve to fit.
Wow ! The look is stunning and gives more control.
Now i have the look , the sound , and the volume i want for thousands of dollars less than a mid range branded acoustic sax.
Thank you Yamaha.
Thanks for the review Jay. I feel so much better about not buying one now 😂 I bought an AE20. Now we could look forward to a review on the Emeo?
I have a YDS-150 and have not had the key response problem that you described. I have noticed that the instrument sounds better if you power it via the USB connection rather than use batteries (that don't last very long anyway). Also the internal speaker is horrible. I connect the headphone output to my hi-fi system or a powered speaker, and get great sound. The quality of the sax voices is much better than the Aerophone AE-10 in my experience. In fact I quit using the Aerophone after I got my YDS-150. I don't mind the lack of bite control, but I can understand why some would not be happy with this.
Will you test also the TravelSax2 from Odisei? It is the smaller existing sax (next month on the markt).
I will try to get one for a review
I experience the same key pressure issue. I'm hoping this can be resolved with a software update.
I have my YDS for about 1 year , use it during travelling and hat until now no problems like you told. I like the design even if it has no function.
Playing it 3 years on stage...never had problems and with some settings in the voiceing ...wow...sounds fantastic
Man I wish you had done this review a couple of years ago before I bought mines!!! I do use it when I’m on the road traveling and staying in motels to work on my fingering using headphones.
I have a question. I teach primary school students woodwinds, and am a beginner sax person as I want to stay a few weeks ahead of them. Is the fingering identical for this instrument? Would it be a relatively smooth transition from this to a real alto saxophone for a beginner/intermediate student? I currently live in an apartment and the neighbours complained about me playing my actual alto, so looking into digital options.
I have one of these and I it transformed my playing because I have been able to practice without annoying anyone. Although the sounds are terrible through the built in speaker they are much better through good headphones i mean much much better , although still not on a par with sample sounds such as "Mr sax". I haven't noticed any key response issues except for the octave key which does have to be pressed hard.
I think the point about it is mainly for practicing with keys which replicate a real sax fairly accurately. I think the other points are valid. There are better wind controllers with better sounds and bite sensor etc but for me I'm glad I chose the YDS150 as its great for practicing.
I've had mine for about 2 months and am struggling with it. keying is fine, no pressure issues that i've noticed. The three big problems I've had with it are:
1. It's plastic. Because of this I find it extremely slippy on the fingers and am constantly having to re-grip it.
2. The low A key. Always getting in the way of the thumb.
3. The octave key thumb rest. It just feels wrong compared to my YAS and Yani. Feels oversized and I'm constantly missing the octave key.
For something from Yamaha I am disappointed. It feels cheap, very cheap, but it was only ever for practice so I'll persevere and hope it grows on me.
NIce review - There is a noise by-law where I live so I got it for practice. I recall that I looked at the advertizing and you are correct - that statement is clearly over selling and simply untrue. I do not know if the supply issues have been worked out but there was none available in Canada when I ordered so I had to look online - I got a used one from New York State ... Your review is spot on. I don't really like playing it - it is just to practice fingering and some tunes after 9PM - and we can't work on sound control, embouchure, control of altissimo delivery etc etc.
How about the EMEO if you are talking about alternatives? I had both for testing and even though it costs twice as much as the yamaha, for me it was a clear choice. The feeling is exactly that of a real saxophone and now I can practice during the middle of the night :)
does it make acoustic noise when you play with headphones? can I play it at night without disturbing my family?
Waiting forwar to review of EMEO wind synth! The guys just took the REAL SAX and plugged the electronic gizmo in!
I have one of these Jay and your review has absolutely nailed it's performance to the letter I found all the same problems but I hang on to it soly for quiet practice so not to annoy the neighbours or the wife out of hours.
It's a silent practice machine, not intened for performance.
Hi All, I am new here and I am looking to start my Sax journey I was thinking of starting with the YDS-120. What does everyone think?
Thanks
I considered this, but ended up going with the EMEO back in March. It’s pricier, but it’s a real saxophone body. It doesn’t help you address embouchure really, but every key on a real Sax is there. This summer, I had a situation where I needed a silent practice tool. The EMEO kept me going and still does. The sound module it comes with didn’t do it do me, so I got the SWAM audio modeling. More $, but now I’m set and that sound is the best non-real Sax sound I’ve heard. I think every company needs to start where EMEO has and build from there. Real Sax body (Between a soprano and alto size) but adding internal sounds, more inputs besides USB-C, and more on the embouchure aspects. It isn’t perfect, but to me EMEO was the only way to go compared to everything else now available.
Can you do a review on UA-cam of it? It would be great!
But it lacks a bite sensor and the bluetooth midi is really lagging
@@ToolTechSoftware My Bluetooth is working great. I don’t detect ANY latency. Macbook M1 Pro.
@@ToolTechSoftware The lag has been an issue for me, so I plug it in direct. The thing that makes it super valuable is that it is the exact feel of a real saxophone (minus the embouchure aspect). I still play my real Sax, but with the EMEO, I can practice anytime, anywhere, which I can’t always do with my real Sax.
@@danielebagni1804 I will try. I’m a music teacher full-time and the school year just started, so my schedule is a bit busy. But, there are some reviews out there if you search on UA-cam.
Thanks Jay, I never had any key issues with mine. I only use it for practicing scales etc. when I do not want t make any noise. As you mention, the sound is poor and the bell & mouthpiece serve no purpose.
Which one u suggest sir Roland or yamaha
I had a Yamaha . Changed for a Roland aerophone. What a treat. So satisfied
Thank you very much. Because I had an intention change from AE20 to YDS-150. And I stop that!
How many types of melodica can this instrument emulate?
There is another subtle problem on keys: some note sounds after an huge delay (4/500 mSec) after you release the key; this happens only after a sequence (i.e. C, D, E, .......F). It seems a firmware issue.
Agree with the octave key frustration, the key travel is too short and is easy to accidentally release during passages.
Finally, the bell continuosly hooking the seat border...
YDS-150 owner for about 8 months. I'm a guitarist and I didn't have any sax or any wind instrument experience. I just wanted to learn, so I bought the YDS and I'm learning through an online sax course that I bought. I was so curious if it's just me, or the saxophone has so sensitive keys and you gave me the answer. Thanks. Although it also has a key response setting, I haven't found a setting that improves this. If you "forget" a finger that is not pressed hard enough, your note is not played. But I never tried an acoustic saxophone, I have to try to see the difference though.
Thanks for the review! Would be awesome to see your take on the Akai EWI =)
this is very helpfull