Misc Reviews Yamaha YDS-150 Wind Synth

[6441]

I spent plenty of time practicing on my alto yesterday and loved it, but I want to say this: today I recorded some different kinds of music with the YDS-150 and uploaded it to Box. I played part of an original song on soprano, so I had to learn the lines in a different key (fingering, that is) than alto. What this brings home to me is that learning a song with the YDS-150 is actually a pleasant experience. You can do it at low volume or with headphones, so the constant repetition of the lines needn't disturb others around you. This is one of those use cases I see for this instrument. I spent some time learning the head for soprano.

Here is the part I learned: Bal Masqué

 

[6441]

Battery life with Energizer Alkaline "Max Plus" was just under 5 hours, with about 5 minutes of flashing light before it cut off.

 

[saxyjt]

Battery life with Energizer Alkaline "Max Plus" was just under 5 hours, with about 5 minutes of flashing light before it cut off.

I would suggest you use rechargeable batteries. Or an external battery but that may not work with the usb plugged into another device...

 

[6441]

I started with recharghables, but they won't last 5 hours.

 

[saxyjt]

I started with recharghables, but they won't last 5 hours.

Agreed, but it's not really cost effective and recycling batteries is not the best thing...

 

[Pete Effamy]

Is it not powered by usb?

 

[6441]

Is it not powered by usb?

It can be powered by USB, if you want to plug it in to USB and remain tethered to the computer. Rechargable batteries are great for things like keyboards, mice, earphones, etc. Less so for instruments if you plan to play somewhere without the USB cable. Before we get too much ecological backlash, remember that it takes power to recharge those rechargable batteries and I don't know what the manufacturing process is, but neither do a lot of people talking about saving the planet. Yes, they're the same ones who have hair dryers in their homes, but want us to worry about leaving a phone charger on all the time. You want to save the planet, let your hair (and your washed clothes) dry naturally!

 

[saxyjt]

It can be powered by USB, if you want to plug it in to USB and remain tethered to the computer. Rechargable batteries are great for things like keyboards, mice, earphones, etc. Less so for instruments if you plan to play somewhere without the USB cable. Before we get too much ecological backlash, remember that it takes power to recharge those rechargable batteries and I don't know what the manufacturing process is, but neither do a lot of people talking about saving the planet. Yes, they're the same ones who have hair dryers in their homes, but want us to worry about leaving a phone charger on all the time. You want to save the planet, let your hair (and your washed clothes) dry naturally!

Your call!

 

[Wonko]

It can be powered by USB, if you want to plug it in to USB and remain tethered to the computer. Rechargable batteries are great for things like keyboards, mice, earphones, etc. Less so for instruments if you plan to play somewhere without the USB cable. Before we get too much ecological backlash, remember that it takes power to recharge those rechargable batteries and I don't know what the manufacturing process is, but neither do a lot of people talking about saving the planet. Yes, they're the same ones who have hair dryers in their homes, but want us to worry about leaving a phone charger on all the time. You want to save the planet, let your hair (and your washed clothes) dry naturally!

I think that the lack of a built in, rechargeable (and replaceable) battery in this day and age is a serious flaw for such a device.
IMHO, single use batteries are to be avoided at all costs. I use them only for things like remote controls where they last about 2 or 3 years. Rechargeable batteries are far better for the environment for lots of reasons (if you want to know some of them, just ask. But I won't bore you with that now).
And just to let you know, We don't have a hairdryer in our house and we dry our clothes on washing lines all the time. And we use led-lights, have solar panels, re-use rain-water, .......

 

[Jeanette]

I think that the lack of a built in, rechargeable (and replaceable) battery in this day and age is a serious flaw for such a device.
IMHO, single use batteries are to be avoided at all costs. I use them only for things like remote controls where they last about 2 or 3 years. Rechargeable batteries are far better for the environment for lots of reasons (if you want to know some of them, just ask. But I won't bore you with that now).
And just to let you know, We don't have a hairdryer in our house and we dry our clothes on washing lines all the time. And we use led-lights, have solar panels, re-use rain-water, .......

Going off topic a little I guess but I love nothing better than hanging washing out. But do have a dryer for those periods of dismal UK weather. My hair dries naturally until almost dry then 1 min with a dryer to style it.

Shall I move these to a new thread?

Jx

 

[6441]

I think that the lack of a built in, rechargeable (and replaceable) battery in this day and age is a serious flaw for such a device.

Only if it's replaceable, and at what cost? I prefer batteries because you can buy them in almost any store. When you can, you connect to power, like in the studio, to ther compouter, but also to any USB charger.

 

[6441]

Shall I move these to a new thread?

Not really, unless we get into an extensive discussion about drying clothes 🙂

 

[6441]

Using audio out and USB power

Another tip as I get more familiar with the digital instrument in a saxophone body:

When using audio out, you'll want to longest and lightest cable to the YDS-150 1/8" audio output jack. I have several male/male 1/8" cables. What I need now is this adapter to go to an amp or mixer, both of which I use.

Actually, with regard to the previous commentsd about batteries, it would be a bit of a pain to have both audio out and USB cables, but sincve USB also gives you audio, it's not a big problem. I also have outboard USB power banks like this one.

 

[Vadda]

Could you recommend a pair of headphones to use with the YDS 150 ?

 

[6441]

Could you recommend a pair of headphones to use with the YDS 150 ?

I just used what I had in front of me, probably not the best. Big, heavy Senneheiser. But I think whatever you find comfortable will be fine. I wonder if they'd work with bluetooth? I think not, because it won't pair, but I haven't tried.

 

[h4yn0nnym0u5e]

I just used what I had in front of me, probably not the best. Big, heavy Senneheiser. But I think whatever you find comfortable will be fine. I wonder if they'd work with bluetooth? I think not, because it won't pair, but I haven't tried.

I think the Bluetooth audio is an input to the YDS-150, isn’t it? So you can play along with backing tracks. They would probably be the risk of a bit too much lag if it were an output.

 

[6441]

I haven't been able to connect Bluetooth audio to anything, even though it tries to connect to the phone. Because the app connects via bluetooth, i have Not tried to unpair and repair. There's no help in the manual or anywhere else I can find yet.

 

[SaxJack]

I got my Yamaha yesterday. I have found that sometimes some keys don’t work. I have changed setting like key responce and breath responce. And finally return them back. The keys 4-6 work better than 1-3. Could thre be a bug in the software? I’m beginner so my blow technic is far of good. But it is very strange that when e.g. I play notes B,A,G,B,A.. sometimes these work properly but sometimes nothing happend when I push them. If I don’t find the solution I go to show it the dealer on Monday.

 

[saxyjt]

Remember it's not a keyboard. You need to blow into the small end to produce sound, like in a real saxophone.

No wind, no speed! Like a sail boat... 😉

 

[SaxJack]

Remember it's not a keyboard. You need to blow into the small end to produce sound, like in a real saxophone.

No wind, no speed! Like a sail boat... 😉

Remember it's not a keyboard. You need to blow into the small end to produce sound, like in a real saxophone.

No wind, no speed! Like a sail boat... 😉

So I'm thinking that the problem may be blowerand not the instrument.