Misc Reviews Yamaha YDS-150 Wind Synth

[6441]

I got my Yamaha yesterday. I have found that sometimes some keys don’t work.

I have had it for 11 days now. I'm not an experienced saxophone player, but I know a lot about switches, software and "keyboards". If you blow steadily into the mouthpiece (an achievement in and of itself!) and play a short scale that uses the suspect keys, they should all fiunction. Also try moving between just a few of them at a time, up and down on three or four notes. Or memorize a short exercise and practice it. Is it getting any better? If so, then you need to practice. If they keys still don't seem to function properly, there may well be a hardware or software problem.

I've looked at a lot of demos by very advanced, experienced saxophonists. I can occasionally hear a few very slight "miskeys", and these are people chose to demonstrtae, sometimes brand ambasadors. Remember, they could have done retakes or edited until there were no such things oin evidence. When I play mine, it's the same, the fingering of switches will never work exactly like a traditional instrument. In fact, my mantra from the start was, and is still:

The YDS-150 is NOT a saxophone.

So, in short, I wouldn't say it's your fault, but you probably need more practice. The coordination and accuracy on this digital instrument is actually more demanding than the saxophone. But there could be an issue with the unit you have.

Here's me testing the fingering response via MIDI which has even greater triggering lag.

https://soundcloud.com/randulo%2Fyds-150-midi-only

View: https://soundcloud.com/randulo/yds-150-midi-only

 

[6441]

If you're watching this thread, all sound files have been moved to a private Soundcloud playlist:

View: https://soundcloud.com/randulo/sets/yds-150-files-by-randulo/s-H2B8GuhKKA4

 

[Miles Green]

Hello, I'd like to ask those who have used the YDS150 what they think of it as practice instrument.
I've been playing the soprano, almost 2 years now. I know it won't help embouchure, maybe even the opposite.

My main question is regarding the keywork: is it close enough to a real sax so that it could help with exercises? I see no rollers, for example. I would gladly practice scales, and maybe the method exercises with it, if it helps me with the real instrument.

If that works, it might be a go for me, i will definitely need a silent practice instrument in the summer.

Thanks for the input!

 

[6441]

I haven't tried the other brands' products, such as the Roland AE models, but I have a WX5. The YDS-150 feels much more like a real saxophone. Practicing and working out melodies is a pleasure. Embouchure and lip control are unfortunately not at all in play. I never noticed the lack of rollers! It feels about the same. The decision boils down to wanting to pay a price that could give you a used alto. How important is the sound? They're pretty bad. How important is silent practice? It's excellent! The weight is low. You can play at very low volume. Using effects works better because the real sax sound can be turned off.

I'm enjoying the experience, now I use the YDS-150 part of the day and the alto at different times. I believe practicing on it is worthwhile, because accuracy is more important in this instrument, a small glitch will not sound like a grace note.

 

[Vadda]

I agree in everything with Randulo.
I had a Roland AE-05 and it is absolutely not comparable, it had really bad ergonomics.
With the YDS, the feeling is that of a sax with very very light keys, you don't miss the rollers
The silent practice is absolutely pleasant and very useful.

 

[6441]

Check out my latest version of the ballad of the month! I wanted to see if I could make real music with this plastic thing.

By the way, for anyone who happened over here from the other place, it's great to see you! Hope to hear you soon, too.

 

[6441]

Here's another little detail: If you use the fingering for Bb LH1 RH 123 it works, but you can't slide between the notes Bb and B. It's software-switched on the YDS-150, one or the other note will sound.

 

[Miles Green]

Thanks for your help, i think i'm sold.
The neighbours will be ecstatic! 😛

 

[Miles Green]

Here's another little detail: If you use the fingering for Bb LH1 RH 123 it works, but you can't slide between the notes Bb and B. It's software-switched on the YDS-150, one or the other note will sound.

For the lower Bb?
Because of the lack of roller? Hmmm. Fortunately it's not that often i need to do that. Thanks for the alternate fingering tip.

If i need to do B->Bb I usually roll my entire left hand, pressing the Bb spatula key with the entire length of my pinky... The roller, at least on my sax, doesn't make it very easy to roll. But maybe that works on the YDS150?

 

[6441]

Not low, middle. LH 1 finger, RH 123 (or any of 1, 2, 3)

 

[6441]

This is probably the best demo I've sen so far.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rd3DWpPEOnI

 

[h4yn0nnym0u5e]

Not low, middle. LH 1 finger, RH 123 (or any of 1, 2, 3)

Any one of RH123, or any combo? I’ve been known to use LH1+RH12 for an A# when there’s an E soon before or after, seems to confuse my tiny brain less... (out of the box, obviously - I know you could set it up).

 

[6441]

You (one or both or you) may be missing the point. The YDS hits the proper notes, but you can't slide between them like you can on a saxophone. You have to play a Bb and slide up one half step to B with the analog controller.

 

[Miles Green]

Ah, i see. But the Bis key and the side key (LH 1 2 and RH side) work fine i assume?

 

[Miles Green]

i think i got it now Randulo!

 

[6441]

I realize that is a novelty effect, but I do use it from time to time.

 

[6441]

see if you hear the difference:

bflat.wav - Box

the yds plays a grace note.

 

[h4yn0nnym0u5e]

You (one or both or you) may be missing the point. The YDS hits the proper notes, but you can't slide between them like you can on a saxophone. You have to play a Bb and slide up one half step to B with the analog controller.

No, I got that, you were perfectly clear! I was just wondering how many key combinations Yamaha had crammed in... when I was trying to build a controller out of a cheap soprano, I counted 23 keys (plus octave), which is just shy of 8.4 million possible combinations. Most of those are likely to be unusable, of course.

I didn’t consider key-based sliding - if I ever revisit that project I’ll have to give it some thought.

 

[6441]

There are a lot of tricks, some don't work on every horn, others only work for a certain touch. I don't know if there's a limit to the fingering combos you can program. The alternative Bb fingerings I know do all work, RH 1, 2, 3 orr any combo with LH 1, for instance. When I play an A on the alto with LH 12, flapping the keys with RH123 makes a little nuance. Of course, it does nothing on the YDS. And so, there are yet more indications of the same old song,

♩the YDS-150 is ♩♩♩digital , but it is NOT a saxophone¹.
¹and it doesn't sound much like one, either.

 

[6441]

Yo, @Vadda would you mind posting your invention to fix the angle for the YDS-150, please?