Misc Reviews Yamaha YDS-150 Wind Synth

[10kvClockMan]

Something I forgot to mention - also the audio output of the MacBook comes out to the headphones through the YDS-150 using MIDI. This means that once you have selected an instrument in GarageBand and play along to a YouTube backing track or a MP3, you hear in your headphones the instrument you have selected in GarageBand, this is extremely cool as for example you play a synthesiser and hear it in your headphones. This vastly extends the range of instruments available.

If you connect it to GarageBand (GB) and put the headphones on. The output of GB instruments comes into your ears. So if you are playing a Clarinet instrument it sounds great in your ears when you are playing the YDS. Also if you put the backing track into GB and get the beat right, you can play along to the backing track and record. I have had to do a bit of learning to get this to work in time, but the results are great. You can then replay the tracks and add additional instruments like trumpet trombone or bass guitar.

 

[6441]

Yet another video I made to use the YDS as a MIDI instrument. The first part is done with a keyboard, the second with the YDS through the USB connector.

View: https://youtu.be/G66VdJfIkhc

 

[6441]

And another YDS-heavy recording from yesterday and today. YDS in 7/4 time, too, with bari, tenor and blues harp sounds. Also some 'real' alto, soprano, guitar.

https://soundcloud.com/randulo%2Fchilds-play

View: https://soundcloud.com/randulo/childs-play

 

[Nivelo]

After a little dispute with my initial 3D printer I can recommend the following link for anyone looking for an adapter to fit the YDS150 and at £8.50 very reasonable price https://www.sgd3d.co.uk/

Thanks @shamba504424 for this link, and @Vadda for the 3d files. I used sgd3d and they were great, very helpful and friendly.

 

[6441]

Related news: Since I also own a WX5 and VL70m, I purchased a "WIDI" wireless MIDI adapter pair. (Just under £94 for the pair. That link is an affiliate link. Should you purchase through it, I get a few pence.)

The WX5 becomes far less unwieldy without that cable. The VL70m has more and better sounds than the YDS-180 and a lip sensor, so the question is,

"Do I regret spending a large chunk of change on the YDS?"

The answer is no. Neither one of the electronic instrumens is anything close to a real saxophone, but they both have their place, they both do interesting things in certain contexts.

The WX5 will actually work better on stage, because the sound module will go through the PA, whereas the YDS would need a cable to get decent sound,and that cable has to connect to the sound system. On the other hand, the YDS can sit next to you and be picked up on a whime from practice or recording.

 

[6441]

YDS would need a cable to get decent sound

Although I did try a wireless guitar pair that works, so it can be done. The YDS feels and reacts more like a saxophone. The WX has extra octaves both above and below so the octave key on it needs to be mastered.

 

[10kvClockMan]

I have been playing with this now for a few weeks and although I am just a beginner, I have found it most enjoyable. I do not like the digital sounds in GarageBand so I tried something new. I put the sax into Tenor mode T04 which is quite breathy and then using a iRig2 took the analogue output from the sax to the recorder. The results are much better as the YDS-150 has a great Tenor sound. By creating a mic track in GarageBand I was able to input the digital sax live and then playing with the settings get it to sound a little more mellow. I also tried some of my own improvisations which sort of worked. Anyways here is the final result full recognition to Dan Short who provided the backing track on YouTube , be kind ......

https://soundcloud.com/10kvclockman%2Fwonderful-world-full

View: https://soundcloud.com/10kvclockman/wonderful-world-full

 

[6441]

I put the sax into Tenor mode T04 which is quite breathy and then using a iRig2 took the analogue output from the sax to the recorder.

This does sound better than most everything I've heard of the sax sounds. Congratulations!

 

[10kvClockMan]

https://soundcloud.com/10kvclockman%2Fgeorgia-impro-22-05-2021-16

View: https://soundcloud.com/10kvclockman/georgia-impro-22-05-2021-16

Oh I am not great but I love this sax sooooo much. I tried improvisation and got it all over the place but I am gaining confidence. The only 'voice' I like on the entire sax is T04 which is Tenor Sax breathy. For any other sound I play it in midi to GarageBand and choose an instrument from their soundbank.

 

[6441]

Tenor sounds good!

 

[nigeld]

Yes - most people have complained about the sax sounds on the YDS-150, but that tenor one is pretty good.

 

[10kvClockMan]

Yes - most people have complained about the sax sounds on the YDS-150, but that tenor one is pretty good.

I wonder if there will be a firmware update with new features and sounds. I can't seem to put this down. I have tried to see if the practice plays out on my Conn M10 naked lady tenor and it does. However the breathing and embouchure is something that can only be done on the real thing. This means that my neighbours still start screaming and sobbing uncontrollably at 3 in the morning, banging on the walls.

 

[Yansalis]

More power to you in what you are doing, but at 3 am, even if you played like an angel, they'd be in the right.

 

[hedgehog]

https://soundcloud.com/10kvclockman%2Fgeorgia-impro-22-05-2021-16

View: https://soundcloud.com/10kvclockman/georgia-impro-22-05-2021-16

Oh I am not great but I love this sax sooooo much. I tried improvisation and got it all over the place but I am gaining confidence. The only 'voice' I like on the entire sax is T04 which is Tenor Sax breathy. For any other sound I play it in midi to GarageBand and choose an instrument from their soundbank.

That really does sound good. You may have convinced me to at least take this to the budget committee. Nice playing, too.

if I just plugged in headphones would the sound be the same? That is does the iRig change the sound at all?

 

[saxyjt]

I'm a bit frustrated as I've been considering buying one of these for a while now, but every time I look, they are out of stock with no estimated delivery date. And I hate that! So I keep postponing the purchase...

That would most likely help me practice more than I do today...

 

[10kvClockMan]

That really does sound good. You may have convinced me to at least take this to the budget committee. Nice playing, too.

if I just plugged in headphones would the sound be the same? That is does the iRig change the sound at all?

Hi the iRig just lets me take the input into my macbook. If you have a line in on your pc then there is no need for the iRig interface. The instrument has an analogue 3.5 mm jack and a usb. This analogue headphone jack lets you record, I use a double adapter to my headphones so I can monitor the output of the sax. Also wonderfully, the backing tracks from the mac come to the sax through the midi usb connection so when I play the sax mixes the backing track with my tuneless offerings

 

[10kvClockMan]

I'm a bit frustrated as I've been considering buying one of these for a while now, but every time I look, they are out of stock with no estimated delivery date. And I hate that! So I keep postponing the purchase...

That would most likely help me practice more than I do today...

I also drove myself mad trying to get one and eventually bought a brand new un opened one from a seller on eBay in the states. With import duty it cost me about £850 which is well over the RRP price here but there was no stock anywhere and still no sign of any coming in. I did a search tonight on eBay and found the same seller Yamaha YDS 150 DIGITAL SAXOPHONE BRAND NEW SEALED IN THE BOX!!! | eBay
He has raised the price!!!! I could find nowhere else when I was looking.

 

[6441]

Hmmm, maybe I should sell mine for £900 ! It's brand new condition. But it's too handy and I enjoy it too much. By the way, be sure to save backups of voices and fingerings as they occasionally mess up, I find.

 

[10kvClockMan]

Latest piece "My Way" recorded with GarageBand.

https://soundcloud.com/10kvclockman%2Fmy-way-31-05-2021-18

View: https://soundcloud.com/10kvclockman/my-way-31-05-2021-18
The big difference here is that I have found that you can upload the backing video to GarageBand and then create an analogue track to record the YDS-150. By setting the preferences in GarageBand to SAX MIDI input but connecting the analogue output from the sax to the macbook, the sax is recorded in its track without the backing track. Next step (proving tricky) is to export the sax only backing track and convert that to midi and then to add the midi track to the project. If I am successful with this, I would then be able to use the midi file to re voice the sax to say violin. Will let you know how I get on.

 

[6441]

Sounds great! When I record the audio from YDS-150 toLogic, I just have one stereo track that is the backing. I create an empty audio track, set it to record. Then I mix the level of the sax if needed, then export to a stereo audio file. It sounds like you are going through at least one extra step. Logic is the big sibling to Garage Band, they're very similar in operation.