I have a Yamaha MX49 keyboard and I'm not an expert at this stuff yet, what are some interesting things that I can do and some tips that you guys have for that keyboard?
Yamaha MX49
- Thread starter cole’s_keys
- Start date
The MX series is a monster line, but Yamaha designed a few shortcomings to keep them cheap.
- you need a computer and one of the editors to dive deep into programming, you can't do much from the front panel. With the editor, you can program settings for up to 16 parts, each with separate MIDI channels, key ranges, velocity ranges, and so on.
- the DAC is somewhat cheaper than most, a bit grainy, and the output is a bit low so you may have to boost it for stage
- Endless inspiration! With all the arpeggios, sequences, loops, and sounds, you can sit down at the end of a bad day, randomly call something up, and start playing with ideas, and smile.
- Back up your setups regularly; I used a tiny USB flash drive and left it attached at the back. I use a separate setup for each band I am in, that is saved to the USB. Then I load a single performance if I need it.
- After you have your current setup backed up, do a factory reset and play around with the arps, loops, etc.
- The MX series has USB MIDI and audio, but you need the drivers.
- Full size keys! Or almost full size. In this price range, many manufacturers shrink their keys, making them exhausting to play.
I found so many shortcomings with other keyboards that the MX series is an excellent choice for any muso, and ideal as a 2nd board onstage.
- you need a computer and one of the editors to dive deep into programming, you can't do much from the front panel. With the editor, you can program settings for up to 16 parts, each with separate MIDI channels, key ranges, velocity ranges, and so on.
- the DAC is somewhat cheaper than most, a bit grainy, and the output is a bit low so you may have to boost it for stage
- Endless inspiration! With all the arpeggios, sequences, loops, and sounds, you can sit down at the end of a bad day, randomly call something up, and start playing with ideas, and smile.
- Back up your setups regularly; I used a tiny USB flash drive and left it attached at the back. I use a separate setup for each band I am in, that is saved to the USB. Then I load a single performance if I need it.
- After you have your current setup backed up, do a factory reset and play around with the arps, loops, etc.
- The MX series has USB MIDI and audio, but you need the drivers.
- Full size keys! Or almost full size. In this price range, many manufacturers shrink their keys, making them exhausting to play.
I found so many shortcomings with other keyboards that the MX series is an excellent choice for any muso, and ideal as a 2nd board onstage.
Thank you!! this is very helpful. I’ll see what I can do with my computer.
The Melas software is the only game in town for the MX series, and IMO, critical for working with and understanding this keyboard. Being able to easily deep edit the performances (such as adding up to 16 voices layered as opposed to 2 is worth the price alone). The voice editor lets you see how everything relates and just makes it easier to understand what’s going on.
To help with the gain, see this video:
This guy’s channel: https://m.youtube.com/@mdmusiz is excellent. He has several videos on editing using the interface that are incredibly helpful. He also offers a free download of several performances and user voices that are great.
Yeah I’ve noticed the gain is weird but I have not seen this video yet. Thanks
FWIW, there is PLENTY of gain available on the mx, but the default performances and voices seem to be woefully quiet. It’s too bad it comes configured this way.
There are a several things going on:
1. The performance eq is flat.
2. The performance volume and part volumes are low.
3. The overall voice volume can be low.
The individual parts of the voices can be low.
4. There may be an insert effect on the individual voice, such as damper, that is keeping the vol low.
The last one is the case on the initial piano sounds.
There is a free demo of the Melas software. At least with the demo you can see the layout of the performance/voices/effects/etc… and get a good idea of where things are.
Vycro MX is another PC editor for Yamaha MX series. AFAIK works with MX49 and MX61, not sure about MX88. The author made the pro version free at some point.
Here is a link to the Vycro MX Pro 1.12 Setup:
drive.google.com
Here is a link to the Vycro MX Pro 1.12 Setup:
Vycro MX Pro 1.12 Setup.exe
drive.google.com
Hey Eli - I’ve tried to get Vycro to run on my pc and laptop and can’t. I’m running Win11pro and 11home on the respectively. On both, it starts for a second and then closes.Vycro MX is another PC editor for Yamaha MX series. AFAIK works with MX49 and MX61, not sure about MX88. The author made the pro version free at some point.
Here is a link to the Vycro MX Pro 1.12 Setup:
Vycro MX Pro 1.12 Setup.exe
I’m wondering if you’ve been successful running it, and if so, what’s your configuration?
Unfortunately I never owned any Yamaha MX, so I have no idea. Did you try to run Vycro MX in a compatibility mode?
Oh yeah, definitely. I went through a bunch of hoops trying to get it to stay running.
There’s a Mac version of it too, but it’s so old my MacBook won’t even install it.
Anyway, I was hoping to hear from someone running it just to narrow down if it was my setup. I bought the Melas software and have been using that successfully (on my MacBook). It has some quirks too, but it’s been incredibly useful.