Dimitris1980 wrote on 2020-07-13, 18:18:

What about Yamaha mu10? It seems simple as a design.

Nothing wrong with it, as far as I know, but older and has only 32 voices of polyphony and a 4MB ROM . https://sonicstate.com/synth/_inc/specs_only.cfm?synthid=765

MU128, MU500, MU1000 and MU2000 are much more advanced and have bigger ROM sound banks .

Let's get to the point. Are there differences in quality and sound depending on capabilities of each Yamaha device? I am talking only for gaming. I do not also have a problem if the device is simple with only power button and volume knob (without lcd screen and other buttons).

Dimitris1980 wrote on 2020-07-14, 05:25:

Let's get to the point. Are there differences in quality and sound depending on capabilities of each Yamaha device? I am talking only for gaming. I do not also have a problem if the device is simple with only power button and volume knob (without lcd screen and other buttons).

Polyphony differences will likely not be an issue in most games, but at the very least, there will be differences in the sampled instruments, with the newer modules with bigger sound banks sounding arguably better . Differences in the synthesis and effects engines will also be apparent, with the newer modules, again, sounding arguably better .

To what point that would be significant to you is a question only you can answer. There are some youtube videos of Doom and Duke Nukem 3D sound track excerpts being played on various modules . You may not find exactly what you are looking for but MU500/MU1000/MU2000 should be quite similar in native mode for games and I can only imagine that the MU10 would be quite similar to a DB50XG or DB60XG or an XR385 (NEC clone or rebrand), considering their similar vintage, polyphony and soundbank size .

The Yamaha mu500, mu1000 and mu2000 are really beautiful. Especially mu1000 and mu2000 with all these buttons.

MU100 introduced a completely new GM sound bank. Older units are all based on the original MU80 bank. They sound completely different.

The high end modules include both banks. "MU100 Native" for the new, and "MU Basic" for the old.

High end also have digital toslink output, if you have a decent audio system, its a massive upgrade over the analog output. You can also use PLG boards too if you ever get the urge.

I only have a MU50 because that's the one I got for a reasonable price ^^

darry wrote on 2020-07-14, 05:41:

To what point that would be significant to you is a question only you can answer. There are some youtube videos of Doom and Duke Nukem 3D sound track excerpts being played on various modules . You may not find exactly what you are looking for but MU500/MU1000/MU2000 should be quite similar in native mode for games and I can only imagine that the MU10 would be quite similar to a DB50XG or DB60XG or an XR385 (NEC clone or rebrand), considering their similar vintage, polyphony and soundbank size .

The MU10 is basically the equivalent of a DB60XG.

However, it also is fully programmable, up to a level that none of the other MU modules are.

yawetaG wrote on 2020-07-14, 15:12:

darry wrote on 2020-07-14, 05:41:

To what point that would be significant to you is a question only you can answer. There are some youtube videos of Doom and Duke Nukem 3D sound track excerpts being played on various modules . You may not find exactly what you are looking for but MU500/MU1000/MU2000 should be quite similar in native mode for games and I can only imagine that the MU10 would be quite similar to a DB50XG or DB60XG or an XR385 (NEC clone or rebrand), considering their similar vintage, polyphony and soundbank size .

The MU10 is basically the equivalent of a DB60XG.

However, it also is fully programmable, up to a level that none of the other MU modules are.

In what way is the relatively low-end MU10 fully programmable in a way the higher end and newer Yamaha MU modules are not ? I am no musician, but that statement catches my curiosity ? Do you have some reference links/docs regarding this ?

darry wrote on 2020-07-14, 18:22:

yawetaG wrote on 2020-07-14, 15:12:

darry wrote on 2020-07-14, 05:41:

To what point that would be significant to you is a question only you can answer. There are some youtube videos of Doom and Duke Nukem 3D sound track excerpts being played on various modules . You may not find exactly what you are looking for but MU500/MU1000/MU2000 should be quite similar in native mode for games and I can only imagine that the MU10 would be quite similar to a DB50XG or DB60XG or an XR385 (NEC clone or rebrand), considering their similar vintage, polyphony and soundbank size .

The MU10 is basically the equivalent of a DB60XG.

However, it also is fully programmable, up to a level that none of the other MU modules are.

In what way is the relatively low-end MU10 fully programmable in a way the higher end and newer Yamaha MU modules are not ? I am no musician, but that statement catches my curiosity ? Do you have some reference links/docs regarding this ?

Yamaha synthesizers designed around Yamaha's AWM or AWM2 PCM synthesis methods usually have 16 or more parts to which patches (a sound) can be assigned. Almost all Yamaha AWM/AWM2 synthesizers and keyboards have edit on part level, where you can edit envelopes and filters of the part - i.e. if you change the patch assigned to the part, the settings of the part remain the same.

Each patch consists of 1 or more elements (single PCM waves). On the more advanced synthesizers, these elements can be edited in detail (envelopes, filters, etc.), thus editing the patch itself (and not the part). So you get two levels of editing, once at part level and once at patch level. On many prosumer and consumer level XG synthesizers that level of editing is not possible.

Yamaha's proto-XG modules (TG300, TG500) do have patch-level editing, but the MU-series does away with it (except the MU10).
The MU10 is supposed to be equivalent with the DB60XG (says Yamaha themselves), but shares its sysex editing abilities (basically editing the module's settings via special commands) with the Yamaha QS300 synthesizer - the only difference is that on the MU10 patches consist of two elements and on the QS300 of four elements. The sysex data is even referred to as "QS300" in the manual... However, you can't save edited voices on the module, so you need to use a computer-based editor.

If you want to fiddle with editing voices in detail I can recommend the TG300 instead (big screen, nearly all parameters accessible via interface, the element wave list is actually known, and 50 memory locations for your own patches - the only bit that sucks is switching to the user bank because it is explained very badly in the manual).

yawetaG wrote on 2020-07-14, 19:42:

Yamaha synthesizers designed around Yamaha's AWM or AWM2 PCM synthesis methods usually have 16 or more parts to which patches (a […]
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darry wrote on 2020-07-14, 18:22:

yawetaG wrote on 2020-07-14, 15:12:

The MU10 is basically the equivalent of a DB60XG.

However, it also is fully programmable, up to a level that none of the other MU modules are.

In what way is the relatively low-end MU10 fully programmable in a way the higher end and newer Yamaha MU modules are not ? I am no musician, but that statement catches my curiosity ? Do you have some reference links/docs regarding this ?

Yamaha synthesizers designed around Yamaha's AWM or AWM2 PCM synthesis methods usually have 16 or more parts to which patches (a sound) can be assigned. Almost all Yamaha AWM/AWM2 synthesizers and keyboards have edit on part level, where you can edit envelopes and filters of the part - i.e. if you change the patch assigned to the part, the settings of the part remain the same.

Each patch consists of 1 or more elements (single PCM waves). On the more advanced synthesizers, these elements can be edited in detail (envelopes, filters, etc.), thus editing the patch itself (and not the part). So you get two levels of editing, once at part level and once at patch level. On many prosumer and consumer level XG synthesizers that level of editing is not possible.

Yamaha's proto-XG modules (TG300, TG500) do have patch-level editing, but the MU-series does away with it (except the MU10).
The MU10 is supposed to be equivalent with the DB60XG (says Yamaha themselves), but shares its sysex editing abilities (basically editing the module's settings via special commands) with the Yamaha QS300 synthesizer - the only difference is that on the MU10 patches consist of two elements and on the QS300 of four elements. The sysex data is even referred to as "QS300" in the manual... However, you can't save edited voices on the module, so you need to use a computer-based editor.

If you want to fiddle with editing voices in detail I can recommend the TG300 instead (big screen, nearly all parameters accessible via interface, the element wave list is actually known, and 50 memory locations for your own patches - the only bit that sucks is switching to the user bank because it is explained very badly in the manual).

Thank you, this explains a lot and in terms even a layman can understand .

The Yamaha mu50 and the mu80 have differences regarding the AD input signal. What exactly is that?

Dimitris1980 wrote on 2020-07-17, 21:27:

The Yamaha mu50 and the mu80 have differences regarding the AD input signal. What exactly is that?

The AD input is used to run an external audio source through the MU unit's effects processor . Unless you plan to run your sound card's audio through the MU unit, you can probably ignore this functionality .

A fellow LGR fan, I see.

LGR has some cool videos on YouTube. I love the 486 midi tower building video.

Today i got a Yamaha mu50. According to your experience, which sound module is better to be enabled? Now the XG is on.

Hello Dimitris1980,
congrats on your acquisition! It should be fine to keep the module in GM mode by default. GS and XG files usually contain the SysEx codes to activate appropriate mode automatically.

Could you please record attached midis on the MU50? I would like to compare the sound with a couple of other XG synths.
Thanks in advance.

Thank you 😀. Until now i haven't done any recordings. The truth is that I haven't looked what equipment needs and i don't know what to do because my free time is so little. Maybe a program like audacity? I have recorded only amateur videos with my mobile. Below is a link on my youtube channel regarding Day of the Tentacle with Yamaha MU50. 😀.

https://youtu.be/G2lCVTxTGIA

Another acquisition. I found a new sealed Roland CM64. Probably i will have it tomorrow.

Dimitris1980 wrote on 2020-07-28, 08:37:

Another acquisition. I found a new sealed Roland CM64. Probably i will have it tomorrow.

CM64 is one of the best modules ever, but you really need to look at Japanese only systems to hear it truly sing. Sharp X68000 especially.

Roland CM64 sound module new and sealed came today to my office 😀