Looks like a good buy.. but I'm a girl, what do I know? 
by Newbie_2008 from MI, Florida, September 2008
Music Background:  Church Musician, Hobbyist...

Okay, I'm a pianist recently turned keyboardist and really thinking about getting this board. While I don't yet understand all the technicalities and ins and outs of this board, I'm sure I'll have fun finding out. It looks like it'll keep me occupied for a while.

  Not as good as these people say 
by Kevin B. from New Orleans, LA USA, June 2008
Music Background:  Electronic Musician

Let me start off saying that the weighted keys felt better than any keyboard in the stores I tried. The piano samples sound SOOOOOOO good. Also, when connected to the editor software, you can create some magnificent patches of your own.

The Bad:
- This guy won't fly. Its dimensions are too big for most airlines. So if you want to gig, you'd better be driving. There are no standard cases for it, so you have to go with a Motif8 case.
- It is VERY large, awkward, and HEAVY.
- No sampling. This is a bigger deal than you might think. While this keyboard has tons of waveforms and arpeggios to use, there is no way to get soft synths, drum samples, or vocals onto this unit.
- If you want to save your patches/patterns/songs, you need a USB thumb drive. That seems really cheap and impractical. I don't know why they couldn't put a hard drive in this thing rather than this little port for your thumb drive begging to get knocked out or lost (another question mark for live performance--where's my thumb drive?!).
- This keyboard works well with DAWs, except for mine: Ableton Live.

The sound engine is very powerful and the weighted keys feel great. It's just not good for live performance/tours or creating custom sample patches.

  Yamaha MO-8.....Mo for your $!!! 
by G. Morton from Houston, Texas, May 2008
Music Background:  weekend musician

I just picked up my new MO-8! I have a Yamaha S-80 and needed a keyboard with more capabilities. I could not be more pleased! The MO-8 is simply amazing. If you are looking for a new keys that can do it ALL, then the MO-8 is for you. Not alot of dough to get alot MO!!!

  Got It All 
by Jerry from Berkeley, CA, September 2007
Music Background:  Musician

This keyboard is toooooooo much. I've got everything. Wanted a small version of a B3 but sat down in the showroom and was blown away with all the sounds and filters. Great keyboard action

  MO bang for the buck 
by Raven 7 from Jacksonville, FL, August 2007
Music Background:  Pro Musician

Having a Roland Fantom-X7 and a Korg Triton Studio, I wasn't looking for another keyboard, but the MO8 changed my mind... its a truly awesome keyboard and is the perfect companion to my other synths. Its a super keyboard for a great price... you need one of these!

  One of Yamaha's best weighted hammer action KB's. Best workstation bang for the buck. 
by Brad from Ga, February 2007
Music Background:  Hobbyist

Coming back into the synth game after many years away, I spent a good deal of time getting re-aquainted with what was on the market. I looked at many of the big name workstations and VA keyboards. Graded hammer action was a must for my main KB. Quality sound was a definite must. Didn't need or want sampling because my computer does that just fine. Wasn't sure about aftertouch, so it wasn't important. The competition from the other big names is very nice, but I came away loving the Motif ES but believing that the MO8 was by far the most capable for the price. After several months I can honestly say I believe I made a great choice.

What's GREAT about the MO8 is the USB connection, DAW control from the worksation, Studio Connections concept, quality of sound, uncompromising keyboard feel, sheer vastness of waveform selection and ways to manipulate the sounds, capabilities that will take most anyone a long time to exhaust. The preset voices, drum kits (wow - there are so many and they are GOOD), and performances just have to be heard to be appreciated. The several hundred built-in arpeggios (including drum loops) are really good.

What's not so great? The pitch/mod wheels could be a bit further to the right (it may just me me, but it's a bit of a reach), end caps could be made from tougher material, and Yamaha's voice and multipart editors could use some polish.

The Studio Connections software is coming along great. I love the concept. Yamaha needs to release some more applications and add some polish to the UI pattern they're using - they have an uninspiring user interface.

  Yeah I Love It 
by Blackcloudsent from Indianapolis, Indiana US, January 2007
Music Background:  Musician, Composer, Producer

It's a great keyboard for some one who either plays live or in the studio. It's not as expensive as some of the other keyboards and it sounds great. I use it as a midi controller and record it live too.

  Yamaha MO8 is awesome!!!!!! 
by Brandon Howard from Columbus, Ohio, December 2006
Music Background:  Pianist, Keyboardist, Composer, Arranger

I have been comparing workstation keyboards for quite awhile now. I've played the Roland Fantom X8, Korg Triton Extreme, Korg Triton Studio, and of course the Yamaha Motif ES8. All great keyboards, no doubt, but the there was something about the Yamaha MO8 that really got my attention.

After messing around on it, I realized I loved it not just because of the great piano action (that was important to me), but the sounds as well. They're crystal clear..., and most of the features come straight from the Motif ES8 but in a more affordable package, which I really liked. The acoustic pianos, rhodes, and organ, along with a generous collection of contemporary sounds for today's music were so realistic, and the drum kits are killer!!!! I compose and arrange music as well as play in a band, so I need to have the sounds and features to do that the best way I can. I believe the MO8 will not only inspire me to write a lot of great music, but also enhance my performances on stage. I don't do any sampling, and there's so many sounds on this keyboard that the lack of expandability isn't really a big deal. That's why I'm choosing this over the Motif ES8. Plus, the layout on this thing seems pretty easy, which I like. I have a good feeling the MO8 soon be in my studio. If you haven't checked it out, I recommend you do.

  MO 8 Rockin' the world 
by K. Rudess from Boston,MA, December 2006
Music Background:  Master Keyboardist

Already having owned a K2600, I just can say this machine will stay for a long time as a music work station, the sounds are really impressives with a big 175 MB of wave ROM it has all I need for A to Z projects, it was a hard decision deciding to sell my K2600, but I think the only rival for this monster could be the Triton Extreme with a massive 160 MB, the really top of the line of Yamaha MO 8 is the guitars and metals (Brass Fall, one of my favorites), and what to say about organs, woodwinds and strings...

  My Frst Synth 
by Michael Williams-Wright from Boston, MA, July 2006
Music Background:  Musician, Recording Engineer (in training).

I've never owned a synth before the MO8. But I have to say that this baby is much more than I've ever dreamed it would be!
It doesn't have a sampler, but I am also a proud owner of Sonar4PE, which does. (and that played a huge role as to my decision to buy the MO8 as opposed to the Motif ES8)
I have a controller keyboard with a Kurzweil PC2R sound module. I thought that my Kurzweil was the cats meow, until I heard the MO8!! Totally awesome indeed! The guitars alone would have been worth the price, but add to that all the other acoustic, electric, and synth sounds, not to mention the arpeggios and editing features and..... well...need I say more?
This synth is now at the helm of my home studio. Every time I've finished a project, with the MO8 as my "main attraction", I've recieved nothing less than praise from listeners and clients alike!
If your looking for a synth that "covers all the bases", and can mesh into any studio invironment with ease, then the MO8 you have to check out.

Awesome Keyboard!!!!!!!! 
by Thornton Hudson Jr from Washington, DC USA, January 2006

This Keyboard is probaly better than the Motif ES Series. I brought the MO8 whne it first came out and I'm very please with its sequence and pattern features and the Weighted Action is totally off the hook. The pianos (acoustic and electric), Basses,guitars, drums, syn leads and pads and brass is one of the best sounds I've heard. If you you haven't checked it out it a-must-go-see-for-yourself kind of thing. Hopefully this review helps a lot of people.

This looks promising. 
by Nathanael Davenport from Rexburg, ID USA, January 2006

I don't know about you guys, but this looks like a very promising keyboard. I am a sucker for a good weighted-hammer action, and though I've never felt this board's action, if it is the exact same one as the S90 ES, then it feels great. I think I'm going to sell my Keystation Pro 88 and get one of these.

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