Yamaha’s Next-gen Performance Synth
Designed for the serious pianist, the Yamaha MODX M8 builds on its acclaimed predecessors’ impressive capabilities to deliver next-generation sound, expressive control, and workflow optimization in a sleek, lightweight, and roadworthy performance synth. Deeply expressive performances begin with a keyboard that responds instantly to your creative input, and that’s where the MODX M8 excels with its newly developed 88-note, graded hammer-action keybed and comprehensive control set featuring a logical top-panel control layout that provides intuitive real-time, hands-on tweakability. The MODX M8 is powered by three state-of-the-art Yamaha sound engines that serve up gritty classic analog synths, cutting-edge FM synthesis, vitalizing motion sequences, hyper-realistic instrument sounds, and more. It all adds to a formidable performance synthesizer that will elevate your music to the next level.
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Three beastly sound engines deliver a universe of sounds
Yamaha has equipped MODX M8 with three powerful interactive sound engines, each optimized for specific tasks, plus the groundbreaking Motion Control Synthesis system, which opens up new vistas of sound design possibilities with advanced features like Motion Sequences, the Super Knob, an Envelope Follower, and more. Integrated into the Motion Control system, the AN-X engine re-creates the warm, classic sounds and behavior of vintage analog synthesizers and provides the means to control them with two filters, 10 filter types, pulse-width modulation, oscillator self sync, ring modulation, frequency modulation, and wave share, plus variable voltage-drift and aging parameters. Offering up to 128 Elements per Part, the AWM2 sample-based engine gives you an expansive canvas for crafting emulative, richly layered, high-definition instrument sounds with plentiful articulations and vibrant dynamics, realism, and expression. Lastly, the FM-X engine takes classic 8-operator FM digital synthesis in a modern direction with complex, dynamic sound design potential.
Performance-focused design puts you in control
For easy transportation between home, stage, and studio, the MODX M8’s advanced technology is integrated into a lightweight, streamlined chassis that’s built to withstand the rigors of demanding professional schedules. Rocking an ergonomic top-panel control layout featuring eight physical faders, six dedicated display knobs, dedicated Part and Scene buttons that let you control eight parts per performance, and a color touchscreen, the M8 offers quick navigation and intuitive sound editing for an optimized workflow. As the MODX M8’s knobs, Super Knob, Pitch Bend, Mod Wheel, and sound engines are calibrated in high resolution, you’ll find the MODX M8 responds more smoothly than its predecessors. For authentic acoustic grand piano touch, the MODX M8 features Yamaha’s latest 88-key hammer action with graded weighting across the keyboard, giving you a heavier feel in the lower register and a progressively lighter feel the further up you play. Under the hood, MODX M8 offers an upgrade of up to 268 notes of polyphony across its three sound engines, plus a whopping 10.7GB of AWM2 memory and 1.9GB of User flash memory, enabling it to play and store the most complex modulating sounds and sequences you can conjure up.
Advanced technology optimized for stage and studio
Boasting technology ported from Yamaha’s flagship Montage M synthesizer, the MODX M8 offers a vast onboard arsenal of instantly accessible sounds along with intuitive performance controls to quickly modify and deploy them in the heat of a live gig. MODX M8 is quite impressive in the studio as well, although you may find you don’t need the actual instrument, thanks to the free Expanded Softsynth Plug-in (ESP) that replicates MODX M8 in your DAW of choice, allowing you to create, edit, and mix MODX M8 performances without the hardware. To get you started, you get a free download of Cubase AI, which covers the basics for recording, editing, and mixing on your computer. For DAW connectivity, MODX M8 is spec’d with USB/MIDI 2.0 and a 10-input, 4-output audio interface, which provide MIDI and multitrack audio recording and virtual instrument monitoring via a single USB cable for a streamlined studio setup. Ready to step up to a new level of sonic exploration and musical expression? The Yamaha MODX M8 will get you there. Grab yours at Sweetwater today!
Yamaha MODX M8 Features:
- Advanced 88-key performance synth for stage and studio
- Fully weighted, graded hammer-action keybed
- 3 sound engines and a comprehensive control set for next-generation sound, expressive control, and workflow optimization
- Motion Control Synthesis system opens up new vistas of sound design possibilities with Motion Sequences, the Super Knob, Envelope Follower, and more
- AN-X engine re-creates the classic sounds and behavior of vintage analog synthesizers; controls include 2 filters, 10 filter types, pulse-width modulation, oscillator self sync, ring modulation, frequency modulation, wave share, and variable voltage-drift and aging parameters
- AWM2 engine gives you an expansive canvas for crafting emulative, richly layered, high-definition instrument sounds with up to 128 Elements per Part
- FM-X engine takes classic 8-operator FM digital synthesis in a modern direction, with complex and dynamic sound design potential
- Top-panel control layout features 8 physical faders, 6 dedicated display knobs, dedicated Part and Scene buttons, and a color touchscreen for quick navigation and intuitive sound editing
- USB/MIDI 2.0 and 10 x 4 audio interface provide MIDI and multitrack audio recording and virtual instrument monitoring via a single USB cable for a streamlined studio setup
- Expanded Softsynth Plug-in (ESP) replicates MODX M8 in your DAW
- Included Cubase AI DAW software (free download)
