Sujet Cirklon vs Pyramid : discussion sur les séquenceurs hardware

ah 120 ans de tickets restos le rêve

pour ma part, je lache l'affaire, honnêtement, de moins en mois envie d'investir du temps dans l'utilisation du matos électronique, depuis quelques temps dès qu'il y à un un manuel à lire et des tutos a regarder, j'y réfléchis à 2 fois et au final j'achète rien

Yamaha X-series MIDI System : TX816 Rack, QX1 Digital Sequencer, KX88 Master Keyboard
by David Ellis

Article from Electronics & Music Maker, May 1985

At last, a detailed appraisal of Yamaha's state-of-the-art MIDI system. FM rack, digital keyboard recorder and master keyboard come under David Ellis' careful scrutiny.

We take an extensive look at Yamaha's flagship modular MIDI system. The verdict? It's probably the most expensive, most complex and most impressive such set-up currently available.

The QX1, on the other hand, is a rather different kettle of fish - it doesn't really have any sort of precedent, either from Yamaha themselves or from any other company currently engaged in MIDI sequencer activities. To start with, it's the first sequencer that makes a stab at parallel MIDI buses. And just as important is the jettisoning of recalcitrant cassette interfaces and dubious data recorders in favour of a decent double density disk drive (try saying that when you're seeing pink algorithms). But not all is sweetness and light. The major question has to be whether or not it makes a lot of sense producing a hard-wired MIDI sequencer for the hardly insubstantial sum of £2499, when personal computers that could in theory do as much for a lot less are positively in abundance - and with the added benefit of a proper display, more memory, and a less idiosyncratic QWERTY keyboard, too.

Because no matter what Yamaha might want you to believe, the QX1 is nothing more nor less than an eight-bit (6809 processor) micro with 64K of RAM; an extremely non-standard keyboard (neither QWERTY, DVORAK, nor anything else known to man or mouse); fairly vestigial display facilities (a two-row by 40-column LCD); highly specialised I/O circuitry (the eight parallel MIDI Outs, one each of MIDI In and Thru, tape sync, click out, and foot switch); and an 800K (formatted) 5.25" disk drive.

QX Conclusions

Let's make no bones about it: the QX1 is a magnificent sequencer. But it's also a classic example of fairly cheap computer technology being hard-wired into the format of a rather expensive musical tool. And bearing in mind the imminent emergence of cheap, high performance 16-bit micros with ultra-sophisticated and user-friendly front ends, it's a difficult juggling act to tip the balance of performance vs. cost in the direction of the Yamaha.

Aside from the squeaking disk drive, which is bad news on a machine of this price, my main qualms rest with a) the choice of processor, which surely doesn't have a chance in hell of adequately servicing eight separate MIDI buses to the 128-note polyphony extent of the TX816's capability, and b) the rather limited display, which makes life more difficult than it should be on a unit that sets out to do as much as the QX1.