I just bought the 120 that was the only one available without ordering from Japan, at least just now. Being my very first sax or clari, I thought the investment was reasonable. The person in the shop assured me that it suits extremely well for practicing. Your video brought more peace to mind, and some hints how to adjust things. In fact the only real difference is the bell that is all plastic in 120 and the even more simple mouthpiece. What I loved from the first moment is the fact that with the default settings it made me practice blowing into the instrument properly, Thanks again, a good video for a person who was still unsure if this was a good purchase or not. Obviously the salesperson was right. Now I need to practice until it is reasonable to buy a real one.
Thanks for sharing your story. I'm in a similar place, wanting to learn to play the sax but can't because I live in a condo and it would be just too loud. Was thinking about starting learning with the YDS and then moving to a real saxophone (and practice playing in some kind of a rented studio or something). How is your experience so far?
I gave it a test run playing the offertory in Church today, Got good reviews, Planning to use it out at the Kettles this winter because of the batterys and the fact that it won't squeak after an hour and a half as real horns have done since I had a stroke back in April. Should be interesting, will be interesting to see how long the batteries last.
Good review! I've done several, as well. The automatic vibrato on most of the patches makes long notes to be avoided. I suggest the two best sounds are harmonica and flute. Great to practice but as he says, requires serious fingering accuracy. The quality of the sound via USB into a DAW is good and noise-free. Midi also works well.
Some updates. Jan 27 2021. The built-in speaker is wimpy. Play into headphones or through a small amp and it's a whole different thing! Several settings for reverb but none sound through the built-in speaker, but do sound through the headphone out jack. You can bluetooth sound INTO it, play along, and output BOTH via the headphone jack to an amp and/or recorder. You can't bluetooth OUT the sound from the YDS to a bluetooth speaker, you need to use the headphone out plug. (Some plug in a wireless transmitter to that.) Played through a speaker the sound is way, way better than you hear here. The APP is available for Apple, works fine.
Thanks for the info on the octave key (at your 7:50 time mark). I’m an experienced sax player and I got the YDS-150 about a week ago and I was wondering why the octave key wasn’t responding properly all the time. (I initially thought it was defective). You explained that the octave key is really just an on/off button for the octave change. Not like a regular acoustic sax. That made the difference! So I have to get used to that skill, which is okay. I just have think about that key differently and make hitting the octave key more deliberate. Thanks!
Hello from Dublin Ireland. Great review thanks. Do you think key work will hold up. Seems pretty clinkey listening to demo on my phone. Soprano seems the most authentic which is appropriate as it looks like a soprano sax. I envy guitarist s as they can just pick up their 🎸 and play any time so maybe nice to have one of these lying around to put in a few minutes spontaneous practice when you have that few minutes. They all add up!
Seeking help: I have purchased YDS 150 as a stepping stone hoping to graduate from Indian flute which plays like a recorder eventually into a acoustic Alto. I play the flute strictly by the ear, with no formal music training. Could you recommend the preset fingering setting that would precisely match with a traditional Alto! Thanks!!
Hi, seems like a fun instrument. Is the sound of the valves not disturbing when playing? Like to hear from you and I will see your other videos. Greetings from Holland.
I really love that the keys on this are much more like real sax keys so you could actually practice your fingering and scales. I really don't like the totally useless bell at the end. It just takes up space and looks silly in my opinion.
@@red120 Good question, but I have no idea. We'll have to see if anyone is brave enough to do a teardown video of one of these. I'd imagine that it's not essential though, and there'd have to be some way to remove it.
Will this help me play ‘In the mood’? Because that is the best song. I will purchase the electronic saxophone equipment that allows me to play that. And is this better than Selmer Mk8? Also I have about 35 boxes of peppermint flavoured reeds in my storage. I feel like I play so much more perfectly better if my reeds taste like candy. Yum! I strive for a sweet sound. Thanks, Dave. From now on can you play In the Mood in every single video? That’s the best song for music.
Hello, and thanks for the video...you are a wonderful sax player! I pre-ordered this sax and got it in November, and love it: It's light and has lots of wonderful sounds, comes with a carrying case, neckstrap, mouthpiece and two synthetic reeds. A couple of questions for you: 1) have you used the app? I can't find it on my app store; 2) have you recorded with it yet? We're experimenting with that now, and it would be great to see how you are doing it, and 3) where did you get that neckstrap? I had one years ago but can't find it, and can't find one for sale online, just have those big clunky strappy ones that are hard to hike up. Thanks again!
Thanks so much for the feedback! I actually only played it for this video, and then it sold afterwards. They are backordered for another couple of months, so I'll have to wait until then to try more. Sorry, and thanks!
Hello, I'm having a problem with the YDS 150 regarding the 20-way presets in the U bank plus my alternate super treble positions. After configuring my choices out of nowhere it erases and goes back to factory settings. This is normal? Have you ever had this problem? Sincerely.
So, it does not produce sound if the reed does not vibrate? Very cool! I'm not a sax player, though - so I'll stick to my WX5. Do you think it could be used for practice and that practice could be useful for real sax playing? On the WX5, the reed is a "pitch wheel". The WX5 has weird keys - they simulate sax and flute with some changes. I use the LV70-m for sound and it produces good sax sounds - it's, AFAIK, a physical modelling device. Wind instruments are the hardest to synthetize properly and, weirdly, flute seems to be even harder than sax and trumpet. Wind instruments have a chaotic element in the sound - the vibrating reed - and that's why MP3 affects metals the most. BTW, the only thing I heard that gets really near to reality is the Modartt Pianoteq physical modeling synth. Have you ever played the WX5 with the VL70-m? Thanks for the review! Awesome!!!!
Yeah, it's a plastic "reed" but doesn't vibrate. I think it could be good for practice, it's not the same as using an embouchure with a real reed, but it's at least something if you can't practice the real thing. Yeah, sax synthesis is apparently not easy. :) I've tried a WX5 before, and yeah, they're really cool! Thanks for the other info!
Hi, Congrats for your video! I'm a saxophonist here in Brazil and I'm buying the YSD 150 and I would like to know if for me to use the instrument to teach online it is necessary to connect it to an audio interface or it would work with the Bluetooth connection or the USB output of the instrument. How do I make this connection? Thanks you in advance!
I primarily got this to replace my 2 wx-7's which one were purchased in 1988 and the other backup -2010. I have yet to find out how to use it as a midi controller. Can someone clue me in on how this is done? Thanks. i setup all of my altissimo fingerings and I love this thing! HELP!!!!!
After a lifetime of playing sax I had my teeth out and can no longer play due to oral difficulties. Can any one advise whether to go YDS50, Yamaha WX11 , Roland Aerophone AE30 or Akai EWI5000 to revive my musicianship?? Thanks in advance
Sorry to hear it! I think all of those have their merits. The Yamaha feels closest to sax keywork for me. The Akai is amazing, but there's a little bit of a learning curve. The new Aerophone pro looks really promising - I have one on the way, but haven't tried it yet. I can update when I do. Thanks!
Yeah, I wanted to record with a mic (instea of direct in), so that you could hear how it actually sounds in a room. That being said, the mic picks up the clicking a lot, and it's nowhere that loud in real life. But still audible, in a quiet space.
someone knows how many fingerings can be added in octave 5, it turns out that I add a D5 and an Eb5 and when I put an E5 the others are erased, I try to do the same fingering that the WX5 had in that octave although in the WX5 it could be used in any Thanks
Good review, however to my ear it really doesn't sound like a saxophone more like a melodica to me. I can see it being used as a practice instrument in my apartment where I can't make noise at certain times of the night especially, and for that I think it would be worth purchasing. However I cannot imagine taking something like that out on a gig or to a recording session. Any how, thank you for the posting, it definitely was informative.
@@rightchordleadership Oh, I doubt that I'dt use it in a performance. And I'm guessing that's not what it's made for. What it DOES have that the EWI doesn't have is that the keywork feels a lot more like a saxophone in your hands. I could see using it to run through patterns or lines in a touring situation where I can't play in my hotel room.
I just got mine and it is amazing. Your video is the most informative I have found but do you know how to change the octave to the bottom button instead of the top button? My hands are large and the bottom button would work better form me. Thanks for your excellent video!
I had to quit playing the saxophone because of the vibration on my top front teeth. I have crowns that cannot be vibrated. Will I be able to play this sax if there is no vibration in the mouthpiece?
Just got one, but it seems that there's no felt or anything to attenuate the clicking sound when you release the B/B♭ key like you would have on a real sax. So there's a super loud clicking sound when going back and forth between C-B♭. Is it just missing from mine or is that on all of them? 🤔
What do you think about learning how to play saxophone on this? I want to learn, but I have roommates, and one of them does IT work from home, so being able to practice/learn on the YDS with headphones sounds extremely appealing.
I think it could get you a lot of the skills needed to play, but it doesn't make you play with a good embouchure. You basically just have to blow through it. So, while it can get you all the fingerings down, you'd still need to work on playing a real saxophone when you decide to take that step.
I want a bari so bad. I haven't played in decades, so I would basically be learning all over again. It sounds like you can't overblow this, but I don't know that I could anyway. This is less expensive and more versatile than a bari, and you made it sound just as funky. I only care about versatility because my husband wants me to play with him and is not a huge fan of bari. Given all of that, do you think this would be a good compromise? Then I might try to get an actual bari if I was able to save up.
I think you could make a lot of music on this, and have a great time! That being said, I love bari too (but don't own my own either), and there's nothing like the feeling of playing a big resonant bari sax!
@@schmittmusicsaxophoneshop4451 I usta love that vibration in my chest! I also would play until my lips bled. A good funky solo from a bari makes me say YAAAASSSS every time! Thanks for your response!
Yes! The sound is not dependent on embouchure like a real saxophone, so it only gets louder/quieter by how hard you blow. It's a digital sound, but doesn't take any special skill to make it sound better! Thanks!
Hi , need a suggestion I got a Jaw clicking issue ans unable to play sax , can I play it using less pressure of blowing , then I can get back to playing
I would imagine so, but I didn't get to try it. The ones I had sold before I could do any more experimentation! I hope to try some more stuff on the next round.
I had to quit playing the saxophone because of the vibration on my top front teeth. I have crowns that cannot be vibrated. Will I be able to play this sax if there is no vibration in the mouthpiece?
Hi Frank. It would help with the fingerings, but I'd really try to get a real sax to start with if at all possible, because one of the important parts of learning saxophone is getting a solid embouchure and learning to make a good sound with the mouthpiece and reed. But it certainly would help in some ways.
Sounds like you recorded from the on board speaker, if so, kind of did the demo a disservice for not allowing to hear the true quality when connected to a speaker.
Hi Sergio, I did use the onboard speaker. I did it on purpose for a first demo, but was planning on doing one through a speaker, and one directly into the audio interface. Then all of the ones I had sold, so I only got the first video out. I wanted to have one with the onboard speaker though, since a lot of people will use it that way for practicing, and I didn't see a lot of videos out there that showed what it sounded like in the room directly. When I get more in, I'll definitely show it plugged in though!
Yeah, it's not as loud as it seems in the video, but it's not silent like an EWI would be. An EWI is awesome if you can get used to the touch sensitivity!
Just realize before you buy this that the app cant be used on an Iphone. So becuase of this I probably wont be keeping mine. Good idea but I cant believe yamaha restricted there app to an android!!!
Have you tried using a headphone amp? I dont own the device but out of general experience with this level of gear they're more concerned with a clean output than pumping power to be loud enough.
It is great through headphones. You get the reverb out through the headphone jack. The speaker is weak, you really need to play through a small amp by outputting through the headphone jack.
First impressions? There was a professional sax player, who gave that instrument a thumbs down. I think his review was worth listening to , he does a lot of reviews on these type instruments. Here’s his review, ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-pPORBTANW04.html
yes...I've seen that - I don't think he's got it right (and in my view he didn't do a favour to his reputation). I recently bought a YDS and a Roland Go - there is no comparison in terms of feeling - the first is a digital sax...the other is just another of the many wind synth. Yamaha has done it's research right - the YDS is the very first which addressed the problem of playing a sax silently.
If only Yamaha would listen to the worldwide chorus of voices begging to fix that vibrato, please make it a choice! It eliminates the chance to sound like a professional musician, making the YDS-150 like those very old Casio toys.
Great review. But a digital sax that doesn't sound remotely like a saxophone? Don't see the point. Unless you like cheesy synth sounds I guess. I don't personally.
Computers can definitely sound like a real sax, even 10 years old software such as "Mr. Sax" sounds much much better than the YDS. (hear Mr. Sax tenor here ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-gtvmcRKsHto.html , alto here: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-9nmj1hFu1D8.html) I would expect a brand new product to have better sax sounds.
Wow, that is very cool! Pretty much the closest sax emulation I've seen. But (tell me if I'm wrong), that's an EWI with the samples being produced by a computer. I'm not sure if there's a standalone unit that can compare. I guess you could plug the YDS-150 into your computer and control that "Mr. Sax" software with it, and it'd get a similar result. That being said, the EWI in that clip is super cool, and I've always wanted one of those. It's certainly next level. :) That being said, I love the sound of a real sax, or the synthy stuff like this: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-opOUa1KcvBw.html
@@schmittmusicsaxophoneshop4451Correct. Computer indeed. But that was 11 years ago. I believe that today, the micro processor of the Yamaha YDS 150 could have handled the CPU load required by a 10 years old software. It's a very beautiful device. Petty the sound is so obsolete
@@NiceGalNice yeah. I saw him live in 1996, and it's what wanted me to want to be a saxophone player in the first place. Check him out playing actual saxophone as well. He's INSANE. :)
I don't disagree! It's great if you want to practice and can't make noise, but I'd probably hook it up to something with better synthesis/samples if I was going to perform on it.
Sounds like garbage. Brecker’s 35 year old EWI sounds way better than this toy. Sure, I get that it’s Brecker playing it but still... Might as well just buy this: Click N' Play Saxophone with 8 Colored Keys, Metallic Silver www.amazon.com/dp/B016TQ841U/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glc_fabc_RNk8FbDCQ0D27?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
