Upgrading from CK61 to YC61

[jamesmiller]

Have a CK61 and really love the hands on and direct knows and sliders...And am concidering upgrading
to the YC61. Are sounds on YC "Way better" or just a little. 3 Voices on CK YC? I know build quality on YC
is far superior but waht about weight? Found a used YC61 for $1499 and can sell my CK for $500 making is
$1000 for the upgrade. I play in a jam band, Phish, Dead, Goose ect

Nord Electro5D
Korg Nautilus61
Yamaha MODX6
MiniNova
CK61
Roland FA06

[anotherscott]

As a whole, I'd say the YC sounds are much better (obviously superior tech when it comes to the tonewheel organ/Leslie emulation and the FM sounds), but the YC also has far fewer sounds (with the notable exception of pianos/EPs where the CK is the one with less).

[jamesmiller]

Thanks Scott. My Nord handles organ but I do love the synth and pad sounds the CK has.

[anotherscott]

I do love the synth and pad sounds the CK has.

That makes it harder to answer the question of how much "better" the sounds on one are than the other. When comparing, say, the sounds of their organs, pianos, strings, brass, etc., even if not everyone alway agrees about which is better, at least we know what real organs, pianos, strings, and brass sound like, we have a point of reference. Synths and pads? There's no real world reference for what these things should sound like, so the level of subjectivity is even greater.

If you like FM synth/pad sounds, then the YC has an edge, because it has an actual FM sound engine in it. Other than that, the synth/pad sounds in both keyboards are based on samples, and for those, I would give the CK the edge because it has far more synth/pad sounds in it to begin with (to use as is, or to use as starting points to further manipulate), I think about 3 or 4 times as many, and also because the front panel filter/envelope manipulations available to you are better.

[davlippo7]

Consider this:

Add the SeqTrak using a single USB-C to your YC61 (plays back through internally both MIDI & Audio & powers the unit) giving your YC 2,000 more sounds and everything else it can do. I'm at least going to check it out. Then the CK would be inconsequential and it's way too cheap to be taken seriously.

I'll try to find a used/return or open box for $300 because all I want if for is the rompler but then you can also play with it as stand alone.

So with 2,000 + presets and 128 poly for $300 is 15 cents each and I promise Yamaha won't be adding 2,000 voices to the YC which is its greatest weakness. I know the samples aren't world class however it does advertise advanced AWM2 voices and a real editable FM engine in the SeqTrak.

[Tomoyama]

I have owned a YC73 for about 2 years, and a CK61 for about 6 months The sounds in the YC are superior, but not vastly so. Both have a good user interface, but the newer CK interface is an improvement over the YC in my opinion. So the YC, being the older model, is not an upgrade in that respect. Your question about 3 voices, I think you are asking if you can save three different sounds to a single live set sound? Yes, defintely on the CK, any three sounds. On the YC, you are limited to two sounds plus an organ, so yes, three sounds only so long as one of them is an organ. You cannot, for example, on the YC save an acoustic piano, an electric piano, and a string pad to one live set sound.

[davlippo7]

The YC under master controller can play 4 channels at once so by adding the SeqTrak you can add 4 channels to your YC.

Channel 8 = Synths/AWM2, 9 = Synths/AWM2, 10 = FM/DX & 11 = Custom Samples however not chromatic so I just use the first (3) channels.

Thus your YC has (3) internal and then (3 or 4) additional channels with thousands of more quality sounds w/FM/DX for a total of (6 to 7) channels.

It then becomes equivalent to the Nord Stage for half the price and can probably do more with SeqTrak functions. The YC73 is a work of art IMO but the SeqTrak sort of recues it because it's still very limited on internal voices apart from the organ section.

Look for my photos under "Re: New Yamaha SEQTRAK" page 5 I think

[anotherscott]

It then becomes equivalent to the Nord Stage for half the price

Well, that over-states it a bit.

If you're just talking about the number of sounds you can split/layer, the Nord Stage 3 (the model I am most familiar with) did 6 internal plus 2 external for 8 total. (though the 6 internal were restricted to 2 organ, 2 piano library, 2 other). Compared to the YC61, the least expensive NS3 also provided 73 keys, aftertouch, assignable outputs, knobby VA synth, custom sample loading, and front panel controls (instead of menu diving) to configure/manage the external sounds. Though the YC has some advantages of its own as well.

[davlippo7]

Yeah but half the price!

And then take the other $3,000 you saved and add a PB12 or M6 or Moog Muse stacked and now does it beat the NS4? Oh Yeah!

Never place all eggs in one basket unless you indeed are The Easter Bunny.

Nord is the option if you can only carry one board on the road and nothing else but no reason to have one in a studio because you have a million other options for a lot less money.

[mx49]

At the end, the important part is what a keyboard player can do with a keyboard, and not what the keyboard can do. The Nord Stage keyboards are popular, because many keyboard players have the feeling that they can get more out of a Nord Stage than other keyboards (within a reasonable amount of time).

[anotherscott]

Yeah but half the price!

I wasn't disputing that the YC61/Seqtrak combo is a good value. As I said, I just thought that saying it would be "equivalent to the Nord Stage for half the price" is over-statement, and pointed out some things people might want that would still be missing.

And then take the other $3,000 you saved and add a PB12 or M6 or Moog Muse stacked and now does it beat the NS4? Oh Yeah!

Well, it's a $2500 difference, but sure, there's lots of nice 2-board combos you could assemble within that total budget... or even 3-board combos! A studiologic Sledge ($1100) would give you the "missing" aftertouch, knobby VA synth, and custom sample loading, and if you still pined for having more than 61 keys for piano/EP playing, there would still be plenty left over for a simple digital piano, still with money left over. Though as you point out, having all that functionality in one board can be nice for people taking the gear out for gigs, and also for people tight for studio space in their homes, or those with a significant other who can understand why you want a keyboard, but would balk at your having three.

[jamesmiller]

Well Ive own synth all my life....M1, M3 Krome, JV1000, MODX and it wasnt until I got the CK that turned me on to the imediacy of tweeking sounds without menu diving....Playing live mostly ...The CK threw me into the world of Stage boards....Lusting after the more pro sounds and a better organ I finally made the jump to the YC. After an afternoon of playing here are my thoughts.

EP/Piano sounds are slightly crisper than the CK for sure.
There are more standar pianos on the YC but an AB comparison...hosestly about the same.
Synth....Syth sounds are all there for backing pads, strings and airy movement but there are definatly allot more on the CK.
Organ. YC blows away the CK here...especially after teh update OS3.1 H4 organs are dope, or sick, or boss, cool, or what ever age you are LOL
Construction. no doubt the YC looks and feels better buil;t and more proffessional.
Interface. Heres my gripe... I feel that the CK is the next step up in interface...I was definatly spoiled with the CK design. Everything is
clearly separated and in its place and simple. The YC im sure I wil get used to but having to toggle between Keys A & B to do volumes and FX instead of just pressing the corrisponding button is a drag. Also seperate volume controls for each sound that spans the board...again a bit confusing. If Yamaha comes out with a YC61MArk II its design should absulutely be that of the CK. Not sure if imma sell my CK just yet but there a weird overlap for sure.
For a basic cover band the CK or the YC would work but organs are top notch on the YC. I also play in a Phish coverband that does allot of other jam band stuff like Spafford, Goose & String cheese so the MODX may still have a place on top of the nord electro5d as uts synth and arps are useful.
James....PS thanks for all who commented and helped out here and happy Thanksgiving

[davlippo7]

Boy I was confused thinking I had just responded to this post but it was all the way back in August.

Then I realized you have two nearly identical posts. I did respond this week but to the other one shown here.

[davlippo7]

EP/Piano sounds are slightly crisper than the CK for sure. (**= Make sure you go adjust the touch default "depth" up from 64 it's worlds different I think more velocity layers on the YC)

There are more standard pianos on the YC but an AB comparison...honestly about the same. (See **)

Synth....Syth sounds are all there for backing pads, strings and airy movement but there are definitely allot more on the CK. (Should be real FM/DX engine so the authenticity should be superior on the YC) (Quality should be higher on the YC)

Organ. YC blows away the CK here...especially after the update OS3.1 (Should be 4.0 on YC) H4 organs are dope, or sick, or boss, cool, or what ever age you are LOL

Construction. no doubt the YC looks and feels better built and more professional. YES

Interface. Here's my gripe... I feel that the CK is the next step up in interface...I was definatly spoiled with the CK design. Everything is
clearly separated and in its place and simple. The YC im sure I wil get used to but having to toggle between Keys A & B to do volumes and FX instead of just pressing the corrisponding button is a drag. Also separate volume controls for each sound that spans the board...again a bit confusing. (The YC is some super classy interface with toggles, lit translucent draw bars, rotary LEDS etc. Just more retro and stylish but not as practical as CK but far more professional)

If Yamaha comes out with a YC61MArk II its design should absolutely be that of the CK. Not sure if imma sell my CK just yet but there a weird overlap for sure. (Yeah no reason to have both, I once had both but the SeqTrak killed the CK as a Rompler with thousands of voices, real editable FM, etc. so pointless to keep the CK)