Me too as for entertainment but found the PA5x $900 off at Kraft as an open box and it arrived like mint condition.
So you don't have to buy perfectly full price new. They are completely different animals which is why they compliment each other.
The GEX can control anything making it better plus of course it's a monster synth for custom sound creations and endless enjoyment but say you don't want to program a tune. That's where the PA5x comes in and the dual player is insanely.
With the arranger you get instant accompaniment all at you fingertips and ready to go. The sampled instruments are like the real thing which is astonishing and more geared for soloing and orchestration but for personal entertainment it's even better. It's another level over AWM2 on the M which is still good but nothing like the PA5x. You will be literally playing any instrument and sounding like the real thing.
Which do I prefer now that I have both? The PA5x is instant entertainment without any effort and the M is a lot of work, I've spent literally hours doing the simplest things or trying to figure something out. I prefer not going deep on it if I can avoid it. I also have the YC73 which is fantastic.
Order of simplicity and instant pleasure:
1) PA5x
2) YC73 (probably a tie but the PA5x does far more obviously)
3) M8x
Greatest synth and key action on the planet:
1) M8x
2) YC73
3) PA5x 61 (just average nothing exciting maybe on the dull side for the 61/76 and I doubt the 88 is anywhere close to the M)
Greatest Authentic Instrument Sounds
1) PA5x
2) YC73 (but rules on organs)
3) M8x although does more obviously than YC
Build Quality for Studio
3-way tie all are top of the line and Genos 2 plastic sucks and they really messed up the second generation IMO or for my taste.
All 3 have SSS or SST while Genos 2 does not which is an absolute necessity for pro gear
These (3) probably rule the world in their class and for their price point. I'm sure Nord Stage 4 is great but way too expensive for me.
If I could only have one I'd get the PA5x only because the M8x is so complicated and typically makes me curse however Yamaha did greatly improve it. Mainly Yamaha is terrible at making things easy but If you love a challenge and constant frustration then get the M8x but obviously having both are ideal. Obviously you can just select voices and play and only use 1% of what it can do.
If you're on an extremely tight budget the YC73 or YC61 are fantastic but it doesn't play it's own music.
Forgot to mention the ESP for M8x might make it far easier to use but I'm not going to be programming mine anytime soon. If I'm 19 again I'd die for the M8x and programming it but at 55 I'm long past wanting to mess with that. I can program the PAT pretty easy but not looking to waste much time I'll leave that job to the younger folks. That's probably why arrangers and stage boards become of great interest to 55 and over.
So you don't have to buy perfectly full price new. They are completely different animals which is why they compliment each other.
The GEX can control anything making it better plus of course it's a monster synth for custom sound creations and endless enjoyment but say you don't want to program a tune. That's where the PA5x comes in and the dual player is insanely.
With the arranger you get instant accompaniment all at you fingertips and ready to go. The sampled instruments are like the real thing which is astonishing and more geared for soloing and orchestration but for personal entertainment it's even better. It's another level over AWM2 on the M which is still good but nothing like the PA5x. You will be literally playing any instrument and sounding like the real thing.
Which do I prefer now that I have both? The PA5x is instant entertainment without any effort and the M is a lot of work, I've spent literally hours doing the simplest things or trying to figure something out. I prefer not going deep on it if I can avoid it. I also have the YC73 which is fantastic.
Order of simplicity and instant pleasure:
1) PA5x
2) YC73 (probably a tie but the PA5x does far more obviously)
3) M8x
Greatest synth and key action on the planet:
1) M8x
2) YC73
3) PA5x 61 (just average nothing exciting maybe on the dull side for the 61/76 and I doubt the 88 is anywhere close to the M)
Greatest Authentic Instrument Sounds
1) PA5x
2) YC73 (but rules on organs)
3) M8x although does more obviously than YC
Build Quality for Studio
3-way tie all are top of the line and Genos 2 plastic sucks and they really messed up the second generation IMO or for my taste.
All 3 have SSS or SST while Genos 2 does not which is an absolute necessity for pro gear
These (3) probably rule the world in their class and for their price point. I'm sure Nord Stage 4 is great but way too expensive for me.
If I could only have one I'd get the PA5x only because the M8x is so complicated and typically makes me curse however Yamaha did greatly improve it. Mainly Yamaha is terrible at making things easy but If you love a challenge and constant frustration then get the M8x but obviously having both are ideal. Obviously you can just select voices and play and only use 1% of what it can do.
If you're on an extremely tight budget the YC73 or YC61 are fantastic but it doesn't play it's own music.
Forgot to mention the ESP for M8x might make it far easier to use but I'm not going to be programming mine anytime soon. If I'm 19 again I'd die for the M8x and programming it but at 55 I'm long past wanting to mess with that. I can program the PAT pretty easy but not looking to waste much time I'll leave that job to the younger folks. That's probably why arrangers and stage boards become of great interest to 55 and over.
Statistics: Posted by davlippo7 — Sat Feb 03, 2024 5:38 am