Yamaha MOX6 Synthesizer Workstation
Yamaha’s MOX range offers unusually tight integration with your DAW. Is this the way forward for synthesizer workstations?
The MOX6 and MOX8 synthesizers are a subset of Yamaha’s popular Motif range, borrowing the majority of their design from the Motif XS. Although having no onboard sampling or audio recording facilities of their own, they are designed to serve as the heart of a compact audio/MIDI music production system. Simply connect one via USB to a DAW-equipped laptop, add a microphone and a pair of headphones, and you have a keyboard-based recording setup that’s light enough for one person to carry around.
Both MOX models are of comparatively lightweight construction, so they’re far more portable than your typical synth workstation. The 61-note MOX6 on review here, at a mere 7kg, can be lifted easily with just one hand. The 88-note MOX8 weighs in at 14.8kg, which may prove to be more than just a handful for some, but is still remarkably light for a weighted action keyboard. True portability would, of course, mean the option of battery power, however, the MOX requires mains power for its external 12V PSU, so producing smash hits in a rowing boat is probably not an option.
The internal synth architecture of the MOX is essentially the same as the Motif XS — the two instruments even share the same sample ROM and Preset Voices. There are changes and additions to some menus, and occasional operational variances, but since none of them represent a drastic departure from the overall functionality of a Motif XS, this review will concentrate on the more immediate differences. If you are unfamiliar with the XS, the review in the October 2007 issue of SOS explains its features in some detail.