If one were to tweak, the sounds are as complex or as distinct as ya want. Seems everybody knocks the sounds, especially the drums. I hook up to a sampler, but just a recording to a 2 or 4 track analog unit, the sounds are everything ya want, and more, you can fiddle with real-time controlling as DJ and if ya spend time with this unit, it will deliver anything ya want. Find out some sites for new sounds too, something i want to experience. No limit there. With a new chip, I have yet to get, I think this blows away by far for used price, any sequencer out there, ya have to get used to it...

USB woulda been better, but, MIDI and left right and mono output, you can interface to computer very easily with a 35 dollar interface, where on computer one can tweak final mastering etc. The real time controls are super. Ive printed out for free (my cost paper and ink) the manuals and even scored on a Power User manual and have resorted to third party manuals and books from professional sound engineers, to make this product shine. The ability to program, ive not yet experienced, (slow and steady work here) but that ability makes the product stronger, and Very well worth under 200 dollars for a used equipment, the adjustment knobs up tempo w/use of shift key is super, and can be used quickly. I use both digital and analog recording, so there is a great boon. There are a few sites to upgrade sounds from. This is a workable tool, knowing how to use the tool for music makes a lot of difference. Using a mixer (dig. or even analog) is something that makes this unit shine even further for performance.

Super quick controls, and as deep (programming) as ya want. Right from packaging, this unit performs. The main manual is lengthy, but good for quick start up and function, to in depth, however, there are additional Power User manuals that allow one to get tips on making this so simple, one doesnt have to be a computer programmer to start any project, though the lcd screen has to be kinda used like a magnifying glass, ya kinda scroll where ya need to be, but if you have time to spend like at home getting used to the inputting, great! Super quick to get up n go!

One has a hard time to destroy this unit, was made very tough and durable. Suweet unit.

If a person were to buy brand new, the newer DAWs would be a thing to look at, but for a sequencer, and/or a unit for DJ or live studio, or recording artist, this is a super product, i highly recommend this, is an integral part of my lil studio. Product's abilities will make this unit last and last.

As an interested party to order a second chip, I'm honestly not too worried about upgrading, as the instructions are well documented, but one should really have a suitable repair tech help with the install, but even if ya dont have much upgrade experience, seems simple enough. If ya have tech experience with any kind of computer products, thatll help even better.

For performance, ease of use, and learning curve (just do it) and then later, look at the fine manuals i described earlier, this is glossy in my book, id replace mine, if i ever had to... When i show a relative or friend this units' mechanical abilities, sound capabilities, the looks, and feel, + the real time change knobs, not to mention the programming, and disk storage, and memory capabilities, they are all very oggled at my RM1x. Several of my personal friends want one. This unit is my second instrument of choice and usage for recording music. That says a lot, and i havent even yet hooked up my keyboard sampler unit and digital drums to it yet, have recorded 2 and 4 track analog cassette and some to computer through my lil mixer, so the thing keeps me going for capability and function. This unit is also Very portable for gigs or live or recording studios, or even for consistant background music for anything you can imagine...

Aspiring Recording Hobbyist

Likes it all

I gave the sounds an 8 just cause' at standard preset, they arent the best, but not the worst....but with its effect processing unit, jesus christ, you can seriously do any thing you want with this machine, 16 effect that can be stacked mixed and combined in any way that you can possibly imagine! I do industrial/noise and this thing pumps out any thing from hard as nail percusions to soft ambient "beats"

I would have given It a 10, but no sampler, But hook up a phrase sampler like an sp303 or a su700 and this is as complete as you can possibly get, you might want to find a nice synth to use with it as well, the "synth" sounds are ok and like I said completely tweakable, but as far as actually sound creation no, as there is no synth built in, pretty damn close though. The sequencer is absolutly amazing, RIVALS software at most all levels, editing is way in depth, I could sit from night to early hours of the morning programing this monster, This thing has taken me away from my software as far as programming completely.

an absolute tank, no flimsey platic, solid steel case, sturdy knobs and buttons, mine fell off my key stand more than a couple of times, and refuses to die, you could probably throw it off a cliff and it would just continue to make solid sick beats!

this totaly worth every cent you spend, beats the crap out of the MC909 for what your paying... for the price of a 909, you can pick up an rm1x, a micro korg, and roland sp303 and totaly blow the 909 completely out of the water!!!!!!!! no doubt!!!!!!!!!

I only put 1 becuase I havent had to deal with them, I really doubt I'll ever have to either

It looks awsome, its a nice mettalic blue, lots of pretty knobs and lights, It could get you laid I'd bet

industrial/noise

Include more voices that sound like real instruments. Too much hip-hop, Techno, etc. That O.K. for adding to existing songs, but if you're trying to create a song from scratch, good luck! Also need better drum kits. These are week. XG drum kits would be very nice.

This unit has wonderful on stage real time features that are very easy to access. Love the fact that you can play a song directly from disk rather than having to load into memory! Great feature for the performing artist. Also, I like the assignable knobs. Great job here.

Not sure yet. Only owned for a couple of months. However, I first demoed this product at a local music store, where the disk drive was not working properly. When I received my unit, the disk drive was not working at all. Had to get a replacement. We'll see how long that lasts. I'm a bit suspicious of the less than durable disk drive. Based on my experience, only use the RM1X in the studio, not on the road.

Actually, I think the price is probably very good if you are happy with the voices/drum kits in the RM1X. I am not happy with them and I use an external XG tone module. Therefore, it cost me almost double the price to get what I wanted. I would like to see Yamaha sell a unit with just this sequencer in it and skip the 800 not so good voices. It could cost a lot less in the end!

I've not needed to talk with Yamaha about support for the RM1X yet, but I have for other products. Generally they are very good at supporting their products. Sometimes it takes a lot of correspondence to make the right connection.

It's pretty impressive looking. The controls are all very nice and organized very well. Maybe the menu knobs could have been positioned a little farther from the display. Sometimes my hand gets in the way and I can't see the display while turning the knobs. But generally, its very cool!

pop, jazz

Man, all of the other reviewers diss the sounds. I love the sounds. It is important to have a keyboard in the form of a midi controller. This is the only way to get the velocity sensitivity and it's much more fun to play. I have the m-audio/midiman oxegen8. Yes, the sounds are perfect for industrial flavored classical pop mixtures. The sounds are great. I thought I would need an external module for sounds, from reading these reviews, but after buy8ing it, I know now I don't.

This has everthing I would every ask for and tons more.

I never needed support, so I don't know.

This is perfect stand alone ore with a setu p

alternative

Ive owned it since 1999, It can create some very aggresive sounds, with its amp sim fx, one thing it does not lack is bass. Dont bother comparing it with anything but a set of blown tweeters, The sound quality is a shame, it needs to be enhanced, by an EQ or a maximizer, it is thin and hollow all by itself. **TIPS** for improved sound quality edit the fx, -FLANGE- to beefup drums, set all parameters to zero, except FB level, crank it, it really thickens up the sounds. -3-BAND EQ -increase all parameters except midwidth, keep it low. -FILTERS- Crank them all the way, this brightens up drums nicely. -PITCH- use it to create darker kits. -DISTORTION/AMP SIM- (great as insert), but crank settings,in its paramaters. -UNISON- thickens up nicely sometimes, These parameter alterations give it alot more volume. considering its lack of quality sound, it really has some impressive abilities, it is great for noise, dirty rap drums or hardcore. some of the lead sounds with distortion, can tweek out good sonic frequencies. I use it for filler sounds, but mainly as a sequencer for other gear.

The floppy drive is great, for storing data dumps of other gear. Any knob movement or edit is automatically set and nothing needs to be saved. midi delay,and beat stretch are cool. If you can access a screen while recording, you can overdub anything you change, from effect parameters to instrument changes etc. there is no synthesis creation, just simple sound editing, of LFO,filters,portamento etc. OCTAVER/HARMONIZE add to a made beat, or riff in interesting ways,

i think its metal shell will far out last the rest of it. The sounds can fight for the distortion effect and rob note clarity of everything. The buttons double hit or flam, by accident quite often, the knobs and buttons are as cheap as they come. External outputs (for sound isolation and treatment) would have made a whole new world for this machine. it has good editing functions. and the UNDO is a life saver. without the latest O.S.chip the RM1x will reset external gear, every time you exit recording or edit screens, this is annoying. It is rock solid, no glitches, or crashes, except the midi filter section doesnt seem to do much, the manual is cheap.

It is a very creative machine, but just to damn cheap so it makes for a 50/50 love and hate relationship. Once in a while you will pull something out of it that makes you like it all over again,

i had no problem ordering its latest O.S.chip, they were quick. the chip was need

my first one was stolen , and i replaced it, just for my A3000 sampler, this is where the good stuff really happens, (now that is a fantastic machine) and the RM1x works great with it, it is fancy looking, but looks can be deceiving.

electronic, anything,

he sound qaulity is a beast, this machine sounds like you made the beat in a studio, as u select different voices you can mix the tracks.

I gave it a nine because it doesnt have a sampler but so what, it has 700 sounds they are all unique the piano and trumpets can be better but so what, the sounds are geard toward just any type of music out there and it can be used for anything i love the synths,kits,everything, i love the effects on this thing, I can make any sound i want, the chorus effect is great i use it alot, reverb,distortion, beat stretch, this thing has it, if u name it

This product was made like a tank, yamaha did a great job, they didnt make the manual right though.

You ca use this thing forever, its better than any other sequencer out right now.

I found the support great, (I went to the website) it took them a while to email me back but the info came in at a good time.

I love this thing its great, I want it so i bought it and you should to.

Rap,R&B,Hiphop, anything your willing to pay for

Compared to roland mc 505 or 909 it sounds cheap. The drums are weak

Sequencing : perfect, but only midi in/out/through and only stereo outs

I don