When I began dabbling around in the music industry, I had no idea that the keyboard I had bought several years prior would be so instrumental to me as I began producing my own music. The Yamaha DJX is basically a mid-range keyboard geared towards more urban style music. That means the drum samples are reminiscent of popular R&B; and hip-hop grooves. Since this is an example of the kind of music that I like, the DJX was the perfect tool for me to experiment with some sounds of my own…
1- CONNECTION TO OTHER RECORDING DEVICES
For me having the ability to connect this keyboard to my Fostex VF-160 16-track digital mixer/recorder was a slice of heaven. Using the midi to connect the DJX to the mixer is very simple. In essence, it allows me to send all the sounds I create on the Yamaha directly into a mixer so that I can create effects, loop, duplicate, or do whatever else I wish to the song. The effects already in the keyboard (arpeggiator, ribbon controller, reverb, etc.) are terrific when paired with the VF-160’s massive capabilities.
2- BUILT IN RECORDING FEATURE
The main thing that I really like about this keyboard is its built-in recording function called a real-time step sequencer. The DJX has at least (6) tracks wherein you can create full songs right there on the keyboard. The recording feature can be a bit tricky to use. But once you align the rhythm tempo and choose your voice (sound), you’re good to go. One thing to note is that if you’re using the AC adapter, and have recorded a song-do NOT unplug the AC-cord from the keyboard itself or you will completely lose all recorded tracks.
This is the perfect accompaniment when experimenting with home recording. When using this piece of equipment with an external mixing/ recording device like the VF-160, you more than quadruple the number of tracks that are available for a song. A caveat to recording this way is in that once you’ve uploaded your “song” to the external mixing device, it is more difficult to pull the sounds apart during a mix down. But for amateurs such as me, this isn’t a huge deal.
3- THE SOUND EFFECTS
Because the Yamaha DJX is a keyboard geared more for urban-style music, there are some sound effects loaded into it which are really neat. Aside from the “cheesy” human voice bytes, there are quite a few that really enhance musical production. The “Soundtrack” (a neat blend of strings), “Tweet” (birds chirping), and “Applause” are all nice effects to add to a song which is a bit more whimsical. Furthermore, there is a ribbon controller which when touched, skews the sound. You can either distort the sounds in the keyboard, or alter the tempo of the rhythms simply by dragging your finger across the controller. The rhythms in the board range from all versions of house music to a few traditional percussions. Completely changing the tone and mood of a song is effortless when using the ribbon controller or groove settings (or both).
4- IT’S USER FRIENDLY
The Yamaha DJX, while capable of performing many functions is not a terribly large board. Measuring just long enough to fit inside a 38″ (length) case, the keyboard never feels like it is in the way. The board fits easily on a small desk, a traditional keyboard stand, or any other medium-sized flat surface.
Another thing that makes this product really user-friendly is the incredible user’s manual. The language is fairly easy to understand, and is not filled with tons of musician mumbo jumbo that only experienced music producers understand. Furthermore, the controls on the Yamaha are labeled just as plainly, so that you understand exactly which functions are which.
5- THE VERSATILITY
While the Yamaha DJX is not what I would consider a Top-of-the-Line piece of equipment, it more than surprised me with all the things that it is capable of doing. This keyboard actually has a built in sampler. The sample loop time is not terribly long. But in instances where you only need to “punch in” certain sections, it’s perfect.
Another thing that I like about this product is that you can connect it to other equipment to further maximize the sound. For instance, I connect the Yamaha to an electric amplifier (for a guitar) in order to enhance the Yamaha’s sound with the use of the amp’s built-in effects. This is a sure-fire way to get certain musical instrument sounds to appear more authentic during recording.
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Being that I am an amateur “music producer,” this is the perfect tool for me to experiment with musical instrumentation along with basic recording functionalities. The sound effects are a blast to play with. And I have found that when used in conjunction with several other recording tools, the Yamaha can do much more than I realized it could upon first purchasing it. The downside is that this particular model is no longer manufactured by the Yamaha Company. But there are still several of these on the market being sold at various online companies. In addition, Yamaha has improved its keyboard lines over the years so that the sounds and functionality are more expansive. However, if you ever run across one of these great boards on EBay or Craigslist, you’ll know you’re getting a steal.
