Yamaha Motif XS6From real comments

Name: Yamaha Motif XS6
Rating: 1.8 (7 reviews)

Verdict distilled from 7 mentions across 5 aspects in comments under product review videos.

Positive sentiment29%

PROS 29%

CONS 71%

Rank based on 7 mentions across 5 aspects

View the verdict as

What users love

Powerful, praised sound0 mentions

Strongly positive

What users complain about

Inconsistent sound clarity0 mentions

Generally negative

Patch-switching lag and dropout0 mentions

Frequently criticized

Polyphony issues in Performance mode0 mentions

Frequently criticized

Possible Performance mode bug0 mentions

Generally negative

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Based on user comments

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Articulate sound

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Strong overall tone quality

Price concerns

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Musical analog toneLong-term reliability and board loyaltySimple, intuitive controlsHigh price pointCheaper alternatives seen as comparableDistortion at high settings

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Sweet, low-gain tone quality

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Powerful 3-band EQ

Demo videos undersell the pedal

Noticeable noise floor

Volume drop when engaged

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Exceptional reverb qualityHigh-quality warm pitch shiftingStrong aspirational appealHigh priceCheaper alternatives may sufficeEffect can feel like it plays for you

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High-quality warm pitch shifting

Strong aspirational appeal

High price

Cheaper alternatives may suffice

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Origin Effects Deluxe61

Authentic amp-like toneExcellent low-to-mid gain driveUnderrated favorite among ownersHigh price pointLimited gain-staging flexibilityNo built-in reverb

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Underrated favorite among owners

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Iconic, powerful kick drumWarmer, more alive analog characterCultural and historical influenceExtremely high collector priceAnalog noise and static requiring EQReliability concerns of aging hardware

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Warmer, more alive analog character

Cultural and historical influence

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Reliability concerns of aging hardware

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Inspiring and addictive to play

Warm, fat analog tone

Strong DAW/VST editor integration

High price for what it offers

Limited versatility outside bass range

Needs effects/partner gear to shine

Wampler Tumnus V2

Klon Centaur-style toneConvincing demo influenced purchaseExcellent clean boostNot suited for metal tones

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You are here

Yamaha Motif XS6

Powerful, praised soundInconsistent sound clarityPatch-switching lag and dropoutPolyphony issues in Performance mode

Yamaha Motif XS6

Powerful, praised sound

Inconsistent sound clarity

Patch-switching lag and dropout

Polyphony issues in Performance mode

Versatile
1. MXR Super Badass Distortionarrow_upward15
2. Wampler Paisley Drivearrow_upward6
3. Mad Professor Sweet Honey Overdrivearrow_upward4
Expensive
1. Moog Subsequent 37arrow_downward3
2. Origin Effects Deluxe61arrow_downward3
3. Eventide Orvillearrow_downward4
Dynamic response
1. Mad Professor Sweet Honey Overdrivearrow_upward8
2. Wampler Paisley Drivearrow_upward2
Build quality
1. Moog Subsequent 37arrow_upward3
2. Origin Effects Deluxe61arrow_upward1

Overall Impression

The Yamaha Motif XS6 is a workstation synthesizer that owners describe as sounding powerful, with one buyer calling it 'a beast' in terms of sound. Another new owner called it excellent after seeing a demonstration. However, real-world users report drawbacks: changing patches takes a moment and can cut the sound off mid-note, which is awkward when performing live. In Performance mode, combining multiple sounds like piano and strings can cause polyphony issues, with notes dropping out as if playing monophonically instead of polyphonically. One owner also reported a possible bug where playing keyboard notes triggers a cymbal sound and resets drum accompaniment in Performance mode. Not everyone loves the tone either; one user found the sound lacking clarity and sharpness.

Outdated / Not-accurate data?

graphic_eqPowerful, praised sound

2 mentions

Strongly positive

Multiple owners describe the sound as excellent, with one calling it 'a beast' in terms of sound quality and another praising it as 'so good' after a demonstration.

@ESTUDIOCASADOSOM

I bought one exactly like that and didn't know it was so good!! Thank you for the excellent demonstration!!

smart_displayTranslated from Portuguese

April 20, 2023

@Lokki555

I bought one.. Wonderful, but it has its drawbacks... It takes a millisecond to change from one Patch to another, which makes it somewhat uncomfortable when performing live.. also the sound cuts off when changing.. which doesn't happen in other brands, at least not in older models I've used.. In performance mode the polyphony also works against it, when combining four sounds for example piano and strings, not all respond to the sustain (or release when not using the pedal) you can see how little by little as you play some cuts out as if it were mono and not poly.. Anyway.. In terms of sound it's a beast.. Although to my taste the es6 which I also had is far better in its sound quality than the xs... Good video greetings

smart_displayTranslated from Spanish

May 20, 2019

volume_downInconsistent sound clarity

2 mentions

Generally negative

At least one user felt the sound lacked clarity and sharpness, and another owner who previously had an ES6 felt that model's sound quality was better than the XS6's.

@dynoepteclas399

It doesn't sound good, your sound lacks clarity and sharpness

smart_displayTranslated from Spanish

December 11, 2020

@Lokki555

smart_displayTranslated from Spanish

May 20, 2019

warningPatch-switching lag and dropout

1 mentions

Frequently criticized

One owner reports that switching from one patch to another takes a moment and the sound cuts off during the change, which they found uncomfortable during live performance and noted doesn't happen on older models from other brands.

@Lokki555

smart_displayTranslated from Spanish

May 20, 2019

pianoPolyphony issues in Performance mode

1 mentions

Frequently criticized

When combining multiple sounds such as piano and strings in Performance mode, not all layers respond correctly to sustain or release, causing notes to drop out as if the instrument were playing mono instead of poly.

@Lokki555

smart_displayTranslated from Spanish

May 20, 2019

bug_reportPossible Performance mode bug

1 mentions

Generally negative

An owner reports that in Performance mode, playing the keyboard on a timbre with drum accompaniment triggers a cymbal sound and resets the accompaniment, unsure if this is a factory bug or a setting left by a previous owner.

@EddieVerse

I have a doubt, I bought one yesterday, in performance whenever a timbre has drum accompaniment whenever I play a keyboard it makes cymbal sound and resets the accompaniment and doesn't have those performances of yours that if they were from the factory should have, is it a bug or did the last owner leave it that way for no reason? if I reset to factory will it solve and will I have those performances from your video?

smart_displayTranslated from Portuguese

October 29, 2024

Yamaha Motif XS6chat_bubble_outlineFrom real comments

What users lovefavorite_border

What users complain aboutheart_broken

Compare in seconds

Who wins on what

Versatile

Expensive

Dynamic response

Build quality

auto_awesomeOverall Impression

Yamaha Motif XS6From real comments

What users love

What users complain about

Overall Impression