I love my YC88. I agree with everything you said. I would add for my wish list to have more live set pages. I don't like to change the defaults too much so I can always go back to them and dial them in different ways. Playing in a cover band that covers a lot of eras, I have lots of sounds to create.
I have the CP88 and YC61 combo and love these boards! I regularly get musicians and sound engineers comment on how great they sound! Whilst I agree it would be nice to be able to download additional sounds, I personally haven't needed to so far as the built in sounds have covered every situation I've used them. If there ever was a specific sound I am missing I would use on of the apps on my iPhone such as Korg Module and I would be good to go! There are a few things I would love to see in an updated version :- 1/ Proper true sympathetic string resonance and mechanical noises for the pianos and e.pianos 2/ All 4 Clavinet pickup patterns 3/ Extra Polyphony when using multiple layers 4/ More Livesets storage banks 5/ To have an option be able to route the audio inputs to the headphone output only. This would be extremely useful when using IEM's as you could connect your monitor mix from the board and plug it into the audio inputs and then send it to the headphone output. This would mean you wouldn't need to use an external IEM amp pack. It would also be useful for when you want to plugin a click track into the keyboard and just hear it through the headphone output of your board. 6/ Add aftertouch 7/ Add a built in metronome 8/ Update the YC61 keybed so that it doesn't make clacky noises Saying that, the YC and CP are my favorite boards that I've played. The sound are great, the effects are as good as I've heard in any board, the built quality is solid whilst being lighter than other competing brands. I also really love the layout, workflow and tactile knobs and switches! They are the most intuitive I've played and I tweak in realtime much quicker and easier than any board I've played. Having a built in audio interface is the icing on the cake. I have used this for some session work including BBC Radio 4 in the UK. I had my CP88 plugged into my iPhone and recorded directly into Cubasis and then emailed to take to the producer. It was so easy and quick to do this and the producer was amazed at the audio quality. If Yamaha updated these boards the suggestions I mentioned above, they would be my dream boards!
Loved your video. Great review of the YC. At a gig I had a synth fry due to power problems. Ever since I use an APC 700 UPS - they even guarantee against lightning strikes! Also I always use isolator or DI boxes even though my synths have balanced outs.
Thank you very much for this video. I wish to buy the YC88 and your video was very helpful in confirming that I like what I see and what I hear. I love the fact that all of the sounds in YC88 are high quality. That is the way it should be as it is a pro stage piano. I would rather have less sounds, and have no capability to load my own sounds, but instead have high quality factory sounds. For my own sounds I can always connect an iPad or my MacBook, which it seems to work great with.
Really helpful, clear and informative. Have been reading a lot on forums about going for a master keyboard for real piano feel, doepfer lmk44+, dexibell vivo s10, and complaints about durability and difficulties with the keybeds. Had been thinking about the yamaha yc88 but difficult to find anywhere to try one. Now more convinced as I'm not giging professionally and looking for real piano alternative. Might go with a dexibell module vivo sx8 with yc88 for weighted keys. Thanks for great video. Have subscribed😁👍
Do you think it's worth getting this now? Or do you think I should wait for a new version? Amazon has it for a nice price $2600 while Sweetwater has it for $3150. Thanks for the advice.
Yamaha typically updates keyboard lines that are starting to wane in overall market sales, like with the motif line changing to the Montage and so on. However, currently the YC line is still selling above market expectations and has done so consistently since release. Yamaha hasn't hinted at a new release so far.
Hi! Thx for this video and your review! it's very precious! One information please : I'm interested in the link for the Gator Case you're talking about at 11:36 please :) I don't see it in the description, maybe I missed it... Thx by advance if you see and respond to my message ;))
I juste see the videos related to your video, no gear list in the description... I see some gear lists on other videos but not in this one, but maybe I'm the only one 😁 Wish you the best by the way, I will buy the keyboard thanks to you 😎
2 years with mine too, it's a reliable workhorse with some features that really should be industry-standard (XLR and TR outputs, submixer, Master EQ, interface). I use Nord too, but my sound guy reckons the Yamaha sounds better in the FOH, controversially. Just the other day I was bemoaning the lack of Patch-wide EQ and the Hammond sound not being good for Jazz, and then bam firmware 1.4 comes out. All it needs is some proper editing for the FMX engine, or maybe a baby ANX engine, and it would really make Nord nervous.
Hey Steve, 2 Questions: what’s your opinion to the CK88 by Yamaha (a.o. interesting because of the weight). And what do you think about the quality of the Yamaha YC73 keybed?
The CK88 is a nice alternative for sure, really nice piano and most of the YC library on board and you GOTTA love that weight difference but, the YC has spoiled me. My biggest concern for road work would be the plastic chassis vs the all aluminum Frame of the YC. The YC73 felt pretty good to me and was a nice balance between keyboards sounds and playing organ on the same bed. But I dont mind the heavier balanced keys on the YC88, its a joy to play.
I know this isn’t a YC88 question per se, but how would one connect a metronome to this keyboard so that the metronome sound plays through headphones connected to the Yamaha?
Great content as always. I love my YC88 as well. Like you, had it for account 2 years now. They are beasts and you can really make the sounds your own. I haven’t been regularly keeping a USB loaded in the back of the board, but after watching this, I think I’m going to have to start doing that. Also, as you pointed out, not having to worry about remembering to bring a Direct Box is another huge Bonus. I also run a Korg Nautilus into it, for any sampling and other tracks i may need, and I can quite literally cover anything. The guys in the band are always amazed. Something I also do, not sure if you do or not, is I use a couple of WIDI Master Bluetooth Wireless midi devices plugged into the YC88 and Korg to control my presets from my IPAD using OnSong. It allows for quick changes on the fly.
Appreciate the long term opinions. Particularly build quality. I'm sure I saw a thread on the yc61 keys going bad quite quickly. (Audio quality on your voice isn't quite right here?)
![SahBabii - Viking [Official Music Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/D37cL92JX0I/mqdefault.jpg)
Just ordered one of these and your reviews certainly helped! Thanks man, stay creative!
I'm so glad you created these long-term reviews. Really, there is no better review. The YC88 is simply phenomenal.
I love mine, and I baby it 😅
Thanks for all your videos! New OS Update 1.4 available 🙂 Such a great instrument (i own the YC73)!
I love my YC88. I agree with everything you said. I would add for my wish list to have more live set pages. I don't like to change the defaults too much so I can always go back to them and dial them in different ways. Playing in a cover band that covers a lot of eras, I have lots of sounds to create.
I have the CP88 and YC61 combo and love these boards! I regularly get musicians and sound engineers comment on how great they sound! Whilst I agree it would be nice to be able to download additional sounds, I personally haven't needed to so far as the built in sounds have covered every situation I've used them. If there ever was a specific sound I am missing I would use on of the apps on my iPhone such as Korg Module and I would be good to go!
There are a few things I would love to see in an updated version :-
1/ Proper true sympathetic string resonance and mechanical noises for the pianos and e.pianos
2/ All 4 Clavinet pickup patterns
3/ Extra Polyphony when using multiple layers
4/ More Livesets storage banks
5/ To have an option be able to route the audio inputs to the headphone output only. This would be extremely useful when using IEM's as you could connect your monitor mix from the board and plug it into the audio inputs and then send it to the headphone output. This would mean you wouldn't need to use an external IEM amp pack. It would also be useful for when you want to plugin a click track into the keyboard and just hear it through the headphone output of your board.
6/ Add aftertouch
7/ Add a built in metronome
8/ Update the YC61 keybed so that it doesn't make clacky noises
Saying that, the YC and CP are my favorite boards that I've played. The sound are great, the effects are as good as I've heard in any board, the built quality is solid whilst being lighter than other competing brands. I also really love the layout, workflow and tactile knobs and switches! They are the most intuitive I've played and I tweak in realtime much quicker and easier than any board I've played. Having a built in audio interface is the icing on the cake. I have used this for some session work including BBC Radio 4 in the UK. I had my CP88 plugged into my iPhone and recorded directly into Cubasis and then emailed to take to the producer. It was so easy and quick to do this and the producer was amazed at the audio quality.
If Yamaha updated these boards the suggestions I mentioned above, they would be my dream boards!
Great suggestions!
Loved your video. Great review of the YC. At a gig I had a synth fry due to power problems. Ever since I use an APC 700 UPS - they even guarantee against lightning strikes! Also I always use isolator or DI boxes even though my synths have balanced outs.
Great tip, as I use UPS on the main power bar of my stage setup as well.
Thank you very much for this video. I wish to buy the YC88 and your video was very helpful in confirming that I like what I see and what I hear. I love the fact that all of the sounds in YC88 are high quality. That is the way it should be as it is a pro stage piano. I would rather have less sounds, and have no capability to load my own sounds, but instead have high quality factory sounds. For my own sounds I can always connect an iPad or my MacBook, which it seems to work great with.
Really helpful, clear and informative. Have been reading a lot on forums about going for a master keyboard for real piano feel, doepfer lmk44+, dexibell vivo s10, and complaints about durability and difficulties with the keybeds. Had been thinking about the yamaha yc88 but difficult to find anywhere to try one. Now more convinced as I'm not giging professionally and looking for real piano alternative. Might go with a dexibell module vivo sx8 with yc88 for weighted keys. Thanks for great video. Have subscribed😁👍
Excite to continue this video, but you might have to check that audio on your voice
Yeah, the transmitter was going out unfortunately.
Do you think it's worth getting this now? Or do you think I should wait for a new version? Amazon has it for a nice price $2600 while Sweetwater has it for $3150. Thanks for the advice.
Yamaha typically updates keyboard lines that are starting to wane in overall market sales, like with the motif line changing to the Montage and so on. However, currently the YC line is still selling above market expectations and has done so consistently since release. Yamaha hasn't hinted at a new release so far.
@ I ended up getting it. Very happy with it. Already updated to 1.40. Thank you for your response.
Hi! Thx for this video and your review! it's very precious! One information please : I'm interested in the link for the Gator Case you're talking about at 11:36 please :) I don't see it in the description, maybe I missed it... Thx by advance if you see and respond to my message ;))
The case is in the description, scroll down a little and its 4th on the gear list.
I juste see the videos related to your video, no gear list in the description... I see some gear lists on other videos but not in this one, but maybe I'm the only one 😁
Wish you the best by the way, I will buy the keyboard thanks to you 😎
@@angeldarkadis
Gator 76 Note Molded 76 Note Flight Case with TSA approved latches:
amzn.to/4fbKsnN
Many thanks!!!! 🤩🤩🤩
2 years with mine too, it's a reliable workhorse with some features that really should be industry-standard (XLR and TR outputs, submixer, Master EQ, interface). I use Nord too, but my sound guy reckons the Yamaha sounds better in the FOH, controversially. Just the other day I was bemoaning the lack of Patch-wide EQ and the Hammond sound not being good for Jazz, and then bam firmware 1.4 comes out. All it needs is some proper editing for the FMX engine, or maybe a baby ANX engine, and it would really make Nord nervous.
I’ve always wondered why Micheal w smith hasn’t upgraded his cp88 yet to the yc.
Hey Steve, 2 Questions: what’s your opinion to the CK88 by Yamaha (a.o. interesting because of the weight). And what do you think about the quality of the Yamaha YC73 keybed?
The CK88 is a nice alternative for sure, really nice piano and most of the YC library on board and you GOTTA love that weight difference but, the YC has spoiled me. My biggest concern for road work would be the plastic chassis vs the all aluminum Frame of the YC.
The YC73 felt pretty good to me and was a nice balance between keyboards sounds and playing organ on the same bed. But I dont mind the heavier balanced keys on the YC88, its a joy to play.
I know this isn’t a YC88 question per se, but how would one connect a metronome to this keyboard so that the metronome sound plays through headphones connected to the Yamaha?
@@hameed connect it through the 1/4 in inputs on the back of the YC and it will play out the mains with the keyboard sound.
@@Featherlightstudio thanks so much! Your videos were a big reason I picked up the YC88. Absolute a joy to play
Cheers
Great content as always. I love my YC88 as well. Like you, had it for account 2 years now. They are beasts and you can really make the sounds your own. I haven’t been regularly keeping a USB loaded in the back of the board, but after watching this, I think I’m going to have to start doing that. Also, as you pointed out, not having to worry about remembering to bring a Direct Box is another huge Bonus. I also run a Korg Nautilus into it, for any sampling and other tracks i may need, and I can quite literally cover anything. The guys in the band are always amazed. Something I also do, not sure if you do or not, is I use a couple of WIDI Master Bluetooth Wireless midi devices plugged into the YC88 and Korg to control my presets from my IPAD using OnSong. It allows for quick changes on the fly.
Great suggestion about the MIDI Wireless!
Appreciate the long term opinions. Particularly build quality. I'm sure I saw a thread on the yc61 keys going bad quite quickly. (Audio quality on your voice isn't quite right here?)