In the recent times manufacturers including Yamaha have been on the forefront to launch relatively cheaper variants of pianos. MOX 8 comes into the market as a continuation of Motif XS which is now discounted. This piano has awesome features and is known to produce an impressive sound. The weighted keyboard is a major asset and the MOX8 is highly portable. This digital piano works using waveforms similar to those of Motif XS. Being a cheaper variant, some of the features of the XS have been downgraded but still work well depending on your needs. For instance, polyphony has been reduced from 128 notes on the XS to MOX 8 with 64 notes. Other features which are not in MOX8 include the aftertouch, sampler, 8 real-time sliders and the large screen. However, the 16 track sequencer is still available on the Yamaha MOX 8.
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Our Ratings
PROS
Yamaha MOX 8 is considered by those who’ve used it to a great alternative especially if you’re looking for a workstation under $2000 that will deliver great results. As an 88-key weighted piano, the piano is surprisingly portable so you can move around with it as it weighs in at 14.8kg compared to Motif XS at 28.6kg. You can easily and conveniently travel for your gigs. The interface is superb with a well-laid out design that makes the MOX 8 easy to use and operate. If you’re looking for a piano with good sound quality, you won’t be disappointed with this piano as it has both Motif ES and XS sounds. MOX 8 has a good durability track record but it’s recommended to have it in case if you’re moving around for extra protection. This piano accommodates both USB audio and MIDI interface. The Layer/Split function is simpler to use and enables you to quickly set up for gigs.
CONS
Yamaha MOX 8 has no aftertouch. It is difficult to read and use on dark stages because the silk-screening on the piano’s panel is difficult to read. Many users have complained about the user manual which has misleading information and is hard to understand. Pitch and mood wheel placement situated on the upper left corner doesn’t augur well with some users.
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Features
Sound Quality
MOX 8 has good sound features and controls that you need to guarantee a good musical experience. It isn’t hard to find the best and appealing sounds as there are more than 1,200 awesome presets and 355MB of waveforms obtained from MOTIF XF. The sounds are amazing as well as the synths and bass. Overall, MOX 8 is a good contender if you’re looking for good quality sound.
Musical Inspiration
Yamaha MOX 88 has more than 256 performances which is a great musical inspiration for both new and professional users.
The MOX 8 has a USB audio/MIDI interface to facilitate full integration with DAW software. The Graded Hammer Action keyboard allows users to feel as if they’re using a genuine acoustic piano.
Performance Recording
Performance recording is available in the MOX 8 since you can pick your best performance and press the record button. This way you can begin creating a Pattern or Song Sequence. A Performance Creator enables you to quickly create settings for Layers, Drum Parts and Splits.
Category Search
Using the Category Search, you can instantly access the Voices you desire
Other Features
Other features of Yamaha MOX 8 include the Yamaha MOX Editor, Steinberg Prologue Analogue Synth, YC-3B Organ Emulator soft synth and Cubase AI software which allows you to play your music directly onto your Digital Audio Workstation (DAW). MOX 8 has an Expanded Articulation (XA) tone generation system, 6.720 arpeggiator patterns, Comprehensive Sequencer with step recording, VCM (Virtual Circuit Modelling) effects and Advanced PC integration.
Final Thoughts
The MOX 8 aside from having a better price tag is considered an easier to use piano compared to Motif XF boards. The functionality of Yamaha MOX 8 i.e. menus and options are pretty similar to Motif XF. This workstation has great sound capabilities and can be easily used with your DAW. Unfortunately, there are a couple of features missing in this downgraded version of Motif XF but it’s still a great investment.