PSR-SX600 clone release: Medeli AKX10

[lalotexas@gmail.com]

used korg crome 61 or new medali akx10? for beginners

[FantomX]

Demo Medeli AKX 10 Romania :   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o3zwCwqdM3A       https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-MuTo5KNlk

[Luis Carlos GM]

If someone will get the preset styles from the AKX10 I'll be welcomed.

[tyros2009]

If someone will get the preset styles from the AKX10 I'll be welcomed.

Can you clarify on this ?

I bought a Medeli AXK10 3 weeks ago. It works very similar to an SX-700, SX-900.
Within 2 days, I modify a set of preset styles and save them as user styles, then create a set of registrations which call up these styles along with their proper mixer setting to balance the style volume and right hand volume. Play first gig 10 days after getting it. Work out pretty well.
Voices do not sound as good as SX-900 of course, so I choose voices that sound good to play, avoid bad sounding ones.
My next step is to sample some voices on my Genos, and create a voice pack for AKX-10 and test how it sounds.
The user interface is superb, much better than my old and beloved Tyros3.

However, there are a few spec details that I do not believe: for example: 256 note polyphony., 80 watt speakers (more like 24 watts on my EW410).

So far, I am happy as it is much more portable than my Tyros3. Buying an SX-900 is not my choice as I already bought a Genos.

[Leading Edge]

Interesting.. One of our keyboard club members has just purchased a Medeli AKX10.  I have the PSR SX900 myself and was interested to hear what the Medeli had to offer compared to the SX900.  For the money the Medeli cost I was blown away with the value for money. My SX900 cost £1,650 and the Medeli costs £650.  That's a very big difference.  I preferred the Medeli keybed to my SX but the Medeli built-in speakers are very much inferior to the SX.

[DjTony1981]

Hello everyone, I already have the SX-900 and tempted by the price (at the moment only positive aspect) I bought his Thomann AK-X1100 clone, removing the shipping costs would be 550 euros or so. I tried it for 10 minutes, personal opinion, in comparison with the SX I repeat the only positive aspect: the price. The sounds screech when played with MIDI files, the speakers scratch with some sounds, the styles are too simple and sound bad, very limited customizations, for example in the mixer, you cannot see the sounds and EFX used .. the intentions are good but badly exploited. Hope in future firmware updates .. 

[DjTony1981]

Here internal styles of MEDELI/THOMANN.. use there with MEDELI "Grandsuite V2" for convert in midi+casm files than use CasmEdit for convert these in YAMAHA styles.

https://www.mediafire.com/file/ntl6pq18e11krgt/THOMANN+AK-X1100+INTERNAL+STYLES.zip/file

[mixermixer]

At a quick glance, the medeli model looks to use a capacitive touchscreen like a modern smartphone or tablet which is a plus for me since it's way better than the resistive touchscreen on the current PSR and Genos. Also as already mentioned, the price can't be beat. Unfortunately other than that, some voices and the styles aren't that great, they sound like they came from T1 or T2 generation. I do appreciate that this keyboard exists so hopefully Yamaha can take notice and do something about their IMO ridiculous pricing.

[Misu]

Hi,

My country is not very rich so many people have chosen AKX 10 instead of Yamaha and are satisfied with almost everything:
sound, memory, touch, easy access to all styles from Yamaha.
One problem was the internal software.
These days, Medeli promises that a big software upgrade will follow that will amaze many.

Best regards!

[tyros2009]

I bought a Medeli AKX-10 two months ago by curiosity and have played two gigs with it. (I owned Tyros3, S770 and Genos).
This Medeli is a great keyboard for its really low price. Yamaha keyboards players can play this Medeli right away out of the box, no need for the user manual as everything look the same.

It tooks me less than 2 days to set it up for about 2 dozen styles I use to play for parties. My Setup involves: select a style, program the 4 OTS (with volume balancing), set tempo, style volume then save this set as one registration button. I did same thing for my Yamaha keyboards.

AND it has many features that Yamaha keyboards to not have (including Genos).
Here are a few examples:
1) chord velocity:  when turned ON, the style is played loud of soft depending on how hard to play the chord. With this feature, one can play with expression. Yamaha can certainly add this feature with a simple firmware upgrade BUT ..... (we all know).
2) style editing:  when changing the style track voice and/or velocity, The AKX10 will only change for the section being edited (Intros, Mains, Endings). Yamaha keyboards with change that style track for ALL sections of the current style.
3) light color on screen and buttons can be changed to fit user taste.
4) editing the 4 QS (Quick Setting i.e. OTS on Yamaha) of a style is easier and a dedicated menu screen.
Overall, the User Interface of the AKX-10 is definitely more user friendly and more logical than on Yamaha keyboard.

The AKX10 also has flashing party lights under the keyboard, that could entertaining (but can also be turned OFF).

So what are the downside of the Medeli ? Well, the voices do not sound as good as the SX600. Although, one can sample audio voice (acoustic OR synthetizer) and create new voice for this keyboard. I plan to do this when having more time.

[Leading Edge]

tyros2009.   An interesting post on the Medeli AKX10.. Thank you for posting.

[DerekA]

Just to note that the Yamaha PSR, Tyros and Genos arrangers do have the option for the chord to play loudly or softly in response to how hard you hit the left hand keys. It's in the style settings menu, style touch.

So no need for a firmware upgrade for that one!

[LaHawk]

So I assume Medeli and Yamaha styles and sounds and not compatible.
Probably not, so can you add more from Medeli or a third party site?
It sure sounds like a nice alternative if cost is a factor. But remember Medeli is made in China, Yamaha, Japan, so there's that.

[tyros2009]

Just to note that the Yamaha PSR, Tyros and Genos arrangers do have the option for the chord to play loudly or softly in response to how hard you hit the left hand keys. It's in the style settings menu, style touch.

THANKS FOR THIS GREAT TIP. I never knew Yamaha keyboard has this feature. I will certainly turn it ON.
Does this apply per style or apply for ALL styles once turned ON ?

[tyros2009]

For those with an AKX10 -
1) Is there a chord looping feature?
2) Can you edit notes in the sequencer? I checked the manual and it seems there is no way to edit the midi data (at least, it doesn't appear to be covered).
3) Can you change the sounds on already recorded tracks? In a recent YouTube video, the reviewer says he was unable to change the sound on an already recorded midi track!

Don't know if these questions have been answered or not. Here are mine:

1) AKX10 has no chord looping feature.
My Genos has chord looping , already tried out, but I found it's not very convenient to use.
If I need a chord sequence for a particular song, I would record this sequence as an Intro (or Ending) into a Song Style ahead of time. Then use it during live play.  I am pretty good at making song styles these days.
2) I have not tried this feature. If I need to edit a MIDI file, I copy it to my PC and user MidiEditor software to make change, then play it with this software (keyboard connected to PC via USB), I will hear exactly how this revised MIDI file sounds.
3) there is a new firmware upgrade that fix the issue, user can now re-voice MIDI song on the keyboard.

[Robert van Weersch]

Hopefully they will also create a 76-key version of this keyboard, then it looks really interesting to me!

[Amwilburn]

AND it has many features that Yamaha keyboards to not have (including Genos).
Here are a few examples:
1) chord velocity:  when turned ON, the style is played loud of soft depending on how hard to play the chord. With this feature, one can play with expression.

Yamahas have had chord velocity since Tyros 4. It's called Style touch on T4, Dynamics Control on the newer boards. Yamaha's had it for 12 years now, they even updated it in the DGX670 which can auto fill up or down depending how hard you play the chords.

Mark

[tyros2009]

Yamahas have had chord velocity since Tyros 4.

Almost correct, Tyros 3 also has chord velocity as I recently tried it.
And the S770 has it too.

[tbaroghel]

To be honest, Yamaha (or Thomann/Medeli) keyboards may have the best features in the world ... it is useless if unknown to users. This is, in my opinion, a good example of a feature I never stumbled upon, and I will sure give it a try. If mistaken, show me the Yamaha video / manual page that explains it !

[LaHawk]

To be honest, Yamaha (or Thomann/Medeli) keyboards may have the best features in the world ... it is useless if unknown to users. This is, in my opinion, a good example of a feature I never stumbled upon, and I will sure give it a try. If mistaken, show me the Yamaha video / manual page that explains it !

Page 12 of the the SX-900 Reference Manual

MENU (2) - Style Setting.

Dynamics Control
This determines how the Style playback volume changes depending on the playing strength.

• Off: The volume is kept the same regardless of playing strength. (This is the default setting)
• Narrow: The volume changes over a narrow range.
• Medium: The volume changes over a medium range.
• Wide: The volume changes over a wide range.

(Changes made will be saved after off/on)
SX-900 Reference Manual USA: https://usa.yamaha.com/files/download/other_assets/7/1279207/psrsx900_en_rm_b0.pdf

[tbaroghel]

Point taken ! Many thanks for this precise (and precious) information.
T