First experiences with the SX600

[tomsixtwo]

Since a few days I own the PSR-SX600. I am happy with the sounds and styles so far. Also the keybed and the general workmanship gives no reason for criticism. The 100 MB Expansion Memory is a bit limited, but sufficient for my needs.

I know that I would have got the SX700 for "only" 300 EUR more. But I mainly choose the SX600 over the SX700 because I don't like resistive touchscreens and I prefer to work with real buttons. However, my main reason to choose the SX600 is the USB audio interface, which integrates seamless with my iPad. Since I like to use the keyboard together with synthesizer apps like Drambo, this feature is very important to me. Using only one cable for audio and MIDI connections is simply great.

Unfortunately, the SX600 seems to be very picky when it comes to USB sticks. Only a few of my 8 USB sticks are recognized, with 3 older ones I sometimes (!) had success. Of course I know that the USB sticks should be formatted on the keyboard. But if they are not recognized at all, I can't do that. I also reformatted the sticks on the computer, even without success. A brand new Verbatim thumb drive that I bought yesterday is not recognized either 

BTW, are there any other SX600 owners here in the forum?

[BogdanH]

Congrats for your new SX600! -is nice to read you're happy with your decision.
Yeah, "not recognized" USB sticks... All I can say in this regard is, many cheap USB sticks are not really that precise made on plug side. It happens to me too, that I need to "push/wiggle" some USB stick for being recognized on my PC -is really frustrating experience.
Try using some USB 2.0 stick for keyboard, which has simplified contacts (as keyboard doesn't support USB30 anyway).
Wish you a lot of fun 

[Toril S]

Bogdan, that is good advice. I also use an USB extension cable. That way the USB port on the keyboard gets less wear and tear!

[overover]

Hi tomsixtwo,

have you checked if the latest Firmware V1.02 is already installed on your SX600? (Firmware updates often also improve compatibility with USB sticks.)
>>> https://uk.yamaha.com/en/support/updates/firm_psr-sx600.html

Best regards,
Chris

[tomsixtwo]

Hi Chris, updating the software is the first step after unboxing a new keyboard. I'm an update junkie

I owned some other Yamaha keyboards (PSR-S670 and MODX6) before. There were absolutely no problems with my USB thumb drives.

I have found that all my USB sticks with a blue connector (USB 3.0) are not recognized. According to the manual, the keyboard is compatible with USB 3.0. My older USB sticks (with black connectors, i.e. USB 2.0 or older) are recognized. Interestingly, my newer sticks are from well-known brands like Verbatim or SanDisk. And exactly those are causing problems At some point it will become difficult to buy USB sticks with USB 2.0. That is why I am worried.

By the way, I also use a short extension cable to access the usb port from the front side, but of course I have also tried to connect the usb sticks directly.

[EileenL]

I use Verbatim Store N Go 32 Gb pen drives with no problem at all.

[tomsixtwo]

My new Verbatim USB stick (USB 2.0) has arrived. Everything works fine now and I'm happy again.

Nevertheless I think it's a pity that the SX600 which arrived to the market in 2020 doesn't like USB 3.0 sticks. Even if the manual tells us something different.

[overover]

Hi tomsixtwo,

I suspect that the SX600 contains completely different USB hardware than the SX900/700 or Genos. Unfortunately, at the moment I do not have the SX600 Service Manual, so I cannot compare the installed hardware ...

But maybe Yamaha will improve the compatibility with future firmware updates.

Have you actually already downloaded the "Compatible USB Device List" for the SX600? This list currently only contains four (4) different USB sticks. It will probably be expanded / updated in the future.
>>> https://de.yamaha.com/files/download/other_assets/2/1366042/en-PSR-SX600.pdf

It is interesting that the Japanese version of this list contains completely different tested USB stick types for the SX600:
>>> https://jp.yamaha.com/files/download/other_assets/6/1366216/jp-PSR-SX600.pdf


The relevant lists of SX models and Genos contain considerably more compatible USB sticks tested by Yamaha:
>>> https://de.yamaha.com/files/download/other_assets/5/1279945/en-PSR-SX700.pdf
>>> https://de.yamaha.com/files/download/other_assets/4/1279924/en-PSR-SX900.pdf
>>> https://de.yamaha.com/files/download/other_assets/6/1135766/en-Genos.pdf


Best regards,
Chris

[tomsixtwo]

Thanks, Chris. The list is really not very long 

However, I can confirm that the Verbatim 49063 (16 GB USB 2.0) works without any flaws.

[iulistil2]

Hello! I'm very happy with the new sx600, but I have a certain problem, this is: missing "NOTE EDIT" from STYLE CREATOR, that microscope where you can modify or fix only certain notes when creating new styles. I find it strange that it has DRUM SETUP and does not have a microscope!

But it sounds incredible for its price https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RlPNiA6wL5s

[3dc]

Hello! I'm very happy with the new sx600, but I have a certain problem, this is: missing "NOTE EDIT" from STYLE CREATOR, that microscope where you can modify or fix only certain notes when creating new styles. I find it strange that it has DRUM SETUP and does not have a microscope!

But it sounds incredible for its price https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RlPNiA6wL5s

I think, might be wrong, you are referring to step sequencer which unfortunately is not available in PSR-SX600. A workaround would be to modify all notes in DAW first and then import it in SX600.

[overover]

Hello! I'm very happy with the new sx600, but I have a certain problem, this is: missing "NOTE EDIT" from STYLE CREATOR, that microscope where you can modify or fix only certain notes when creating new styles....

Hi iulistil2,

I also cannot understand why Yamaha decided to leave off the List Editor display on the SX600. But on the other hand, to my knowledge, also the PSR-S650/670 don't have it...


For editing individual MIDI events in Style files, I recommend the free PC (Windows) program "MixMaster". Here you can load Style files directly and save them again. It is not necessary to use a CASM editor or the "Style Split and Splice" program to separate and re-add the non-MIDI data of the Style files (which would be nessessary when using a DAW like Cubase for editing Style files).


Best regards,
Chris

[tomsixtwo]

Yamaha keyboards are more for playing than for editing

I think we have to live with that, it's part of their philosophy. Even with the larger models, editing (whether sounds, sequences or styles) on the instrument is cumbersome and old-fashioned, if at all. Korg arrangers are further in this respect. Nevertheless Yamaha arrangers are more appealing to me at the moment.

To come back to the SX600: The ability to connect an iPad seamlessly and with only one cable for audio and MIDI is a very good compromise for me. If I need special sounds or samples that the SX600 cannot handle or does not handle well, I attach the iPad to the keyboard. Same for audio and/or MIDI recordings.

[janamdo]

Hi all,
I just bought last week also the psr sx 600 and there was a pricedrop and become interesting to buy
Also for the specifications i bought it . 
For learning playing keyboard seems to me good starterkeyboard.
I am looking now how to get a songbook on my computer: has someone experiences with this ?

I am now trying to make how to make a playlist ?     

[tyros2009]

Been using Tyros3 for 12 years now. Just bought a SX600 for its smaller size (easier to carry to gigs) and so far, everything I have on Tyros3  (styles, MIDI songs, etc...) work fine, including an old USB thumb drive that was in the Tyros3.
This old USB thumb drive is in thin plastic and already cracks but still works. It works in my SX600 too. So I bought two new Sandisk thumb drives, 32GB each. These new thubb drives work in the Tyros3 but does not in the SX600. What a bummer !!!
I download the thumb drives compatibility list , as shown in this post, and SanDisk is not on the list.
Very disappointed. I have to try a few other thumb drives (not on the list) to see if they get recognized by the SX600.
   

[EileenL]

Kingston or Verbatim are very good and work well in most keyboards.