I took a few minutes to experiment with some VH2 settings on the S970 so that if I ever use it without my mixer I could get a decent VH sound if that;s possible...here is a very quick example using standard Trio,...mind you it's in its early stages of exploration and much more time if I ever get that is needed to achieve what I would be happy with to use on stage if at all vs a Tc Helicon, Digitec optional unit...




Yamaha S950 VH2 Test

Donnie: I have to say I'm pretty pleased with 970 VH2. Granted...I'm using it in a studio setting, but compared to my TC Voiceworks plus...the Yamaha gets the nod. Also, no latency...less hassle.

Hope you find some positive results.

Jingleman

You've got it sounding pretty good. My main complaint, as always, is that when you engage or disengage, the VH WHILE SINGING you get a blip in the sound. It makes you have to always be thinking about the timing as you engage it.

It sounds fine to me as long as you keep your lead out in front.

Thanx fellas,...Don I am well aware of what your saying....just another thing to worry about when using VH with a Yamaha, the KORG in this dept is far more superior for sure......

Jingleman I usually use it with backing tracks when recording also....just another gimmick to use.

Thanx Bernie yes I agree I have the ratio lead to VH set to <10

Donny ... that sounds pretty good to these old ears ... but then, when you start with a good voice and voice control the end product is usually pretty good ...

Gotta agree with Captain Tony.

Gary

Thanx Tony, Gary, Graham,....you know me Im a stickler for the best I can be .......I'll keep trying things but at this point it's still usable wonder if Yamaha really improved it from past versions would love to ask Martin Harris that question?...

Good job, Donny. I liked it!

Donny, I have compared it with my PSR-3000 and the difference is dramatic.

Gary

Gary having all the Psr models & S models myself I can hear a differences for the better, I hope it continues in future models also to where it gets to TC Helicon quality especially in tracking..and add a on/off VH light on deck also.

Donny, I know you don't like foot pedals, but this is the easiest and best way to trigger the VH.

Gary

Trigger yes..... Knowing it's on with a lite would be great too....

Is that it Donny, what about the rest of the b******g song, I've been waiting years for this and all I get is a few bars. Talk about short change

Col

That drove me crazy on PSR--no way to know if the VH is on or off until you open your mouth! At least they could make it a momentary switch where it is only engaged when you hold the pedal down. The old stand-alone harmonizers had that option and I loved doing it that way.

It's a work in progress Col,...sorry..more to come for sure when I get some down time....

I agree Don....another bug IMO on S units etc,, is that when your playing in style mode and you push the MFD menu button to see the list of songs etc,...it AUTOMATICALLY Turns On the OTS Link and that really Sux!!! especially when you playing and switching modes, searching songs etc, you can be playing a solo on one sound..but the minute you hit the MFD button it will change the sound to what ever OTS variation your in GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!
..... I hope Yamaha is reading this stuff and changes it asap in an update. The OTS link should be a MANUAL choice not an Automatic one. Its bad enough that you cannot change the TEXT size on the MFD or save tranpose....the MFd needs to be totally REVISED and DESIGNED for sure..Thank you

I know you're getting tired of hearing this, but the PA4X addresses ALL of these issues!

Wow ... even my Pa900 has a VH 'ON' light ... just sayin'

at almost twice the price of the S970 it BETTER!!! just sayin'

You guys are really beginning to sound a bit whiney about this stuff. For some strange reason, most folks don't seem to have a problem with this, including me. I really don't need an indicator light to tell me that I just pressed the foot pedal to turn on the VH, the delay is so slight that I never even noticed it until it was pointed out to me, and the OTS in the MFD, you know you can turn off the OTS link and make the changes manually. Maybe I'm just not to finicky about this stuff - but I'm old and little things like just don't bother me at all anymore. You guys are much younger.

Gary

Gary younger has nothing to do with it, your only in your 70's certain things have to be addressed and fixed on yamaha arrangers for sure..simple as that with updates and redesigning new models in the future, MOTL & TOTL...if they would only listen to the players who buy these Kb's & work with them all the time they would be better off for sure,...they sound great BUT,...big feature improvements are needed and who better to voice them then us in the trenches every day..?

Gary, you don't use the onboard harmonizer, you use the T.C. Helicon and it DOES have a light to tell you it is one.

Yeah, but I can't see it - it's under the console, so it makes no difference.

Donny, pro players/OMB entertainers make up less than 1/10 of 1-percent of the consumers. Do you really believe that the few individuals that have these concerns are going to trigger a major undertaking with any manufacturer to cater to your whims? Not a prayer! Live with it, work around it, and carry on.

Gary

Gary

Good luck Donny. That sounded better than most VH2 I've heard but except for Korg, which has a decent processor on board, you're going to have to use an external unit to be happy. You need a harmonizer that will compliment your voice. You have a great voice. You shouldn't use a dollar store harmonizer.

If Yamaha is listening, yes I just indicated that VH2 is not acceptable to those of us who sing and want to add quality harmony to our setup. VH2 remains pretty much unchanged and is still part of your high end Tyros keyboards. That is a travesty.

If I had the money I would be playing a Tyros but you can't begin to imagine how disappointed I would be when I tried out VH2. I would be trying to get my $6000 back. As it were, I rejected the S950 because of VH2. I use an S750 and an external Digitech harmonizer. So Yamaha, if you are listening, a lot of us singing keyboard players need vocal harmony on par with the high quality sounds we get from our Yamaha keyboards. As of today, if I were to upgrade to a top of the line keyboard,it, because of the onboard TC Helicon would be the Korg PA4X not the Tyros with it's substandard vocal processor. I believe that concludes my rant!

God Bless,
Don

Good thoughts Don... Amen!!!

Gary ... I could be wrong here, but wasn't there something you wanted to see on a Yamaha KB, and contacted Yamaha, and then were happy when the issue was corrected? ... If I am wrong then I apologize ...

Now I understand that you are a DIE-HARD Yamaha fan, and their KBs are the greatest thing since sliced bread, however, why is it that some features can be found on OTHER brands of KBs in the very same price range, and not on Yamaha? ... I think that's what frustrates people like Donny ... now there may be features on the S970 that I don't have on my Pa900, but I am not aware of them ... but if they ARE on the 970, for relatively the same price, I would want them on my Pa900 ...
It's really quite simple ... JMHO ...

Tony, I spent lots of time communicating directly with Yamaha, and, they apparently saw my point of view from a marketing perspective, otherwise, I don't think they would have done anything. Not only did I talk with Yamaha USA, I also talked with Japan. And, at the time, I was still writing newspaper and magazine columns and doing product reviews for some major publications, which may have had a bearing on the subject, though I'm not sure about that.

Now, I've owned lots of brands of keyboards, and they all had some great features, but they all required some workarounds for some of the things I wanted to do. I never owned one that I didn't like at the time, regardless of the workarounds - Hell, I've owned lots of things that required workarounds, including cars and vans. Not every product will meet my exacting specifications, and I can live with that. No one has ever heard or read anything from me about the drawbacks of any arranger keyboard I've owned, however, I have spent a lot of time helping folks work out their problems within the limitations of their keyboard's operating system. It's something I enjoy doing, and don't ask anything in return.

As for loving Yamaha, absolutely! I love what I hear, which is the reason I purchased Yamaha, Korg, Roland, etc... I loved what I heard at the time. I also listen very carefully to every demo, and to the guys in the field that provide entertainment for the folks in my area. In most instances, the player is the big difference - not the operating system. For me, I'm not a player - instead, I'm a singer and entertainer. That's what made me successful. If I were paid for my playing skills, I would have starved to death. Most everyone on this forum is a better musician than me, and I freely admit that. Therefore, I utilize every feature an arranger keyboard has to offer in order to keep my vocals at the forefront, and make the best of my limited musical skills. So far, Yamaha has not let me down. I have two more jobs before I head into full retirement, and believe me, I will really miss being an entertainer. One thing for certain, Yamaha's many features have made me the best entertainer I could ever have dreamed of being.

All the best,

Gary

When I was using the S970 regularly, I used one of the active control knobs to switch VH on and off...works great


Rog L

Well this morning on my first Valentines gig of the day being it was a very small 20pp get together party I thought I'd try using the S970 all alone with just a mic and I was pleasantly surprised at how it worked out,...using the Live Control knobs set to control Voc vol & Mp3's was really useful during the performance..but what I really thought was the big difference was the Vocal sound which I set up the eFx last week and by using a little compression really gave the Vocals & styles a nice lift which I noticed right away and didn't have to push it thru the mix like you have to do on my former S series models...the VH2 was acceptable as long as you stay "directly on top of the mic" to get good tracking harmonies without dropouts,...improvement in this area for Yamaha upcoming models is imperative if they want to be on par with TC Helicon or digitec,...S970 speakers sound a bit better then the S950 also,...but all in all I now Know I can perform with the S970 alone when needed in certain situations,...to be continued.....

Good for you, Donny ... use the tools at your disposal ...

Good job Donny! I knew if anyone could make it work in a live setting, it would be you.

jingleman

Thanx fellas it's all in there just gotta dive in and find it.

I've been tellin ya that for years!

Gary