Yamaha CBX-K1XG

-Easy to use but not always intuitive as it needs some reference from the manual.
Shift-Keyboard commands over 90% of the functions.
-It has only presets and they are XG/GM quality i.e.. not pro level. They are useable for working out tunes and to have fun keep your mind in shape. I've recently played it on my vacation for a week, every day for an hour each day. It saved me from missing my music.

32 voice polyphony in single voice mode.
Keyboard action and response to velocity is actually great for super mini keys. I'm able to control the dynamics with minimal practice. I find it accurate and better than some Evolution, Midiman or less expensive Roland models with full-size keys where the "Made In China" makes produce uneven response to black to white key combinations.
FX: many and all things that are essential.
No sequencer (but there are factory demos).
In the well designed back side are: Pitch Wheel, Assignable Wheel (that is very useful)
and Damper Pedal input too. Then there is the MIDI I/O plus Serial connector for Mac/Pc. The Serial could be used with another machine that has it too (i.e.. mine Roland PMA-5). The two functions like a very,very small workstation using one serial cable! However it introduces some digital clicking noise. MIDI (back to 2 cables) is better.

XG sounds are inside the Bank + Prg. selectable preset memory are the best. They are old, tired but useful. Think GM quality sounds.
Piano sounds are not very good. I prefer the El. Pno. types. Good woodwinds and synth sounds: Bass etc. all fine.
FX are good.
Realistic expression is possible and could satisfy.

Perfect 10.

hmm...3

Versatile and fun. Yes, to buy it again.
It is the only product of it's kind. The Korg Micro-Control has the same Yamaha made action (or copy of it?) more features and USB too.. but no sound of it's own.
CBX-K1XG is the choice where you want to control all all things MIDI (it can do it!). Add a USB-MIDI adapter (around $30-50) and your are up to date as of 2004.

Kind of difficult. Hard to find all sounds in it without waveform editor librarian. Hard to play too, cause keys are too small. Thought I would like it, but I need full sized keys. I use it for many gigs where I need keyboard sounds next to my drumset. So small, it fits nice in tight spaces. Manual was not included at purchase and Guitar Center wanted to charge me $10.00 so I went to another store, they ordered one at no charge, and I found the entire manual on the internet for free.

Some keys don't produce the same volume from one key to another. I think it's because the keys are so small. I first bought one of those tiny sound modules that you can take on trips, but it sucked bad. It has a ton of sounds but hard to get to. It can control all midi things with a little work. It's small, but it does a lot of stuff. Even can run on batteries and has old mac serial port. cool.

Sounds are kind of cheezy. Just like Yamaha. But what do you want for $99.00. No aftertouch, but it is impossible to find in this little package. I actually bought this to hook onto my Roland V-drums so I can program all the instrument sounds easily, and without entire midi rig. FX are also not so nice, and hard to program.

It can take a beating. I have given it a beating. I have used it alot on gigs without a backup, and it always worked. I also used it as midi merger to trigger octapad and it into a orchestra bell and timpani sound in my Alesis S4 plus.

I have only dealt with Yamaha in the acoustic drum area, and they were great. I never had to deal with them in electronics. I have a yamaha mixer that did have problems, and yamaha powered speaker that also needed repair. And even a Yamaha tape deck that needed repair. So this is the only electronic yamaha product I have owned which has not broke in some way.

I probably wouldn't buy it again. I would probably just get a soundless controller with usb connector, but the sounds do come in handy. I usually use it only to trigger sound modules remotely. It is definately worth the buck I paid for it. I wish it had quarter inch outputs instead of RCA, but no biggy. Also quarter inch headphone would be nice instead of mini.

I used the CBX with my cakewalk. It is a fantastic controller machine. However, accessing the features can be rather annoying. I have to press the SHIFT+one of the keys+the last 2 keys. Wish there could be something easier. Anyway, for most of the selection of sounds I used the Cakewalk sequencer.

By itself, the sound coming out of the 2 mini speaker is rather tinny. I usually connect it to speakers. Then it sounds better. However, it is still nowhere near to a Roland SC series sound module which I have when it comes to final output to recording device. It basically great for input and monitoring.

I hate reading this manual or it is because my eyes are not as good as before.

I don't recall the polyphony. So far it has worked fine with no problem. Keyboard is OK - enough keys to work on for most melodic parts. Problems is the piano parts. However, this is a tiny controller type keyboard. So nothing to complain or compare about. For this it is good already.

Other features are pretty standard. The good thing is that serial to host cable and drivers which I found to my surprise, is compatible with the Roland SC series. So when I am ready for final output, I just simply plug it into the Roland and there it goes!

If you know how to use the controllers, then the sounds can be alright and expressive. I play around with the Timbre (Controller 71) and the Brightness (Controller 74) plus others during the editing stage. That makes it good for something of it's size and price.

Basically, it is no comparison to the Roland SC series. Rather hard and rough overall in comparison but nonetheless OK and good enough for recording as far as I am concerned.

No problem whatsoever, so far. I have left it on for hours and nothing adverse happened.

No problem with this so far. With other matters, OK.

I guess there is no other replacement in the market for the same price. The Roland controller keyboard without any sound is already almost the this keyboard. Here I have the controller keyboard plus 787 sounds. So, if it was lost or stolen, why not buy it again?

The CBX is a very small sized 3 octave mini-keyboard (51 x 15,5 cm, and wights almost nothing). Midi in/out. XG Sounds with effects. Standard effects: reverb and chorus. A lot of other effects you can use if you use a computer (you can only change those effects with sysex).

It sound as good as XG or GM can sound

bad manual. Bad support.

If you are looking for a small keyboard to control your soft synth on a powerbook - then its your gear. If you like to play keyboard in your bed, on the WC, or outdors somewhere - then its your gear. If you're looking for something that gives you the bombastic sound - then look out for something else.