Yamaha QY70 - A gameboy like portable sequencer

[dorfmeister]

I decided to buy one of these to be able to do composition in a mobile fashion. Old tech. I think they came out about 1996.....but still very cool....and you can get these pretty cheap now....so I scored one really cheap in an auction on e-bay.

I know people would say - why not just use an ipad or an iphone but the problem with those things is that they have so many other things that you can do on them that they are distracting. This just does music, has a great sequencer, great if somewhat dated sounds...and you can dump the midi data to a computer and use it in a daw.....you can also sequence external synths and drum machines.



Thom Yorke, Bjork, Jah Wobble, Tricky, and PJ Harvey used these things quite a bit back in the day. KInd of a gameboy of sequencing. Runs on batteries. Very cheap if you have patience and can restrain yourself from using BIN.



Here is Bjork performing with an earlier iteration of the 70, the QY20 which was also used pretty extensively by Jah Wobble, Tricky, and PJ Harvey.



Thom Yorke with the QY70.




Here is a guy using one with a midi controller.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zga7X1yewfA[/youtube]

Here is a guy circuit bending the earliest qy, the qy10.

[dorfmeister]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LnlkK703nLI[/youtube]

[Bellyheart]

with the monotron together, you could do some mini damage.

[sonidero]

Ha that's what Del tha Funkee Homosapien uses to make most of his beat... Actually I think alot of "backpack" rappers used those... Living Legends used 'em too I think... Check the QY700 that's the big one I used to have... They're fun for sure...

[dorfmeister]

Ha that's what Del tha Funkee Homosapien uses to make most of his beat... Actually I think alot of "backpack" rappers used those... Living Legends used 'em too I think... Check the QY700 that's the big one I used to have... They're fun for sure...

Yeah....the 700 is the one Squarepusher used for a long time. Maybe still does. I guess the 70 has much of the same functionality as the 700.

I have a thing for ancient tech. If no body else wants the stuff and people think it is out of date then it seems like there are possibilities for doing something different with it. And something like this is pretty powerful....and cheap. Just over $100 shipped.

[dorfmeister]

with the monotron together, you could do some mini damage.

The thing about this thing is that it is really pretty powerful....Sequencer is supposed to be great....and you can sequence other devices using midi and attach a midi controller to control effects in real time like in the video above using the kenton spin doctor.

[Heavy_Soul]

The 700 is a beast, as far as I know Squarepusher still uses one live at least, they are colossal units.

[Dr. Sherman Sticks M.D.]

I have a thing for ancient tech. If no body else wants the stuff and people think it is out of date then it seems like there are possibilities for doing something different with it.

+666
my sentiments exactly

[sonidero]

I knew Dr. Sticks would show up around here... The thing is to watch what's coming out or what's out now that will flop and get blown out at guitard center for cheap and get those... I remember they couldn't give away the Roland EF 303's back in the day now I see them alot, even around here... Most products are made in a linear fashion built off the past, so find something that maybe new and expensive and go back a few models and most of the functions will be there... Lotta hidden gems out there, that's why I don't understand people that just wanna use a laptop... Where do they think the stupid programs came from.?.

[dorfmeister]

I am thinking that this qy70 will be great in combination with a Roland SP-404. Great for some portable loop creation and sampling. Both will run on batteries.

[dorfmeister]

I knew Dr. Sticks would show up around here... The thing is to watch what's coming out or what's out now that will flop and get blown out at guitard center for cheap and get those... I remember they couldn't give away the Roland EF 303's back in the day now I see them alot, even around here... Most products are made in a linear fashion built off the past, so find something that maybe new and expensive and go back a few models and most of the functions will be there... Lotta hidden gems out there, that's why I don't understand people that just wanna use a laptop... Where do they think the stupid programs came from.?.

Yeah....I am stymied by the computer....too many options and distractions....similar with the Ipod touch....couldn't really make anything happen with the intua beatmaker. Seems like a good idea until you go to use the damned thing.

[dorfmeister]

A portable on the go compositional/recording rig I am contemplating.

QY70
SP404sx
Tascam DP 008 Digital Multi-tracker. Lacks midi but otherwise looks perfect.
SM57 mic

All will run on batteries. I've got the SP-404 and SM57 already. Qy70 is in the mail. DP 008 would be about $250.

[sonidero]

A portable on the go compositional/recording rig I am contemplating.

QY70
SP404sx
Tascam DP 008 Digital Multi-tracker. Lacks midi but otherwise looks perfect.
SM57 mic

All will run on batteries. I've got the SP-404 and SM57 already. Qy70 is in the mail. DP 008 would be about $250.

That would definitely be a great portable setup... The recorder doesn't really need midi so I think you'd be o.k...

[dorfmeister]

Live concert view of PJ Harvey's "A Perfect Day Elise". You can see the use of a very small instrument on a stand which is a Yamaha QY20, a forerunner of the QY70.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-4xOvvkyiyc[/youtube]

[sonidero]

This is as portable as I get... (blackberry's take shitty pics sorry guys)