| So your thinking
of buying an RM1x.... |
| So your
thinking of buying an RM1x but can't make
up your mind, well you came to the right
place. Reading this page should answer
some of those questions you have and help
you make up your mind: |
| Is the
RM1x the machine for you ? You should
definitely read the RM1x review at the
Sound on Sound website, it will tell you
most things you need to know about the RM
as well as giving it a independent
evaluation. Next read "RM or MC
?" on this site, which compares
the RM1x to Roland's groove boxes.
Finally read the FAQ page, which has
answers to the questions people most
often mail me with. |
| Go to
you local Yamaha dealer and ask for a
demo of the RM1x, hearing it for yourself
is better than reading a review. Any good
dealer will demo the RM for you, after
all they want your money. Don't be afraid
to have a go yourself, just press the
play button and use the first of the four
knobs under the screen to switch between
the various styles of dance music, press
the other buttons and see what happens. |
| Buying
from a local dealer rather than from an
advert in a magazine or over the internet
means you can return your RM quickly and
easily if anything goes wrong. Remember
you may want your dealer to fit new
operating system ROM's as they are
released. |
| Do not
pay the full retail price for your RM.
Find the best advertised price you can in
a magazine or on the net, then ask your
local dealer to better it. Remember that
music shops make their profit from few
sales but with high mark-up, they want
your cash and will probably do a deal,
make sure the shop assistant knows you
have the cash in your pocket and walk off
if they won't give you a discount. |
| Make
sure when you buy your RM the dealer
gives you a power supply, this IS
included in the price but comes in its
own separate box. The RM is a hi tech bit
of kit and needs the correct juice. |
| Leads
to connect the RM to an amplifier or
mixer are not included in the price,
however a good dealer will give you these
free of charge. The RM's output is from
two 1/4" jacks, but make sure you
know what connection you need at the
other end (probably two phono's for a HI
FI amplifier or two 1/4" jacks for a
mixer, but check !). If you intend to use
a computer sequencer as well you will
need a joystick port to midi cable, with
midi in and out. If you want to use a
midi controller keyboard connected to the
RM1x then you will need a standard midi
lead. I have bought these from music
shops but got longer leads cheaper at
Maplin Electronics. |
| Its worth
budgeting for a midi keyboard when you
buy your RM, the keyboard on the front
can be used but I doubt anyone can play a
decent tune using them. A midi keyboard
also frees the RM's keyboard up for its
other functions like changing between
patterns. You don't need an expensive
keyboard with onboard sounds, I use an
Evolution MK149 (£80 from PCWorld) but
checkout the Roland PC series. Any
keyboard will do as long as it has a midi
out connector. |
| Remember if
your setting up a home studio from
scratch and are buying other equipment to
use with the RM1x such as a sampler,
sound module or synth remember you will
need a mixer. Prices vary but remember a
poor quality mixer could introduce hiss
and humming into your sound. I have a
Mackie mixer which are a good quality
brand, the entry level desk costs between
two and three hundred pounds, although if
you expand in the future you could soon
find yourself running out of inputs. |
| Second-hand
equipment is cheaper than new but does
not have a guarantee so ask if the
machine is in perfect working order. Also
ask if there are any major dents or
scratches, a machine that has been well
looked after is more likely to last
longer.Make sure you hear it working
before you buy and get the manual, power
supply and box. Check out the Sound-on-Sound web site for loads of
second hand equipment. I have bought six
synthesisers from adverts on the SOS site
and each has been in very good condition
and at a very good price. Watch out for
adverts where the asking price is just a
bit lower than new price, second-hand
gear deserves a second-hand price even if
it is only a few months old. |
| If you still
have some questions why not leave a
question on the Message Board of this site, other RM
users are pretty helpful, have fun ! |
