Yamaha • RS-7000 Music Production Studio
The RS7000 is a major groove production workstation! It's sort of like Akai's MPC-series, combining sampling and sequencing, but with an added internal synth engine. The RS7000 is particularly suited for dance, techno, Hip Hop, R&B, and ambient genres.
The sampler section consists of a 4MB (expandable to 64MB) sampler (5kHz to 44.1kHz or 32kHz to 48kHz via digital option board). You can use it to sample external sounds, re-sample the RS7000's sounds itself, or load samples from a variety of common formats! Auto-beat slicing lets you easily sample any loops or sounds and sync them to your sequence tempo! All the professional sampling and editing features you'd expect are here, and more!
The tone generator offers 62-voice polyphonic AWM2 synthesis, with over 1,000 synth sounds and 63 drum kit sounds (all via ROM). Here you'll find the resonant filters (6 types), advanced LFO modulation, BPM-synchronized LFO waveforms, and more! Edits made to the internal sounds, as well as to any samples are all stored within your sequence patterns.
The Sequencer is the real meat of the RS7000, where you make music out of the sounds it's got and that you've put into it! It offers pattern-based recording with 16 tracks each, and a 200,000 note-per-song capacity. Linear sequencer sequencing, like you would do using a software sequencer like Cubase, is also supported by the RS7000. Pattern-based sequences can be converted to the linear format as well. Realtime, grid and step recording methods are also available. Linking patterns into songs can be done in real time and meticulously tweaked. Total MIDI control, real-time hands on control, 18 assignable knobs and two pads, a Master effect section (with a multi-band compressor, slicer, isolater, other DJ-style master effects), and more make the RS7000 the most professional quality groove/loop/dance machine out there! It has been used by Hardfloor.
It has a steep learning curve. If your a programmer youll find your way around just fine. However I purchased this when I was a noob and over the years it has taught me more than a thing or two about synth programming AND sampling. Its definitly an overlooked treasure IMO.
Now I do have to mention that on power up the raw sound of the RS is very digital. I really believe the factory presets on just about all of the effects dont do any of them justice.especially the reverbs. So make sure you go in deep and really learn how to tweek the available effects and filters. It [beep] s that you cant preview samples before loading.I have my card backed up on PC to preview samples. Large tracks/Samples take quite a while to load.
If you find one of these around and youve been thinking about adding it to your arsenal, dont sleep on it just grab it. You'll be pleased you did.