Yamaha CX5MII/128 Music Computer

[wax inspektor]

alrighty, got this bad boy for free but kinda clueless what to do with it?!
i don't even got a com mouse ...
i got the manuals and everything and it seems like i need to learn MSX BASIC;
got a manual for that also... shit requires some serious studies i feel like..
the "console" came with a cartridge "FM Music Composer II"... looks and feels like a master system game but anyway... seen those cartridges for >100$ on u.s.-ebay, no sight of the machine itself though.
do you know what it's worth it nowadays? think i'm going to sell it cause i doubt i gonna use it; feel like i'm better off with my mpc or live as a sequencer... the synth engine might be interesting but it needs some oldschool keyboard to get access to that... meh! i'm so turned off by the computer language already; funny thing is it even got a printer port...

any insights would be greatly appreciated...



cheers

[ellaguru]

this seems a useful link for a first approach http://m.matrixsynth.com/2009/08/yamaha ... puter.html
and that one for further details
http://www.sonicstate.com/synth/yamaha_cx5miii/
but , seriously, if you become to know more, please share! i never seen this thing before...

[wax inspektor]

yo, i gave it a shot today... no need for a mouse..
i never owned a C64, neither did i have a DOS system or such...
i couldn't get it work so that i can use live midi input but thats just me, not the machine.... there are commands for every tiny shit..

i think it got 4 tracks and ~50 instruments... check out this demos:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Do8LLdZ ... creen&NR=1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GRaQNoE7DFo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZoX9XJSA ... re=related
cheezy shit, too bad its so annoying to handle...
sounds a bit like the sega genesis to me...

[Ill Green]

You'll be making beats like these guys

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HWAAXrlt43s

[ellaguru]

You'll be making beats like these guys

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HWAAXrlt43s

For me hit of the month!!!

[wax inspektor]

You'll be making beats like these guys

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HWAAXrlt43s

that shit is so cool! thanx for sharing; gave me good laughs...
hope to catch these guys live one day!

think i'll throw that computer on ebay today... the sounds are nicely videogamish but i dont dig the workflow at all...

[plexxsounds]

I just love old 8bit computers like this one. This one is one of the MSX standard which means there's a bunch of nice old games for it - many Konami classics on this machine. I've seen one go for over 100 euros but it had the keyboard. I would be interested if it was a bit closer.

[ellaguru]

I just love old 8bit computers like this one. This one is one of the MSX standard which means there's a bunch of nice old games for it - many Konami classics on this machine. I've seen one go for over 100 euros but it had the keyboard. I would be interested if it was a bit closer.

I had atari games.
And a c64 when i was a child in the 80s. Is that one got the same "structure" as that one and Spectrum too?

[wax inspektor]

it's gone up on ebay... i don't have space for another machine+monitor! even the aspect of konami games is no keeper for me; crazy huh?!
i made some random pattern today and sure the engine sounds cool but nothing i want to learn to get decent results... i cant read or write music and that sucks! may some nerd have fun with it; if i can turn this into a couple of records i'm happy...

[JZTR]

.

[drewzle]

Wax is the king of finding these things...dude goes out for some take-away food a few weeks ago and a drunk guy sells him a Casio 101...unglaublich

and Berlin is the place for it.... last week I found a Machinedrum UW box next to an inner city train station's bin. like someone just casually picks up a Machinedrum as one would a Snickers, just chuck the wrapper when they've opened it

[wax inspektor]

true dat, i was out for some asia box (noodles) and what i got was a japanese vintage keyboard...
if i only would go out more often...

btw. can i finally put that machinedrum box in the garbage or u still down to sell rocks on ebay?!


@killdevilhills

it is man! i just figured out i can use the computer without the fm composer program and just play the sound engine via ableton.... (4 midi channels are possible on the msx) this way it's less complicated and quit fun, but since i'm drowning in equipment i rather give it to somebody who knows how to rock that piece eventhough i love old videogames and the music...

the interest on ebay is quit good so far.. 30+ spectators within the first day is quit promising... we'll see...