Yamaha RM1X

Bunker · 2023-11-25T11:39:58.575Z

I loved mine to the point I had three at one stage! A few of my pals (who up to that point didn’t own a synth or sequencer between them) ended up buying one each. In fact I bumped into one recently and he’s still using his standalone for getting ideas down.

I ended up replacing the tact switches on mine as they all tend to go bad over time. It’s not particularly hard, the trickiest bit is getting to the board which involves complete disassembly due to the shape of the case.

They’re great for on your lap composition with a pair or headphones but for the most part I used them as midi sequencers rather than using the internal sounds

Have fun with it! Imo they’re a pretty underrated groovebox!

bambrose · 2023-11-25T11:52:52.544Z

Meriphew:

The Rm1x is great though - other than the internal sounds.

I dunno. The internal sounds are so firmly from the 90s that they’re appealing to me if I’m looking for that sound. The pads in particular are great

TransGirlHappyHardcore · 2023-11-25T13:09:36.109Z

The track/step buttons sometimes require double press to work. Do I need to replace them or can they just be fixed by cleaning the contacts? If they need to be replaced, will it require soldering?

I like the internal sounds. I’m not into modern-sounding stuff anyway.

Mindseye_robot · 2023-11-25T13:45:41.752Z

They are supposedly sealed so not sure how much canning helps.

It is a soldering job.

Bunker · 2023-11-25T15:45:40.830Z

Yeah it’s a good chance they will. I tried without success to clean them but just ended up replacing them. It’s not too difficult a job once you’ve got to the switch board but they will require desoldering and new ones soldering in. It seems to be a pretty common issue with RM’s now getting on in years. Out if interest is yours an early or later one? Of the two I’ve still got one has a smoother finish to the blue painted front panel where as the later one has more of a matte/lightly textured finish.

TransGirlHappyHardcore · 2023-11-25T16:35:00.862Z

It’s a later one, matte finish.

Anyway, I decided to send it back for a refund. The buttons are just not usable for jamming, tracks can’t be muted/unmuted reliably.

I paid 250 € for it, but I guess I would have to spend 200 € and maybe more just to fix it.

Too bad they don’t make grooveboxes like this one anymore

Bunker · 2023-11-26T09:58:05.262Z

It’s a shame you can’t do it yourself or have someone nearby do it for you. I do all my own repairs so I’ve no idea when it comes to repair bills. Keep an eye out for another though; lots have already had their buttons replaced and the last time I looked they were still around the same sort of price you paid

TransGirlHappyHardcore · 2023-12-25T12:40:41.811Z

After sending back the damaged RM1X, I found another one. I couldn’t resist.

This time it looks like it’s new and I paid 150 €.

One of the encoders doesn’t work, but I can adjust the values with the +/- buttons anyway.

The step buttons are much more responsive, but still not perfect.

So I will probably have to have them changed.
After changing them, how long still they start to go bad again?

I read somewhere that with some Yamaha gear (specifically, the A300/A4000/A5000/SU700 samplers) even if you change the encoders, they will eventually stop working again after a while.

Is this true for the RM1X buttons and encoders as well?

Apart from this, does anybody know how to check the firmware? I’m aware that there was an EPROM with a firmware update released, to fix a problem with sequencing external gear. I could not find a way to check the version of the firmware on my RM1X.

Bunker · 2023-12-25T13:00:29.635Z

Nice one with the new buy! I can only assume that the reference to the encoders going bad would be using a like for like replacement if whichever encoder Yamaha used is prone to failure over time? Maybe a similar encoder that fits would be a better choice? If those encoders are common to other Yamaha gear of the time a bit of web searching might throw up a suitable replacement if it’s a known issue. Likewise with the step buttons. There are so many brands of tact switch that will do the job I can’t see them being an issue if they’re replaced. The original Yamaha ones have a soft touch action, I just used standard clicky ones which are fine in operation.

I don’t recall a screen that gives you the OS version but there may be a button combo you press on power up? I seem to recall when I had mine in bits that the version number was actually on one of the big chips inside? But it was years ago now. I can’t remember what the issue was with sequencing external stuff? I never cane across it with any of mine. One quirk was if you send it midi then note data always sounds the internal voices. All I used to do was turn down the RM volume and then it wasn’t an issue. I’d just turn it back up again for the metronome when recording midi into it

olafmol · 2023-12-25T14:29:25.298Z

I googled this for you: Most RM1X has only version 1.12 installed and you can check the current OS by holding [UTILITY], [PATTERN] and [PATT CHAIN] buttons, while powering up the device .

https://www.google.com/search?q=rm1x+check+firmware&oq=rm1x+check+firmware&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyCwgAEEUYChg5GKABMgkIARAhGAoYoAEyCQgCECEYChigAdIBCDMyNzhqMGo3qAIAsAIA&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

TransGirlHappyHardcore · 2023-12-25T18:55:14.087Z

I had already tried that combo, but it doesn’t work

llIIl · 2024-02-15T06:50:44.738Z

Hello,
can i record multiple midi tracks at once onto dedicated miditracks?.
So can i jam on two synths simultaniously and the midi information is recorded on two separate midi tracks on the rm1x?

synth1 (midi ch 1), synth2 (midi ch2) --> midi merger --> rm1x (track 1, track 2)

Do you know that @OSCar ?

Bunker · 2024-02-15T08:08:17.281Z

I don’t know of a way that you can select more than one ‘target’ midi track on the rm1x so I suspect the answer is no

llIIl · 2024-02-19T09:03:49.972Z

I found out you can record midi data on all 16 midi channels simultaniously in song mode. This is great for jamming and later rework your jam into a song.

Gonna test that with a perkons, a minilogue and a monologue this week.

TransGirlHappyHardcore · 2024-06-09T20:48:50.652Z

I got myself another RM1X and I really like it.

This one also has a couple of encoders that don’t work, but I get by anyway.

I like how it sounds, but I am looking for ways to give it a little more weight.
I would like to use the RM1X as the only sound source in my jams, for now at least.

I’ve considered the usual suspects: OTO Boum, Analog Heat, Strymon Deco, EHX Platform for a cheaper option, etc.

But I would like to hear some advice from other RM1X users.

re5et · 2024-06-09T22:00:52.691Z

There’s nothing unique to the rmx1 going through a heat / Boum etc.

If you find any demo of a 90’s rompler with a before/after audio example it’ll be the same …
Most gear released needs some processing … the vast majority of every record / cd you’ve ever heard has had some processing on it.

Inakito · 2024-06-10T01:58:34.996Z

Great sequencer and sounding machine. It has a lot of already made preset patterns sequences that you can recall at any time to sketch ideas, and some pretty cool midi effects too. It can sound clean, or super dirty, depending on your programming and effects processing, that are pretty impressive.
The sounds are outdated but can be edited in depth, plus you can build your own synths.
It contains so many examples that you can use as reference, and listening to them you may find some pretty familiar ones ^^
I had one but sell it many years ago, as it was taking a lot of space, and I always found it a bit clunky, and also not super direct to work, like with some more current tools like the Octatrack.
I didn’t find its workflow difficult but there are current sequence that allow working quicker nowadays, and that also allow sampling, like a polyendTracker, for example.
I love some of the workflows it allows but I don’t miss it, tho it can be super fun to work with.
Great machine also for remixing and performing life. Expect some time learning it, the manual is pretty neat, so is programming it, but the results will be worthy

gimber · 2024-06-10T02:53:58.779Z

I’ve run mine through a deco, fmr rnc, and an Erica acidbox, all nice additions. Also have recorded it raw and done quick computer processing with rough rider, Saturn, ozone, or recorded direct to tape. Some mixer distortion works too, depends on what you’re after.

I recorded a few here a while back, I think these were all deco and an old tascam mixer, and a walkman for samples.

Cepheid · 2025-07-19T04:13:34.215Z

Cepheid:

Been wandering the interwebs looking at old school groovebox type gear. In specific the old E-MU Command Stations, Yamaha AN200, and the Yamaha Rs7000 and RM1X. I am intrigued by the RM1X as a sequencer. These things seem fairly capable as far as a midi sequencer goes, but I keep hearing different things. So apparently In XoX step record, you can’t hear the other tracks playing while you record. Though I’ve heard in realtime record mode you CAN hear the other tracks playing. Anybody care to chime in? Are these things any good still in 2000?

Also love this vid here, awesome work
https://youtu.be/HqTxGTz_9ms

Well, I finally did it. Only took me 5+ years to finally pull the trigger on a RM1X. I’ve always been reluctant with the issues the units come with, which is fully understandable for their age. However, I was randomly searching for gear on Reverb today, not intending on buying anything. Well low and behold I found a gem of a unit! Screen replaced, all encoders replaced, and all potentiometers replaced too. The seller even bleached the keys back to white! Priced very good. I totally inpulse bought the thing with zero hesitation. Here soon I will be trying to learn how to use this thing, super happy I finally jumped when the time was right. Gotta sell some gear now…

aley · 2025-07-19T12:50:59.545Z

I’ve been interested in one of these for a while to. I’ve read on a few forums that the original ones shipped with a few bugs relating to midi etc that can be rectified with a diy chip replacement, has anyone here done so?