via this auction
"The XS8 Star Edition is a souped up XS8 there is only one of. First the sample RAM is expanded to 2GB. Then as a response to the XF8's much-advertised 1GB of Flash RAM, I gave the XS8 a 16GB Flash memory stick... ha! When the paint wore off on the XS's right side from my mouse / trackball, I created a custom decal to cover the metal. The winning bidder gets and extra decal, and the Photoshop file on disc too in case you want to change the text, add colorful flying monkeys to the design or whatever. One of the things that never looked quite right to me on the standard XS8 are those iffy green side panels. So I got to work again and voila - lovely smooth wood panels, like a $10,000 Yamaha DX1. Except this new synth has 1000 times the audio capabilities of a DX1.
The real "Star" in the Star Edition is the Pianosoft library of more than 140 titles; MIDI sequences of celebrities from Oscar Peterson to Chick Corea to play, study and learn from. I originally bought these locally for $30 - $40 per disc, then I had to manually convert each album from the floppy which nor synths nor computers sport anymore. These MIDI sequences are the best method to learn directly from the biggest masters, it amazes me that Yamaha doesn't make this more clear. I'm transferring the library with the synth, on the 16GB Flash drive (the photo of the jewel cases only serves to show I bought it legitimately, the floppies are failing). You can just plug the drive into your computer, and import the song of your choice into any better sequencer / score printing program. Even today, this library is a $3000 value alone.
This XS8 was used in composing and recording the Aloha Rhapsody, so it might become even a historic item, an investment value. (Whether in our lifetime, that's another matter.) Finally, a word about shipping. (OK, several.) I ran recently into an eBay glitch where the system-calculated shipping estimate for a 88-key synth during auction was a whopping $100 less than the actual cost, shown only after bid close. Please, please, check for yourself at fedex.com how much shipping a 80 lbs 60" x 20" x 10" box from zip 96815 to you really costs, so there are no surprises at checkout time. Thank you"
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