Yes it is possible, but it is set slow... make sure you are listening to the “Vintage’74” in stereo. Trust me, this makes a huge difference on this particular sound because of the Stereo Effect processing...

Here’s why:
This is a splendid recreation of the 1974 FenderRhodes Suitcse Electric Piano, complete with the stereo Auto Pan.

The Suitcase model feature four 12” Speaker, two facing in, two facing out toward the audience. The incorrectly named “Vibrato” button allowed you to activate the pulsing Left-Right movement of the sound. It is more accurately called tremolo (but that’s neither here nor there)... this is recreated by the MX’s “Auto Pan” feature.

If you are not listening in stereo this pulsing will sound twice as fast as the actual setting made by the programmer... because instead of every other pulse - you are hearing first the left then the right but without stereo it just sounds like a fast warble... at twice the set speed.

I believe Speed Control of the Auto Pan is assigned to the Mod Wheel (but I’m sure it only makes it faster, because as I mentioned it already is set fairly slow). If you do not have a stereo sound system, plug in some headphones to hear what I’m talking about..

Do you have the John Melas Editor?
The Melas Editors allow you to get at all the parameters ‘under the hood’ that make this a Motif junior.

I am interested in purchasing the MX88. I have been listening to ALL the videos available. I listen with headphones in stereo. Every Vintage '74 Rhodes voice someone plays with the panning "tremolo" is the same fast speed when I hear it. In my ears (with headphones) it IS panning left to right. This speed is faster to me than the actual Suitcase Rhodes I played back in the day (1975). I do not have the John Melas Editor (obviously) but it seems to me this would be an easy parameter to change. The panning speed on Keyscape's version of the LA Custom E Rhodes has it right (IMO). The Yamaha MX88 '74 Vintage Rhodes sweeping auto-pan is like 1/8 notes in timing, while the actual one is 1/4 notes in timing. (If you understand what I'm saying here.)

As I mentioned the LFO Speed is on the MW, I’d tell you to adjust it to your taste but, you don’t have one.
Adjust the Auto Pan Depth with the Assign Knobs.

Set to your taste. Your 1/8 note, 1/4 note timing thing is meaningless with stating the tempo... but I get what you’re saying and is exactly what I described happens when you are listening in mono...alas... with the video not in evidence we’ll just agree we are talking about the same thing! Either way LFO Speed Control and L/R Depth are available for real-time adjustment on the actual MX

Don’t play and judge by videos alone, visit a proper music store and physically play and hear it yourself.

I purchased my first FenderRhodes Suitcase in February 1970... and all the comparisons I’ve done between my Rhodes and the LFO Speed have been spot on... things like that and Wurlitzer Tremolo speed are accurately and purposefully matched (Wurlitzer had no speed adjustment... but still people’s memories vary, I’ve heard people swear it was slower or faster, when they finally do a side-by-side comparison they realize that, perhaps, just perhaps, the programmers did actually research that very on that very fact! Just saying...

If you remember the MelloTron, then you know why the “TapeString” sound abruptly stops after 7-8 seconds... The programmers do actually remember the items being mimicked.

The Yamaha Synth line up goes from MX, up to MODX, up to MONTAGE.
While you’ll find the “Vintage’74” in each of the products. You’ll find as you go up in price the ability to edit deeper parameters increases!
The MX has particular items (like the Auto Pan LFO Speed, and L/R Depth) which are pre programmed but very adjustable on the appropriate the Voices. However, many of the deeper editing functions are only available via MIDI through an Editor.

On the MODX you can freely and completely edit via the front panel. The entry level MX the parameters are available, it’s just you need a computer editor (Sysex) to program them.

You’ll find the sound has not been compromised... but your ability to access every thing from the front panel is not always there. If you are downloading and reading through the REFERENCE MANUAL (pdf) you’ll see certain items outlined in pink - these are the parameters not available via the front panel... but ARE available through editing on a computer!

This allowed Yamaha to make the “best of” programs from the Motif-series Library available at the friendly price points (under $1000 USD) without degrading the essence of the sound. Those who wish to unlock the deeper programming features of the MX49/61/88 we figure are computer users... not a bad trade off... thus it’s unprecedented success in the market.

The JohnMelas Total Librarian and editing suite is highly recommended for those who want deeper programming on the MX

I played my first Rhodes with the sweeping satellite speakers in a music store when I was at ECU in 1975. I was in heaven. I still think there is no better sound than that for a Rhodes. I got my first Rhodes (stage piano '79 model) and still have it. I wish I had the suitcase model. If the auto pan speed was that fast way back then....I must be getting old and brittle and losing my memory. The "sound" of the Vintage '74 Rhodes on the MX 88 is nice though. I'm sure in some situations it will sound nice that fast. Is it possible to take one of the other Rhodes voices (without the auto pan) and add that effect at the speed I want?

Ron,
I know this reply is probably coming late, but I felt that you never received the answer you were looking for regarding the Vintage '74 auto pan speed on the MX Rhodes voices. The auto pan is an effect that you can add to any of the Rhodes voices on the MX, and by default it is the effect used on the Vintage '74 voice. The LFO speed and LFO depth parameters are freely editable using the Melas MX Voice Editor. You can easily assign these parameters to the two Assignable knobs on the MX so that you have complete live control over these parameters while performing. You can use the auto pan effect on any of the MX Rhodes voices, but you can only use one insert effect per Voice and up to 4 insert effects per Performance. The LFO speed can be adjusted anywhere from 0 to 39.7 HZ, so you have plenty of range to work with to get the speed you want. Hope this info helps.

- Paul

You don't need Melas!

Hello,
I might be a little late but I've been playing with that "Vintage '74" too and wanted to change "auto pan" speed and other parameters around it.

It goes like this:
press edit,
get to 02: part... Enter
05:Voice insert eff... Enter
press ⬇ until LFOSpeed:2.19Hz (default minimum) is reached and adjust it with the dial. Selected value will be the minimum speed the mod wheel can reach.

Also!...
If like me you feel that headphones replicate quite drasticaly the auto pan, you may find that adjusting assign2 is not enough. In the section stated above (05:Voice insert eff ) look up & down for LFOWave (default is at 20 and I like it lower), L/RDpth, F/RDpth...

Hope it helps many people and although I'm sure John Melas software is a nice to have, we can do many tweeking without it. 🙂