iPhone musician to play Wembley Stadium

When the iPhone was first launched it didn’t immediately jump up and shout about its music creation credentials. Sure, it’s an iPod, but that’s really about playback of music — the closest I really expected it to get to music creation was by hooking two or more together with some digital decks and DJing with them.

Nevertheless, two years on and with third-party applications aplenty, the iPhone has such gems as Star Guitar, noise.io, PaklSound1, Bloom, SynthPond, and numerous other music composition and synth creation tools.

Perhaps, then, it’s no surprise that the iPhone will be the gadget star of forthcoming concerts at Wembley Stadium:

The London Evening Standard reports:

Singer, songwriter and producer Gary Go will be playing his iPhone instead of guitars and drums at a series of Take That concerts in July.

Go, 24 – real name Gary Baker – has already written several tracks for his first album using software downloaded to the phone. He used it to recreate guitars, drums, piano and horn sections.

All the demos for his album were laid down using a virtual four-track recording studio installed on his phone.

“I think it’s pretty amazing that I’m going to be using a mobile phone on stage at Wembley Stadium in front of so many people. I grew up behind the stadium, and used to listen to concerts in my back garden, ” said Go, whose single Open Arms is released on 11 May.

“My biggest worry is that my phone will ring mid-song.”

We’ll be ramping up our coverage of iPhone musical apps over the coming weeks, because (particularly for a mobile phone/entertainment device) there’s some pretty nifty bits of software available to complement or even replace recording studio and live performance gear and PC software.

Popularity: 2% [?]

Yamaha P155 digital piano: Complete specifications and gallery

If you want the lowdown on Yamaha’s new portable digital piano, the P155, then look no further. Here are complete specifications, pictures, and comparison with Yamaha’s earlier P series instruments.

Overview

• The Yamaha P155 features samples taken directly from the CFIIIS 9-foot grand piano
• Uses Yamaha’s Pure CF sampling technology with minimal audio post-processing
• Dynamic Stereo Sampling (DSS) technology features 4-level piano sample
• Key off and open strings samples
• Graded Hammer technology – lower keys are heavier
• 128 note polyphony
• 12W x 2 speakers

Detailed Specifications

P155 Specifications
Keyboard	88 keys, Graded Hammer (GH)
Tone Generation	4-level AWM Dynamic Stereo Sampling
Pure CF Sampling	YES
Key-Off Sampling/Stereo Sustain Sampling	YES
Damper Resonance	YES
Polyphony (Max.)	128
Voices	17
Reverb	4 types
Brilliance	3 types
Effect	4 types
Dual	YES
Split	YES
Metronome	YES
Tuning/Transpose	YES
Scale Tuning Types	7 types
Song Recording	2-track recording/playback, 3 User Song
Preset Songs	7 Demo Songs, 50 Piano Preset Songs
Jacks & Connectors
MIDI	IN/OUT
Headphones	2 (stereo 1/4″ jack)
Pedals	Sustain Pedal, AUX Pedal
AUX OUT (Variable)	L/L+R, R (1/4″ jack)
USB TO DEVICE	YES (song data storage)
Amplifiers	12W x 2
Speakers	(12 x 6) cm x 2
Dimensions (W x D x H)	52-1/2″ x 16-13/16″ x 5-1/2″
Weight	18.6 kg (41 lbs.)
Colors	P-155: Black with Mahogany top-board P-155B: Black with Ebony top-board P-155S: Silver with Cherry top-board

Pictures

Comparison

• Step up in (doubling) polyphony from P140 / P120
• Return to P120’s variable output level 1/4″ audio jacks
• USB output options
• More scale tunings available
• More advanced sampling

Buy Yamaha Digital Pianos at Amazon

Popularity: 19% [?]

Roland launches DP-990R digital piano [Musikmesse 2009]

Roland updates its DP-990 digital piano line with the introduction of the DP-990R.

This full-size, 88-note keyboard boasts new realism in feel and look, with Ivory Feel keys and high-gloss polished ebony finish.

Playing the piano is as much about the feel as the sound, and Roland has put its PHA II Ivory Fell Keyboard with Escapement technology onto the digital piano, ensuring the lower range keys are heavier in touch than the higher ones.

Each key has been sampled multiple times for a more realistic sound, and that’s complemented by a range of natural effects including reverberation and realistic resonance, emulating an acoustic grand piano.

The inclusion of USB ports means it’s possible to load up digital audio into the piano and play along with it. A novel additional feature is twin-piano mode which splits the keyboard in two, each half covers the same octave range. The left and right pedals can also be reassigned as damper pedals for their respective split keyboard. Nifty.

Full specifications as follows:

Keyboard

88 keys (PHA II Ivory Feel Keyboard with Escapement)

Touch Sensitivity

Touch: 5 levels, Fixed Touch
Hammer Response: 10 levels

Keyboard Mode

Whole, Dual (volume balance adjustable), Split (split point adjustable), Twin Piano

Sound Source

Conforms to GM2/GS/XGlite

Maximum Polyphony

128 voices

Tones

306 tones (including 8 drum sets, SFX set)

Temperament

8 types, selectable tonic

Stretched Tuning

On/Off

Master Tuning

415.3 Hz to 466.2 Hz (adjustable in increments of 0.1 Hz)

Transpose

Key Transpose: -6 to +5 (in semitones)
Playback Transpose (with Audio CD/Audio File): -6 to +5 (in semitones)

Effects

3D (4 levels)
Dynamics (3 types)
Reverb (10 levels)
Damper Resonance (only for piano tones, 10 levels)
Key Off Resonance (only for piano tones, 10 levels)
String Resonance (only for piano tones, 10 levels)

Metronome

Tempo: Quarter note = 10 to 500

Beat: 2/2, 0/4, 2/4, 3/4, 4/4, 5/4, 6/4, 7/4, 3/8, 6/8, 9/8, 12/8

Volume: 10 levels

Metronome Sound: 8 types

Recorder

Tracks: 3 tracks

Song: 1 song

Note Storage: Approx. 30,000 notes

Control:

Song Select
Play/Stop
Rec
Previous/Rewinding
Next/Fast-forwarding
Track Mute (Mute level adjustable)
Tempo
Tempo Mute
All Song Play
Count-in
Count-down
Song Volume
Center Cancel (only for Audio playback)

Tempo: Quarter note = 10 to 500

Resolution: 120 ticks per quarter note

Internal Memory

Songs: Max. 99 songs
Save Song: Standard MIDI Files (Format 0)

External memory

External Storage:

USB Memory
Floppy Disk (when using optional floppy disc drive)

Playable Software
Standard MIDI Files (Format 0/1)
Roland Original Format (i-Format)
Audio File (WAV 44.1 kHz/16-bit linear format)
Audio CDs (CD-DA) (when using a commercially available CD drive)

Save Song:

Standard MIDI Files (Format 0)

Internal Songs

65 songs + 7 Tone Demo Songs

Connectors

USB connector
External memory port

Other connectors:
Output jacks (L/Mono, R)
Input jacks (L/Mono, R)
Headphones jack x 2 (Stereo)
MIDI connectors (IN, OUT)
DC inlet
Pedal connector

Others

Rated Power Output: 12 W x 2

Speakers: 12 cm x 2 (with speaker box)

Display: 7-segments, 3 characters (LED), Beat LED

Control: Volume, Brilliance (21 steps)

Pedals: Damper (half-pedal recognition), Soft (half-pedal recognition, Function assignable), Sostenuto (Function assignable)

Other Functions: Panel Lock, V-LINK

Power supply: DC 12 V

Power Consumption: 48 W

Accessories: Owner’s Manual, AC Adaptor, Power Cord (for AC Adaptor), Headphone Hook

Options: USB memory, USB Floppy Disk Drive, USB CD Drive, CD Drive Holder,

Size and Weight ( lid close )

1,398 mm (55-1/16 inches) W x 344 mm (13-9/16 inches) D x 781 mm (30-3/4 inches) H

48.0 kg (105 lbs. 14 oz.)

Pricing and availability to be confirmed.

Popularity: 7% [?]

Roland intros C-330 Classic Organ [Musikmesse 2009]

When a modern keyboard just won’t cut it for the sort of organ sounds you’re wanting to play, Roland’s C-330 Classic Organ could be just what you’re looking for.

The unit features Rodgers highly acclaimed voice engine on board, offering gorgeous tone with highly flexible pipe-voicing capability, Windchest panning, and controls for Warmth, Presence, Chiff, and more. Custom settings can be stored to USB memory.

It’s built with a dual manual tracker-action 61-note keyboard and parallel concave 30-pedal pedalboard.

The C-330 is equipped with a 4-channel digital amplifier and a patented RSS ambience engine for a rich, spatial sound. Hands-on controls are provided for instantly controlling the balance of the main speakers, the satellite speakers, and the reverb. The RSS technology allows for a smooth change of room size, wall type and reverb depth to create the perfect ambience.

Full specifications as follows:

Keyboard

Manual-I: 61 keys (C2-C7, Tracker action)
Manual-II: 61 keys (C2-C7, Tracker action)
Pedal: 30 keys (C2-F4, Parellel Concave)

Stops

Total 33 Stops
Manual-I: 9 Tablets + 2 (User/MIDI Couplers)
Manual-II: 10 Tablets + 2 (User/MIDI Couplers)
Pedal: 8 Tablets + 2 (User/MIDI Couplers)
4 Voice Palette each: Total 108 voices
USER/MIDI Voice: 74 Voices
Total: 182 Voices

Coupler

Manual Coupler: I/P, II/P, II/I
Melody Coupler: 1 (Piston)
Bass Coupler: 1 (Piston)
USER/MIDI Coupler: 6 (2 for each division)

Tremulant (Tablet)

Manual-I, Manual-II 1 each: Total 2

Registration

Piston: 5 X 20 Memory Banks Total 100

Piston: total 15

SET, 1 – 5, M-, M+, NEXT, BASS, MEL, STOP, PLAY/PAUSE, REC, 0

Effect

RSS Reverb

Controls

4 Knobs
Master Volume knob
Reverb knob
Satellite Volume knob (Select/Menu)
Value/Exit Menu knob

Key Transpose

-6 to +5 (semitone steps)

Temperament

9 types (Equal, Werckmeister III, Kirnberger I/III, Vallotti, Meantone D#/Eb, Pythagorean, Modern Bach)

Pitch

4 types (392 Hz/415 Hz/440 Hz/465 Hz)

Master Tuning

+/-50 cents

Song Recorder

Tracks: 1
Tempo: Quarter note = 20 – 240
Piston: STOP, PLAY/PAUSE, REC

File Storage

Media: USB flash memory

Pedal

Expression Pedal: 1
Foot Switch: 2

Speakers

Woofer 20 cm x 2, Tweeter 5 cm x 2, Satellite Speakers 12 cm x 2

Connectors

Phones jack (Stereo), Output jacks (L/Mono, R), Input jacks (L/Mono, R), MIDI connectors (In, Out), External Memory connector (USB Flash Memory connector), Satellite Speaker (Dedicated Connector), AC Inlet

Power Supply

AC 117 V, 230 V, 240 V

Power Consumption

120 W

Cabinet Finish

Simulated Light Oak

Accessories

Satellite Speakers, Owner’s manual, Quick manual, Demo song list, Power Cord, Pedalboard, Bench, Cover

Option

Stereo Headphones, USB Flash Memory

Size and Weight ( Total of Console and Pedalboard )

1,270 mm (50 inches) W x 910 mm (35-7/8 inches) D x 1,319 mm (51-15/16 inches) H

109.8 kg (242 lbs. 2 oz.)

* Including Music Rest
* Satellite Speaker size: 179 (W) x 91 (D) x 144 (H) mm x 2 units
* Weight including Satellite Speakers (Console: 81.5 kg, Pedalboard: 25.5 kg)

Size and Weight ( Bench )

1,350 mm (53-3/16 inches) W x 294 mm (11-5/8 inches) D x 640 mm (25-1/4 inches) H

20.0 kg (44 lbs. 2 oz.)

* The height is adjustable. (640 mm to 655 mm) (25-1/4 inches to 25-13/16 inches)

Availability and pricing to be confirmed.

Popularity: 7% [?]

Roland intros C-230 Classic Keyboard [Musikmesse 2009]

In a world of modern keyboards, there’s something about Roland’s new C-230 Classic Keyboard that speaks of the past.

That’s not to say that it doesn’t have cutting edge technology in it.

The C-230 features 36 classical organ tones, 8 organ bass tones, 4 harpsichord tones, two fortepianos, celesta, and a range of other sounds that can be added to the organ voices.

Spanning five octaves, the tuning can be adjusted in five ways (Equal, Werckmeister, Kirnberger, Vallotti, Meantone), there’s a damper and expression pedal, and a built-in speaker system (10W x 4) comprising two full-range speakers, two tweeters and two satellites, for a much fuller, enveloping sound.

The compact case is constructed from simulated mahogany, and it’s easily portable.

Availability and pricing to be confirmed.

Popularity: 7% [?]

Pacemaker creates demo video for its portable digital DJ system

If you’ve not come across Pacemaker portable deejaying system yet, this video will give you an introduction, and it’s even got some colourful characters dancing around to keep you company as you explore.

Popularity: 1% [?]