Spotlight: Yamaha P140 / P140S

Overview

The Yamaha P140 is a stylish, contemporary digital piano available in black or silver with wood finish top panels and subtle orange LED displays.

This 88-note keyboard features Yamaha’s Graded Hammer Effect keyboard for a very realistic emulation of an acoustic piano’s feel.

It comes with a selection of 14 sounds which include three acoustic pianos, three electric pianos, strings, choir, pipe and jazz organs, vibes, and bass. All use Yamaha’s AWM (Advanced Wave Memory) system for added realism.

The acoustic piano sounds are particularly rich, featuring Dynamic Stereo Sampling which features three separate layers of stereo samples, each set at a different velocity, Dynamic Stereo Sampling changes not only the volume, but also the harmonic structure of the notes depending on how hard you play the keyboard. A fourth sample layer recreates a piano’s unique sustain resonance whenever the damper pedal is pressed, while key-off samples add even the subtle sounds of felt dampers coming to rest on piano strings.

There are 50 pieces of piano music already built in ready to play, as well as a memory bank for up to 3 user recordings. Either hand part can be muted for practising.

The P140/P140S feature 64 note polyphony, 14 voices with 3 variations, 5 different reverb effects, Chorus, Phaser, Tremolo, and Rotary Speaker, 2x6W speakers, and comes with Music Rest, FC3 Foot Pedal, and AC Power Adapter. An optional matching slim keyboard stand is available.

Specifications

Keyboard: Graded Hammer Effect Keyboard, 88 keys
Tone Generator: AWM, 3-layer Dynamic Stereo Sampling, Key-Off Samples, Stereo Sustain Samples (open-string effect with sustain pedal)
Polyphony: Max. 64 notes
Voices: 14 distinct voices each with 3 tonal variations
Effects: 5 Different Reverbs, Chorus, Phaser, Tremolo, and Rotary Speaker
Performance Modes: Dual, Split
Pedal: Sustain Pedal (Can be used with half pedal effect),
AUX Pedal (Assignable to various functions)
Display: 7-segment, 3-digit LED
Recorder: 3 songs, 2 tracks, 11,000 notes with Flash ROM Storage
Demo Songs: 14 voice demo songs, 50 preset songs
Metronome: Tempo: 32-280, Beat: 0-15
Connectors: Dual Headphones, MIDI IN/OUT, AUX OUT, AUX Pedal
Amplifiers: 6W x 2
Speakers: 12 x 6 cm x 2
Dimensions: 1,334 x 351 x 140 mm (52-1/2″ x 13-13/16″ x 5-1/2″)
Weight: 17.8 kg (39.2 lbs)
Included Accessories: Music Rest, FC3 Foot Pedal, AC Power Adapter
Optional Accessory: Keyboard Stand (L-140/L-140S)

More Information

• Official Yamaha page
• Yamaha P120 and P140 comparison

Reviews

• Keyboard Magazine (PDF}
• Harmony Central User Reviews

Yamaha CLP-F01 Slimline Clavinova released

Yamaha has added to its Clavinova range of world-class digital pianos with the CLP-F01 “Slimline” Clavinova digital piano.

These Clavinovas come with a choice of four designer back plate colours – Polished Orange, Polished Ebony, Polished Blue and Polished Red – that stands against the wall and frames the whole instrument.

“Every Clavinova we make is a well-crafted addition to any home,” says Yamaha Piano Division Electronic Keyboard marketing manager Jim Levesque. “With the new Slimline models, however, we’ve taken that design commitment to a new level. We know that many of the most luxurious home settings still put a premium on efficient use of space, and this is an instrument that will accent the finest living environments. It has to be seen to be appreciated.”

Features are what we’ve come to expect from the Clavinova series:

• 88 real wood keys
• Four touch sensitivity settings
• 3 level AWM stereo sampling technology
• 64 note polyphony
• 14 voices including 3 grand piano samples
• Pianos voices feature stereo sustain and key-off samples

Full press release.c

Yamaha Nocturne Grand N100 digital piano released

Yamaha has unveiled their latest digital grand piano in a new contemporary design.

The Nocturne Grand N100 in attractive black finish has speakers tucked conveniently into the rear cabinet and pedal frame, a slim look top-to-bottom, and a tasteful soft-glow blue-lit control surface.

“This strikingly visual instrument will undoubtedly expand the digital piano market to customers with a more contemporary taste in design,” says Dane Madsen, marketing manager, Yamaha Digital Pianos. “The Nocturne provides the experience of Yamaha’s century-old acoustic piano craftsmanship in what is truly a modern piano.”

It features everything you’d expect from a Yamaha digital piano:

• 88 Graded Hammer Effect, weighted-action keys;
• 64 notes of polyphony;
• 10 of Yamaha’s best keyboard voices (including Grand Piano, Electronic Piano, Pipe Organ, and Strings)
• Spacious digital reverb;

The Nocturne Grand N100 should be available from Yamaha dealers now.

Yamaha P140S: Up close and personal

Here are a few photographs of my lovely new Yamaha P140S digital piano. Click any thumbnail for a larger picture.

Angled front view of the digital piano. Note that it currently sits on a single Quicklok stand, which happily handles its distributed weight. I will be getting the accompanying stand, but it wasn’t in stock when I bought the piano. See that it happily takes 3 A4-size sheets of music.

Side view: You can see all 88 glorious keys laid out, complete with red felt backing, the two front speakers, and attractive curving of the corner pieces. You can also see the (including) piano-style damper (sustain) pedal.

Close-up of middle section of keys, control buttons and LED display, and wood effect backing.

Front right speaker close up: Speaker grille, keys, silver, and wood.

Slightly raised close-up view of central LED, buttons, keys, and silver and wood.

Looking closely at the buttons: Right-hand set of buttons controlling effects and selecting sounds.

Shiny, transparent music rest. The Yamaha symbol is translucent in natural light. Plenty of good grip for books and individual sheets of music.

Closer side-view of Yamaha P140S, dwindling daylight reflecting off the realistic keys.

Owners Manual (European edition).

I weakened – P140 now sits next to me

Yes, I was weak…

I looked at a local music dealer’s web site and saw the lowest price yet on a Yamaha P140S digital piano.

I got it for £699 when the RRP is £925.

How could I refuse?

So, now it’s sitting looking all gorgeous.

I will probably show off some pictures soon. Yes, I know you can see pictures at the Yamaha site, but this is my P140S

Now, time to play some more.

Yamaha P140 digital piano favourably reviewed by Keyboard magazine

The January issue of Keyboard Magazine (links to scanned copy) has a very positive review of one of Yamaha’s latest digital stage pianos, the P140 (P140S).

Which is good, because I’m just about to go and buy one…

The review includes a clear diagram of the instrument, pointing out all the main features.

Let’s cut to the important bits, as Keyboard Magazine sees it:

Pros:

• High-quality piano-like keyboard action
• Rich and variable sounds
• Strong clean sound from built-in speakers
• Lightweight for an 88-key digital piano
• Attractive

Cons:

• No 1/4″ outputs
• RCA output level (volume) not adjustable
• Some buzzing from internal speakers at maximum volume

To be honest, if these are the only problems the reviewer found, this is praise indeed for the Yamaha piano.

The output issue can be resolved with use of converter cables and a good mixing desk/amplifier.

Most keyboards I’ve ever played emit some kind of buzz or vibration when playing at full volume through the internal speakers: solution – don’t play at full volume!

The P140 (black) and P140S (silver) were reviewed by Michael Gallant, a professional musician/pianist, so he should know what he’s talking about.

All in all a very positive review and proof that Yamaha continue to produce high-quality digital instruments.

Links:

• Keyboard Magazine
• Yamaha P140 product page
• Yamaha P120 and P140 comparison
• Yamaha’s range of home, contemporary and stage pianos

Yamaha CLP-F01 Clavinova keyboard features and reviews

Yamaha introduces its stunning CLP-F01 Clavinova electric piano, a gorgeous-looking instrument following in a long line of Clavinova quality.

The all-important specifications:

• 88 real-wood keys
• Hard, medium, soft, and fixed touch sensitivity
• Three-level AWM Stereo Sampling technology
• 30 banks of sampled sounds
• Sustain Sampling
• Key-Off Sampling
• 64 notes polyphony
• 14 voices with 2 variations on each:
  • Grand Piano 1, 2, 3
  • Electric Piano 1, 2
  • Harpsichord, Vibraphone, Church Organ, Jazz Organ, Strings, Choir, Guitar/Clav, Wood Bass, Electric Bass
• Effects: Reverb, Effect, Brilliance
• Recording: Two tracks, three songs (max. 9400 notes)
• Memory storage: Internal flash memory
• Pedals: Damper (with half-pedal effect), Soft, Sostenuto
• In/Out Jacks: AUX IN, AUX OUT (L/L+R, R), AUX OUT (L, R; LEVEL FIXED), MIDI (IN, OUT, THRU), TO HOST, PHONES (2)
• Amplification: 40 W x 2
• Speaker system: 16 cm x 2, 5 cm x 2 (6-3/8″ x 2, 2″ x 2)
• Available finishes: Polished orange, polished ebony, polished blue, polished red
• Dimensions (WxDxH): 1427 mm x 400 mm x 995 mm
• Weight: 71kg

Whilst it’s not always easy to tell how much doctoring of demonstration songs has taken place, the previews on the official website sound promising.

• Piano 1 is a bright and clear acoustic piano with a good dynamic range.
• Piano 2 has an extra brightness/sparkle (some might say metallic) quality that provides enough variance from Piano 1 to stand out on its own
• Electric Pianos 1 & 2 are fairly standard affairs (one clean, the other slightly distorted) that do the job. The demo appears to force a few notes which sound quite harsh, but this may be by design and will vary with playing style.
• The Harpsichord is good, though the demo has a little too much reverb for my liking. On this and the organs, fixed keyboard velocity will be most useful.
• Knowing that the full range of a pipe organ will never be achieved on a standard keyboard, the Yamaha does a convincing job of the ‘basics’.
• The jazz organ is lively, but don’t go looking for the Wurlitzer.
• The last five voices sound fairly good on the demo, but I suspect in reality will suffer the way most voices like these do on digital pianos. Playing a realistic guitar or bass on keys is not easy, and the choir sound will likely be of limited appeal.

Don’t expect to use the Clavinova as a sophisticated MIDI controller. It’s a digital piano of the highest quality in both sound and workmanship, and is just as important as a piece of furniture.

A worthy addition to the Clavinova range.

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