Yamaha PSR-S900: Full specifications and more pictures

One of Yamaha’s new arranger keyboards, the PSR-S900 is a step up from the PSR-S700, featuring:

• 61 touch responsive keys
• 128 notes of polyphony
• 320×240 resolution LCD capable of lyrics and score display
• AWM sample sounds
• 392 voices, 19 drum kits, 480 XG voices
• 15 MegaVoices
• 22 Sweet! Voices
• 26 Cool! Voices
• 20 Live! Voices
• 10 Organ Flutes
• Sound creator/voice set
• Vocal harmonisation
• 2 layer voices
• Large number of preset and user-definable effects including reverb, chorus, 4x DSP
• 205 preset 8-part auto-accompaniment + user category with mixer controls
• 305 accompaniment presets + user styles + style creator
• 16 track recording
• Performance assistance technology

First introduced in Tyros, MegaVoice brings a new level of realism to the PSR-S700 keyboard. The MegaVoices feature various playing techniques and performance sounds — such as finger slides and fret noise on guitar Voices — designed specifically to enhance playback of the built-in Styles. Simply hold down a chord while you play, and enjoy some of the most astonishingly realist, expressive accompaniment you’ve ever heard.

Super Articulation introduces a completely fine level of sonic realism and musical expressiveness, with remarkably authentic voices featuring the unique performance characteristics of each instrument.

More images of the PSR-S900 (click thumbnail for main image)

Yamaha PSR-S700: Full specifications and more pictures

One of Yamaha’s new arranger keyboards, the PSR-S700 is the more entry-level model, but still comes with a range of impressive features:

• 61 touch responsive keys
• 96 notes of polyphony
• 5.7-inch QVGA LCD capable of lyrics and score display
• AWM sample sounds
• 813 preset voices made up from 317 voices, 16 drum kits, 480 XG voices
• 10 MegaVoices
• 11 Sweet! Voices
• 18 Cool! Voices
• 14 Live! Voices
• 9 Organ Flutes
• 2 layer voices
• Large number of preset and user-definable effects including reverb, chorus, 4x DSP
• 205 preset 8-part auto-accompaniment + user category with mixer controls
• 16 track recording
• 30,000 note capacity
• Performance assistance technology

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Yamaha intros new arranger workstations: PSR-S700, PSR-S900, PSR-OR700

From the same line of arranger workstations as the acclaimed Tyros2 comes three more keyboards from Yamaha.

The PSR-S900 offers a range of features, including some previously only available on the Tyros2, including modeled organ voices, Super Articulation for sonically realistic instrument sounds, USB audio recorder, video out, USB storage, 891 instrument Voices, a microphone input with automatic three-part vocal harmony, 128 notes of polyphony, a colour LCD screen and a broadband connection for downloading new content.

“The PSR-S900 offers the most value for the dollar of any Arranger Workstation keyboard we make, with features previously reserved for the top model, like Super Articulation and Audio Recording,” said Mark Anderson, marketing manager, Portable Keyboards, Pro Audio & Combo Division, Yamaha Corporation of America. “Add this to the range of professional features and I know that this keyboard is going to make a lot of customers very happy.”

The PSR-S700 features incredibly realistic MegaVoice Technology, XG/GS/General MIDI and General MIDI 2 compatibility, 96-note polyphony, USB storage options for peripheral devices like thumb or floppy disc drives, Modeled Organ Flutes with nine virtual drawbars and a new LAN Port for downloading content directly from the Internet. Though packed with professional features, including 813 instrument voices and 16 drum kits, the PSR-S700 also includes enhancements that beginners can appreciate, including Performance Assistant, which ensures that every rendition is free from mistakes.

“With the release of the PSR-S700, the incredibly lifelike Yamaha MegaVoice Technology represents a huge step up in sound quality for this affordable level of Arranger Workstation, opening the door to a larger segment of the population,” said Anderson. “This keyboard has the processing power to be the first in the line to offer 96 notes of polyphony and Modeling Technology for accurately reproducing amazingly realistic organ voices.”

The PSR-OR700 is designed for professionals and provides the ability to play quarter tone notes, common to Arabic, Mediterranean and Middle Eastern music, which fall between half steps on the Western keyboard scale.

With 862 Voices, 96 notes of polyphony and 22 drum kits, the new keyboard also features MegaVoice Technology for incredibly realistic sounds and styles, USB storage options, 96-note polyphony and Modeled Organ Flutes with nine virtual drawbars. It also includes ethnic content, including instrument Voices and rhythm sounds, and special panel control buttons for tuning on the fly.

Check back tomorrow for a more detailed rundown of specifications on these three new keyboards.

Tyros2: Yamaha’s best ever music workstation?

Yamaha’s newest feature-packed keyboard music workstation is finally here, and a formidable instrument it is.

• All new Super Articulation Technology live interpretation of user performance, adding realism to real-world sounds.
• Audio Rendering Optional hard disk recording for digital audio
• FSX Keyboard allows expressive play with touch and aftertouch sensitivity
• Custom voice creation allows importing of audio samples and subsequent editing of its sound data.
• Internet Direct Connection allows access to a wealth of musical scores and arrangements online, no computer required.
• Large clear display for editing, sequencing and displaying of music and lyrics - can be connected to external monitor
• Score and lyric display
• One touch performance features
• MegaVoice Technology primarily for MIDI programming - assigns different voice expressions to each velocity on the same note.
• Wide range of highly customisable accompaniment styles and multi pads
• Vocal harmoniser takes microphone input and provides backing vocals based on chords or MIDI data
• 16 track MIDI sequencer
• Style creation
• Interactive learning functions

Specification overview

• Polyphony: 128 notes max.
• Keys: 61 (5 octave) - velocity and aftertouch sensitivity
• Display: 640×480 pixel colour LCD display
• Voices: 504 Voices (486 Normal Voices + 18 Mega) + 10 Organ Flutes + 480 XG Voices + 256 GM2 Voices + 23 Drum Kits + 6 SFX Kits (And GS voices for GS song playback)
• Super Articulation Voices: 42 voices: Concert Strings, Studio Strings, Tremolo Bowing 1/2, Spiccato, Big Band Brass, Smooth Brass, Brass Fall f/mf, Brass Shake 1/2, Accent Falls, Trumpet, Silver Trumpet, Golden Trumpet, Big Band Trumpet, Trumpet Fall, Trumpet Shake 1/2, Saxophone, Big Band Sax, Rock Sax 1/2, Concert Guitar, Flamenco Guitar, Steel Guitar, Pedal Steel Guitar, Warm Solid, Clean Solid, Guitar Hero, Heavy Rock, 70s Solid Guitar, Nylon Guitar, Folk Guitar, Warm Electric, Clean Electric, Half Drive, Feedbacker, Magic Bell, Harpsichord, Jazz Rotary, Rock Rotary
• MegaVoices: 18 voices: Small Strings, Large Strings, Brass, Tenor Sax, Trumpet, Nylon Guitar, Solid Guitar 1/2, Steel Guitar, Hi String Guitar, 12 String Guitar, Clean Guitar, Overdrive, Distortion, Acoustic Bass, Finger Bass, Pick Bass, Fretless Bass
• Sweet! Voices: 23 voices: Jazz/Pop/Ballad Tenor Sax, Growl Sax, Tenor Sax, Alto Sax, Soprano Sax, Jazz/Silver/Golden Trumpet, Cornet, Trumpet, Mute Trumpet, Flugel Horn, Trombone, Violin, Harmonica, Mandolin, Oboe, Clarinet, Flute, Pan Flute, Classical Flute
• Live! Voices: 58 voices: Dynamic Strings, Spiccato, Dynamic Brass, Power Brass, French Horn, Sax Section, Dynamic Steel Guitar, Grand Piano, Dynamic Nylon Guitar, Gospel Choir, etc. For a complete listing see Tyros2 Data List manual
• Live! Drums: 9 drum kits: Live! PowerKit 1/2, Live! Studio, Live! Standard 1/2, Live! Brush, Live! Symphony, Live! PopLatin, Live! Cuban
• Cool! Voices: 39 voices: Sparkle Stack, Curved Bars (organ voice), Slide Solid, Clean Guitar, Jazz Guitar, Power Lead, etc. For a complete listing see Tyros2 Data List manual
• Organ Flutes: 10 presets
• Memory: 4MB expandable to 1GB
• 5 band equaliser
• Controllers: Pitch bend / modulation
• Dimensions: 44.8″ x 17.7″ x 5.4″ W x D x H (1,140 x 450 x 137 mm) Without Music Rest and Speakers
• Weight: 32 lbs (14.5 kg)

Due to ship in November 2005. I wanna try one!

Yamaha’s Tyros2 release date slips? Worth the wait?

It seems that the next generation of Yamaha’s Tyros workstation has slipped a month or so.

It’s original release date, October 1st, came and went and the website continued to display a simple banner on the Tyros2 page.

Now a press release suggests that the Tyros2 will be available in November.

Next Generation Tyros Workstation Announced

Flagship Arranger Workstation Now Features Super Articulation Technology, Optional Hard Disk Recording, New Action

Yamaha has announced Tyros2, a new version of their flagship arranger workstation.

New in Tyros2 is Super Articulation, bringing that audible and physical MegaVoice authenticity to the melody that you play, with 40 voices. The 61-key Tyros2 comes standard with 4 MB, but offers up to 1 GB of sample/playback capability (Wave, AIFF), and the ability to capture performances with optional audio rendering hard disk recording capability.

Additional improvements now enable Tyros2 to function not only as a stand-alone unit, but also as a component of a computer-based music production system, including USB MIDI ports and new USB “To Device” for connecting to peripheral storage devices. With Yamaha’s broadband Internet Direct Connection feature, song data and content can be downloaded directly from the Internet. The onboard VGA display screen can be mirrored to an RGB/Video output allowing Tyros2 to display functions directly to an external computer monitor.

Yamaha has also responded to customers’ requests for a more professional keyboard with a newly-designed action that is fast, smooth and responsive. Currently, it is the only action of its kind to be offered on any Yamaha keyboard product.

Tyros2 will be available in November 2005 at an MSRP of $4,095.

For more information, visit their web site at www.yamaha.com.