UPDATE: The Tyros5 was announced on November 11, 2013. Check out the announcement and visit our dedicated Tyros5 microsite.


Over a decade has passed since Yamaha launched its first Tyros arranger keyboard. Since then, it has released the Tyros 2, Tyros 3 and Tyros 4. With almost three years having passed since the Tyros 4 launched, it’s unsurprising to see a lot of speculation about when a Tyros 5 might surface.
Speculation: Tyros5 Release Date
Yamaha Presentation speculation: Various forum postings suggest there has been a major Yamaha trade/dealer event in Palma de Mallorca today (24 October). We cannot verify this at present.
Release date rumour: The 24 October 2013 launch date rumour was false. We’ve heard new speculation about Monday 18 November 2013.
Let’s look at those release dates:
- Tyros 1: October 2002
- Tyros 2: October 2005
- Tyros 3: September 2008
- Tyros 4: September 2010
That’s three years from one to two; three years from two to three; and two years from three to four. Yet the two year mark since Tyros4 has already passed, so might we be looking at a Tyros5 come September 2013?
Speculation: Tyros5 Specification
If a Tyros5 is released, what features might it have? Looking at the Tyros comparison chart (doesn’t include the original Tyros) might give us some clues as to what Yamaha would put in a Tyros5, given that it tends to improve upon rather than radically change specifications within a particular keyboard series.
Number of Keys: All Tyros keyboards have had 61 keys (5 octaves) so we can assume Yamaha is happy with this fairly compact size — there are plenty of other Yamaha workstations with bigger keyboard range for those who want it.
Polyphony: The polyphony has remained constant at 128 from the first Tyros through Tyros 4. With many other keyboards and synths still being released with that much polyphony, I can foresee Yamaha sticking with this figure, though of course 192 or 256 would be great.
Synth Basics: What is Polyphony?
Aftertouch/Touch Response: Yamaha would be crazy not to add aftertouch to the Tyros5, given its presence in all previous models. Given the physical keyboard has remained the same, it would be strange not to include it. Obviously touch response is a necessity, rarely missing from any but the cheapest keyboards.
Controllers: All previous models had the near-ubiquitous pitch and modulation wheels plus multi pads. The Tyros 4 introduced nine data sliders and two articulation switches, not found on previous models, so I’d expect to see at least this on a Tyros 5. I’d be surprised to see any new standard controllers added to the unit, given its size.
Sound System: Yamaha’s AWM Stereo Sampling system has served it well, receiving various upgrades along the way and present in many of its keyboards and digital pianos. This surely stays in the Tyros5.
Number of Voices: The number of on-board voices has steadily increased with each Tyros generation, and we’re now used to seeing keyboards coming with thousands of voices ready to go. With Tyros being marketed primarily as an arranger/music production workstation rather than a synth, I’d expect more dynamic voices to be on any new Tyros, probably with more ways of controlling them and perhaps tweaking their sound. That said, once you hit a couple of thousand distinct voices, each of which can be aurally shaped both during performance and in basic structure, does the average user really need any more? I’d expect around 1,500 factory preset voices to be in a Tyros5, with more emphasis on the feature voices (Articulation, Cool, Live, etc.)
Voice Sampling: The Tyros4 came with 1GB of custom voice sampling space, which was optional on previous models. A gigabyte is a reasonable amount of space, particularly as many people will use the Tyros with computer software and storage. I reckon Yamaha will stick with 1GB, with the possibility of an upgrade to 2GB, or storage on a USB drive.
Effects: The number of onboard effects increased gradually with each Tyros upgrade. I don’t think Yamaha needs to add much more from that present on the Tyros4.
Accompaniments: Yamaha may well add to the number of accompaniments, but with 500 present on the Tyros4, perhaps just a styling update is in order.
Vocal Harmony: The Tyros4 vocal harmony engine was a notable improvement over the Tyros3. If Yamaha has made any more improvements to this system, I’d expect to see them here, otherwise more of the same.
Functions such as layering and keyboard split are fairly standard and don’t need an update.
Storage: As with most technology devices, I’d expect more RAM and a bigger hard drive — say 500GB. It really depends how many users Yamaha thinks will be using the Tyros5 as a standalone device.
Speculation: Tyros5 best rumours
Here’s a roundup of the best guesses/wish lists/rumours we’ve seen to date:
Yamaha Tyros 5 Things We’d Like to See
- Super Articulation Sound Technology Extended
- Vocal Sounds Expanded
- Arranger Functionality Improved
- Keyboard Sizes 61-keys, 76-keys, 88-keys
- Available in Black
From Dawsons Music UK
Tyros 5 New Tech?
The PSR Tutorial Forum has a thread with some interesting ideas for new tech including:
- “Audio Style” technology
- Recording of all parts onto hard drive
- Use of SSD instead of HDD
- Improved transitioning between voices
- Better drum kits
- New DSP effects
- More modern beats
- Better sampling and mixing of samples with stock sounds
- Tempo-synced time stretch on sample playback
- Better portamento and legato options on voice creator
- Improved CPU performance
- Smaller footprint
- 76-key version
From PSR Tutorial Forum
I’ve also seen some people suggesting that an absence of stock in certain online and offline retailers is a sign of a new Tyros coming soon. However, others have noted that many retailers won’t take on expensive, top of line models on the off chance they sell, particularly in the current economic climate. Therefore, this can probably be taken with a grain of salt.
Tyros Tipsters
The Tyros Tipsters share their hopes for features in the Tyros 5 in this video, although they’re of the opinion that the Tyros 4 is already very good, and it will be hard for Yamaha to improve upon it.
Updates
We’ll keep this page updated whenever we hear more interesting rumours, or actual news from Yamaha.
Buzz
Here’s how Google Trends is tracking searches for Tyros 5, compared with Tyros 2, Tyros 3 and Tyros 4 which naturally peaked at their release dates.
Over To You
What features would you like to see on the Tyros5? Do you think it will ever be released? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
12 thoughts on “Yamaha Tyros5: Fact and fiction”
IMPRESCINDIBLE, version con mas teclado (76 notas) y mejorado de pulsación y tamaño de las teclas o palas tipo piano Clavinova. Disco Duro de SSD, algo ya usual en los nuevos PCs y que restaria fragilidad a los transportes del instrumento y vulneravilidad a los picos de corriente etc.. Mejorar VOCAL armonizer, es muy pobre. Ritmos en AUDIO. Mas ouput’s o salidas individuales ( 3 -4 individual ouputs )I
Hi Carlos,
I don’t speak Spanish so I asked Google to translate, so I hope it did a reasonable job.
To summarise Carlos’s message, for English-speakers:
“Mandatory is a [Tyros] version with more keyboard (76 notes) and pulse improved [not sure what this is] and size of the keys like the Yamaha Clavinova [i.e. weighted]. SSD HDD, something already common on new PCs, means it’s not so fragile to transport the instrument, less vulnerability to power surges, etc.
Improve the vocal harmoniser (it’s very poor). Put rhythms in audio. More outputs or individual outputs (three outputs, single -4)”
Thanks Carlos. Personally I’d be surprised if they upgrade the keys on a new Tyros as they have kept the form factor for a long time and there are other Yamaha workstations which may fit this purpose. SSD is a good idea but will definitely bump up the price.
76 keys please! Ketron Audya has 76 keys and and almost identical size of Tyros 3
Audio drums would nice also
the most important thing i would like on the tyros 5 is a multitrack wave recorder with micro-edit function. So you just plug in a mouse into your tyros5 and do your whole recording and mastering on the divice itself whitout having to use a pc.
I ask myself over and over again.Why not do the obvious.Make as an option a second keyboard in modular form and a pedal board .Hammond do this.If Yamaha don’t want to market electones in the west at least this would give people an option to have an organ style instrument.If they don’t want to go that far then do what Hammond do,Technics used to do,and Yamaha electones do….MAKE FULL REGISTRATION MEMORY CHANGES AVAILABLE VIA MIDI.IT WOULD SOLVE ALOT OF PROBLEMS FOR ORGANISTS WHO WOULD BE HAPPY TO BUY A SINGLE KEYBOARD AS IT WOULD ALLOW YOU TO MAKE COMPLETE PRESET(REGISTRATION MEMORY) CHANGES POSSIBLE VIA THE ORGAN PRESETS.
I would love to see:
1) half bar fill-in
2) monochord intro and outro. This is so much fun! The Roland G-70 has this and it’s simply brilliant.
Maarten
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My wish as a professional tyrosplayer in work is that a knob of control is made for controlling the styles.
A knob where you can adjust the strenght of the “musicians” playing the style….intesity and volume….i mean that in a real band they start maby a little soft and then it all gets greater and louder not only in sound but in the playing itselfes…
Also one more pattern key would be nice…..
I mean that between stylepattern 1-2-3-4 you can have a programmalble paus pattern whe you can choose if you just want a accapella in pulse or maby just the kick or maby hihats or guitarr…
Im waiting now for the T5. Waiting and waiting..
Just got word that the Tyros 5 (may be renamed) will be available beginning Oct 22. Has larger ‘touch-screen’ and tablet connectivity. No other data as of yet.
Can’t wait!
My mistake… I indicated the new keyboard to be available 10/22… it is 10/24.