Yamaha Tyros2 Tyros3 » Keyboard

Yamaha Tyros3 Arranger Workstation Keyboard

tyros2 — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 11:02:54 +0000

The Yamaha Tyros3 is a music arranger workstation that features many different voice technologies using the most appropriate one to bring out the best in each voice. All new for Yamaha Tyros3 keyboard is Super Articulation 2 which gives you detailed control of the musical expression of each Super Articulation 2 Voice, including two Articulation (ART) buttons and direct control of the real vibrato of the original instrument.If you’re looking for a pro backing band to support your performance, Tyros3 has everything you could ask for—and more. Whether you are a beginner or an accomplished professional, Styles follow your chord progressions smoothly and seamlessly, just like a live backing band. The Styles themselves are created by reputable programmers and mixed by studio engineers to produce top-quality covering vast musical genres.One of the best ways to check your musical progress is by recording your performance and listening back to it. With Yamaha Tyros3 this is a (more…)

MIDI Makes It Easier!

tyros2 — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 15:08:18 +0000

Music is something we all love and enjoy. It helps us relax and take life easy when we aren’t working. The Musical Instrument Digital Interface or MIDI for short, helps musicians input their work into computers and process it.

MIDI compatible instruments send out binary codes that a computer can understand. All notes that a musical instrument is capable of playing are assigned specific MIDI messages according to what the note and octave are. For example, the Middle C note played on any MIDI compatible musical instrument will always transmit the same MIDI message from its ‘MIDI Out’ port. What code will be transmitted when a note is played is defined in the MIDI specification. This comprises the core of the MIDI standard that all instrument makers like Casio and Yamaha follow.

Since All MIDI instruments follow the MIDI specification and thus transmit identical MIDI messages for identical MIDI events such as the playing of a certain note on the musical instrument, all MIDI instruments can communicate with and understand each other, as well as with computers which have been programmed to understand MIDI messages using MIDI-aware software. The MIDI interface, converts the current fluctuations transmitted by a MIDI musical instrument, into binary numbers that the receiving musical instrument or computer can process.

All MIDI enabled instruments have a built-in MIDI interface. In addition, computer sound cards usually have this built-in interface – if not, it can be separately purchased as a card and easily installed.

So what does this MIDI standard contain? The MIDI standard consists of a communications messaging protocol designed for use with musical instruments, as well as a physical interface standard.
The Physical interface consists of a one-way (simplex) digital
current loop serial communications signaling at 31,250 bits per second.

The advantage of MIDI is that it is low bandwidth consuming and hence is good for networks and Internet. Today, MIDI has become the choice for mobile phone service providers to offer their consumers the latest ring tones. Music lovers can also enjoy their productions and edit them directly with MIDI software allowing them to have complete control on their work.

That is not all! This wonderful standard of communication can also be used for show control, theatre lighting, special effects, sound design, recording system synchronization, audio processor control and computer networking. Any device built with a MIDI out port can in theory control a device with a MIDI in port. This can only happen if the maker of both the devices has made provisions for the agreements between the 2.

In conclusion, the MIDI standard of communication has changed a lot of things. The MIDI messages are light weight packages that can be stored and processed with a minimum of fuss and power. This makes MIDI an invaluable format for musicians, game designers and network workers. MIDI is also excellent for show control helping in presentations and other corporate environmental work.

Electric Pianos Versus Electronic Keyboards And Synthesizers

tyros2 — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 11:07:50 +0000

An electric piano is, as can be understood by the name, an electronic device that can produce sounds just like in a piano. It is basically an instrument that looks like a keyboard with the difference that in any electronic keyboard many sounds can be reproduced among which the piano will be present but in the electric version, you can play only the sound of the piano. It is specially designed so as to produce only one sound. However, nowadays, these instruments can also reproduce the sound of an organ too. A harpsichord is another instrument whose sound is often produced.The name electric piano initially originated from the trade name, which Wurlitzer used for their instruments that were run on electricity. However, the electronic keyboard that we are speaking of is quite different from that. These use analog circuits for functioning. To explain somewhat clearly, there are analog synthesizers present in these keyboards. These then produce tones through a range of oscillators. The older electric piano had a mechanical sometimes-unique sound and used pickups to produce the sound. A Fender Rhodes is a good example.Many electric pianos that are used these days date back a long long time. These were mostly produced in the late seventies and many of the keyboards were designed in Italy. But there is an exception here since the US had produced a few in the year 1967. The RMI Company of the US produced these until the 1980’s and then production stopped. This is because, up until that time professional musicians used the electric piano but after the 1980’s with the coming of electronic synth keyboards they were discarded and people took to the synthesizers. However, there were some technical reasons behind the discarding of the piano. Most of the actual keyboards were not at all sensitive to touch velocity and modulation of tone was not possible. The electronic keyboard on the other hand gave more options and you could change the depth of your note according to the touch pressure on the keys. Therefore, electric pianos became obsolete only to be used now and then, but still a great sound.

10 Things You Might Not Know About the Electric Keyboard

tyros2 — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 00:12:29 +0000

1. Some of you may think of someone playing the electronic keyboard as a “pianist”. Well you’d be wrong. They would actually be referred to (by someone who knows what they are talking about) as a “keyboardist”. Sounds clumsy, but it’s true.
2. The term “electronic keyboard” is used to mainly describe the cheap end portable home sequencing keyboards, but is also commonly used to include many variants such as the digital piano, the synthesizer, the electric organ and the arranger keyboard.
3. Many electronic keyboards commonly use MIDI signals to send and receive musical data. MIDI is essentially a sequence of instructions that identify the sound used, the note pressed, the duration of that press, although the complexity of the MIDI system will vary with each keyboard. Some cheaper end models of electric keyboard (such as keyboard toys) simply will not output that data.
4. Many keyboards have the ability to add a “foot switch” or “sustain pedal” as it is commonly referred to. The application of the foot switch enables a pressed note to “ring” for longer and better replicate the sounds of many keyboard based instruments including the organ and the piano.
5. Electronic keyboards across the world have been commonly built by instrument manufacturers such as Alesis, Casio, Ensoniq, E-mu, Kawai, Ketron, Korg, Kurzweil Music Systems, M-Audio, Moog Music, Ne-Ko, Roland, Technics, Yamaha and Sonic to name but a few!
6. Features that keyboardists would be interested in when choosing a keyboard include touch response, after touch, polyphony (the number of notes that can be played at the same time), multi-timbre (playing more than one instrument at the same time), tempo, split point (the ability to split the playing area into different instruments), style, synchronisation, auto harmony, wheels and knobs (to control and vary different features on the keyboard) and response (weighted or spring loaded).
7. Synthesizers are actually slightly different from the standard electronic keyboard in that they can produce a variety of sounds by generating, combining and distorting signals of different frequencies. Unlike the keyboard, the synthesizer produces an electric signal (rather than an acoustic signal) which can then be played through an amplifier of some kind. Synthesizers are most commonly controlled by a keyboard device, although this is often integrated into the machinery.
8. Perhaps the most infamous synthesizer is the Moog Synthesizer, famous for its role in many 1970s and 1980s pop hits and popularly used by artists such as Jean Michelle Jarre and Duran Duran.
9. The earliest incarnations of the non-electric keyboard are the pipe organ, the hurdy gurdy and the harpsichord. The organ is the oldest of these from perhaps as early as the third century AD.
10. The first keyboard to be powered by electricity is said to be the “Ondes Martenot” which appeared in the early 20th century (approx. 1928). It is actually still played today in some French conservatoires thanks to some compositions written specifically for the Ondes Martenot. It produces eerie wavering notes and was produced by “varying the frequency of oscillation in thermionic valves”. Whatever than means…

Yamaha PSR-E323 61-key Portable Electronic Keyboard with Foot Pedal and Headphones Plus Keyboard Dust Cover

tyros2 — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 10:58:15 +0000

The Yamaha PSR-E323 is an entry-level keyboard with a lot to offer. First of all, the PSR-E323 has 61 full-size keys with Touch Response for the expressiveness of an acoustic piano. For the absolute beginner, this keyboard features the Yamaha Education Suite system with 5 lessons, including a “Keys to Success” function that helps you hone your skills. You also get over 100 songs to learn. The Yamaha PSR-E323 keyboard has Flash ROM for importing standard MIDI files. Now you can learn your favorite songs on the Internet. Once you’ve got the hang of the basics, the keybaord has a 2-track sequencer to record 5 of your own songs with up to 10,000 notes. Use 482 built-in voices, 106 rhythm styles (including 12 drum kits) to create your own masterpiece. The Yamaha PSR-E323 has 9 reverbs, 4 chorus, and 26 types of harmony for genuine creativity with your sound. The PSR-E323 can be powered by the optional Yamaha PA-130 AC adapter power supply (sku#336005) or six AA batteries (n (more…)

Yamaha Tyros 2 Workstation

tyros2 — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 22:19:02 +0000

My Yamaha Tyros 2 sits behind me as I write this (I can feel it beckoning me to come and play it). I first started playing a keyboard about 20 years ago and treated myself to a Yamaha Electone 8 when they first came out. Although it still plays beautifully and I have looked after it, its sounds are limited and rather synthesized compared to a modern instrument like the Tyros 2.

Costing over £2,000, the Tyros 2 was not a purchase to be made without deliberation as well as the need to convince the wife that it was money well-spent. Eventually my powers of persuasion won through and I took the leap of faith and ordered one online. The Tyros 2 Workstation arrived (complete with speakers and amplifier). The packaging was strong and protected the contents.

I spent a happy hour or so assembling the stand and keyboard having first checked to see all the parts were present. NB if you buy one, be careful what you do with the manuals in the other languages as, in with them, you will find the bolts which hold the hard-drive in place.

Eventually I was able to start playing. The vast array of coloured lights and the multi-function monitor on the workstation seem confusing to begin with but very soon it all starts to make sense and you are playing. The whole thing is surprisingly easy to get to grips with and the manual is generally easy to follow. One of the things I particularly liked about the manual was that someone has thought about the human element – I’ve bought my new keyboard, I want to play it, not waste time reading pages from a manual. All you need to do to begin with is read the quick guide – come back and read the full version when you’re on your way.

The Tyros 2 is an easy-to-play instrument. For beginners, it has a single-finger chord option, a ‘follow the music’ feature and a metronome which is useful for highlighting the beat. For more advanced musicians, there is a powerful mixing and editing deck, a built-in synthesizer, drum kits and a vast array of play-along backing rhythms. In fact, that is what I wanted and what I like about the Tyros 2 – it is a real ‘play-along’ fun instrument.

Saving tracks is easy and they can be exported as WAV files to your PC for conversion to MP3 and burning onto CD using a USB Flash key.

The only snag I had with the workstation was that the optional hard drive (definitely required) was missing and I had to call the supplier to get one sent to me.

Well, that’s me – I’m off now to play my Yamaha Tyros 2.

Yamaha PSR-E213 61-key Portable Keyboard

tyros2 — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 10:58:16 +0000

The perfect beginner keyboard, the Yamaha PSR-E213 with Portable Grand stereo piano and the Yamaha Education Suite also features ‘Listen and Learn’ function for learning songs, and is General MIDI (GM), and XGlite compatible. In addition, the PSR-E213 is an unbelievable bargain as a full-size MIDI controller.

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Yamaha YPT410 61 Full-Size Keyboard

tyros2 — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 10:58:12 +0000

Whether using it traditionally or through a PC or Macintosh, your creative potentials will rise to new heights with the Yamaha YPT410!The YPT410 evolves from the common to the rare and combines traditional learning tools with hands-on performance features like Pitch Bend Wheel for authentic playing of guitar and horn sounds, Control Knobs that allow you to have real time control over filters, effects, EQ, tempo and an arpeggio function for techno and synthesizer keyboard playing that can automatically add the playing of notes in rapid succession in ascending and descending fashion. These are easy to use professional features that set this keyboard apart from others in its class.It comes with 30 built-in songs plus 70 more on an included CD-ROM and an interactive lesson system, divided into left and right hand parts, for learning them. In addition, you have the ability to connect to a computer via USB, download more songs from the Internet into the internal Flash ROM (P (more…)

Yamaha PSR-E413 61 Key Touch Sensitve Keyboard with Built-in 6-track Recorder

tyros2 — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 10:58:11 +0000

6 track recorder

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Yamaha MM6 61 Key Synthesizer Keyboard

tyros2 — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 10:58:08 +0000

The Yamaha MM6 synthesizer gives you the Creative Juices from the Motif but in a Smaller PackageNot only does the MM6 feature sounds from the Motif, but the quick edit knobs and arpeggios let you control them in real time. You can jam over the top of the street-smart grooves with layered or split sounds in Performance mode. When youre ready to record your music, you can record the grooves and keyboard parts directly to the on board song sequencer. For even greater flexibility, connect to your computer via USB and use the bundled Cubase software. Whether youre just jamming with friends or working on complete music productions, the MM6 lets you hit the streets in style.Yamaha MM6 FeaturesKey sounds from the Motif line of synthesizersReal Time Knobs for controlling filter and EGBuilt-in groovesPerformance ModeCubase LE software includedPlat Sounds from the Legendary MotifThat’s the first and most important thing you look and listen for in a synthesizer. Rest assured, this (more…)