Thought this deserved it's own thread. I've got the anticipated responses to this in a sealed envelope
http://www.yamaha.com/yamahavgn/CDA/ContentDetail/ModelSeriesDetail.html?CNTID=5038742&CTID=205500

It's surprising that the keyboard has less styles than the PSR-S900. That's the first time that Yamaha has given a new keyboard less onboard styles. I know that I can get a hold of the T3 styles.

If the keyboard only introduces a few new voices and no new features (except for mp3 playback which is great), then it's kind of like the PSR-2100. Remember there was the PSR-2000, and then the next year they came out with the PSR-2100 that only had maybe 12 new voices and pretty much nothing else? I was kind of foolish to buy it, but the Live!Piano that came with it sounded a lot better than the XG Piano.

So what are the new voices? Does it allow those expansion packs that they are now selling? Does it take samples like the T2 and T3?

Any new dedicated buttons? - like for vox harmonizer on/off?

Anything missing that was already on the S900, besides some styles?

You once posted some specs of a PSR-S950 that you got from someone. That keyboard had a real lot of T3 features like optional hard drive. I'm wondering if Yamaha is going to release that next year, just like they released the PSR2000 one year, the PSR2100 the next year, and then the quantum leap forward PSR3000. Maybe this keyboard is an interim keyboard.

Thanks!

Beakybird

Actually they haven't....there's more on the S910.

PSR-S900...Total 305 styles.

PSR-S910...total 322 styles....293 Pro + 29 session.

That wasn't good math on my part. Not many more styles, but a few.

Now one big question I have is what is the 1.4mb available flash memory for?

Beakybird

Isn't that for the user files?

Oh yeah. So that's a dud.

I was hoping that there would be dimm slots available like there are on the T3 for adding new voices.

The keyboard has the exact same layout as the PSR-S900 - I mean exact. The screen looks the same size, and the buttons all look like they're in exactly the same place.

17 new styles
20-30 new voices

Is it worth the upgrade for PSR-S900 owners. Last time Yamaha did a small incremental upgrade PSR-2000 upgraded to PSR-2100, the game-changing PSR-3000 came out, I believe the next year.

Given the bad economy, it would be hard for me to justify upgrading. I might upgrade one of my keyboards this time instead of both like I always do.

Beakybird



[This message has been edited by Beakybird (edited 07-17-2009).]

I'm not a Yamaha follower, but I haven't seen any reference to 'Pro' and 'Session' styles before. Can you outline what this is about please, Ian?

"Pro-styles" provide professional and exciting arrangements combined with perfect playability...they read all chords exactly the way they are played.


"Session-styles" automatically enrich the player's chords with additional color notes or even harmonic progressions. You may play a major chord, but the instrument plays it as a 6th or maj7th...it is similar in concept to the "virtual arranger" function that was on the PSR-730, and PSR-8000, for example.


"Basic-styles" cover a wide range of music while the arrangement is kept basic and generic, and therefore extremely versatile.

It would be hard to justify an upgrade if you already own an S900 in my opinion. Yamaha is a master of mimicking a previous model and giving the new one just enough add-on's in the hopes that the majority of PSR-S900 owners will indeed upgrade to the S910. Brilliance in the mind of Yamaha's way of thinking. Madness to those who will be debating on whether to upgrade from an S900 to an S910. Yamaha won't be sweating at all, nevertheless, the beads of sweat are already starting to develop on the foreheads of S900 owners if you ask me.

PS: I can help alleviate the angst for all of you S900 owners if you don't mind me giving you a little bit of advice. >> Everyone of you S900 owners should quit biting your nails and just get an S910. No more sweat to worry about on the forehead, no more biting the nails, no more constipation, no more deliberating.. just go out and get one, or in the case of Larry - two! And you're lives will all be back to serenity and calm again. Until the PSR-S920 comes out in a year or two, that is.

All the best,
Mike

I agree, Mike. I believe that those that will upgrade will be PSR-3000, PSR-2000, maybe those using a PSR-E303 or PSR-S500, and maybe even PSR-S700.

I don't think the S910 is aimed at the S900 user at all...I know, I'd happily remain using mine, although, I suspect I'll have an S910 on my sample account, once they are made available.

I don't need MP3 playback, nor do I have any issues with anything on the S900...even the screen suits me fine, and I already love the button layout and keybed.

I think only a few S900 users will upgrade.