For those who have ordered PSRS950s, the first shipment has just been released by Yamaha for delivery to their dealers. I've been told that the next shipment will arrive to Yamaha within 2 weeks and all of the first 2 shipments have been sold out. Mine arrive on Friday because they ship from Chicago.

Good news, just in time for Christmas.

BTW...It's on my wish list...and I've been good

I am thinking in that direction too. I am getting tired of the Tyros 2, and thinking and reading about that 950.

Does that mean Frank got his shipment as well?

There are more orders than Yamaha has keyboards usually in the first and second deliveries from overseas. I am only receiving a few of what I have ordered this week and I will get more in the next shipment in a few more weeks. Contact Frank because he should know at this time what has been shipped to him as well.

Yes, I emailed everyone, I'm not sure why you didn't get the email Shimm.

Just checked, I should get my first batch tomorrow

I've heard reports of a bad viewing angle on the S950 display while seated.

George, Coaster Tim, or anyone...do you have an opinion on that?

I find it a only a slight disappointment. I'm 6' and when sitting to play it seems the main default page and all the pages for styles and voices can be seen just fine. It's when I go into the mixer mode that I have to lean forward a bit to see clearly - Otherwise I see a partially faded blacked-out screen.

Actually the 910's viewing angle was better - not perfect, either, but better. Yamaha should have given us a higher resolution screen considering the price jump from the 910 to the 950.

I could also complain about how pixelated the fonts are - all letters are jagged-edged. Once again - Yamaha could have / should have done better.

I'm not bashing the 950 - all in all, it's excellent in many ways, but an updated screen would have given this instrument some extra points.

Tim,
I wonder if the poor resolution is the "glitch" Yamaha held up shipment
about and if so - is it fixed on the ones being shipped now?

Deane

I spoke with Steve Demming at Yamaha yesterday because he called wanting me to return my store unit for replacement due to a firmware update. I asked him what the update does and he hadn't a chance to find out yet. I'm hoping it might allow for recording with audio styles but I will have to wait to find out.
I notice when the keyboard is on a two tier stand and the higher one at that and I angle the keyboard down a bit, the display at the top where the tabs for selecting Preset, User and USB are a bit blacked out until I change my angle of view. It can be annoying but it is what it is.

Thanks George and Tim,

Perhaps an update will 'clear up' the display, but it makes one wonder why they did not have an angled or a mechanical tilt design, or at least a sharper LCD in the first place This is a fault we would not know about, unless actual users reported, so this leads me to another topic...

Does anyone own, or has even played, a Korg Pa600? Are they available now? (Guitar Center claims 12/15/2012)

We would all like to hear from actual 'hands on users' and their thoughts, on among other things, the Pa600 display, and the display viewing angle.

I seem to recall that some people had a problem with the angle on PSR S900. It didn't bother me. Mine is on a stand that can be tilted to any angle. I suppose an adjustable screen would add to the price.
DonM

Forgot about Col(Saswick) owning a Pa600 Perhaps he will share his honest opinion on the LCD display, and the viewing angle, while seated.

Even though I never personally viewed the S950 display, however from other reports, it seems to be a minor problem, although I know someone who sent his back, it was a deal breaker for him. Of course he had a T-4 and he was probably a little spoiled by the best

That...and you are 6' 8"... seated


Tilted stands are good..which one do you have Don?
Thanks

is it so hard to make a tilted screen like my old KN5000? what wrong with the R&D team?

Larry, I can't comment too much on the S950's screen, as I only had a short time with it when Peter Baartmann was showing it to us back in August, but I had no trouble viewing it at the time, and although I'm not 6'8" like friend DonM.(I just squeak by the 6'1" mark), and the display view was just fine.

I still haven’t got my demo yet, but that isn't an unusual thing...some dealers are very aggressive and get units ahead of even us poor insignificant clinicians.

The interest in the S950 has been a bit overwhelming...I, personally, got over 200 emails since last Wednesday regarding it’s availability (and many asking for my opinion) and the other clinicians and dealers appear to be having similar experiences.

So, when I get my demo model, and have some more time with it, and also have several clients try it as well, I'll be able to give more information on the S950's screen.

Ian

I'm still using Ultimate Support stands, that look like erector sets. I can customize them just about any way I want. I have a whole attic full of parts.
And, I'm only 6'5" these days. I'm down to a svelte 275 today. Lost 12 pounds in the past six days on low carb diet. My goal is 240! Should make it by the first of the year or shortly after.
DonM

Tilting the entire keyboard to get a better angle on the display is NOT a solution!

Ask any piano teacher... the angle your HANDS make with the keybed is the critical dimension to be able to play well and without fatigue. If you have to alter this to simply be able to see the display, someone in the R&D team goofed. Plain and simple.

An adjustable tilt screen display to correct for any angle should be standard on any keyboard. It can't be that expensive to make.

Still waiting for a report on the Pa600 display viewing angle...Anyone?

Agree of course, but I think we are talking minute adjustments here, if any at all are needed. Only way to know is to get one in your hands and try it!
DonM

technics has had adjustable tilt screens from my first kn1000 in 1992 (and possibly before) to my kn6000 ... it's value can't be overstated ...

Actually, an adjustable tilt screen can be quite expensive to make. You have to remember that for those arrangers with touch screens, the screen has to lock securely enough that it will not move while you poke and prod it (fairly firmly), or in non-touch versions, the buttons that surround the screen (and are critical to selecting what's on the screen) also need to be very firmly fixed.

You also have to take into account that the displays like the KN1000, only a 2 line LCD display moved. No buttons moved, no touch-screen needed to be braced. A VERY different proposition to today's huge displays.

I have not yet played a PA3XPro, only the non-moving PA3X61. But I imagine that that motorized, moving display adds considerably to the cost of the arranger. Maybe not a big deal on a $3500+ arranger. But likely quite an addition to a $1500 one.

Actually the KN-1000 was a tiny pop up screen with very little chromatic information. Technics later developed the color tilt screen, buttons and all, in the KN-5000.




I agree with Diki, that an ajustable TOUCH SCREEN would probably add to the over all cost, but Yamaha currently is not in the touch screen arranger market, so why could they not produce something similar to the KN-5000 photo above?

Larry,

Wasn't the Technics KN-5000 a TOTL arranger, that would be comparable to today's Tyros or Korg's PA3X?

I doubt if we will see an adjustable/tilt screen on a Yamaha MOTL (or any brand MOTL) for quite some time, although I could be wrong.

For both Yamaha and Korg this type of screen will probably be kept to top range instruments for now, at least.

Ian

Good point Ian, but if we are being asked to spend nearly 2G's for a keyboard, no matter if it's defined as a MOTL, we should expect a better viewing display than what's been reported on the S950

I don't expect the same display that's on a T-4, but perhaps something similar that was used on the above KN5000 and btw that was about 15 years ago. That's not asking for a lot.

I do expect an upgrade from previous MOTL arrangers. Problem is, and again it's been reported by some new owners, that the S950 display is worse than the S910 display.

We shall see...hope they are wrong.

Larry, I haven't tried the S950 (only briefly) so I can't give a solid opinion, but I do agree it should be at least as good or better than previous instruments. I really liked the screen on the S910, and found it very readable.

I'm not on any Yamaha forums anymore, so I don't know what people have been reporting.

I do feel that tilt/adjustable is in the future for MOTL instruments, regardless of brand, as it will affect cost, and, in that area, it is very competitive, so, I suppose the first company to use that type screen on an MOTL, will force others to follow...but not until.

There were delays with the S950, so perhaps the screen issue was part of the reason...I really don't know much beyond a guess right now.

Uncle Dave just got his S950, so maybe he can enlighten us further about the screen.

Ian

Agree Ian, we should just wait and judge the screen for ourselves....and what??? Dave just got an S950?

Nice...

Yup - I needed to have a quicker, lighter alternative to using the add on sound bar with my PA3x. The Korg sounds great with the PA-AS, but it's more to carry ... yada, yada, yada ....

2 cool things re: s950:

1. the auto off can be shut off, or set to increments from 5 min to 120 min
2. the seated contrast viewing issue is greatly reduced if you choose a different wallpaper - I use the third one ... it's called Light Pillar
Go to: function/utility/main picyure ... and pick the background that looks best at your viewing angle!

Thanks Dave...good to know. Jeez, in one night you have helped eased my concern on a keyboard and the iPad mini.
That's a Double Thanks

Now ... if we could only fix those darn EAGLES!!!!!!!!

I liked their "Hell Freezes Over" concerts...they are a great band .

I hope they get together again.

Ian

Those silent slabs got you again eh?...... anyway, I hope you like the S950....please keep us posted as you get acquainted Dave! If there wasn't a gas shortage here I'd drive out for breakfast and check it out..

Another surprise I found was Yamaha's reply to Korgs dual song player. In the Korg, you can load either smf or MP3 in either player, but the Yamaha only lets you transition from one format to the other. This is because they have different players, I suppose. The fadar is slower, and digital, but it does give you the opportunity to cue up an SMF and an MP3 and fade from one into another. Nice surprise.

Very interesting Uncle Dave,
Thanks

That's too bad I consider that a big drawback vs KORG song player..

Well, it is a few steps behind the functionality on the Korg, but the 910 didn't have it at all, so in one way - it's a giant leap forward.

Thats why the LAPTOP is King on stage!

Hey, imitation is the most sincere form of flattery...in all seriousness, it is good to have competition, as we can see in this case.

Like you, I was not immensely blown away by the Audio drums (although, they are good I still think Ketron has the edge), and I was actually more impressed with the basic overall sound, which, for a price considerably less than a Tyros4, is pretty darn nice.

I am anxiously awaiting my demo model, and very curious to what Tyros4 styles I have edited/assembled to my liking (especially the ones with the auto rotary speaker speed change), will work in the S950...I see, from the Data List, that it has the required voices to make them work.

I am also glad to see that my favorite Tyros SA organ sounds, Whiter Bars and AllBarsOut, have made it on the S950.

Looking forward to more of your impressions, Dave.

Ian

Ian,
I do love this thing already, and I agree about the drums. The pro and session kits sound pretty darn good by themselves. The realism of the first two audio jazz swing beats is tough to fault though. I could play those two patterns for hours and hours and feel like I'm sitting on stage with Max Roach. I'm sure more styles will become available as time moves forward.

One thing that always puzzled me about Yamaha programming is that organs and strings rarely respond to the sustain pedal. While I understand the thinking behind it - I'd still like to have the extra control over these sounds because of all we do with our hands in a live performance. Do you know if there is a parameter that address this?
Thanx,
Dave

It depends on the type of organ/string sounds that determines how sustain works...on some it is a "hold" and on others it decays away, much like a piano. I found the decay type useful as a fade out at the last note.

I have sent to your home email, some T4 styles I made (on the T4) with the organ speed switch (and my own Freeplay style), so I'll be interested to hear if they work okay (the OTS may be different or not work)...I may not get an S950 for some time, due to it's popularity and back-orders etc..

I thought the jazz beats were awesome too.

Ian

Yep... for BOTL and MOTL arrangers, that won't be able to afford a fancy movable screen (mind you, even TOTL WS's somehow manage to sell very well without them), getting the viewing angle correct from the seated position is critical.

Curious that Yamaha can get it right for the Tyros's, and the Motif line, but slip on the PSR's. Perhaps the display is of a less expensive kind, with a smaller effective viewing angle?