Casper has shared his recording of Martin Harris presenting the Yamaha Tyros2 at MusikMesse in Frankfurt in 2005.

Part-1


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EvmTkMPt8tc


Martin begins by explaining the new Super Articulation Technology with the SA Saxophone voice played over the 16 Beat Ballad 1 style – “Just the way you are.”

SA Concert Guitar

SA Nylon Guitar over Bossa nova Style

SA Solid Guitar - Martin played “Sweet Child of Mine” to showcase how close a keyboard can come to emulating a lead guitar.

SA Brass

SA Rotary Organ

SA Strings – “Danny Boy”

Martin proceeded to demo a few of the 400 styles.

Baroque Air – “Canon in D”, “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring”

Classic Trumpet

Ballroom – “Moon River”

Foxtrot

SA Pedal Steel Guitar – only the lowest note is bent when you apply the pitch bend.

Epic Ballad Style – “Something”


Part-2


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A2bylLTR_ZM


Local styles from Germany and Spain.

“Gauntanamera”

Styles from Scandinavia, Ireland and Scotland.

Example of Styles downloaded from the Internet - “I still haven’t found”

R&B Styles

Disco

Rock

Hip Hop Styles


Martin gave an animated performance. The Tyros 2 was his crowning moment. He was beaming with joy. This was the product that put Yamaha Arrangers in the lead. Martin will always be remembered and appreciated for his leadership and vision in pushing the envelope of Arranger Technology.

Martin played many of the same songs during his NAMM demo in Anaheim, California. The NAMM audience gave him a thunderous applause.

A million thanks to Casper for uploading this 43-min live footage from his 20 year old archive!
This is a gem to be cherished. It brought back fond memories.

Best,

David

Hi David,
I'm glad you like the video. It brings back fond memories for me from that time too. I'm actually casper, although I have a different nickname on this forum. I registered here back in 2003, and back then there was no YouTube service.
I remember going to MusikMesse, it was a real thrill. Everything in one place, you can try all the new things right away. I have more footage from that time, some of which I've already put on my channel. I'll add the rest over time. Too bad the video is of poor quality, but you can still experience part of what is presented.

regards, casper (Leon)

Hi Leon,

You were very fortunate to watch and record Martin’s performance at MusikMesse in 2005. You are now a part of Arranger history.

I appreciate all the effort you put into all your Tutorial Videos.


https://www.youtube.com/c/tutorsynth


Your YouTube Channel is the best resource for learning about Yamaha Arrangers and taking a deep dive into Style Creation, Vocal Harmony, Registrations, Playlists, Yamaha Expansion Manager and MIDI recording software.

Yamaha should hire you as their Product Specialist.

Hi David,

Thank you for your nice comments. I put a lot of time into making the videos, but I don't regret it because I see that they help a lot of people. Yes, Yamaha should offer more material that will help more advanced users.

I love watching these old recordings even though they are of lower quality by today's standards. They take me back to the time when I used to go to Frankfurt every year and enjoy watching the performers and new instruments. There is a playlist "Old Keyboard demo" on my channel where there are more videos from that time. At that time I played the Technics KN series so there are great presentations of the KN5000, and soon I will put one for the KN6000.

Receive many greetings and I wish you all the best in the new year 2026.

Regards, casper

This in my opinion was the golden era of arranger keyboards...
yes the Tyros 2 had flaws, but it was a leap in innovation which had me hooked...

Take note in the first video he actually makes positive emphasis on the styles being "generic", and for me this is where it should be.
As arrangers tend to lean more and more towards song specific styles I find them less inspiring to play (more like karaoke machines), but that may just be me...

Now you have almost near perfect song specific styles + auto chord sequencing capability - I just find myself leaning towards using midi files or pre recorded backing tracks? Kinda defeats the purpose of improvisation doesnt it?

I have probably listened to every single demo of Martin H, Michel Voncken, Peter Bartmaans on Yamaha arrangers since the Tyros1, but this demo showcases so many more styles and songs that all the others haven't. It was very refreshing to watch!

I think looking back since Tyros 1 - the SA voices were one of the best innovations in the Tyros/Genos line. Remember, the T2 also was first to use the FSX keybed which is awesome and still the current TOTL "synth action" keybed used in the Montage M and genos 2.

Since the Tyros 2, there have been some nice needed enhancements & features trickled into new models. Tyros 3 was a miss for me... Tyros 4 included a nice re work to the drums which was much needed, and then the Genos definitely stepped it up with the Touch Screen and brand new operating system, assignable buttons, live tweaking knobs etc.

That 20-year-old machine still sounds more than capable enough to impress any crowd!

👍

Thank you for sharing this video. One of my takeaways is that even if sounds have improved since 2005, it's incremental. IMO we were 95% of the way there 20 years ago. It's also apparent to me that the skill of the player matters much, much more than the fidelity of the sound samples, style control parameters, etc.

What is the string instrumental he plays at circa 13:00 into the video? It's somehow familiar and very beautiful! Thanks again for sharing!

Hi Ted

I'm glad you like the presentation. Martin is a top performer.
The sounds played by around 13:00 be one of these three or a combination of a couple of them together.
Strings (0 117 49) Live!
Allegro (0 122 49) Live!
Orchestra (0 116 49) Live!

I think one of the most telling differences between the Tyros's and the Genos was the move to the 76 key action. Anyone who's been here for any length of time should probably remember how absolutely ADAMANT all the PSR & Tyros users were that there was absolutely no need whatsoever for a 76 note model, and how Yamaha knew exactly what they were doing, and knew what was best for everyone!

It's amusing how that justification disappeared almost overnight when the Genos (76 keys, no speakers) appeared with no 61 option whatsoever... 🤣

I think what it illustrated at the time was the tendency to want to justify whatever the heck the arranger we used chose as its design focus, whether it was good bad or indifferent.

By the way, at the same time most Tyros users rallied behind the 61 decision, they were also defending to the death the old non-touch screens surrounded by buttons, and that whole conversation completely faded once the SX and Genos lines went touchscreen.

Oh, and does anyone remember how pretty much everyone saw no point in a chord sequencer? Now they are on just about EVERYTHING!

The lesson to learn, I think is, be careful about getting too defensive about design decisions made on your current arranger. Most people can adapt, and often find the thing they railed about as absolutely unnecessary might be just perfectly fine once you HAVE to use it!

Sadly, we're not a big enough community to be able to read from members that used to say one thing and now probably say the complete opposite now that Yamaha went and changed direction, but I have little doubt anyone playing a current SX or Genos would prefer to go back to the Tyros's and PSR's.

Arrangers are tools. We probably don't get to defensive about which spade we're using, or what chisel. I think being open to change when it comes with improvement on the tool we make music with is a good thing. As my signature has always been, what you make with the tool is a LOT more important than the tool..! ❤️🎹🤩

Thanks @LeonB
However, what i meant is, what is the name of the SONG that Martin plays a few bars from around 13:00 - 13:30? It's driving me crazy!!