Tonight I visited my dealer for a workshop/demo with Yamaha keyboards CVP307, TYROS, PSR2k etc.

Some news about the Tyros-2 was presented by an official Yamaha employee :

Week# 35 : Final details & demo-samples on internet.

September : Shipping starts and first machines will arrive in the Netherlands.

Global (not final) Specifications:

a. 400 built-in styles (T-1 has 300)

b. no 76 keys version planned

c. Hi quality keys (motif/DX7 alike)

d. HDD not standard but as an option

e. Megavoiced brass, strings, saxes, accordeons etc.

f. Megavoices play-able !

g. No built-in FDD (probably an USB-FDD)

h. Downward compatible with Tyros-regs / files / settings. Even the HDD coming from a T-1 fits without problems : all stored data will work perfectly.

i. Separate RGB video-interface that can be used for independent lyrics-presentation on a computer display (e.g. LCD)

j. There is a little chance scanned sheetmusic can be displayed as well !! (stored/connected to a registration-memory)

k. Music stand construction much better without the fragile pieces the T-1 has.

l. improved vocal-harmonizer

m. stereo samples loadable/editable.

n. many new FULL STEREO samples (drums, accordeons, pianos etc.)

o. 4 track audio-recording feature when HDD installed.

p. Plays WAV and MP3's

Of course the question : "Why not a PRO version with 76 keys?" .... Yamaha's answer :

"Most customers are satisfied with the 5-octaves and don't feel the need for an extra
octave. E.g. the number of sold PSR9000 PRO's was only 10% of the 9000 sales.
Yamaha decided to put as much as possible effort (time = money) in software-engineering and skipped plans for an extra expensive production-line to produce an extra model"
I myself can live with 5-octaves.

Facit :
I had no plans to change keyboard, but there might be a chance I will ..... very soon ... I ordered one!


[This message has been edited by Roel (edited 07-07-2005).]