I received my first shipment today of a new keyboard from Yamaha. It is both an arranger keyboard and a Karaoke keyboard but there are some new features I've never seen before.
First, this product is based from the PSR292 or DGX202 platform with the same styles and 6 track sequencer, but Yamaha has added many of the "sweet" voices from the PSR2100 such as "sweet flute", "sweet trumpet", "sweet soprano sax" along with XG and panel voices. The styles have two variations each and when you record you can save your songs to the smart media storage card. If you save your song as a proprietary song the notations won't be viewed but if you save it as a SMF file, you can see the music on the screen. Also, song lyrics from files like tune 1000 can be seen and there is a mic input with digital echo which is on the back so that you can connect the included microphone into this keyboard and Yamaha has included a mic attachment on the left side of the keyboard for easy storage when not using the mic.
Songs can be played back as is or you can choose a style from the 100 in the keyboard and the song takes on the genre of the style, not just the drums but all the accomp. tracks.
There is a brand new feature called "performance assistant" and this is amazing. Now, truly anyone can play music the minute they take this keyboard out of the box. When this feature is turned on and you play a song, any notes you play on the keyboard are correct notes. You can't play a wrong one. If you play single notes, they play correctly to the key of the song, and if you play two or more notes at once you get chord comping styled chords. So, if you play your
chords in a certain style, they play your style but no mater what notes you play you get the correct chords in that key. If you play runs up and down the keyboard, you get beautiful sounding glissandos. Now, if you play a style and play with this performance assitant, you get the same results. A lady walked into my store and saw me playing around and I asked her if she would like to try. She said she didn't know how to play, and I said......"oh yes you do" and she had a great time!
There are stereo RCA outputs unlike most of the lower line of Yamaha keyboards for running into a sound system and still using the built in speakers for monitoring.
USB is provided on the back to transfer songs directly from a PC or MAC.
There is Split keyboard and dual keyboard modes, Registration Memories and a newly designed back lit screen with a slightly different operating system for getting around. I liked it alot. It was much easier to see and understand than previous lower end PSR keyboards. The keys are of course touch sensetive and there is a PC button for easy access.
All in all a great new product with a Retail Price of $599.00 or a little more with a value pack and a street price of around $419.00 with the value pak.
I can't wait to get back in the store Saturday Morning to play with this keyboard all day.
If only it had a vocal harmonizer......but it's got a ton of stuff for the price.
George Kaye
Kaye's Music Scene
Reseda, California
818-881-5566