I am now part of the Light Weight Gang!

Thanks to Frank from Audioworks (Who gave me a great deal) I am now proud owner of a brand new PSR-S970
I bought this KB for smaller gigs where I don't need all the bells and whistles of my beloved Tyros4.
Love the weight and size for logging it around compared to the Tyros4.
Got it a couple of days ago. Transferring my registrations and custom sounds and styles.
So far I am impressed with the sound.
Hooked it up to my Bose next to the T4.
I know folks have compared it to the T5 and said that the T5 sounds better, which it should.
However; when playing the same style on both keyboards with same setting I can't hear a difference to my T4.
The only thing I have to get used to is the new button lay out which shouldn't take long and the softer keys with no aftertouch. Played the Tyros keybed for to long ....
As a guitar player I love the new guitars and DSP's.
Especially the new WahWah guitars ...
Not sure about the DJ styles yet. Very gimmicky.
The new Arpeggiator function looks interesting. There are tons of them.
Something I did not realize before, is that you can assign them to ANY sound. Which gives you endless possibility.
New Audio Styles sound great. Fun to play with. Really nice groove.
New display looks great and gives me the same info as my T4.

Only sad thing is that I have to work all weekend....
No time to play. Grrrr.

Now I know why it sells like hot cakes and I had to wait so long to get mine.
It is a really nice board for the money with lots and lots of possibilities.
I loaded my expansion pack and my custom sounds which makes it like a little T4. Have to tweak my custom styles a little, but shouldn't take to long...

I am a very happy camper :):):)

Eric

Good for you, Eric ... enjoy ...

Thanks Tony

Good choice on both Eric S970,& buying from Frank, ... Congrats! use it well.

Thank you Donny. I will

Welcome to the lightweight club, Eric.

Gary

Thanks Gary
Feels good to be in it.
Especially for my back....
Eric

Glad to hear you are enjoying your 970.

However, for the benefit of those who say they are getting the PSR over a Tyros because it's a lot lighter, I would like to point out it's only a few pounds different.

In this case the 970 is 25.57 lbs and the T4 is 31 pounds. So, for someone wanting to get the PSR because of a weight difference of 5.43 lbs and calling that a lightweight keyboard because of it has always made me chuckle through the years.

Sometimes, it's not so much the weight, as it is the volume. This applies to any object. For example, it's easier to lift a 20lb. dumbbell, than it is to lift a 5 by 7 foot frame of the same weight. Not to mention the fact that it's much easier to fit a smaller keyboard into the car.

I like the fact that you said the S970 sounds the same as the Tyros 4 when playing the same style. That's very encouraging.
Thanks for your review!

Congratulations on your purchase, and keep having fun!

Good point Scott.
I should also mention that I have a heavy case for my T4 with wheels to protect it.
For my 970 I got a very light weight case.
As Mike mentioned the size is a small factor too
Eric

Thanks Mike,
Yes I was thrilled that it sounds this good ...
Eric

The Tyros will make your wallet lighter.

Regards,

Jerryghr

Count me in the light weight brigade, as well. The S970 is the best for hand carrying, loading, unloading from the back seat, gigging, and all the rest. My Tyros 5 never leaves the house. It’s such a beast to haul around, but does play and sound great. If it weren’t for the latter point, I might consider selling it. But, on the other hand……..

I think, sound wise, my S970 is right up there with my Tyros 4.

For me, the S970 is a big leap forward in the PSR line.

Eric: Glad you are enjoying the 970. After having the Tyros 1 and numerous PSR's along the way...I feel yamaha has finally hit the bullseye with the 970. A joy to play and record with.

Jingleman

Yes they are close but not a bulls-eye yet, both the S950 /S970 are too close to cal sound wise.....there are a few things that still need to be addressed for MY needs.....
manual tilt display, XLR inputs, front access dual USB, better tracking VH processor, Mic master volume control on deck, joystick, sliders,

Donny: I realize that there may be features you find necessary for your live performance needs...but when I see how far Yamaha has come from from the psr 900 and 700 series, it's nothing short of amazing. The quality of the digital converters has now afforded a much more rich and full range sound. The quality of drums both live and midi are in a different league. I have found that the VH-2 tracks quite well. The Yamaha PSR series may never satisfy everyone's needs...but for now, I'm extremely pleased with the 970.

Compared to the Roland's and Korg's I've owned, along with the issues Ketron owners have stated on this forum, (all of which I know you've owned at one time or another) there aren't a lot of options in this price range.

Jingleman

You just described a Korg.

I agree with everything you said. Only competition in the price range is the Korg PA900. It's quite an instrument, and even less expensive, somehow, than the S970. Hope I'm still alive when the PA1000 comes out.

with workarounds the s950/s970 can be very useful performance tools in the right hands and with the right edits & settings....I've been on stage playing KB's 25 yrs before arrangers were ever introduced!!....and have used them from the early 80's with the my first KORG SAS20 and so many more models thru the years up to todays which are mostly incredible sound and style wise,......but as I always said they need to address player feature needs now not sound & styles. As the MOTL increases in technology the TOTl decreases eventually they will meet in the middle with a price between the two at around $25-$2800 & tons will be sold if they listen and open their ears to what PLAYERS are saying....
hopefully with a few more practical needed features.

Donny....One of your issues was addressed with the Live Control Knobs. Use one as an "on deck mic vol". I pair that with the 2nd knob to adjust reverb. And those are just two of the many settings you can assign to the knobs.

Eddie

Great point!

Hi Jingleman
I agree with you.
This is the first time I feel that I can take out the S970 and feel Ok leaving the T4 at home...
Eric

LOL! Maybe Donny's just beginning to get that subconscious itchy finger feeling again.

Eric....I think after a while with the s970 your t4 will be on ebay...

I'm using one to adjust level between lead voices and style; the other to mute style parts on the fly. At least they replace a couple of the many programmable buttons and sliders on Korg.

Donny,
Don't scare me like that. LOL I love my T4...
I think I'll keep the T4 in the studio and the S970 ready for the road ...
The T4 still has a few things I don't want to miss.
Eric

Like I said its still early..enjoy..

I've had a ball following this forum for all these years. The level of professional opinions on equipment as well other useful musical ideas has been extremely helpful.

Since I don't play out live my needs are different than most here. So I evaluate most of the keyboards I've had by pure sound and how the sound blends with the other instruments to create a realistic sounding ensemble. Running a recording studio up North for over 30 years, I recall the nightmares of trying to get a decent drum sound and the hassle of creating solid arrangements. To my ears...the 970 gives me that freedom without breaking the bank.

I like solid believable electric guitar backgrounds, along with good right hand electric guitar and sax sounds. I finally feel I've got that.

Donny...being a "Jersey Boy", I can't help but feel that the power of the guitars would give you some great Bon Jovi tunes to add to your repertoire.

Anyway...thanks to all of you for making this the best place to come for advice and an occasional chuckle.

Jingleman

Sounds like the 970 is a great keyboard. I only wish that the PSR series keyboards allowed use of MIDI data to call up (select) Registrations. I use MIDI to call up Registrations on my Tyros; found out via friends that the PSR (and CVP) lines don't do this. The "Data List" even shows that only the Tyros has this capability. I don't know why Yamaha didn't implement this on all lines, as they all seem to use very similar "data structures" or "file structures" (Tyros, PSR, CVP) for Registration files and Registration buttons.

A 970 may be in my future as a 2nd keyboard; for now will be using the Tyros, as I really like being able to have my iPad recall Registration via wireless MIDI to the Tyros whenever I display a song in unrealBook app. Saves me a bunch of button-pressing with every song I play ... maybe a little thing to some, but I've come to rely on it ...

970 (size, weight, sound) must be a fantastic keyboard though!
-Jim

Though when I played Tyros 4 the thing I liked most about it was the keybed. But I hear the S970 keybed isn't quite the same.

Exactly Nigel it's the same as the S950 etc, .....the T4 and other Tyros units are a different keybed altogether.

I know a lot of you guys are more into the keyboard action of synths than I, but the difference I've noticed between the previous Yamaha's and Korg's is minimal. Most keyboards I've played in this price range seem to play about the same. I'm sure a lot of you could tell the difference, which might sway you against a particular keyboard. The Tyros 4 probably does have a better feeling key bed...but they are still going for 3 to 4k
on EBay. To me it's a little like guitars. To play a real nice Strat and then switch over to a Les Paul...the feel is going to be awkward at first, but you eventually adapt. Seems that some of that logic applies to key beds as well.

Jingleman

I'm one who actually prefer the cheapo light action. Semi-weighted is o.k. but starting to hurt my wrists some. I can do things on S970 that I can't on 3x or Tyros. Needless to say, I don't play piano and never have.

DITTO..

You're right on Don. Between trigger fingers and arthritis, my hands and fingers are not what they used to be.

Jingleman