When Yamaha came out with the original Motif workstation keyboard back in 2001, it set a new standard for Yamaha keyboards with its sonic capability and real-time performance features making it the professionals' choice in a music workstation. Since then, Yamaha raised the bar by debuting the Motif ES (Extensive Sonic) in 2003. Yamaha upped the ante with an additional 180MB of waveforms compared to the Motif ES and more than doubled the polyphony to 128 voices from the original Motif. In its latest evolutionary change, the new Yamaha Motif XS is impressive. From its 355MB of waveforms, eight real-time knobs and sliders to its sampler, arpeggiator, and massive color LCD screen, this production music workstation is one of the most powerful keyboards we've ever tested.

Back in the late 1970's, the Yamaha NS10M monitor series were arguably the most widely used near-field monitors used in the recording environment at the time. Thirty years later, the Yamaha HS series monitors continue the tradition with the HS50M.

 

At Yamaha Musician, we tested the Yamaha HS50M monitor. The HS50M is a 70W bi-amp 2-way powered near-field flat frequency response monitor (55Hz-20kHz) that's designed for keyboards and studios. The HS50M comes with extensive features for tweaking its frequency response, accepts an XLR or 1/4" phone plugs as an input, has a 5" LF (low frequency) cone, and a 3/4" tweeter all weighing in at less than 13lbs (5.8kg).

 

If you're like us and love the YPG625/525 but you're on a really tight budget (or you're a starving musician), Yamaha now has the perfect answer for us—the Yamaha YPG225. The Yamaha YPG225 (aka Yamaha DGX220) is the 76-key equivalent of the award winning 88-key Yamaha YPG625/525 digital pianos. Virtually all the same features found in the YPG625/525 are also in the YPG225. These features include a six-track sequencer, nearly 500 voices, 32 notes of polyphony, pitch-bend wheel, dual and split voices, USB connectivity, the Yamaha Education Suite, and, effects processor.

The year was 1976 and the Yamaha CP30 Stage Piano was born. Artists such as Miles Davis and Herbie Hancock were performing their legendary music forever engraining the CP sound into the minds of millions. Since then, Yamaha introduced several more models until ultimately retiring the CP series in 1982. Now, over twenty five years later, the CP Stage Piano is back--the Yamaha CP33 and CP300 (the CP300 will be covered in detail in a future review).

For those of us who are fans of the Yamaha PSR-E213/203 (YPT210/YPT210) and PSR-E313 (YPT310) keyboards, the next step up is the Yamaha PSR-E403 (YPT400). This portable keyboard really packs a punch. New to the PSR-E403 are two assignable knobs, a pitch bend controller, 6-track sequencer, 15 arpeggio programs, USB connection, REW, FF, PAUSE, START/STOP song control features, a blue back lit LCD screen, and, accessory CD-ROM packed with songs, styles, and software. All this is in addition to the 100+ panel voices, 300+ XGlite voices, 12 drum kits, music database, dual and split voice modes, accompaniment, and, lesson mode that can be found on the PSR-E313 keyboard and to some extent the PSR-E213/203.

Making its debut in 2007, the Yamaha PSR-E313 is Yamaha's newest evolution of the now discontinued PSR-E303 keyboard. The PSR-E313 is virtually identical to the PSR-E303 except for a few improvements and features which we will cover here.

 

With touch sensitivity, 61-key keyboard, 108 panel voices, 12 drum kits, 359 XGlite voices, 32 voices of polyphony, dual and split voice modes, 106 styles, 39 effects, two-track sequencer, music database, and, chord dictionary (phewww!), this keyboard has quite a list of features for being an entry-level keyboard.

Like many of Yamaha's pro line synths, the heart of the Yamaha MO6/MO8 is the AWM2 (Advanced Wave Memory 2) tone generator. These keyboards come loaded with 175MB of waveforms and come in two flavors: 61-key synth-type and 88-key balanced hammer action. In addition, the MO6/MO8 has four assignable sliders and knobs, mod and pitch wheel, inputs for a foot controller and foot switch, 16-track sequencer, 64 voices of polyphony, over 500 preset programs, and over 1700 preset arpeggios. Plus, these synths have lots of tweakable and convenient features such as patterns, phrases, LFO's, envelopes, and 18 different filters you can play with. All of these features are navigated thru the brilliant 240x64 dot LCD backlit display. Did we mention that the MO6/MO8 comes standard with S/PDIF 24-bit digital outs too?

When the Yamaha S90ES made its debut in August of 2005, it marked a quantum leap forward in digital piano and synthesis technology. Putting aside its Motif ES roots and all its other capabilities, the S90ES is the best feeling and sounding digital piano/synth we have ever played so far.

 

First things first. Yamaha has marketed this keyboard as the "perfect balance between synthesizer and digital piano". This is definitely an accurate statement. The S90ES has one of the smoothest, best feeling weighted keyboard actions we've ever played on a synth. The pitch bend, mod wheels, and real-time sliders show off the S90ES's synth side.

The Yamaha PSRE203 (Yamaha YPT200).  In 1984, Yamaha debut their first PSR keyboard: the PSR15. Since then, over 100 different PSR models have made their way out of the Yamaha R&D center into countless numbers of homes all over the world. Over twenty years later, Yamaha introduces the Yamaha PSRE203/YPT200.

 

The Yamaha PSRE203/YPT200 is a 61-key, 32 notes of polyphony entry-level keyboard with 129 voices, 4 drum kits and 1 special effects kit. They have 100 different accompaniment styles with programmable split point, 102 preset songs and also come with the Yamaha Education Suite, which makes learning the keyboard fun. We will get into that a little later.

Once in a blue moon, a digital piano comes along that shocks everyone with its sounds, features, and price, and, wins Product of the Year and Keyboard of the Year from Music & Sound Retailer at NAMM. It's no surprise then that the Yamaha dealers are selling them about as fast as they are receiving them. At Yamaha Musician, we went to our local Yamaha dealer to check out what the entire buzz is about.

 

The Yamaha Clavinova. It all began over twenty years ago in 1985 with the Clavinova CVP 3. Since then, Yamaha has improved upon that first Clavinova every single year (except 2006) with well over one-hundred different models. Today, the latest evolution of the finest digital piano in the world is born again--the Clavinova CVP 400 series.

Today, we rolled up our sleeves and explored the Yamaha YDP223 digital piano. It isn't America's best-selling digital console piano by accident. From its high quality voices, 64 notes of polyphony, 88-key graded hammer technology, to its two-track sequencer, and stylish console piano looks, we'll take you inside the Yamaha YDP223 digital piano. The first thing we noticed about the Yamaha YDP223 is its console piano look complemented by the dark satin walnut finish--a beautiful look for the home. Next, we noticed the traditional three-pedal layout on the YDP223 which is quite solid and firm and appear to be of the same quality and style that is used in their acoustic pianos.

Have you always wanted an impressive digital piano but found them to be out of your price range? Wouldn't it be nice to have a high quality digital piano that feels like a real piano and sounds like one? The Yamaha P70 is that digital piano. The Yamaha P70 comes with a stunning concert grand piano, electric pianos, organs, strings, and more.

I think most musicians would agree that Yamaha knows a thing or two about making a great piano. They aren't number one by accident. Well, the Yamaha P140 is Yamaha's answer to a great feeling and sounding digital piano at an affordable price. However, the Yamaha P140 isn't just a piano--it has electric pianos, organs, an on-board sequencer to record your music, reverb, and an effects processor too.

Over here at Yamaha Musician.com, we pulled up a bench, snatched a sustain pedal and went to work evaluating the Yamaha MM6 yamaha keyboard. At first glance, the MM6 is stealthy looking and incredibly light (about 11lbs.) which is great for gigs or taking it to a friend's house for some jamming. This keyboard is a 61-key, 32-voice, five-octave keyboard with an eight-track sequencer (ninth track for rhythms), and 70MB of sound wave data consisting of hundreds of patches, FX programs, and rhythms. The MM6 was obviously laid out to give you quick control over very commonly used features such as the four real-time knobs to tweak your sounds, your sequencer for recording, and the very handy arpeggiator for creating some impressive patterns and rhythms for your sequences.