About Yamaha Keyboards & MIDI Controllers
Founded as a piano and reed organ company, Yamaha has a long and rich history of keyboard manufacturing. Though they produce a variety of products today, Yamaha has never forgotten their roots as a musical instrument company. Luckily for the modern musician, their instruments have changed with them. Today they offer some of the top instruments for keyboardists. Yamaha has a long and rich history of keyboard-making; indeed, when Torakusu Yamaha founded the company's back in 1887, their first product was a reed organ! Since then, Yamaha has expanded into other product areas, and in addition to musical instruments, they are now one of the world's leading manufacturers of home audio and hi-fi systems, motorcycles and motor sports equipment, along with many other products. Today, they are the world's largest full-line musical instrument and equipment manufacturer, and in spite of their success in other areas, Yamaha has never forgotten their roots as a musical instrument company, and more specifically, as a keyboard manufacturer.
Finding Your Yamaha Keyboard
Yamaha produces of a wide variety of keyboards with models that are suited to many applications. From digital versions of grand pianos to upgraded arrangers and portable workstations, it’s easy to find the keyboard for you. New to the keyboard? Yamaha’s PSR series offers an accessible design that will ease you into learning to play. They also make various keyboard sizes so you can truly play to your preference. For the full range of seven octaves, look for a keyboard with the classic 88 keys. If you don’t need something with as much range, look for a smaller keyboard like the 61-key design. You’ll even find full keyboard packages with everything you need to play right away.
Yamaha Portable Keyboards with Flexible Sound
MIDI keyboards give you extra versatility and portability. They do not include any speakers and have to be connected to another system to be heard. However, they do give tons of control over your sounds. Yahama even makes MIDI adapters and interfaces that connect to iOS devices. This allows you to edit and create your sounds with apps. Built with flexibility in mind, MIDI keyboards give you all the control.
Portable Yamaha keyboards pair top-level instrumentation with easy transportation. Available in everything from arrangers to synths to classic pianos, there’s a portable version of any keyboard that will suit your needs. PSR arranger workstations allow a single musician to develop a range of complex arrangements that sound like an entire ensemble is performing. Other keyboards in the PSR series and the YPT series instruments are ideal for home, hobby and even stage use. The DGX and YPG lines are also portable models, allowing you to take your music with you. You don’t have to wait for a heavy grand piano to make music. With Yamaha, music goes wherever you go.
Compose with Freedom with Yamaha Arranger Keybaords
Arranger keyboards literally help arrange tracks and can automatically match your beats in the style and tempo you want. With tools that allow you to build and layer your sound, arranger keyboards can sound like full bands, all with one musician at the helm. They are all-in-one mini studios. With an arranger, you can be a true one-person band. From writing a song to performing it live, arranger keyboards are a great tool for any musician. The flexible composition gives you the freedom to experiment and adjust your tracks. Best of all, they are often portable, which makes it easy for you to take your keyboard from the studio to the stage.
Choose a Yamaha Synthesizer & Create Something New
Synthesizers are truly incredible keyboards. They are able to recreate any sound that anything makes. From classic orchestral sounds to the patter of rain against a window, synthesizers free you to create new and unique audio experiences. Over the years, technological developments have truly pushed the abilities of synths. You cannot go wrong with a Yamaha synthesizer. Styles range from beginner basics to full-featured packages for experts. Synths are built for you to experiment with your sound.
Yamaha has been a leading synth developer since the introduction of the SY1 in 1974. Over the years, nearly every type of synthesis and sound generation engine imaginable has been used in one Yamaha keyboard or another -- subtractive, PCM ROM sample playback, sampling, FM, vector synthesis and physical modeling, among others. Yamaha was one of the first companies to release a MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) keyboard; 1983's DX-7. This keyboard and the entire DX line used FM (Frequency Modulation) synthesis, and were hugely successful throughout the 80s. Other successful instruments include the SY series, CP series electric and analog pianos, and the KX series MIDI controllers. The Yamaha synthesizer tradition was then carried on with the popular S Series, MM and MO series and Motif series instruments. The P series Yamaha stage pianos are also quite popular, and the new Piaggero Series piano focused keyboards are already starting to draw attention.
Twists on the Classic Yamaha Grand Piano Sound
In addition to these modern and portable keyboards, Yamaha produces digital versions of a classic grand piano. You’ll find these in the Clavinova and Arius lines. These pianos give you a traditional feel with a modern digital twist. Are you a traditional acoustic player looking to experiment in the digital world? You’ll find that these lines provide a comfortable playing experience that’s right in line with a traditional piano. They’re also great for new players, as they still build proper finger technique like acoustic pianos do. Digital pianos offer an authentic feel while expanding on what a classic piano can do.
Regardless of what your keyboard need is, odds are that Yamaha has an instrument designed to meet it. From educators to self-taught gurus, there is a model designed to build your personal music library and skillset. Want a full workstation decked out with all the bells and whistles? Looking for that one accessory to complete your setup? Need to upgrade your gear to the next level? Musician’s Friend has you covered with our top selection of Yamaha products.
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