Yamaha's Newest Affordable Portable Keyboards Offer Most Advanced Features in Their Class
BUENA PARK, CA (July 15, 2005) — Yamaha's Consumer Products Division introduces the YPT-200 and YPT-300 portable keyboards, two entry-level models that add to its successful line with new features at an advantageous price point. Each one features 61 piano-sized keys, 32 notes of polyphony and an ultra-realistic Yamaha Stereo Grand Piano voice. Both models also include the built-in, upgraded Yamaha Education Suite version 5 (Y.E.S. 5) with exercises, interactive "Listen and Learn" lessons and a chord dictionary.
Designed for beginners sitting down to play for the first time or advanced players who have been playing for years, the new portables represent the first models in their price ranges to include complete General MIDI compatibility (YPT-200 and YPT-300), five-song memory and touch sensitive keys (YPT-300) – functions that up until recently could only be found on higher-priced or professional keyboards.
The YPT series offers 32-note maximum polyphony, which allows each keyboard to play a maximum of up to 32 notes at once, regardless of what functions are used.
In addition, each keyboard comes with Yamaha Education Suite Version 5, which allows the user to select any song and use it for a left-handed, right-handed, or two-handed educational lesson. Y.E.S. 5 puts budding musicians in the driver's seat, allowing them to practice at their own pace by choosing the song for the lesson, practice the parts that need work and selecting the practice method. Lesson 1, "Listen and Learn," helps the player to learn the melody or rhythm of a selected song. Lesson 2, "Timing," helps the player concentrate on playing each note in time with the rhythmic accompaniment. The correct notes sound even if you play wrong notes as long as you play in time with the rhythm. Lesson 3, "Waiting," helps the user play the notes that should be played, which appear in the score and the keyboard on the display. The song pauses until you play the right note. Each keyboard can connect to the Internet for online lessons. The YPT-300 allows users to learn songs transferred from the computer to its flash ROM.
The YPT-200 and YPT-300 provide users with the versatile General MIDI song format, which simplifies recording by being able to connect and share sound information with other instruments, computers and equipment.
Each keyboard has "Full" and "Split" keyboard functions. Full keyboard uses the same voice or sound for the entire keyboard; in other words, the piano sound being played by all 61 keys. Split keyboard functionality allows the user to "split" the keyboard and play more than one sound at a time; with a split keyboard, the user could play a piano part with the right hand and an upright acoustic bass part with the left hand, or have the piano sound assigned to the lower half and strings assigned to the upper half.
The YPT-200 has a fresh new design that evokes a fine grand piano. On the inside, its new proprietary voice chip makes it the only product under $100 that incorporates General MIDI compatibility, which enables it to interact easily with most software and Internet applications. The Y.E.S. 5 and an onboard songbook turn it into a virtual piano teacher that can help even beginners have fun and make music right away, while 134 voices (Pianos, Drums, Organs, Trumpets, Sax, Choir, Synth, Sound Effects and more), 100 accompaniment styles (Latin, Country, Jazz, Pianist, R&B, Ballroom, Dance, Disco and more) and 102 preset songs bring that music vividly to life. A choice of powerful onboard stereo speakers or a built-in headphone jack allows users to perform or practice in any setting.
Designed for beginners sitting down to play for the first time or advanced players who have been playing for years, the new portables represent the first models in their price ranges to include complete General MIDI compatibility (YPT-200 and YPT-300), five-song memory and touch sensitive keys (YPT-300) – functions that up until recently could only be found on higher-priced or professional keyboards.
The YPT series offers 32-note maximum polyphony, which allows each keyboard to play a maximum of up to 32 notes at once, regardless of what functions are used.
In addition, each keyboard comes with Yamaha Education Suite Version 5, which allows the user to select any song and use it for a left-handed, right-handed, or two-handed educational lesson. Y.E.S. 5 puts budding musicians in the driver's seat, allowing them to practice at their own pace by choosing the song for the lesson, practice the parts that need work and selecting the practice method. Lesson 1, "Listen and Learn," helps the player to learn the melody or rhythm of a selected song. Lesson 2, "Timing," helps the player concentrate on playing each note in time with the rhythmic accompaniment. The correct notes sound even if you play wrong notes as long as you play in time with the rhythm. Lesson 3, "Waiting," helps the user play the notes that should be played, which appear in the score and the keyboard on the display. The song pauses until you play the right note. Each keyboard can connect to the Internet for online lessons. The YPT-300 allows users to learn songs transferred from the computer to its flash ROM.
The YPT-200 and YPT-300 provide users with the versatile General MIDI song format, which simplifies recording by being able to connect and share sound information with other instruments, computers and equipment.
Each keyboard has "Full" and "Split" keyboard functions. Full keyboard uses the same voice or sound for the entire keyboard; in other words, the piano sound being played by all 61 keys. Split keyboard functionality allows the user to "split" the keyboard and play more than one sound at a time; with a split keyboard, the user could play a piano part with the right hand and an upright acoustic bass part with the left hand, or have the piano sound assigned to the lower half and strings assigned to the upper half.
 Yamaha YPT-200 (Click to enlarge top control panel) |
 Yamaha YPT-300 (Click to enlarge top control panel) |
Using the same classical design cues augmented by an easy-to-read backlit LCD display, the YPT-300 ups the ante to an incredible 482 instrument voices (Guitar, Bass, Pianos, Strings, Ensemble, Reed, Drums, Organs, Trumpets, Sax, Choir, Synth, Sound Effects and more), including Yamaha's XGlite voice set, along with 106 accompaniment styles (Latin, Country, Jazz, Pianist, R&B, Ballroom, Dance, Disco and more) and 102 preset songs.
Its built-in five-track sequencer is breakthrough that allows the user to record his or her own original music. "Full" and "Split" keyboard functions allow the performer to choose between 61 keys of on instrument or one instrument voice for each hand, and 32 notes of polyphony produce incredibly rich sound.
The YPT-300's Portable Grand feature is perfect for beginners and students. No matter what buttons and features a user has been playing with (for example, the drums or DJ), one touch of the Portable Grand button instantly resets the keyboard to the finest on-board, stereo-sampled piano from top to bottom.
The YPT-300's sequencer records the notes that are played on the keyboard and can then play back those same notes allowing the original performance to be recreated. Complete arrangements can be created by playing one part at a time while listening to the earlier parts recorded. The YPT-300 can record and save five tracks and two songs worth of sequencing. When a performance is recorded, the player will be able to play each separate part onto a track and after all five tracks are recorded and saved, the user will have a completed song.
DSP effects, the Sound Effects Kit with a dedicated panel button, and Flash ROM – perfect for connecting to a computer and transferring MIDI content from the Internet-round out the YPT-300's impressive array of features.
The YPT-200 (Street Price $99.95) and YPT-300 (Street Price $149.95) are currently available at authorized Yamaha retailers nationwide.
For additional information on Yamaha products, contact Yamaha Corporation of America's Consumer Products Division, 6600 Orangethorpe Avenue, Buena Park, CA 90620; telephone (714) 522-9011; or fax (714) 670-7520.
Its built-in five-track sequencer is breakthrough that allows the user to record his or her own original music. "Full" and "Split" keyboard functions allow the performer to choose between 61 keys of on instrument or one instrument voice for each hand, and 32 notes of polyphony produce incredibly rich sound.
The YPT-300's Portable Grand feature is perfect for beginners and students. No matter what buttons and features a user has been playing with (for example, the drums or DJ), one touch of the Portable Grand button instantly resets the keyboard to the finest on-board, stereo-sampled piano from top to bottom.
The YPT-300's sequencer records the notes that are played on the keyboard and can then play back those same notes allowing the original performance to be recreated. Complete arrangements can be created by playing one part at a time while listening to the earlier parts recorded. The YPT-300 can record and save five tracks and two songs worth of sequencing. When a performance is recorded, the player will be able to play each separate part onto a track and after all five tracks are recorded and saved, the user will have a completed song.
DSP effects, the Sound Effects Kit with a dedicated panel button, and Flash ROM – perfect for connecting to a computer and transferring MIDI content from the Internet-round out the YPT-300's impressive array of features.
The YPT-200 (Street Price $99.95) and YPT-300 (Street Price $149.95) are currently available at authorized Yamaha retailers nationwide.
For additional information on Yamaha products, contact Yamaha Corporation of America's Consumer Products Division, 6600 Orangethorpe Avenue, Buena Park, CA 90620; telephone (714) 522-9011; or fax (714) 670-7520.
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