PSR-OR700 - Yamaha PSR-OR700 » Sensitive Keys

Yamaha PSR-OR700 61-Key Arranger Workstation

Tue, 22 Dec 2009 10:32:22 +0000

The PSR-OR700 Arranger Workstation from Yamaha features some very cool content, dedicated “Scale Setting” panel buttons for on-the-fly scale tuning, MegaVoice and Modeling Technology, and USB jack for connecting peripheral storage devices. The keyboard has 61 touch-sensitive keys, 96-note polyphony, 314 accompaniment Styles featuring 146 special World Styles, large screen, a special selection of World Voices and 22 Drum Kits. Ease of operation – Direct Access Button, Music Finder, Quick Record, One Touch Setting (OTS), Multi Pads, Built-in Help, Demo, Mixing Console, Registration Memory, Performance assistant technology Dynamic Voices and effects – The keyboard comes with 813 voices, is 96-note polyphonic and has 4 Effects blocks plus Reverb and Chorus Professional Connections Keyboard – 61 Keys (C1 ~ C6) with Touch Response (Initial Touch) Polyphony – 96 notes max. Display – 5.7 QVGA B/W LCD capable of Lyric and Score display 813 Preset Voices – 317 (more…)

Piano Keyboards to Keep You Playing: What To Look For In a Keyboard

Tue, 22 Dec 2009 18:41:33 +0000

When looking for a new keyboard, consider the name brand manufacturers of piano keyboards. Look at your budget and then go from there. Does that budget allow you to check out some of the premiere makers out there? Does your budget require you to go with a lesser-known manufacturer?
Some of the names in piano keyboards are Korg, Kurzweil, Roland, Yamaha, Kawai and Moog. There are a host of others as well, some with a wide model line available. Check each manufacturer’s products from low-end to high-end and compare across companies for features offered. Sometimes a lower-priced model may suit you just as well as a higher-priced one that has many extra gadgets you may never use. The main thing is to make sure any model you choose has a clear, full sound resembling as close as possible a traditional piano sound. You don’t want a tinny sound that is more annoying than pleasing.
If you base your decision solely on price, investigate consumer reports and product reviews that may alert you to product flaws. You may find some high-priced models receive more bad press than lower-priced makes. Regardless, don’t let a piano keyboard purchase blow your budget. You can always upgrade down the road.
One important consideration when purchasing a piano keyboard is the warranty. If you’re buying a new brand, make sure the warranty is suitable with no unacceptable “except for” clauses. If you’re buying used, try to buy from a dealer who offers even a six-month warranty on a used product. They’re out there; you just have to look for them.
Consider the type of keys your fingers will run across when you look at piano keyboards. Do you want traditional weighted keys that have the feel of an acoustic piano? Do you want touch sensitive keys that spring into action with little downward pressure? Both are available, and checking them out will ensure that it suits your touch. I would certainly recommend that you get both of these features so your keyboard not only sounds but also feels like a normal acoustic piano.
Consider whether you want a full 88-key piano or one with fewer keys. It depends on what you plan to play, how much you want to spend, and the space you have in a room. You don’t want to feel cramped with a keyboard whose length barely fits into a small room. On the other hand, if you plan on getting better in a hurry, then get an 88 key keyboard from the outset so you won’t have to worry about outgrowing it.
Another thing to consider in a piano keyboard is the number of controls a model has for sound modification. Many keyboards come equipped with settings to make the piano sound like different musical instruments. Some also have voice settings, so certain keys sound like a choir singing. Again, if you want just your typical piano sound, you may not require all these sound controls. To keep your costs down, it’s best to buy a model with only the features you will use.
An important consideration, especially if you live in an apartment or condominium, is sound control. You want a keyboard that allows you to set the volume as low as possible while maintaining quality and clarity of sound. You also want a keyboard that allows for headphone plug-in, so you can play as loud as you need without disturbing anyone.
With today’s “going green” concerns, you may want to investigate the energy use of keyboards. Keyboards that are green friendly are sure to be the latest models and can save you dollars on energy bills. With that extra money, you can upgrade to a higher-priced keyboard later.
Additional things to consider are any special benefits or bonuses for buying. Some music studios sell keyboards and may offer lesson or music book discounts for purchasing from them. Some music stores offer music lessons on premises and may offer free introductory piano lessons with a keyboard purchase.
The final thing to consider when purchasing a keyboard is its capacity for attachments. Aside from the headphones (and you’ll want them for sure so you can practice silently), you may want outlets for an amplifier or a Musical Instrument Digital Interface outlet. This allows you to hook a keyboard into a computer. Of course, the computer also has to have a MIDI input. If your computer doesn’t, you have to buy a USB MIDI adapter. With the proper software program in place, you can play notes on a keyboard and have them show up as written music on your monitor. The computer plays the notes back, and the program stores the played notes on the computer. If this looks like an attractive option, seek a keyboard with this outlet.
Take the time to investigate all the piano keyboard options available to you on the market. There are makes and models to suit your exact requirements. All you need is an investigative attitude to search out the one that’s right for you.

Buy A Casio Electronic Keyboard For A Breathtaking Musical Experience

Tue, 22 Dec 2009 11:04:26 +0000

Casio Electronic Keyboards are one of the best sellers on the market because of their cutting edge features and portability powered by enhanced performance and their line up includes the mini grand piano series and portable electronic keyboards. In fact, the makers recently launched 3 new portable keyboards and added them to the existing best selling lineup.These keyboards are fun to use, easy and user friendly as well as lightweight and compact and feature full sized keyboards with 61 keys and they are also endowed with functions and features in multitudes, which are more or less exclusive to Casio. Among Casio Electronic Keyboard lineup range, you can choose from CTK 491, CTK 591 and CTK 691. The CTK 691 is a powerhouse performer with MIDI compatibility and with it; your own studio can be created. The high end features that it offers at this price will make your eyes pop out in disbelief.The CTK 591 is priced at around $270 and its features include MIDI compatibility, large liquid crystal display, full sized 24 note polyphonic keyboard and also features 61 touch sensitive keys. To help facilitate easy learning, there is a musical information system displayed on the backlit liquid crystal display where you will be able to see the tempo, notes, volume, song, tone rhythm and other such status and selections.The CTK 491 is the cheapest of the lot priced at $170 and is mainly targeted at beginners. Its features include a full sized keyboard with 61 keys and it has a 5 octave, 12 note polyphonic MIDI compatible keyboard, there are finger icons display, music staff, on screen liquid crystal display as well as one hundred rhythm patterns and tones. You will be able to play along to a 100 songs and the added fun element of karaoke will let you sing along. With the Casio electronic keyboard, you can also download more songs to your keyboard.

Yamaha Musical Keyboard – What is a suitable keyboard for Beginner?

Tue, 22 Dec 2009 10:41:39 +0000

If you have decided to buy your first musical keyboard from yamaha, then here is what you need to consider. Yamaha has a wide range of keyboards suitable for beginners, intermediate as well as advanced players, so it can get difficult to focus on what you want. You need to go in for a Yamaha keyboard that has touch response keys. An important aspect of learning to play keyboards is to play it with expression, and not just in a monotonous way. Touch sensitive keys are a must for that reason because then not all notes are played with the same volume, you can change it by applying different force. Besides, a keyboard with touch response keys also teaches your fingers to have better control over the keys.Another thing is to buy a Yamaha keyboard that has at least sixty-one keys. This is important if you want to seriously learn the keyboard. If you go in for a keyboard with lesser number of keys, you will nit be able to use your left hand. That means you will not be able to learn and play chords together with the melody; though you can learn the basics like learning to play the notes and timing, you will not be able to learn to harmonize. So what are the options? Yamaha YPT, PSR and lighted series keyboards are something that you can consider. You may even consider used-keyboard if you are on a tight budget. Cost is obviously an important aspect to keep in mind. It should not be a problem to use a pre-owned keyboard since Keyboards generally last for many years. You should even consider having a look at if you want something that is a bit cheaper.Yamaha Keyboard Reviews

A To Z Information On Digital Keyboards

Tue, 22 Dec 2009 10:31:34 +0000

Digital keyboards that feature full 88 touch sensitive keys will perhaps be the best choice for you if you wish to capture the feel of an acoustic piano. A damper pedal attached to it would be even better. However, you have to keep in mind that keyboards of this variety will set you back by $1000 more.These kinds of digital keyboards are ideal for beginners or those who are into their 1st year music lessons. The starting price for cheap acoustic pianos is around $2000. So you can naturally guess how much an expensive electric keyboard will cost you. When you purchase a keyboard, you must check to see that it has USB connectivity and PC connectivity. Such features will raise the price bar higher, but ultimately you will be the gainer in the long run. Don’t think of digital keyboards as substitute for an acoustic piano, rather it should complement or be an adjunct to the latter.If you are a complete novice who wants to test the piano learning waters or wants to gift your children a piano to encourage him or her to take up piano lessons or if you are not sure about the student’s interest levels and don’t want to waste a lot of money on something super expensive. Then the cheaper varieties of smaller keyboards will be ideal for you and they cost less than $200 and are therefore, extremely pocket friendly. You can make do with these types of keyboards for quite a few months. These types of digital keyboards have a rudimentary type of damper pedal, the keys might often turn out to be not so touch sensitive and there will be no more than 4/5 octaves. A full keyboard usually features around 8 to 9 octaves. Another feature that you must check while purchasing a digital keyboard is whether the instrument is MIDI compatible or not.Nowadays, you can avail yourself of different models featuring both complex and simple kinds of keyboards, which are sold with piano training software, and the makers nowadays make available different varieties of software and hardware combinations.