To get close to organ functionality, you HAVE to have the second keyboard in so close, you really have NO access to any controls or display, hence it needs to be a dumb controller.

But the Tyros' have several large gaps in their MIDI implementation that would allow the second keyboard to be functionally identical to the top one (the hallmark of organs). Sustain pedals, expression voicing, active controls, Part splits and layers, all of these are tied to the OS, so that registration change sets them all up exactly how you want them on the main arranger keyboard. But the lower keyboard is relegated to having to send ALL of these things independently of the OS. You at least double or even triple up your button pushing on the lower keyboard, and now are forced to separate the manuals just to get access to those controls the Tyros OS won't let you program in the registration...

It's a vicious cycle. Perhaps, now that Yamaha are trying to sell a lower manual to go along with the T4, some of these issues have got better. But no-one's reported it yet...

Up to the T3, Yamaha's could plug a second keyboard in, and it MIRROR the main one. What is needed now is a dumb one MIDI channel input for a second keyboard, that the OS determines what and how the layout on it is called up.

[This message has been edited by Diki (edited 09-27-2010).]