Here is an email addressed to the Yahoo PSR Styles forum:

Latest news on the new Tyros !

A full package of new styles will be introduced.
The Brass and Stringe section will be
megavoiced.
New features will be added ( I do not know the details yet ... will come
soon ).
Do not ask me how I have received this information but believe me this
information is absolutely correct.
I gave my word not to talk about my source.

Best wishes, Jeff /The Netherlands

Speakers?

Are you telling a Tyros-II is coming soon ?
Any idea when ? (this- or next year)

Jeff is supposedly a reliable guy not only with info but as a respected member of keyboard forums.

What is puzzling to me is if the Brass and String sections are Mega Voiced they no doubt will only be able to be used within the context of Styles and not for Live purposes. Just as the Mega Voices are now.

What Yamaha should try and do IMO is allow the Mega Voices to be incorporated for Live use not just for use in Styles. If they could do that from a technological standpoint they will have passed the precipice or technological barrier that keeps the Mega Voices as they now stand as basically one of gimmickry to one of true value because you would actually be able to play those turkeys in a Live situation. Yes, the Styles may sound better but it would sure be nice if the Musician could play the Mega Voices too by way of the Keys in a Live context. That would take Yammie over the top and they would really have a big edge over the competition IMO.

Best regards,
Mike

I think George Kaye mentioned in a previous thread that the successor to the Tyros will come out sometime in the summer.

I would be surprised if it had speakers. A big change like that would probably have been filtered to Jeff just like the other information was.

Just a little bit to wet our appetites until the summer. At that point the Tyros will be two years old, and a lot of owners will be ready to trade it in for the next big thing.

Beakybird

ETA in the Netherlands about April/May 2005.

I'm finished purchasing re-packaged products. The only way I will purchase a Tyros II is if it has:

* 76 or more keys
* no speakers
* contains a "Band-in-a-box" type Style creator/style morpher. I'm sick and tire of trying to match styles to songs. This is the biggest issue I have with arranger keyboards right now. (UD has the right idea, 8 basic styles and manual left hand bass.)
* Premium Harmonizer
* Autoload Registrations/settings.
* USB 2.0/Firewire

Just improving the existing styles and adding new mega voices will not motivate me to make a new purchase.

what about a sampler !

this is 'must' for oriental music

dud

All what I need, is a MOTIF ES8 with 20 styles and the Yamaha chord recognition. Is Yamaha that calling Tyros II ;-)?

/Ulrich

Most important is a dedicated manual bass button to play manual bass with a midi pedal board or to use when connected to an organ. In forum after forum I see people asking about this so I think there are a lot of people who really need this functionallity.

I think there must be a part selector for, at least, 6 real time parts. 3 right, 2 left and manual bass.