Yes, they really came in! I've already shipped out several and I've set up my floor sample. It looks great, sounds great and so far I'm having a ball! I'm really happy Yamaha has added many features we've all asked for. For example:
Now you have two sets of outputs. Main outs use the master volume control and are 1/4 inch jacks. Aux out are fixed volume and use rca jacks. In the 740 you only had fixed outs unless you used a volume foot pedal. Now you don't have to!
I also really like the auto fill in button which can be turned on or off so that when you go from variation to variation you can control if you use a fill or not. I also like the OTS link button which moves to the different one touch settings for voices when you select one of the 4 variations. You can turn this feature on and off with the switch.
I also love the disk direct feature for playing styles without having to load them. The machine comes with 450 data base combinations but can have up to 2500 programed into it's memory.
The new operating system is much easier in my opinion to move around on than the 740 series.
In my opinion, it's more the way you can manipulate this new model rather than how different it sounds than the 740 series. Sure, there are more and better sounds but for the most it's how many new functions have been added to the system that really makes it shine! Especially for it's price!
George Kaye
Kaye's Music Scene
Reseda, California

Glad there here. I know that the local music store here has them on backorder for a lot of people... Have you tried to edit any voices? Can you have up to 4 elements per voice and adjust velocity curves?

Squeak

Squeak,
I'm at home now with my owners manual but not the keyboard. It seems that you start with a voice and then edit that voice. I don't see parameters for getting into individual waveforms (samples). What I see are parameters like filter Brightness and Harmonic Content. EG (attach, decay and release). You can select a touch sensitivity range for playing response. Individual effects and EQ can be programmed. However, I don't see parameters that would allow you to program this 2000 like a Motif or a S80. I don't think this is an issue for most customers in this type of keyboard or in this price range. I just found a paragraph at the beginning of the Editing Voices chapter that probably states what I've reported to you.
"The PSR2000 has a sound creator feature that allows you to create your own voices by editing some parameters of the existing voices. Once you've created a voice, you can save it as a USER voice for future recall." Editing SOME parameters and EXISTING voices are the keywords here! I hope this helps.
George Kaye
Kaye's Music Scene
Reseda, California

Yup that helps a great deal Although you can't have several elements per voice it's still nice that the 2000 will allow you to adjust parameters within the preset voices. That's a big improvment over the 740. The 740 really didn't leave much room to adjust voice parameters. Thanks for the reply George..

Squeak

George: When you get the time, I'd like your analysis of the styles on the 2000, in particular the "realism" when heard. You had mentioned some time back that Yamaha was working toward more "in your face" instrumentation in their styles. Has this been achieved with the 2000, or is that coming with some future keyboard?

George,

It's great that you got the 2000's in. So I won't be too jealous clue us in from time to time as you find new features on this great keyboard. For those of us who are still waiting, it may just be enough to whet our appetite! BTW, do you know if Yamaha sells a video such as 'Watch & Learn' on the use of the PSR2000? Thanks.

Angelo

Angelo,
The only video Yamaha has done so far is on their entry level keyboards. They keep talking about the more complex keyboards having a video, but they think that it is best for now to have a very elementary video for the complete beginner. I wish they would have one but then many of my customers might not need me so much and I would be sad! (That's a joke!)
J. Larry, the "in your face styles" will be on the PSR10,000 next year although what I have noticed so far is that the intro's and endings are really much improved and the styles, just as I mentioned on the PSR550 have been improved with more noticable variation changes on many styles and the guitar strumming tracks are improved as well. Tomorrow, I'm going into the store early to spend quiet time with the keyboard before we open. I'll report back.
One thing I noticed today that might surprise some of you is where the mic input and mic gain control is located. Yamaha has put these on the back panel where on the 740 the mic input was up front and the gain control was on the top. I remember many Solton users not liking these features on the SD1 because they wanted these on the front. I have mentioned before to SD1 users that the gain control on the back of these boards is not a volume control. The volume controls are on the front panel within the screen controls. Once the gain is properly set, this should not have to be touched again unless you change mics or singers.
George Kaye
Kaye's Music Scene
Reseda, California

Cantwaitcantwaitcantwaitcantwaitcantwait...George called me personally and said I should have mine in a couple of days...cantwaitcantwaitcantwaitcantwait!

-Charlie-

I've really enjoyed getting to know the 2000 today. The styles are really great. There are many brand new styles and as I suspected the unplugged type and balad with guitar strums are just great. I especially enjoyed the 60's pop Beatle's style! The new feature of playing a song and also playing a style in sync is just fantastic. Finally having a Yamaha with a built in sequencer that you don't have to record direct to disc is a real blessing. Yes, the 9000 does this too, but not any of the 500, 600 or 700 series could do this. Song recording is very easy and saving the registrations to flash memory is so much of an improvement over the 740. If you turn of the 740 for an extended period of time, you will loose your registrations unless you have backed them up to floppy disk. This is not a problem with the 2000.
George Kaye
Kaye's Music Scene
Reseda, California

George,
How would you compare
* the styles (programming, quality, guitar strumming, transition b/w arranger components etc)
* the voices/sounds (real voices eg Sax, Piando, Synth sounds, programs, ability to layer sounds etc).
* arranger features (eg Auto fill, Dynamic arranger, live drums).
of the YAMAHA PSR2000 vers PA80? I am just looking for your opinion (and any others that may have some feedback on this). For the differences you do pick out, are they worth ~$700.00 in price difference (just your take on this)?

Thanks,

AJ