http://www.musicradar.com/news/tech/yamaha-launches-revolutionary-new-cp-pianos-230065

The CP50 appears to have arranger functions, as does the CP-5.

I wanted them to make an instrument that gave me 88 weighted notes, portability, and styles....is it finally going to be true?

Ian

What is so revolutionary? Korg and Casio already have this kind of piano's. You need a magnifier to see what is on the lcd screen.

Perhaps you should first check out these videos: http://keyboardmag.com/article/yamaha-cp-1-stage/December-2009/105233

They are miles ahead of what Korg and Casio and Roland are making, in my opinion, of course. The C1 is far more powerful than the V-Piano and even has extensive controller features.

But, watch the videos and form your own opinion.

Ian

BTW it is not an LCD...it is a highly visible vacuum fluorescent display.

No styles...and the piano part has already been done. Not much revolutionary here. Except maybe the price!!! $6500USD 4000 pounds, $7200 Ausse...That's a serious amount of cash for just a piano.

Check the specs at www.yamahasynth.com there is no mention of anything apart from pianos, and certainly nothing about styles.

Without definite info from Yamaha, and as they ARE the masters of "spin" as is the OP , you would expect them to be spruiking it loudly, the rythms listed I suspect are just some drum patterns, vis-a-vis the Kurzweil stage pianos.

Nope I think this offering from Yamaha is the SAME as the Roland. An overpriced piano, and really only for those who can get them for free, or have bags and bags of money. Oh, and roadies

To get arranger functions with this means a seperate keyboard. Way to complicated.

Korg has it right with the PA588, it does much MUCH more than this uber piano from Yamaha.

I have a CP1 on order...I'll let you know.

It's got way more features than the V-Piano, and a better key-bed than the Korgs, and that screen looks incredible.

As you say, the rhythms must be just drum patterns...I'm not interested in those, but I do want a nice high quality digital piano and controller for home use...hence the C1.

Those Rhodes samples sounded delicious, and the acoustic piano seems pretty smooth to me...couldn't hear any loops. The bass notes seemed to have the most natural decay I've ever heard in a digital.

The Korg PA-588 seems okay, but the piano doesn't sound so good...my old P-85 had a better piano sound, in my opinion. The Korg has a very weak mid range.

I think Yamaha has three winners with these new instruments. Yee Haw!

Ian


[This message has been edited by ianmcnll (edited 12-21-2009).]

I have seen it. Again a lot of hype from Yamaha. And what is so great about the screen Ian. It is so small. I know you are a Yamaha fan Ian but be this Yamaha piano is not revolutionary and way overpriced.

Sorry Frans...I'm not going to be discouraged...the instrument looks great, and sounds great.

I don't have to keep it.

I just want to try it for a few weeks or so.

Then I'll decide.

Ian

Ian, a quick question. At $6900 Cdn., and if you did not have 'in house' access to this piano, would you shell out of your own pocket? Yes or no?

I can't say till I've actually played it, which would be the same for any instrument.

I'd know within a few hours if it was what I wanted, which would be about the same as trying it out over a few days in a store.

It's got far more features than a V-Piano, and it trumps Yamaha's CP-300 for flexibility and that wooden key-bed will also add to it's desirability.

Plus, I'd wait a bit until the street price came down a bit more.

I want a good 88 note controller/piano, and I don't think I'll be bowled over by the CVP-509, since I already have the PSR-S910.

I will also wait and try the C5/C50, which will be out in March or April 2010. I'm in no rush.

Anything over $5000 is not something I'd call an impulse buy for me.

Ian

$6900 is a lot of money, but I know what you're saying, Ian. Some things just hit you in the sweet (or weak) spot, so to speak, and you just gotta have it. Sounds like there's some good stuff comin' down the pipe.

Yep...I was lucky and went for the S910 instead of the Tyros3...I just like playing the former a lot more...it just feels right.

I want, or more likely, need an 88 note weighted hammer action, to try and keep my piano chops, and I just might have found something in one of these new pianos.

The action is apparently all wood (CP1 and CP5), unlike the CVP-509, which has wooden white keys only.

I'll be back with a report, sir, as soon as I try them out.

Ian

[This message has been edited by ianmcnll (edited 12-21-2009).]

The CP-1 is a pro's piano.

Continuing in the tradition of the CP series of pro pianos, which have never been cheap.

Comparing it to arranger keyboards is kind of ridiculous. This is a piano for people who can *play the piano* and demand those little extra things that usually cause the Law of Diminishing Returns to kick in on the pricepoint. But those who do play and hear that well, it is an important and worthy endeavor.

Those same folks could likely care little about the screensize, you cannot hear the screensize...


--Mac

The korg PA 588 is also a pro piano and is much cheaper. The casio privia's also sound Pro and are used on stage and are much cheaper. Thats no excuse for the high price of the Yamaha piano's. And personally I found the V piano of Roland sound better.

Piano sounds are subjective and personal so your opinion is valid for you.

I'll be able to give an more educated opinion once I've played the Yamaha C1...I've already tried the V-Piano.

I'm afraid the Korg-PA-588 and Casio instruments aren't remotely in the same league as the Yamaha C1 and the V-Piano, so they don't figure into my comparison at all.

Ian

I could not make that statement, not being privvy to the Yamaha R&D inside information.

What I do know is that Yamaha has done a LOT of work in the field, from acoustic grands to this new offering that combines digital sampling with modeling and also evidently represents a new design in the tactile weighted keyboard department as well.

Yamaha also makes quite a few economically priced keyboards, as you know. And they take good advantage of the higher end models, too, using at least part of the famous C-1 acoustic grand samples in them. No company could do that for "just" economical keyboards.

There is the ship and then there is the flagship.

The flagship is not for everybody, and shouldn't be.


--Mac

Far from revolutionary, but I'm sure it sounds freaking awesome, and it looks pretty good looking to me.

Nice..!!!

James

The Casio Privia looks like a major leap for an entry level piano, and in fact, I am considering upgrading my Privia PX800 to the newest model, but how can you compare a $699 piano to a flagship Yamaha piano that is probably going to be on the stage of bands that tour stadiums? Just the workmanship into the keybed is worth more than $699.

Beakybird

I don't think I mentioned the word "revolutionary" in any of my posts, but what I did find amusing is FransN's comment about the Yamaha's being "over-priced".

Considering the Yamaha CP1 is roughly the same price as the V-Piano, and contains both modeling and sampling, as opposed to the Roland's modeling only, why is it that the V-Piano is not overpriced as well?

And this is without mention of the Yamaha CP1's excellent e-pianos, and first-class controller functions, both of which are conspicuously absent on the V-Piano, and which undoubtedly add considerably to the former's value as a stage/studio instrument.

I'm getting the distinct impression that FransN isn't an avid and/or accomplished piano player, or at the very least, just wants to attempt criticism of a product he has not even tried and seems to know very little about.

Critics are like eunuchs...they know how it's done, they see how it's done, but they can't do it themselves.

Most importantly, this technology, both in the V-Piano, and the new Yamaha's, is bound for implementation in the next top of the line arrangers from these companies.

Things are really getting interesting, and no doubt Korg is working on a similar approach for the PA3XPro(?); they're going to be forced to catch up...good news for the Korgians!

The rumors of Casio's new flagship arranger that utilizes something similar to SA and DNC have died down, but I can't imagine them being out.

If you snooze you lose in this highly competitive market, and we, the consumer, benefit from the rivalry.

I remember back in the day when the high-end Prophet-5's, the Oberheim OB's, the Jupiter-8's, the Memorymoogs, and the CS-80's were all fighting for a piece of the lucrative synth market.

Now, it seems that digital pianos are embroiled in the same battle.

Ian

[This message has been edited by ianmcnll (edited 12-21-2009).]

I am not comparing. I only say that you can have for much less money a hell of a piano like the Korg PA588 or casio Privia or SP250 Stage Piano etc. We aren't all rich. And I am not saying that you said that the Yamaha is revolutionary Ian. I said that Yamaha is always full of hype and they are.
And that there products are always overpriced and they are. And yes the Roland V piano is also expensive but that instrument is really revolutionary. Oh and I can play piano and accordeon and keyboard and bought for many years Yamaha stuff. But I am more clever now and see the value of money and I don't believe all the Yamaha hype anymore but trust my own ears.


[This message has been edited by FransN (edited 12-21-2009).]

Hardly...modeling has been around for quite some time...Yamaha dabbled in it wayback with the VL synthesizers (1993), and I'm sure they weren't the first.

It's to Yamaha's benefit that they combined sampling and modeling, again not revolutionary, but pretty clever nonetheless, and then added controller features, alternate sounds, and an easier more intuitive interface.

The early bird may get the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese.

These instruments (including the V-Piano) are in a class by themselves, and aren't easily compared with entry level pianos like the SP-250 etc.

Ian

Well if you say so I quess it is true isn't it.

Hardly, but at least I'm not naive enough to compare older entry level pianos with state of the art pianos that are obviously using far superior technology.

Ian

Never mind I stop discussing this. Like I said before. Don't discuss other brands with a Yamaha lover.

[This message has been edited by FransN (edited 12-21-2009).]

Yes, I'm sure it would be pointless. I'll take your advice. Thanks.

I'm beginning to see it's much the same with a Korg lover, like yourself.

Ian



[This message has been edited by ianmcnll (edited 12-21-2009).]

Peace Happy Christmas Holiday Ian

[This message has been edited by FransN (edited 12-21-2009).]

Same to you, Frans.

Its amazing now the shoe is on the other foot that logic and reason is now being advocated.

Some people are only now realizing that you can not compare older entry level keyboards with state of the art keyboards that are obviously using far superior technology.

Perhaps they are realizing that attempting criticism of a product they have not even tried and seems to know very little about may not be the best thing to do.
As stated, “Critics are like eunuchs...they know how it's done, they see how it's done, but they can't do it themselves.”

Helloooooooooooooooooooo These people ME didn't compare. I only said that you can have a great piano for less money. You must better read. Besides not everything what is state of art or is more expensive is better. See the problems with the Ketron Audya. And I know this is no piano.

[This message has been edited by FransN (edited 12-22-2009).]

That you did, Frans, and I agree...one doesn't have to spend a pile of money to get a decent piano. My old P-85 was way less than a $1000, and it worked very well for me.

I just want something better, with more controller functions, and simple editing. I don't mind paying more, if it is exactly what I want.

I may go for the CP-5.

Ian

I understand Ian. I would do the same if I could afford it. Me still waiting for my PA500 Musikant. Tomorrow he will come )

Hey, that's right...you're getting the PA-500 Musikant. Looking forward to your impressions.

Ian