The Beatles - Abbey Road Disk Review

I've been looking for additional software to use with the Yamaha piano that I have and thought I would give this a try.I've been experimenting with piano lessons and I'm intrigued at how complex this music really is.It's going to take some time to learn so I have to be patient with myself as I practice.

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Product Description:
This innovative software series enables your Disklavier Mark III piano to perform with the world's most popular CDs! Using Yamaha's PianoSmart Technology, this companion diskette will magically empower your Disklavier Mark III to accompany the exciting au

Songs: Her Majesty : Here Comes The Sun : Golden Slumbers : I Want You (she's So Heavy) : Sun King : Something : Because : Come Together : Maxwell's Silver Hammer : Mean Mr. Mustard : The End : Polythene Pam : Octopus's Garden : Oh! Darling : She Came In Through The Bathroom Window : You Never Give Me Your Money : Carry That Weight

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Casio LK110 Electronic Keyboard Key Lighting / Midi Review

This exact Casio LK 110 can be purchased new for $69.00 at Guitar Center, Musician's Friend---just to name a few.

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Product Description:
The LK-110 is a perfect starter-keyboard for any player at any age. The key lighting feature helps players develop timing and accuracy, highlighting areas of concern so you can direct your practice for more efficient learning. With 100 songs, an interactive lesson function and a wide variety of tones and rhythms, you will be able to play a host of different musical styles and time signatures in no time

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88-KEY Portable Educational Keyboard Review

Great value, and a marked improvement over the old 500 and 505 models.The speakers produce a richer sound tone, and the display window is much clearer and easier to read.Additional features over the 505 include one-touch "auto-accompaniment", where you can try different background rhythms to your recorded notes (jazz, rock, salsa, etc) at a single touch of a button.There are a few more voices to choose from, and the "sweet" sounds are more realistic than on the old models.The unit looks better as a whole, being a sleek silver instead of a dull plastic beige.Also, the controls are a lot more "touch friendly", especially the selection "spin wheel" that lets you choose features much faster than the older models did.

Connectivity is much simpler than on the 500, requiring only a simple USB cord instead of a special MIDI cord.

The one downside of this keyboard is that a USB drive is the only portable media compatible with this unit, and unfortunately they place the plug-in port in the back, which make it somewhat difficult to reach over and plug the drive in while you're trying to play and select.Because of this, I take away a star, and hope that in their next model, Yamaha will put the USB port somewhere in FRONT where it's easy to reach and plug the drive.

I actually recommend this unit over the DGX 620 (Yamaha's highest available model at the time of this review).All features are exactly the same on the two models, except the keys in the 620 are weighted to as close to a real piano as you'll get.Yamaha calls them 'Graded Hammer Standard' keys.

The 520 does not have the GHS keys, but the trade-off (besides a considerably lower cost than the 620) is a lot of weight...the 620 unit as a whole weighs 19 lbs more than the 520 unit.So if you're a traveling musician like me and have to load and unload your keyboard all the time carrying your instrument to your gigs, you're actually much better off with the 520.Get the 620 only if you want a more realistic feel and don't want to move the keyboard a lot.

Overall, an excellent instrument...and if you have any of the older models, I highly recommend an upgrade!

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Product Description:
Learning to play piano is easier. Say yes to this DGX520. Yamaha DGX520 is the portable grand that the family can explore music on and grow with. This 88-key lightly weighted action product includes state of the art enhancements like USB MIDI for computer connectivity, USB TO DEVICE for connecting USB storage devices, and an amazing educational suite that will get you up and playing immediately. Performance assistant technology is a feature from Yamaha that guarantees that you can't play a wrong melody note or chord. Select a song, press the Performance Assistant button Chord Mode and play the keyboard - any notes you like. Every note you play will fit the music! If you move up the keyboard, the pitch goes up. If you move down, the pitch goes down. Play a perfect arpeggio, or play chords in time with the music, or really "go for it" and play a solo. As long as performance assistant is "on", you're "on".
The DGX520 has 30 built-in songs, plus 70 more on an included CD-ROM, for you to learn to play using the Yamaha Education Suite. The songs are separated into left and right hand parts, providing 7 levels of lessons plus a convenient chord dictionary.
You can change the "feel", or arrangement, of songs by simply pressing the Easy Song Arranger button, allowing you to re-mix any MIDI file. For example, you can try your favorite song with a Rock feel, Hip Hop, then Jazz. It's fast, powerful and one-button simple.
This DGX520 has more features than an acoustic piano. It takes less space and offers accurate sounds. It's easy and fun to learn. Easy Song Arranger allows you to play back songs in 150 unique accompaniment styles On-Board Sequencer records 5 songs, 6 tracks Large Full-Dot Matrix LCD display allows easy viewing of music score and lyrics Flash Rom for downloading songs from the internet Matching Stand included Includes AC Adapter and Foot Pedal Matching piano bench optional P

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YAMAHA 61 KEY PORTABLE KEYBOARD W/AC ADAP *NIC* Review

I bought this keyboard to replace an older one, with 3/4 size keys. My main reason was simply that I wanted one with full-sized keys, but I got far more than just that.Its Grand Piano voice is full, rich and authentic in its sound.Most of the other voices are also remarkably realistic-sounding. It's fun to have a variety of voices, to reduce the monotony that can result from the repetition that practice requires.It came with an instructional DVD that was very helpful- take the time to watch it.

The speakers give ample sound even at lower volumes. The keyboard never sounds tinny. You can buy a more expensive keyboard and get more features (though this one has more than I need), but unless you are spending 4 times as much, it won't sound superior.You can also add headphones or a sustain pedal, if you want.

There are only 2 drawbacks for me.Firstly, the LCD screen would be easier to use if it were backlit.Secondly, on a 61-key board, the middle-C is off center. (This is true with any 61-key board. The simple solution is just to move your chair over a bit.)
Despite these minor complaints, I love it.It's great to have music in my home again.

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Product Description:
61-key digital portable keyboard with General MIDI (GM) compatibility and 134 integrated voicesYamaha Education Suite offers 102 built-in songs 7 lesson levels lesson grading and chord dictionaryPortable Grand function plays rich digitally sampled grand piano tones at the push of a buttonAuto-accompaniment function with 100 styles; 32-note polyphony; built-in metronome and sustain pedal jackDual 4.7-inch stereo speakers (2.5 watts x 2); measures 37.25 x 4.33 x 13.66 inches (W x H x D); 1-year warranty

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Yamaha DGX230AD 76 Key Portable Grand with power Review

Aside from it now being affordable (I bought it when it first came out at around $900), this is a high quality digital piano.The sound is utterly incredible, clear cut and crisp.Basic operation is simple, the weighted keys match those of actual piano keys...the feel is all there.This is perfect for those fluid in their craft, going from in studio to performing in shows.It is fairly heavy, requires 2 people to transport.It is well made, can take serious rough wear and tear from moving and constant use.

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Product Description:
The Yamaha DGX-630 offers an affordable, feature-packed portable keyboard that boasts an authentic grand piano-like touch: heavy in the low end, feathery light in the highs, and amazingly responsive throughout. It also includes USB MIDI and USB to Device for removable storage, along with a high resolution Live! Grand stereo sample, song recorder, score and lyric display. The USB facilitates easy transfer with a PC or Macintosh computer for use with many optional software packages that can score, arrange, and sequence your music. Can't play a keyboard instrument? Yamaha Education Suite helps you get started. With nearly 500 voices and built-in stereo speakers, the Yamaha DGX-230/AD is truly a grand keyboard music instrument that you and your family will enjoy.Pitch bend wheel to add smooth pitch variations to notes playedVoices - 116 panel voices + 12 drum/SFX kits + 361 XGlite voices, Polyphony -32, DUAL and SPLIT modesStyles - 160 Preset Styles + External files, Style Control -ACMP ON/OFF, SYNC STOP, SYNC START, START/STOP, INTRO/ENDING/rit., MAIN/AUTO FILL, Fingering -Multi Finger, Full Keyboard, Style VolumeMusic Database -300 + External filesEducation Feature -Dictionary, Lesson 1-3, Repeat & LearnRegistration Memory -8 banks x 2 typesEffects - Reverb -9 types, Chorus -4 types, Harmony -26 types30 Preset Songs + 5 User Songs + Accessory CD-ROM with 70 moreAuxiliary jacks -PHONES/OUTPUT, DC IN 12V, USB, SUSTAINAmplifier -6 Watts per channel to two 2-way on-board speakers -12cm x 2 + 3cm x 2Power Supply - Adaptor -PA-150 (included) or an equivalent recommended by Yamaha, Batteries -SixDsize, R20P (LR20) or equivalent batteries (optional) Unit Dimensions (W x D x H) -1,178 x 412 x 137 mm (46-3/8 x 16-1/4 x 5-3/8); Weight -8.3kg (18 lbs. 5 oz.) (not including batteries)Supplied Accessories - Music Rest, Accessory CD-ROM, Owner's Manu

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Yamaha CP300 Stage Piano Review

Good piano sound, plays like a real piano, has good choir sound, the string sounds could be better, especially when blending with the piano. And then there are all the MIDI sounds that I didn't realize came with it, and I still haven't gotten to the bottom of all the features.

I like the way the often-used functions are laid out as buttons, that is a good design and a good implementation.

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Product Description:
Like all fine instruments, the CP 300 simply begs to be played. Sit down with one, and the instrument becomes an extension of your hands and your musical imagination. The authentic piano voices and rich expressiveness come alive at your touch, and the sound is big enough to blast through a full band onstage - yet nuanced enough to work magic in an intimate club.Yamaha's extensive experience in crafting fine acoustic pianos helps us in creating the ultimate digital pianos. Our advanced Graded Hammer Effect (GHE) action gives all keys an authentic resistance that increases from the top register to the lower - just as on an actual acoustic piano. Which means that you can naturally pound out thunderous low notes with your left hand and let the fingers on your right dance and fly with the high notes.In crafting the authentic sound of the CP series, we used meticulously recorded stereo samples of top-quality instruments, taken at various playing strengths, and included subtle elements such as String Resonance, Stereo Sustain, and even Key-Off Samples that capture the felt dampers muting the piano strings - providing the most authentic sounding and finely nuanced acoustic piano voices possible.The CP stage pianos are also master keyboard controllers that give you full command of your gear. Play and control external tone generators. Assign different voices to different keyboard sections and create multi-textured layers of sound. Four instrument Zones on the CP300 with panel sliders, let you easily tweak the level of each instrument as you play. You can also freely reassign the sliders and wheels to control other sonic characteristics of your gear, such as sound attack, decay, brightness and filter cutoff.The CP300 features professional quality balanced XLR output connectors. These give you the cleanest, clearest noise-free signal - both for serious recording in the studio, and playing onstage where long unbalanced cables may compromise your sound.

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Yamaha YPT-320 61 Key Personal Keyboard with AC Adapter, Deluxe Keyboard Stand and Professional Headphones Review

We bought this keyboard for my son. He was starting piano classes and we wanted him to practice at home. This keyboard is perfect! It has grand piano sound and also all the songs and voices you'd expect from a modern keyboard. It is very light, it doesn't take up much space and we have it working with batteries. In our case, batteries last +/- 8 weeks. We find the user recorder very helpful as is showing the notes played on the display screen.
The stand is OK, the headphones have a great feature which is a volume control on them. We got a M-Audio SP-2 US65010 Sustain Pedal Piano Style Sustain Pedal for Keyboards (excellent) and a Yamaha PKBB1 Single Braced Adjustable X-Style Keyboard Bench (very good). Now the whole family is into playing piano ! Recommended.

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Product Description:
The YPT-320 is a touch sensitive instrument that features 482 dynamic, authentic voices, with 361 XGlite voices, 12 drum kits and a sound effect kit. The YPT-320 also has 106 accompaniment styles and 102 built-in songs. Music database with 100 songs-for instantly setting entire instrument to match a desired music genre. Special two-track Easy Recording feature lets you record and save up to five of your original songs - great for composing and practice purposes.You can practice the preset Songs using these lesson functions: "Keys to Success", "Listening, Timing, Waiting" and "Phrase Repeat." Keys to Success helps you master a Song, whereas Listening, Timing, Waiting helps you first master the timing then playing the correct notes. Phrase Repeat lets you select and repeatedly practice a specific phrase in the Song. In the "Keys to Success" mode, you can practice individual phrase separately. Each time you finish a specific Step, your score is shown in the display. Passing one Step (with a score of 60 or better) lets you go on to next one automatically.The package comes bundled with professional closed-cup headphones, a single braced X-style keyboard stand, and a power supply.

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Yamaha PSR-E413 61-Key Digital Keyboard Review

The PSR-E413 is Yamaha's next addition to their portable keyboard line. It was designed with the new musician in mind, and includes numerous learning tools (the Yamaha Education Suite being the most prominently featured) and "cheater" features (Yamaha Performance Assistance Technology let's you hit the wrong key and still sound correct). Unlike many other beginner level keyboards, however, the PSR-E413 has numerous features that will allow new musicians to grow into semi-professionals without having to buy a new instrument - 504 voices (instruments the keyboard can sound like), 100 arpeggio types, 165 preset styles, 30 preset songs, a pitch-bending wheel, and 5 song/6 track recording. Other common features such as "touch sense" (the keys can sound louder or softer depending on how hard they are pressed), a USB port, sustaining pedal port, and a headphone/output port are also present.

What all of that boils down to is simply this: the E413 is fun to play and sounds great. The price is generally within the acceptable realm for beginners, and the features make it something even those at a semi-professional level would like to play (though, in all honesty, most professionals are going to want a less portable 76+ key unit). After going to numerous music stores and online sources, this model ended up being the best fit for my budget and needs - I highly recommend it.

I have two complaints with the PSR-E413 as packaged. The first is that the music stand (which easily slides into two slots on the top-back of the unit) is made of cheap plastic, and looks like it will break easily. The second is that a number of additional items are needed to fully enjoy this instrument. The first thing you'll need is a plug-in power adapter (I was shocked that the keyboard didn't come with one) unless you want to spend hundreds of dollars on batteries. Next, you'll probably want a keyboard stand (a decent folding one costs anywhere from $20 - $60). An AB-type USB cable is necessary to connect the instrument to your computer and fully realize its potential. After that, a dust cover and case might also interest you. Finally, headphones and a foot switch/pedal should be considered, especially if you like being creative and don't live alone. Yamaha offers a few of these items in a special set called the Survival Kit B (it includes the power adapter, foot switch, headphones, and an extended warranty), but I don't recommend it, as the headphones and pedal it contains are of inferior quality.

Note: This model replaced the PSR-E403 as of May 2008. The two are extremely similar, with the E413 containing a few upgrades (165 vs. 155 styles; 100 arpeggio functions vs 50; etc..). The feel and most of the features of the two, however, are almost the same.

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Product Description:
The Yamaha PSRE413 61 Key Digital Keyboard expands the capabilities of one of Yamaha's most popular PSR lines. The PSRE413 includes features for every playing level such as the Yamaha portable grand and Yamaha education suite. An on-board arpeggiator includes 100 different patterns along with 20 different arpeggio voices. A full set of real-time controls gives you easy access to all of the capabilities of the PSRE413. A USB port is also included so you can download songs for learning from the internet. If you want to write your own songs, the PSRE413 also features a 6-track sequencer so you can layer your own tracks.

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