Pianos & Organs

This is a fun keyboard to play, and it can be used for recording. The sounds can be combined to make some interesting tones, and the effects; AUTOWOW, REVERB, PERCUSSION, VIBRATO, REPEAT, and ECHO; can expand the fullness of the music. The sounds on the lower keyboard are different than that on the upper, but some very useful sounds. The Genie system rhythm section is a lot of fun, and can create hours of easy entertainment.

I use it mainly for home entertainment use and to familiarize myself with the C-C one-octave foot board with polyphonic bass notes. I have recorded some with it as well. Although it's one of the smaller Lowrey's during the era of its production, it is not easily portable. The volume foot pedal is a bit tough to use without disrupting the desired sound level. The half-note upward glide switch is right next to the volume pedal, making it a skill to use.

Although a bit dated, this organ has a lot of fun life left in it. It's perfectly functional for professional use, but definitely accessible for amateur performers.

-As usual, it’s perfectly built : great job !

-The keys’ touch seems to me slightly better than the 4D version, as I play more easily some piano pieces which were problematic.

-The knobs are smoother than the 4D version, and they don’t move on their axis. I prefer the way they feel.

-The drawbars have slightly changed, now they’re even more comfortable

-Ergonomically, perfection is within reach

-The compact and lightweight format with a free and customizable sound library is perfect, especially with 1 GB for piano sounds and 256 MB for samples.

-The effect section is better, with more settings for some of them: Phaser/Flanger/Chorus/Vibe with a "deep" switch

-The tube distortion sounds very musical – I love it!

-A new split feature – at last! You can play 2 different sounds in the same time, or organize them in layers to enrich the harmonics: it sounds just great!

-The church organ is a really good feature, use it alongside a harpsichord and you can access perfect sounds for a gloomy/gothic/classical ambiance, hmmmmm!

-The screen is a perfect example in terms of simplicity and ergonomics, with a perfect contrast (real black background with very easy to read white letters).

-The sample part is enriched with a minimal envelope, very practical to use. Depending on the samples’ volume (which may vary), you can set their output level in dB, which is very practical when mixing two sounds.


Now, let’s go to where it hurts (but only very slightly)

1/ Still no wheel or pitch bend controls: Why? They’re quite practical when using plugs or the synth sounds from the Nord library. Also, why no real resonance filter (even if there’s a filter level control)?

2/ It’s also a pity that you don’t have 4 separate outputs to record split performances: you’ll have to record the parts separately in your DAW.

3/ The effects are shared and you have to choose from either Lo or Up, so no way to get two independent effects on two parts, which I consider a bit of a pity.

4/ You can’t play 2 different samples or 2 different piano sounds in the same time in “layer” mode, only a B3 and a bass pedal

However, you can play 1 piano or Nord sample sound shared in split mode, e.g. piano with a drive effect with the left hand and a phaser with the right hand. You can even cut the sustain of one part over the other, which is very practical to play a chord and let the sustain on a LO part for instance while letting the UP part playing a solo or bass – or the other way around.
Still, the split or layer capacities are limited.

5/ the reverb is common to both sounds, which is pity if you want the reverb on only one of them.

6/ Another thing I regret is the fact that when you change program among the 4 available in the “set list” menu, the sustain suddenly stops working A real problem for live IMO, perhaps this is the device’s main fault compared with a Kronos, but the price range isn’t the same either.


In the end: as a whole, I’m seduced by this new version which really adds something, especially with the 1GB of piano sounds, the split/layer, the new, better-sounding effects, the screen and “set list” mode to prepare your shows, the church organ, the way the delay and reverb can now be used together or separate… I didn’t give it a full 5 stars however, as while it’s close to perfection it still lacks a few features...

Application
I just wanted a digital keyboard that felt like an actual piano, that wouldn't take up to much space in the living room.
Context
I use it to pound, improvise, write, learn songs by ear
Other products
I have tried many digital pianos like this one at guitar center and other music stores.
Pros and Cons
Pro, It feels like a piano. There are some with weighted keys that don't feel like a piano, this isn't one of them. It's easy to operate. You plug it into the wall, press the red button and you can play immediately. All the sounds are immediately above the keys, well marked, easy to understand. It has a wide range of outputs, from midi, rca out, to 1/4 out. Cons? Well it was broke when I gathered it. I had to tear it apart with a volt meter to figure out what was wrong. I did some searching online, and in some forum somewhere a guy said, "It has no fuse, most problems are either the dc input jack solder on the feet got loose on the board or the AC adapter failed. So it does have known issues. However, It was easy to fix once I took a solder gun and just heated and reseated the dc jack back on the board. Luckily, I didn't need to buy any new parts. So if you are fixing one of these, don't make the mistake I did and try to take out the switch to test it. It was a huge pain screwing it back in. Imagine playing the game operation. Cons, it sounds thin. They could have put beefier speakers in it. Cons, Its kinda ugly with the wood finish.

Overall
It would not be my first choice if I were to actually purchase a digital piano. However, the price was right, and I will say this, I used to own a Casio Privia, which I like quite a bit better in terms of sounds and aesthetics, however, I would have zero reason to upgrade this Yamaha to a better digital piano no matter the cost. Why? It gets the job done. And in my use, the sound is good enough, the feel is quite good, and pianos are built to be listened to and played not looked at. I would have payed up to 150 usd for the keyboard.