Yamaha Introduces PF Series Home Keyboards

PF500 (Click for a close-up)

PF1000 (Click for a close-up)

In response to an increasing demand for multi-purpose musical instruments and a growing home entertainment market, Yamaha introduced the PF Series Contemporary Home Keyboards at Summer NAMM 2002.

Two models, the PF500 and PF1000, are designed for the individual or family in the market for a musical instrument that has the look and sound of a piano, the high tech, interactive features of a digital keyboard, and a striking contemporary design. The PF Series is the first set of products that will be available at authorized dealers of both the Pro Audio and Combo and the Piano divisions of Yamaha Corporation of America.

The PF500 focuses on an incredibly accurate reproduction of the sound and touch of an acoustic piano. Its Dynamic Stereo Sampling features three samples taken at various levels from loud to soft, for dynamic selection according to the user's touch on the keyboard. The result is a delicacy of tone and expression that is virtually indistinguishable from that of a real piano. String resonance and soundboard samples emulate the reaction between different notes, giving the PF500 an even more richly detailed sound.

Unlike conventional digital piano keyboards that use springs or oil dampers to simulate a piano feel, the GH (Graded Hammer Effect) keyboard uses weights and mechanical linkages to achieve an entirely new level of realism.

A wide selection of stereo-sampled voices (including grand pianos) is available from the front panel. General MIDI (GM) plus XG offers an additional 480 XG voices. Different voices may be selected for the left- and right-hand in "Split" mode; any two voices may be combined in "Layered" mode, or both modes may be combined to enable a total of four sounds to be produced simultaneously on the keyboard. The 128 notes of polyphony and Yamaha's new "intelligent" software ensure that the challenges of the most demanding musical applications can be met.

The Yamaha PF1000 shares many features of the PF500 (including the GH keyboard and Dynamic Stereo Sampling), with the addition of home entertainment features, including auto accompaniment, music styles, lyric and notation display. The addition of styles adds instant musical enjoyment, regardless of the user's skill level.

The PF1000 offers 64 notes of piano polyphony, plus an additional 32 notes for XG and Styles. A selection of over 800 voices includes realistic stereo sampled grand pianos, XG voices, plus new "Sweet," "Cool," "Live" and "Natural" voice selections that result in startlingly realistic instrument sounds which imitate natural timbres.

For additional musical flexibility, the 194 Music Styles each include three Intros & Endings, four Variations and four Fills. Yamaha's remarkable Music Finder Function makes operating the PF1000 as simple as knowing a song title. Users may choose from 120 built-in song titles, and, with the push of a button, the entire keyboard automatically chooses appropriate lead and accompaniment settings for that particular song.

A large 320 x 240 bit-mapped LCD screen not only makes the PF1000 extremely easy to use, but can also display music notation and lyric information. A video output allows the PF1000 to display lyrics through a projector or directly onto a television screen--an attractive feature for churches that display lyrics, or even for use as a Karaoke device. With the microphone input, users can actually sing through the PF1000, adding even more home entertainment possibilities.

Both the PF500 and PF1000 contain a 16-track, 150,000 note song recorder that allows users record their performances, then play along, overdub additional voices or save them to the internal FLASH ROM or a floppy disk. A TO HOST port connects the keyboards directly to the serial port of a PC or Macintosh with a single cable, eliminating the need for a MIDI interface card or box.

"The PF Series fills a growing niche," states Athan Billias, marketing manager, Digital Musical Instruments, "that is, consumers who do not want an expensive piano or keyboard, but at the same time, do not want to sacrifice features."

Jim Levesque, Piano division marketing manager, adds, "The PF500 and PF1000 contain some of the best features from Yamaha's finest piano and keyboard products in a unique package suitable for the home, educational and church markets."

The PF Series' cabinets combine an elegant Mahogany finish with black control area, and will complement any contemporary d cor. To deliver the sounds, the PF500 and PF1000 feature 16cm polypropylene woofers and a 30W/side stereo amplifier. Accessories include a stand, AC adapter and three-pedal mechanism; half pedaling and pitch bend effects may be emulated on the damper (right) pedal.

The PF500 carries an MSRP of $2,495 and is targeted for September delivery. The PF1000 will be available in August and has an MSRP of $3,495.