This is the best keyboard with 61 keys.I should know because I tested practically all of them.Also, all the stores the specialize in music instruments carry Yamaha keyboards. No other.That was a pretty good sign to me when I went to the music stores here in Maryland and saw nothing but Yamaha.This keyboard has the best piano sound out of Casio, Sharper Image and Radio Shack.Radio Shack would come in second.It has more voices then the others.Don't be turned off by it not having a power adapter because that seems to be the industry standard.Casio and Radio Shack also charge more for you to buy a power adapter.Definitely buy this one ahead of Casio. If you're turned off by the price, then get a radio shack one.You won't lose much quality with the sound.Click Here to see more reviews about: Yamaha YPT-300AD Full-Size 61-Key Touch-Sensitive Keyboard
Product Description:
An affordable 61-key portable keyboard that also doubles as a personal music teacher, the YPT-300AD has it all: 482 instrument voices, 106 accompaniment styles, General MIDI compatibility, and such bonus functions as Yamaha's Education Suite 5 and Portable Grand. The combined features are great for beginners, but also come in handy for music hobbyists who value reliability and versatility in a portable keyboard.
New players will particularly delight in the Yamaha Education Suite (Y.E.S.), which features 102 built-in songs separated into left- and right-hand parts for easier lesson planning. Y.E.S. also offers three keyboard lessons for each hand, including Listen & Learn, which breaks down the melody or rhythm of a selected song; Timing mode, which lets you play the melody or chord by pressing any key with the correct timing; and Waiting mode; which stops the playback of the song until you find the correct note. Finally, Y.E.S. monitors your practice progress, gives you feedback, and teaches you how to play chords by referencing its sizable chord dictionary.
The YPT-300AD offers a number of non-lesson features as well. Yamaha digitally sampled its world-renowned grand pianos and transferred the rich, full tones to the YPT-300AD, so you can enjoy the warmth and clarity of a grand piano sound with the push of a single button. Other General MIDI-compatible voices include trumpets, violins, drums, guitars, bass, drum kits, and even a choir. All told, players can access as man as 482 General MIDI voices, putting a virtual orchestra at your fingertips.
The auto-accompaniment feature is another favorite. Select from the 106 accompaniment styles, and the keyboard will create a backup band to follow you throughout the song. Best of all, you have complete freedom to match different styles. Want to find out how Mozart would sound as a disco star? Go for it. The voices and accompaniment styles are diverse and interesting thanks to the 32-note polyphony, which ensures that the keyboard can play back 32 different parts or sounds at once (including 16-part multi-timbre)--enough for even the most demanding piece.
Playback versatility is always a concern with entry-level portable keyboards, but the YPT-300AD excels in this area as well thanks to its touch-sensitive keys and digital signal processing (DSP) options. The touch-sensitive keys add passion to your playing by responding to the pressure from your fingers. A heavier touch creates a louder response, while a lighter touch gives a softer tone. As a result, your keyboard will respond like an acoustic piano--the more expressive the playing, the more passionate the tune. The DSP, meanwhile, helps simulate the experience of playing in a variety of locales, from a small room to a large concert hall (Carnegie Hall, anyone?). The DSP modes include nine reverb effects and four chorus effects.
And even though music is its milieu, the YPT-300AD also offers a sound effects kit, with such options as laughter, applause, and screams. Almost 50 effects are at your command, making you a de facto sound effects technician. And thanks to the five-song memory and easy-to-use two-track recorder, you can wear the engineer's hat as well.
Finally, the Yamaha YPT-300AD lets you take advantage of the Internet on a whole new level. The unit includes built-in Flash ROM capability and MIDI in/out connections for synching up with your PC. Once Internet enabled, you can pick and choose songs to download into the Flash ROM memory, then learn to play them via the Yamaha Education Suite. And there's no scrolling through menus or fussing with confusing interfaces. Simply press the PC button and you're on your way.
Additional features include a large backlit LCD display that shows the musical staff and chords as you play, genuine ported stereo speakers with separate amplifiers, a built-in metronome, a sustain pedal jack, and headphone output for private practice. The YPT-300AD measures 37.25 by 5.06 by 14.62 inches (W x H x D) and is backed by a one-year warranty on parts and 90-day warranty on labor.
What's in the Box
YPT-300AD keyboard, AC adapter, music rest, user's manual.
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