Yamaha YC88 Digital Stage Keyboard with Drawbars Overview

A modern stage piano with vintage qualities. The Yamaha YC88 digital stage piano with drawbars combines authentic performance with high-quality organ and piano modelling for the stage. Yamaha's first keyboard with drawbars, the YC88 meticulously emulates the unique circuitry and playing feel of popular drawbar controls.

The YC88 also places a range of other authentic sounds, including concert grand and electric pianos at the fingertips of the performer. To achieve this, the YC88 relies on a newly designed sound engine utilising Virtual Circuitry Modelling technology. This expertly captures and recreates the behaviour of transformers and resistors in tonewheel and drawbar circuits.

The authenticity doesn't stop there, with a newly designed, 88-key NW-GH3 (Natural Wood Graded Hammer) keyboard, you will feel like you are playing an acoustic piano. The natural wood keys and graded action of the YC88 reproduce the weight and response of a grand piano right down to the feel of the heavy or light hammers in the low and high ends. With authentic drawbar mechanics and ultimate portability, the YC88 is the stage instrument for demanding organ and keyboard players.

    FULL DESCRIPTION

A stage keyboard for organists

Drawbar organs have long been a distant dream for the everyday performer thanks to the intricate mechanics and high price tag associated with the expressive instrument. The YC88 manages to capture the mechanics in a compact design made affordable for everyday performers. The YC88 achieves this whilst remaining lightweight, perfect for performers on the road.

The YC88 design features nine drawbars, allowing for exciting performances that utilise VCM technology to achieve authentic sounds. Flexible in application and performance, the YC88 is perfect for keyboard players looking for an instrument to match their potential.

VCM technology

In order to achieve authentic organ sounds, a sound engine was designed specifically for the YC88. Based on proprietary Virtual Circuitry Modelling technology, the YC88 is designed to replicate the behaviour of transistors and resistors in tonewheel and drawbar circuits. This attention to detail results in a collection of truly authentic organ sounds including rotary speakers and vintage effects. Every detail of the organ sounds can be edited, providing a huge scope for sound creation.

Natural wood keys

The authenticity doesn’t stop with the organ sounds. Sounds aren’t achieved without the performer and great detail has been placed into creating an expressive playing platform. The natural wood graded hammer keyboard has been developed from scratch, specifically for the YC88. Its innovative design reproduces the weight and response of a grand piano - giving you an authentic feel.

The drawbars have also been carefully created for the YC88 to provide haptic feedback. This means the drawbars respond to movements with analog drawbar feel. Thanks to the technology, the YC88 is also capable of providing visual feedback through LED indicators independent of the drawbars position. This ensures the artist has a visual indication of both drawbar position and the currently active setup of the YC88.

Not just an organ

The YC88 has been packed with a range of features optimised for organ sounds. However, thanks to the VCM technology, the YC88 is able to also offer a range of authentic piano and synthesizer sounds. Right from purchase, the YC88 features two premium Yamaha concert grand piano settings. A whole host of electric pianos in the tradition of classic FM synthesis enhances the instrument’s capabilities even more, ensuring the YC88 is the only live keyboard you’ll need.

Designed for the stage

The authenticity of the sounds achieved with the YC88 mean that they will find a place of studio recordings. Despite this, the YC88 has been designed with live performance at the forefront of decision making. The controls of the YC88 avoid complex menus in favour of easy access parameters that allow for quick switching and editing. All this is achieved in a lightweight design, ensuring performers on the road are able to carry the instrument on their own. The organ also comes complete with a FC3A foot pedal for added expression.

Features

• 88-key digital stage piano with drawbars
• Intuitive control surface
• Natural wood hammer action keybed
• Detailed organ, piano and synthesizer sounds
• Nine drawbars offering haptic feedback
• LED indicators of active instrument setup
• Virtual Circuitry Modelling technology
• Complete with FC3A foot pedal for added expression
• Lightweight design built for live performance