Yamaha YC61 Digital Stage Keyboard with Drawbars Overview

The Yamaha YC61 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 YC61 meticulously emulates the unique circuitry and playing feel of popular drawbar controls. The authentic organ feel is achieved in a compact, 7.1 kg design, ideal for performers on the road.

The YC61 also places a range of other authentic sounds, including concert grand and electric pianos at the fingertips of the performer. To achieve this, the YC61 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, 61-key waterfall keyboard providing the perfect platform to create expressive organ performances. With authentic drawbar mechanics and ultimate portability, the YC61 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 YC61 manages to capture the mechanics in a compact design made affordable for everyday performers. The YC61 achieves this whilst remaining lightweight, perfect for performers on the road.

The YC61 design features nine drawbars, allowing for exciting performances that utilise VCM technology to achieve authentic sounds. Flexible in application and performance, the YC61 is perfect for keyboard players looking for an instrument to match their potential.

VCM technology

In order to achieve the authentic organ sounds, a sound engine was designed specifically for the YC61. Based on proprietary Virtual Circuitry Modelling technology, the YC61 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.

A true organ feel

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 waterfall keyboard has been developed from scratch, specifically for the YC61. This provides the right amount of resistance to create a playing surface that matches the vintage tones.

The drawbars have also been carefully created for the YC61 to provide haptic feedback. This means the drawbars respond to movements with analog drawbar feel. Thanks to the technology, the YC61 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 YC61.

Not just an organ

The YC61 has been packed with a range of features optimised for organ sounds. However, thanks to the VCM technology, the YC61 is able to also offer a range of authentic piano and synthesizer sounds. Right from purchase, the YC61 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 YC61 is the only live keyboard you’ll need.

Designed for the stage

The authenticity of the sounds achieved with the YC61 mean that they will find a place of studio recordings. Despite this, the YC61 has been designed with live performance at the forefront of decision making. The controls of the YC61 avoid complex menus in favour of easy access parameters that allow for quick switching and editing. All this is achieved in a lightweight, 7.1kg design, ensuring performers on the road are able to carry the instrument on their own.

Features

• 61-key digital stage piano with drawbars
• Intuitive control surface
• Detailed organ, piano and synthesizer sounds
• Nine drawbars offering haptic feedback
• LED indicators of active instrument setup
• Virtual Circuitry Modelling technology
• Lightweight design built for live performance