Given the long run-up to NAMM 2023 (April 13-15), I expected manufacturers to trickle out new product announcements. [Not the usual supernova explosion nebula.] Thus, I’ve collected a round-up of pre-NAMM announcements:
I will continue to monitor the Inter-webs for interesting product announcements.
Keyboard-wise, that’s not a bad bunch of new issues in a global economy which is still recovering from supply chain problems, factory fires and that damned, bloody virus.
CK61 and CK88 keyboards are shipping and first impressions are reported on various forums. It’s good to have product ready when everyone’s passion is high. No point in raising the (marketing) heat when units won’t ship for months and months. Initial impressions are good, but keep an eye out for open box CKs from order-try-return customers.
MTW2 models slight pitch fluctuations due to tonewheel backlash and volume fluctuations due to de-centering. The virtual multi-contact keyboard simulates the feel of an electro-mechanical keyboard.
The XK-4 provides three vintage combo organs: Farfisa, Vox and Acetone. It also includes classical and theatre pipe organ stops which can be registered in the traditional way.
No manual (yet). Folks will want to know more about those assignable knobs, etc. Will the XK-4 make a good controller for non-organ voices on iPad? Will it interoperate with IK Multimedia B-3X? If the XK-4 is a good controller, it’s lack of non-organ sounds could be moot.
The new XK-4 replaces the old XK-1c model. You can find XK-1c advertised as low as $1,395 USD, if you can still get one, that is. Typical XK-1c MAP is $1,725. As usual, no XK-4 price announced as of today. Jim A’s source sez “2K MAP, available August.” Hold your breath. 🙂
Instead of talking about the big kids, here are a few boutique, cottage industry MIDI gizmos. My current fixation is finding a fully programmable, tiny MIDI controller to send patch changes (Bank Select MSB, Bank Select LSB and Program Change messages).
If you’re ready to buy, try tindie.com — an Etsy for independent, boutique electronics. Tindie sells an incredibly wide variety of electronic goods. Keep those inventors and makers busy and happy!
Phantasmal Force
The Distropolis Goods Phantasmal Force is tiiiiinnnnyyyy. It has sixteen individually programmable buttons, a programmable knob and an OLED display. It’s bus-powered and sends MIDI over USB Type C and TRS-A serial ports.
Distropolis Goods Phantasmal Force
Phantasmal Force sells for $125 USD on Tindie. There, you get to customize case and button colors.
The retro, pseudo-typewritten reference manual is a scream.
AMC3 MIDI Controller
The AMC3 MIDI Controller is back in stock. The AMC3 has three, fully programmable, 3x100mm faders (Bourns). The AMC3 is class-compliant, sending MIDI over USB. The AMC3 has a 3-digit LED display.
AMC3 MIDI Controller
The AMC3 reminds me of the Sparkfun Danger Shield, which I used in my Danger Shield Drawbars project. Unlike the Danger Shield, the AMC3 lives in a rugged, dust-resistant ABS chassis. The chassis is 5 by 7 inches. If you’re looking for actual drawbars, try the Crumar D9U kit.
The AMC3 costs $149.99 and AMC3 are offering a 10% discount (good for the next two months).
The AMC3 is configured via tycocommander. Tycocommander is part of the Koromix Tytools package. Although the AMC3 folks don’t mention it, the AMC3 is Teensy-based, hence, tycocommander. Thus, it may be possible to overwrite the original AMC3 code with your own.
I would contact AMC3, however, before doing anything so drastic! Be sure to get a copy of the original factory code!
Anavi Macro Pad 8
Gamers are familiar with macro pad keyboards — small keypads capable of quickly sending multi-character sequences. Stands to reason, if a macro pad can send ASCII over USB, it can send MIDI, too.
Amazon is clogged with macro pads. The trick is finding a macro pad which is fully programmable (as opposed to being configured for ASCII key strokes).
Anavi Macro Pad 8
The Anavi Macro Pad 8 fits the bill. It has eight mechanical key switches and an optional mini OLED display. Everything is mounted in a clear acrylic enclosure (optional). The Macro Pad 8 communicates through a Micro USB port.
According to Anavi:
Anavi Macro Pad 8 is powered by a Microchip ATmega32U4 microcontroller, so it is possible to use as an Arduino Leonardo-compatible development board and upload Arduino sketches through Arduino IDE or PlatformIO.
Now we’re talking!
The base Anavi Macro Pad 8 is $46 USD on Tindie. If you dress it up with the enclosure and OLED, it’s $69 USD, including shipping to the USA. I have one on order. Fulfillment is good and it’s on its way from Bulgaria.
In the old news department, Yamaha have released the CK stage keyboards and have given the YC organ-focused keyboard an update. The CKs are good value for the money and are better “all-rounders” than the YCs. The CKs even have pipe organ voices lifted from Genos™.
If this week’s postings are meager, I spent waaay too much time blasting Yamaha for the lack of pipe organ voices on the YC. Montage and MODX have two decent FM pipe organ performances and should have been included in the YC update. Presently, the CKs undercut Yamaha’s own YC as far as church music is concerned. If you have a Montage or MODX, sample Genos and add pipe organ voices of your own. YC is a closed system in that regard.
Hammond XK-4 teaser
Meanwhile, Yamaha’s competition are not sitting still. Hammond are teasing the XK-4: 61 keys, pitch bend and mod wheels, color display, and assignable knobs. It follows in the footsteps of the lower-cost XK-1c model, having B-3, Farfisa, Vox and pipe organ (!) sounds. The XK-1c MSRP is $1,995 ($1,725 MAP). We await the official announcement for anything definitive. I’m curious to see how Hammond will price this puppy.
The Yamaha NAMM 2023 pages are active with placeholders for a few new products to be announced at the show. Hope for the golden magical unicorn is fading. Still, there is the princess.
What if you could buy a Yamaha synth with AWM2, AN and VL synthesis and buy it today? It’s not the unicorn super-Montage, it’s the Yamaha EX5 (released in 1998). The EX5 supports:
AWM tone generation
VL tone generation
AN tone generation, and
FDSP tone generation.
The EX5 had brothers, the EX5R rack module, and the diminuitive EX7. The EX7 is more limited in a number of ways including the absence of VL. Formulated Digital Sound Processing (FDSP) is a note- and velocity-dependent effect processor — an early version of Virtual Circuit Modeling. FDSP models electromagnetic pick-ups, water, PWM, flanger, phaser, etc. [I won’t say too much more about FDSP.]
AWM, AN, VL and FDSP can be combined (layered) in a variety of ways. (See the EX5/EX7 manual for details.) All of the synthesis methods share a common element structure as shown in the image below.
Yamaha EX5 common element structure [Yamaha]
The main difference between the synthesis types is how the “oscillator” is handled:
AWM: The oscillator is formed via sample-playback.
VL: The oscillator is the instrument model (mouthpiece, bow/string, etc.)
AN: The oscillator is a simulated VCO (Voltage Controller Oscillator).
FDSP: Same as AWM.
The remainder of sound processing is based on the standard AWM pipeline with the addition of a few extra VL, AN and FDSP parameters.
Yamaha EX5 allowed combinations of synthesis methods
All is exciting and fantastic until one reads the polyphony spec:
So, I would forget about that fat stack of AN or VL oscillators (layers). Forget phat two-handed analog chords.
How did Yamaha create this many-headed beast? Glancing at the EX5 service manual, the EX5 tone generation hardware consists of two SWP30B processors configured in the age-old master/slave tandem. (The SWP30B is two generations older than the current SWP70.) The EX7 has only one SWP30B. Further clues come from Yamaha itself:
The DSP (Digital Signal Processing) system used to create the EX effects is also used by the AN, FDSP, and VL (EX5/5R only) tone generators to create voices. This means that less DSP capacity is available to produce effects when the aforementioned voice types are used. This imposes limitations which are different for the EX5/5R and EX7. The Reverb and Chorus effect units function normally regardless of the type of voice used.
There are no limitations to using insertion effects in the EX5 or EX5R Voice mode. In the Performance mode, however, insertion effects can be used on a maximum of 4 parts (voices) if the performance setup consists entirely of AWM voices. If a VL, AN, or FDSP voice is used in the performance setup, however, an insertion effect can only be used on one part (voice).
Colloquially, Yamaha have robbed Peter to give to Paul.
Yamaha EX5 DSP limitations [Yamaha]
In EX5, DSP1 is always assigned to reverb, chorus and one level of insert effects. DSP2, however, is flexibly assigned between insert (AWM), VL, AN, and FDSP. Likely, Yamaha returns DSP2 output to a single TG channel in the front-end of the AWM2 pipeline (i.e., a return datapath).
Given the limitations in the EX5 internal architecture, I understand why Yamaha deployed the SSP2 digital signal processor in the Reface CS. Reface CS uses AN Analog Physical Modeling and is eight voice polyphonic. Although Yamaha don’t say much about its filter, Reface CS is not restricted as to filter algorithm (i.e., can be something other than the AWM2 hardware filters).
Sometimes you need to look back in order to see forward. AN-X™ is on the horizon and we will soon see if Yamaha raids its treasure vault. [Again, 25 years later.]
Here is a special Yamaha Electone StageA organ. “The Electone LUNA project, which started in October 2022 based on your questionnaire, has been completed! As decided by Twitter vote, the motif is a ‘princess costume.'”
The design is based on the Electone ELC-02 and is “a design that can be enjoyed by adults and children.”
Electone LUNA final design [COVER Corp.]
The special edition “has the same performance functions as the ELC-02, and we plan to provide opportunities for the general public to play it in the future.” The Electone LUNA will have an unveiling tour (Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya) yet to be announced.
Electone LUNA prototype — Simply beautiful [COVER Corp.]
If you would like to know more about the design process, Yamaha have an interview with its designer and producer. I love the pictures including a few images of finished, molded chassis parts. Quite elegant!
I don’t think you’ll be seeing this model at a biker-bar blues jam. 🙂 I really wish StageA were available in North America…
I’ve spent waaaaaay too much time on this already, so here’s a quick observation on Yamaha CK’s position in the Yamaha line-up.
Blake Angelos (Yamaha) mentioned that the CK does not replace MX. I take him at his word because CK and MX are aimed at two different use cases: live (CK) and studio (MX). Some forum folk noted this distinction as stage keyboard vs. synthesizer. Obviously, you can use a CK in your personal studio or play an MX on stage. The (marketing) question is, “What is the primary intended use?”
The MX series are synthesizers derived from the venerable Motif XS (MOX). The MX internal sound architectures is very similar to MOX. The MX series are 16-part multi-timbral. The MX have patterns and arpeggios. MX are designed for DAW integration and arrive with Cubase AI. You can connect an MX to a DAW and play a 16-part General MIDI file and get a reasonable result. You can create and edit new sounds at a very deep level thanks to the John Melas tools.
The CK series are intended for live playing. It has many, dedicated front panel controls to make real-time adjustments while playing. The number of tweakable voice parameters is relatively small versus MX. The effects signal flow is limited and fixed. The CK does not have patterns and arpeggios. The CK does not have drum kits. If you throw a General MIDI file at the CK, you’re gonna miss percussion. 🙂
So, functionally, you have two very different primary use cases and capabilities. The series are offered at different price points, too:
Yamaha like to offer a range of products that appeal to a range of customers — something for everyone. Customers on the tightest of budgets find the MX49 and MX61 under the magic (psychological) $1,000 USD threshold. The CK61 is exactly at the $1,000 mark, filling the gap between MX and MODX+.
The YC series, CP series and Montage are premium-level products. Many (most) customers and I would think twice about dropping $2,000 or more on a keyboard. This is not a casual decision especially if one is considering a piano- or organ-focused keyboard (CP or YC, respectively). Thus, the CK series is a good value proposition for price-conscious customers.
I’m going to restate a certain point that I made previously because I was misunderstood by some. When the Reface series was first released, many of us wanted to see all of the Reface engines combined into a single, full-sized keyboard. We liked the sounds (engines) and interactive interface, but disliked the mini-keys. The CK series combines the Reface YC and Reface CP into a single full-size model — and throws in a good set of bread-and-butter sounds to round things out.
Functionally, CK organs and sound editing are not at the same level as premium YC and CP series. CK has the old Reface YC sample-based engine; YC stage organs are a superior invention. You get what you pay for.
If one needs FM, then MODX+ is your full-size gateway. CS, AKA “virtual analog”, has yet to be seen in a current Yamaha product. And you already know the rumors…
I’m reading through the CK documentation and posting random observations here.
The Yamaha CK series are a response for a full-sized keyboard melding the Reface YC and Reface CP with a little bit of additional ROMpler thrown in. The Reface series shine with immediacy of control coupled with decent PRO-quality sounds. No sign of Spectral Component Modeling, so the electric pianos (EP) are sampled. Bummer, since SCM has a smoother velocity response. The EP presets are Montage/MODX greatest hits.
Yamaha CK61™ stage keyboard (at last)
Organ preset voices include H, V, F, A, and Y — clearly lifted from Reface YC. The pipe organ presets (!) have a few surprises: Grand Leu, FondsEtArches, Organo Pleno, Diapason, Claribel&Flute, and SoftReeds. These presets are straight out of Genos™ and Yamaha should be commended for their inclusion. These voices are excellent. [Yeah, I know. Rockers are not looking for pipe organ… 🙂 ]
The drawbar sliders are short-throw like Reface YC. I like the buttons for percussion and vibrato/chorus control. Front panel placement is good, too, as most people change settings on-the-fly with the left hand.
I don’t see a way to adjust rotary speaker acceleration (ramp up) and deacceleration (ramp down). These leaves me very concerned because the Reface YC fast speed and ramps are waaaaay too fast and there isn’t any way to change them. Yamaha consistently makes preset rotary speaker speeds too bloody fast.
Yamaha did not hold back on orchestral voices and deserve further credit for that decision. I didn’t bite on YC61 because it is weirdly short on orchestral voices. Where’s the oboe, for example? Add more orchestra voices to YC61 and I will pull out my credit card. Really, I can only take one keyboard to my church gig given set-up time constraints, space and my 7-decade old body.
Gut-level, the preset synth voices feel like greatest hits from arranger Legacy synths and pads. No new ground, here. I use a few of these bread and butter voices — VP Soft and Soft RnB, for example. Synth enthusiasts have already swiped left on the CK series anyway.
CK voice-effect signal flow [Yamaha]
Like their CP/YC brethren, the CKs expose a fixed voice-effects signal flow. There are five choices of Drive, nine+ choices for insert effects, and global delay, reverb and EQ. Effect tweaking is limited — just one or two parameters per effect type.
The CKs do have potential for external control via Master Keyboard Mode (four zones). All the basic zone parameters are there including Bank Select MSB and Bank Select LSB and Program Change. Yamaha got this right. It’s 2023 and I can’t believe how many MIDI controllers commit the cardinal sin of leaving off Bank Select!
Assessing the assignment of MIDI continuous control (CC) numbers to physical sliders and knobs is going to take time and effort. Some CCs are assigned based on voice part (A, B, C). Yikes! We’re going to need to forge a secret decoder ring! 🙁
The date on the MIDI implementation chart is 16 July 2021. Yes, “2021.” Yamaha have had these designs in the can for a while. The pandemic and supply chain problems interfered with the CK’s release.
Update: Product pages and manuals are now available at Yamaha sites everywhere.
Pre-announcement information is breaking out all over. I recommend the GAK Music CK series video with Luke Juby. It gives a great overview and demonstrates the preset sounds and effects. The CK has sliders, knobs and buttons dedicated to program/effect selection and tweaking (attack, release, cut-off and resonance). The drawbar sliders are short-throw like the Reface YC. The physical controls should reduce menu-diving.
A few interesting tidbits from the video. The CK has the ability to trigger backing tracks from the keyboard. Foot pedal control is assignable. There are four zones for external control and 5-pin MIDI IN and OUT. Split and layer are supported with two split points.
Here are Yamaha CK88™ specifications:
88 keys, weighted GHS keyboard, initial touch
Tone Generator: AWM2 and AWM for Organ Flutes
128 voices of polyphony
Integrated Effects, Master EQ
363 Voices, 160 Live Set Sounds (80 preset)
Pitch Bend and Modulation Wheel
Nine Organ Footage Sliders, three Part Volume Sliders, eleven control Knobs
Built-in amplifiers (2 ✗ 6 W) and speakers (2 ✗ (12cm ✗ 6cm)); Can be switched off
Battery powered operation (eight AA alkaline or Ni-MH batteries) or AC adaptor
Monochrome LCD display (128 x 64 dots)
Stereo Line Output: 6.3 mm mono phone jack x2
Stereo Input: 6.3 mm mono phone jack x2
Stereo Phones Output: 6.3 mm stereo phone jack
Two connectors for Footswitches or Foot controllers
MIDI [IN]/[OUT] 5-pin DIN
USB [TO DEVICE] to connect USB memory sticks
USB [TO HOST] to connect to PCs, USB-Audio-Interface function (two stereo channels from PC to CK, two stereo channels from CK to PC)
Bluetooth connectivity to play back audio from a Bluetooth device
Dimensions (W x D x H): 1,333 mm × 354 mm × 148 mm
Weight: 13.1 kg (28.9 pounds)
Included accessories: Owner’s Manual, AC adaptor (PA-150B)
Optional accessories: Footswitches and Foot controllers (FC3A, FC4A, FC5, FC7), Soft Case SC-DE88, Music Rest YMR-03
The CK61 weighs 5.6kg (12.3 pounds) and has a new synth action keybed (the FSB action borrowed from the PSR SX line).
Sounds like an entry-level keyboard for price-sensitive customers. I anticipated a battery power option, but the in-built amplification (2 ✗ 6W) and speakers are unexpected. Given the entry-level spec, I suspect that SWX09 is the internal host/tone generator engine.
Yamaha CK88 portable stage synthesizer
The CK is a “poor man’s” combination of Reface YC and Reface CP. Or, stated another way, CK is someone’s dream combination of Reface YC and Reface CP with full-size controls. A lot of people pined for a combined organ/EP Reface with a full-sized keybed. They got it. 🙂
363 voices aren’t many. I expect to see promotion reading “363 voices from the acclaimed Montage, YC stage organ and CP stage piano.” This smacks of the way a few new voices were lifted from Motif and built into the ill-fated MM series. I expect recycled effects from MODX, etc. and CK will not include the new, improved YC rotary speaker algorithm.
We’ll need to hear more details, of course. I don’t think the CK directly replaces the MX series. A lot hinges on its DAW/VI integration which is an MX strong point. The MX88 weighs 13.9kg, so the CK88 (13.1kg) does not have a weight advantage over MX88. CK61 weighs 5.6 kg, not much less than MODX6. Based on weight alone, I don’t have much reason to spurn my MODX6 for CK61.
Yamaha CK61 portable stage keyboard
If you own an MODX, I don’t think you’re going to be green with G.A.S. The extra sliders are nice, but MODX (MODX+) is so much more. The CK series should appeal to the weekend warrior with a family on a tight budget. CK61 MSRP is $1,249 USD and MAP is $999; CK88 MSRP is $1,899 and MAP is $1,499. Yamaha got the CK61 MAP under the psychological $1,000 barrier.
The pictures are fuzzy. We’ll know more and have better pictures after the official product announcement tomorrow when Yamaha releases high res assets.
Thanks to Saul’s recent post at Yamaha Musicians Forum, it looks like tomorrow is the day for CK.
By Tuesday evening, we’ll all be laughing at the ridiculous predictions and wishful thinking that we’ve all posted.
So, here’s some more wishful thinking. 🙂
Knowing the price points, about $1,250 USD for the 61 and $1,920 for the 88, we instantly know that these aren’t the droids some people have been looking for. At these prices, the CKs impinge on the entry-level niche held by the long-in-the-tooth MX series. Yamaha may have decided to spiff up and bulk up the MX to CK in order to establish higher margins at the entry-level without blowing up the magic $1,000 barrier. [I have some reason to believe that the rumored prices are MSRP.]
Yamaha CK61 and CK88 portable synthesizers
At such low price points, forget an FSX keybed, aftertouch, a large touch display, etc. I suspect that Yamaha engineers chose one of its proprietary SWX processors instead of the higher spec SWP70 which is the mainstay of mid- and high-end Yamaha keyboards. The SWX series integrates the host processor, display interface, USB interface and AWM2 tone generator into a single integrated circuit package. Reface YC, Reface CP and first-gen MX are based on an earlier version of SWX (SWX08). The current rev is SWX09.
The word “portable” in the terse CK description might imply an internal battery power option. Choosing SWX would at least give the engineers a fighting chance at low power. I suspect that the SWP70 tone generator is a bit of a power hog. Yamaha do not currently offer a battery-powered synth while some competitors do (e.g., Roland JUNO DS61). I would love battery power for rehearsals — anything to make the schlep and set-up easier.
Part of the MX pitch is “controller integration.” Yamaha currently do not offer a MIDI controller with all the front panel knobs, sliders, widgets and gizmos that warm the heart. Even though Yamaha tout the MX for control, it’s really feature poor in comparison to most full size MIDI controllers. Although the MX is reasonably well-integrated with Cubase, more people are running virtual instruments on IOS/Android tablets/phones instead of laptops. Yamaha must (should) respond to these trends.
I often wonder why Yamaha haven’t put forth a Halion-based version of Arturia’s wonderful V Collection or Analog Lab? I was immediately impressed by the integration of Analog Lab with Arturia Keylab Essential. Yamaha have been missing an opportunity here.
Up to this point, Yamaha seem reluctant to offer an all-in-one stage keyboard combining, piano, organ and synth. As a player, you’re forced into a multi-keyboard “top and bottom” rig decision. Implications are many. If organ or piano are your main need, then perhaps you choose a YCxx or CPxx for the bottom. Neither ‘board provides comprehensive synth sounds, so you need a synth for the top. Maybe a CK61™?
Schlep and cost are major factors. Two keyboards is a lot more trouble and cost than one. The keyboard stand is bigger and heavier. Yada-yada. For me, I play in an incredibly small space and, as an older adult, my body is whacked out from hauling gear! Cost is another big factor as I don’t want to tie up funds in idle keyboards — no matter how pretty they are. 🙂
So, maybe I will view the CK61™ as a Korg Triton Taktile on steroids. The Triton Taktile 49 was a light-weight controller with lots of knobs and sliders, and had a “courtesy” Triton engine. The Triton Taktile had its disdvantages — no way to store user edits, no internal battery power. The CK likely avoids these pitfalls in which case a CK plus an iPad (Camelot, Korg Module, iSymphonic, SWAM) might do the trick as a light-weight stage gig rig.
As to that “all-in-one,” might that be the Montage successor? Yamaha was slow to follow Motif XF (August 2010) with Montage (January 2016), so the wait for the Montage successor is not that surprising. Plus, you don’t really think you’re getting AN-X™ for free, do you? 🙂
Today’s tidbits are from Jason at the YamahaSynth.com forum.
First, a major shout out to Jason. Every forum has one or two people who energetically answer questions and keep a forum community alive. Jason is that guy on the Yamaha synth forum, especially after Phil’s (Badmister’s) retirement. Thank you, Jason!
Have you thanked a forum contributor recently?
I’ve been searching for evidence of Yamaha’s CK61™ and CK88™ as we run up to NAMM 2023 (13-15 April 2023). Jason’s diligence has paid off; I’m too freakin’ lazy. 🙂
He scraped a document listing the recyclable content for various Yamaha products. [A document required by some civil authority, no doubt.] I don’t like to post information unless I can verify it independently. More eyes on a problem or situation are always good. Fortunately, I found the same document.
It’s quite a comprehensive list of products all the way down to pedals, stands, power adapters and soft cases. The products are list by category: piano, digital piano (CL), music production (MP), portable keyboard (PK), etc.
Lo and behold, under “MP”, we find CK61™ and CK88™ with product codes VDY9110 and VDY9230. So, these products are not phantoms — unless Yamaha is playing an enormous joke on us! 🙂
Given the list’s completeness, it’s interesting that “Montage” does not appear. I searched and scoured the list. Not there. This could be a mere oversight or what? Have Yamaha decided that MODX+ has overtaken (subsumed) Montage and that’s it for the heavy grey lady? Is Montage necessary if the CKs implement AN-X™? All speculative, of course. [Yamaha’s product strategy smacks of “Pokémon Gotta Catch ‘Em All.]
I have not been able to independently verify Jason’s other information:
STAGE PIANOS
CK61 New generation 61-key portable stage synthesizer inc. adapter $22,630.00
CK88 New generation 88-key portable stage synthesizer inc. adapter $34,736.00
Prices are given in Mexican Pesos. If these are pesos and genuine prices, that’s approximately $1,250 USD and $1,920 USD, respectively. I think the use of “STAGE PIANOS”, here, means stage keyboards. I don’t think “synthesizer” is accidental, tho’.
Blake Angelos (Hi, Blake) has posted an invite to “Join us for the Tech Talk Season 3 finale on March 14. We’ll be revealing something new you won’t want to miss! It all happens Tuesday, March 14 1:00 PM PDT, 10:00 PM CET. Hope to see you there!”
Please check out the discussion on the YamahaSynth forum and let Jason take a victory lap. Thanks, again.
Update. And the thread is gone from YamahaSynth. If you would like to join a discussion, Yamaha Musicians Forum has knowledgeable and passionate members who are engaged with this topic. You might also consider the Music Player Keyboard Corner, too.
Yamaha may be trying to stuff the toothpaste back into the tube, but their own site has pages referring to the CK88™. That’s why I don’t believe in conspiracy theories. 🙂
