Yamaha Shows Disklavier Mark IV at NAMM
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(Click for a close-up) |
January 21, 2005
The latest Disklavier has carbon-steel strings, felt hammers and 88 wooden keys, all in a rich wood cabinet. But it also has hot onboard circuitry and a touch-screen Wi-Fi controller that operates it from anywhere in your home, bringing together new technology and traditional craftsmanship.
The Disklavier is Yamaha's modern-day adaptation of the player piano -- it's a real, concert-quality instrument. But it also uses digital data instead of old-fashioned paper rolls to play itself right before your eyes. The newest evolution of the Disklavier, the Mark IV Series, adds features that turn the piano into a full-function entertainment center.
Using Yamaha's library of thousands of PianoSoft software titles, including the exclusive library of hundreds of Smart PianoSoft titles, the piano can play along with many audio CD titles from your favorite artists. Pop in the CD along with the corresponding Yamaha disk to hear the vocals and fully orchestrated accompaniment on the onboard sound system, while the piano part is played "live" in perfect synchronicity.
The Mark IV can control the entire system, wirelessly, from anyplace in the home, using one of two full color, touch-screen Wi-Fi controllers-- a PDA-style pocket remote or a 10.4" touch-screen LCD tablet remote. Neither device needs to be in the same room as the instrument to activate all of the piano's functions, control the onboard music library or even create custom play lists.
The piano integrates seamlessly with standard or whole house systems, enabling the piano's outputs to be configured so that home speakers located near the piano produce only the backup orchestration, while speakers in another part of the house add a digital piano sound. Why limit your musical enjoyment to just one room in the house?
Turn any gathering into a karaoke party, with the lyrics displayed with customizable backgrounds on the tablet remote or to any standard TV set via the Mark IV's video output. The Disklavier Mark IV's karaoke function uses a built-in microphone input that lets users hear their voices complete with digital effects like reverberation and vocal harmony ... your virtual backup singers!
Use Yamaha's SmartKey Technology to play a tune even if you've never sat down at a keyboard before -- the Disklavier cues you by moving the correct key, and then waits for you to strike it. The piano guides you through simple melodies while embellishing your performance with accompaniment that's at your speed. Taking the experience a bit further, playing the piano for pleasure takes on a new dimension with Yamaha CueTIME software, which offers orchestrated arrangements that automatically follow the user's pace. For privacy, courtesy or low-volume practice, the Disklavier includes a Quiet Mode that replaces the acoustic piano action with a digital piano sound users can hear through headphones.
The Disklavier Mark IV even has the ability to capture your videotaped piano performance and replay it with the piano playing and video image perfectly in sync on any TV or monitor.
In a step beyond previous models, the Mark IV Series features a high-capacity onboard hard drive that lets the user load thousands of song titles into the instrument for easy access.
For more information, visit their web site at www.yamaha.com. | 
