Free Update brings new sounds and features to Yamaha YC Stage Piano Series
Yamaha’s YC stage pianos get new DX7, CP80 and felt piano sounds as part of a free update.
Yamaha has released a free OS update for the YC Stage Keyboard line, YC OS v1.3, that adds new sounds, features and workflow enhancements.
Yamaha’s v1.3 OS update for its YC series stage keyboards might be full of new features, but it turns out that many of them are inspired by instruments from the company’s past.
In response to requests from the Yamaha IdeaScale community there is a new CP80 electric grand piano voice to enables you channel your inner Tony Banks/Phil Collins, and 16 classic DX7 sounds have also been added (bass, brass and pad patches to be precise). Not every addition is retro, though; there are also 16 additional ‘modern’ FM sounds.
On the acoustic piano front there is a new Hamburg Grand, while the fashionable Felt Piano from Yamaha CP series also makes an appearance.
Other enhancements include- The FM organs get vibrato and chorus, the pan settings for each part can now be adjusted individually, and parts can now be linked for quick control over overall volume, tone, filter/EQ and effect settings (useful when you’ve set up splits and layers). Improvements have also been made to the rotor speaker functionality.
New in YC OS v1.3:
- New sounds – An expressive Hamburg Grand, intimate Felt Piano from the CP Series, and an all-new CP80 sampled from the Yamaha Synth Space collection have been added. The YamahaSynth IdeaScale community requested the CP80 Voice, which Yamaha says delivers the expressive bite you would expect from this classic stage piano.
- In addition to the new Piano Voices, are 32 new FM Voices. You’ll find 16 classic DX7 basses, brass and pads and 16 modern FM sounds for contemporary genres.
- Vibrato and Chorus for FM Organs: Vibrato and Chorus effects are now available for FM Organs, and the F2 and F3 types match the classic effects found in vintage 60s combo organs.
- Pan to Parts Settings: Freely adjust pan for each Part separately for greater stereo mix flexibility.
- A/B Parameter Link Function: Press and hold the Keys A/B button and you’ll get control of Volume, Tone, Filter/EG and Effect settings for both Parts simultaneously. Great for controlling both Parts when set up in a Split or Layer.
- Rotary Speed Hold: Before OS v1.3, Rotary Speaker speed settings were saved in the Live Set. This new setting allows you to keep the Rotary Speaker speed settings the same regardless of the Live Set.
- Studio Rotary Speaker Type Default: All organ Live Set sounds using the Rotary Speaker effect now default to the Studio type introduced in OS v1.2.
The Yamaha YC OS v1.3 update is compatible with all three YC keyboards (the YC61, YC73 and YC88) and can be downloaded now via the Yamaha website. Users are advised to back up their settings before installing the update.
