Yamaha P80. Does yours have crap samples?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Armistice
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Armistice

Armistice

Son of Yoda
Don't know if it's just me, but my Yamaha P80 electric piano (think I've got that model number right, not near it at the moment) has really dud sounding samples from the A above middle C up to about the following E. They seem to be the same for all the piano sounds. Apart from that it sounds pretty good.

Anyone else have the same experience? Suggestions?

Cheers

David
 
Eh? Are you kidding?

I've got a P80 and it sounds great - much better than any other keyboard or module I've ever used. When I get home tonight, I'll play those notes you mentioned - but, I've had it about two and half years now, and I've played it a lot - and I love its piano sounds.

Are you sure you've got the P80?

And did you buy it new, or second hand? I was just thinking that maybe if you bought it used, there might be some damage to it - but I'm not sure what would cause what you mentioned.
 
Yep, definitely a P80 - I'm home now and I've had a look at it. I bought it about 2 years ago, brand new. I'm not a piano player but a guitarist, so I'm prepared to entertain the possibility that that's what those notes really are supposed to sound like, if so, I guess I'll have to get used to it - they just sound really dull compared to what's around it.

Find myself on the sustain pedal full on whenever I'm in that area of the keyboard, which, being a non-player, is most of the time. It makes it a bit better but still it's audibly plunky.

Mind you, on a real piano I have a habit of overusing the sustain pedal anyway - love crashing chords! Maybe it's just me - let me know what you reckon.

Interested in any tips you might have in recording it too, moley - took me ages to figure out how to get the signal under control, and I find I've always got too much piano in the mix everytime I try to record it. Must be that crashing chord thing I have - probably not an appropriate style for what I'm trying to do.

Thanks for the reply, look forward to your opinion - have read similar comments to mine somewhere - harmony central maybe.

Cheers

David
 
Hmmm.

Ok, well I'll definitely stick some headphones on when I get home and have a listen.

Which sounds in particular are you finding this with - any piano sounds in particular?

I'd be interested to see what other comments people have made about this, actually.

As far as recording it goes, I've not had any problems! In what sense did you find it difficult to get the signal under control?
 
Ok, I've just had a listen over headphones.

I see what you mean - the sound does change slightly at that A, but it is subtle. But I wouldn't call it "dud" samples at all - it's just slightly different, that's all. To me, it still sounds sweet, just a little more mellow than the notes before it.

However, it is expected for the sound of a piano to change across the range - though, a little more gradually. When I play a piece, I don't hear the sound get "dull" in that range, I just hear the sound change as you go up the piano, really. To me, it sounds fine.

And, I only noticed a change in sound at this point on the main "Grand Piano" sound - not on the Classical Piano, Jazz Piano or Rock Piano sounds.

Are you being too picky, or am I not being picky enough?

I don't know! All I know is I'm primarily a pianist, and I love it! :)

Still, it's funny how different people have different opinions on it. I read some of the reviews at harmony central - generally they were very good indeed, but some weren't so good. At least one compared to the P200, implying that the P80 is a smaller & cheaper alternative to the P200. To me, (having played a P200) - I *much* prefer the P80 - the piano sound is so much better! I don't like the sound of the P200 so much at all (the action is very nice though).

Still, each to his own! :)
 
Moley

I probably am being too picky - as I said, I'm not a piano player, and maybe I'm expecting something that isn't actually what pianos sound like. I presume a P80 is a P80 is a P80 and that we're listening to the same thing here. Just one of those things that annoy me. Maybe I'm plonking too hard - I'll try a lighter touch and see how that goes.

I don't remember if I hear it on the Classical as well - definitely on the Grand though. I'll have to have a listen.

Whatever I find, I agree with you about the feel of the thing, it's really realistic.

Thanks for your help

David
 
Have you guys heard the new P60? Much better than previous P Series samples ... almost as good as the Kurzweil PC2 in my opinion, which I think still has the best definition among piano samples that I've heard so far. I'm not a fan of Roland's RD or XV pianos, just for reference point.

Oh, and I really like the action on the P60 ... not as slow and mushy as the P80. Damn thing only weighs 37 pounds too and is about $750 in stores.

The only thing Yamaha needs is to make this lightweight baby with 2 or 3 separate MIDI zones, completely layerable and splittable, and it'd be MINE! (Of course I'd be happy to pay for the added functionality.)
 
Hmm, I've not heard of the P60 - I don't think it's out yet in this country.

And, P80 action "slow & mushy"? I guess pianos are *very* subjective things :)

I'm no stranger to playing grand pianos (and piano is my instrument) - and to me, the action is pretty damn good.

But, whatever floats your boat :)
 
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