Yamaha PSR-E423 61-key Touch Sensative Portable Keyboard with 482 Voices
Product Details
- Product Dimensions: 15.3 x 37.2 x 5.8 inches ; 21.4 pounds
- Shipping Weight: 21.9 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
- Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S. and to APO/FPO addresses. For APO/FPO shipments, please check with the manufacturer regarding warranty and support issues.
- Shipping Advisory: This item must be shipped separately from other items in your order. Additional shipping charges will not apply.
- ASIN: B003JMEUD4
- Item model number: PSRE423MM
By : Yamaha
Price : $229.99
You Save : $169.01 (42%)
Product Description
Amazon.com Product Description
The PSR-E423 offers several innovative features. The basic features for learning to play -- like the Yamaha Portable Grand and Yamaha Education Suite -- and features for when it's time to perform, like synthesizer Control Knobs for real-time control of filter, effects, sound envelope and Style tempo. The Arpeggiator provides an expanded 150 different patterns and 40 arpeggio Voices. These easy-to-use professional features, along with its new black body, set this keyboard apart from others in its class.
Basic and New FeaturesControl Knobs, Arpeggiator and Pitch Bend
Most of the features of the PSR-E423 have been enhanced over its predecessor. Two control knobs provide real-time control for filtering the main melody tone, and changing the tempo of the arpeggio just like an analog synthesizer. The Pitch Bend wheel brings Voices like the Sax and Trumpet to life.Improved Arpeggio Function
Tap into instant inspiration with the Arpeggio function which has been improved for smoother playability. New hold mode and allocated key-range will free your hands for playing with both hands. It provides an expanded150 patterns that automatically generate even more useful phrases that change depending on the notes and chords you play.A Variety of New Dynamic Voices
Dynamic Voices usually found on high-end workstations, are now on the new PSR-E423. There are two different waveforms that change depending on how hard you play the keyboard, this allows more expression on Voices such as overdriven or nylon guitar. High quality Voices, from acoustic instruments to electric sounds, have been expanded to 700 varieties. All of these high-quality Voices sound even better through the bass-enhanced 2-way speakers.Wider World Content and 174 Varieties of Styles with Auto-backing Mode
Arabic, Indian and Chinese content has been added to Styles, Rhythm and Voices. With our high-quality Styles and Voices, you'll sound like you have a professional backing band behind you.Extended Flash Memory, Connectivity to PC via USB
4 times more flash memory has been added to the PSR-E423 so you can play along with your favorites transferred from a PC.
The Yamaha PSR-E423 is a touch-responsive 61-key keyboard and has many of the Yamaha features that have set their keyboards apart from the competition. There are over 640 voices and 15 drum/SFX kits onboard. With 9 types of Reverb, 4 types of Chorus, and 5 types of Master EQ its easy to find the right effect to add some sparkle and sheen to your sounds. Auto-Accompaniment offers 174 preset styles encompassing a wide-range of genres, while focusing on some amazing new World styles such as Arabic, Indian, and Chinese. Yamahas popular Yamaha Education Suite provides you with the tools needed to learn how to play keyboards and its built right into the PSR-E423.Special FeaturesAmong the unique features of the PSR-E423 is its focus on synthesizer sounds and synth controllers such as Arpeggio and dedicated real-time control of your synth-based performances and sounds. The arpeggiator boasts some tantalizing features that make music making fun and inspirational. Features like Hold Mode, Allocated Key-range, along with 150 automatically generated patterns provide a wealth of creative, musical options to take your music to new pulsating heights. The SoundsMuch like the expressive sounds and control youd expect to find on a much higher priced professional synthesizer, Yamaha has outfitted the PSR-E423 with high quality Dynamic Voices. Each key is home to 2 different waveforms that change according to how hard you play the keyboard. This allows you to be creative and expressive throughout your performances. There are 700 varieties of dynamic voices encompassing a wide range of categories. RecordingA handy built-in 6-track recorder is onboard and ready to capture your creative inspiration quickly and easily. With a data capacity of approximately 10,000 notes and 5,500 chords, youll be able to piece together your original compositions in no time flat. You can save up to 5 songs to the internal memory, and there are 30 preset songs built-in for your listening pleasure.
Yamaha PSR-E423 61-key Touch Sensative Portable Keyboard with 482 Voices
Product Features
- Professional black finish
- Synth Control Knobs, Arpeggiator, Pitch Bend
- It has 700 Voices (including GM ; XGlite), 174 Styles
- It has 6-track sequencer: record your own songs
Customer Reviews
I bought this item as a reserve for concert and home use. I already have and use Yamaha MM-6, Roland A-70 (Midi Keyboard), Kurzweil SP2XS and I can compare this item to others. My previous synth (for home use) was Casio CTK-691 and it was cheap. It was so cheap, I can't use it's output connector because of the noise.
So, Yamaha PSR-E423 have a pretty tight company. It provide a solid sound with a vary little noise level (but still more than the competitors). The sounds are... not so good as in MM-6 or Kurzweil, but it's much better than in Casio -- this must be the best sounds for the price, but still have a reserve of improvements. I think, yamaha can safely delete 400 of 500 sound and use the free memory to improve quality of the remaining 100. For example, Acoustic Grand Piano (Yamaha pride) have a metallic sound for the notes upper than F2).
The keyboard and a functional elements are quite good -- the keyboard looks and acts like in MM-6, two knobs are the same as in MM-6 and also can be used as a resonance filter, or to adjust the synth parameters. That's interesting, but I can't find a puporse for it. I never ever use sequencer or lessons -- don't ask about them. Harmony, arpeggio are working as expected, styles are not as expressive, as in MM-6, primarily because of too few variants. Again, this is not the point I use it for. The keyboard is easier to use, than a MM-6 or Kurzweil -- because of a big screen with an options shown on it and a digital pad that doesn't exist on MM-6 (except transpose and split point functions -- they are deep in menu). Comparing to Casio, it is also easier -- because some of the features are accessible with a special buttons, without scrolling the menu.
The keyboard have an USB connectivity and provide a standard midi-over-usb interface, so I don't need any drivers. Be warned, that the keyboard does not have any MIDI ports!
Overall score is: the best sounds for the price with a full set of features. Pro: touch-sensitive keyboard, pitch bend, kontrol knobs, arpeggio, harmony, tap tempo, USB-to-computer, clean output, 6-channel sequencer. Contra: sounds can be better, transpose functions are hidden in "functions" menu, no MIDI connection, accessories are sold separately.
UPDATE on February 24th, 2012: I can confirm that the MAC OS X driver is finally available for download at Yamaha's website under PSR-E 423. I've added a link in the discussions section of this review for anyone interested. I am also giving the PSR-E 423 4 stars now instead of my previous 3.75 for the convenience of Yamaha's newly added MAC OS X driver.
It's OK. Yes it has lots of features but I had hoped for better sound. I like that you can turn off the touch sensitive feature which makes the volume of keys pushed louder. You can turn the TS feature on and off according to your needs. One may be able to hook up the keyboard to amplifiers but I haven't tried since I bought this mainly for home use. Overall it's a fun beginner keyboard. The AC adapter which must be purchased separately is a bit short so take that into consideration when deciding where to place the keyboard. I personally think It's a bit overpriced for what you get despite all the features. I would sacrifice some of the extras to get better sound. For example, I don't need the phone ringing sound or footsteps or Jet engine sounds.
A warning to all people buying this to use with a Mac computer: THE SOFTWARE PROVIDED ONLY WORKS WITH WINDOWS. THE DRIVERS YOU CAN INSTALL FROM THEIR WEBSITE IS ONLY FOR WINDOWS. SO FAR I HAVE FOUND NO WAY OF USING THE KEYBOARD WITH MY MACBOOK. I was aware of this before I purchased it and am not complaining about it because I have a windows based machine to use it with. Just thought other people might like to know that for now (maybe in the future yamaha will provide drivers for use with MAC) it is not Mac compatible.
I fell in love with the Keyboard before I purchased it, I was a little disappointed after I got it and heard all the sounds. Still It is a decent keyboard, just not quite what I was hoping for, and I spent months researching before picking this one out.
This is a great keyboard for beginners, not so much for intermediate players even though it's advertised as being geared towards both.
3.75 stars from me
UPDATE on Feb. 24th, 2012: Now 4 stars for the convenience of Yamaha's newly added MAC OS X driver.
Yamaha PSR-E423 61-key Touch Sensative Portable Keyboard with 482 Voices
