Very nice keyboards. Simplified some of the best features of previous stage pianos to the most essential parts, and then brought the control of those essentials up to the surface in a one-to-one hands-on interface.

Best wishes on the launch!

I like the Reface-style immediacy of the front panel. The CP73 looks seriously portable. Gotta try one...

-- pj

Also welcome the flood of questions when other keyboards get their U1 and other such samples. The obligatory sympathetic string resonance thread.

Never the less, an interesting addition to the family and perhaps triple sensor 88 would make sense to replace the S90XS given I already have the Motif XS sounds in other keyboards. So the S90XS reduces to an 88 weighted controller where any triple sensor may be "better" and CP's a slightly different control surface animal. Need to read the docs on what the knobs can do in MIDI land -- even if the instrument is only 4 zones.

I am VERY interested in these pianos! Can anyone from Yamaha tell me if the pitch bend and mod levers can be freely assigned. For can you set the pitch bend range to any interval within a 12 note span and if so, is the asdignment global or per patch?
And is the mod lever useable in the EP/AP section or only in the “sub” category?
Also, to which parameters can it be assigned?
Thanks in advance,
Jim

I wouldn't be the voice off the choir, but I 'm not finding so attractive this attempt of imitating those red coloured stage pianos. I understand what matters most for a live performer is having all the essential controls as much closer as possibile, on the other hand the elegance and polished lines of a CP4 are preferable.

Are they AWM2 sampled pianos or modeled?

They are all AWM2 sounds. Honestly, as an owner of both the CP4 and the Montage, I can say with confidence that you can’t go wrong with either approach. They both sound great. AWM2 has been around and iterated on for so long because it is really good. To be honest, not a lot was explained about how SCM works.

(EDIT: Oof, I looked up spectral modeling synthesis. Entire PhD's have been obtained by studying and writing about this. Suffice to say, it just works.)

I can understand VCM effects well enough and even the electric piano preamps being modeled, but not sure how you can state that there is a model of a CFX for example without using samples of the actual piano. My guess is the acoustic piano sounds in the CP4 are derived from samples that have modeled “characteristics” such as how the waveform should sustain, change amplitude, etc. To add further confusion, many of the same parameters show up across both technologies. You can add damper resonance as an insert effect and adjust the dry/wet level for example. Maybe the interface is made similar to facilitate ease of use when moving from one product to another. I dunno. The engineer in me is trying hard not to think about it too much. If it sounds good and feels good, that should be enough haha.

Only recent history would say the interface is in any way inspired by the Nord. The layout of Nord is similar to the concept of analog/hybrid keyboards - present most of the parameters in dials and switches. It's not unique to Nord. The CS80 and earlier keyboards before computer menus - even in Yamaha's portfolio - had a similar concept. Other design features of the CP88/73 borrow more than the CS80 aesthetic than Nord's. The dials are lifted from Montage's era it seems.

I think more than resembling any competitor - the departure from the last CP (non-reface) interface is of note. It's a rare thing. Commendable and refreshing in my opinion. There are menu-diving synths in the portfolio mix. Good to see some knob turning ones too. Maybe a synth with more analog modeling as the target can springboard out of this. There are enough knobs and dials on this to make a good controller for a software analog modeler. My understanding is the MIDI assignment of the controllers is fairly flexible.

It seems that these two new boards are Made In Indonesia. (but I am not quite sure wheater this is right or not)
I think the CP4 still was Made in Japan. I´m really curious how the quality is like now.

The product wears a YAMAHA brand and is made in a YAMAHA factory. The quality meets YAMAHA standards and carries a YAMAHA warranty.

I am very psyched for the CP88, I love the dials and switches. Nord don't invent that, the Korg SV1 has it for years and many other boards prior. Its much more fun way to tweak sounds then try and program down menus which to me feels like work. Sort of tired hearing that its copying Nord since it hardly matters. You either like that approach or not.

I am interested in how the CP88 compares with the P-515 as I want to purchase one of the other. Are the sounds the same? They have the same names (CFX, Bosendorfer) but someone says the 515 uses different sound technology. I don't understand the differences and don't really care if the sounds are the same but does anyone know if the piano and electric keyboard sounds of the CP88 are the same, or better/worse then the 515? I am particular about sounds and keyboard feel. I own a CP4 now and love the keyboard for jazz and classical so as long as the Cp88 is the same feel and the sounds are the latest and greatest, then I see one in my immediate future. Or a 515 depending on the sounds. Thanks to Yamaha for making such great products!

I am very psyched for the CP88, I love the dials and switches.

The CP80 had those back in the 1970’s!

I am interested in how the CP88 compares with the P-515 as I want to purchase one of the other. Are the sounds the same? They have the same names (CFX, Bosendorfer) but someone says the 515 uses different sound technology. I don't understand the differences and don't really care if the sounds are the same but does anyone know if the piano and electric keyboard sounds of the CP88 are the same, or better/worse then the 515?

These are completely different products... each targeting a completely different customer.

The P515 above in its natural habitat... built-in Speakers, optional matching stand and pedal board.

The CP88/73 are Stage Pianos... XLR Balanced and TS Unbalanced Outputs, MIDI Master Keyboard Controller, PB and MW.

The CP’s are built for the stage in every aspect...
As to the sound, that’s for you to determine; words like “better/worse”, I don’t believe in — no one but the individual can decide what you like.

Most things you can dig up on youtube for quick overviews.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eRcR_ybOYxs

It's not like listening to the piano in person, but still representative if you have a good system.

The P515 has a few more modeled-type features like sympathetic string resonance. Maybe hammer type and lid adjust (open/close) are part of this. Maybe "just" EQ. But overall the P515 has more bullets in the modeling category vs. the CP's Rompler+DSP approach.

There was also a past generation of CP that had some of these features. How any of this translates for you is anyone's guess.

Hi,
the only thing holding me back from buying a CP88 is the single split point for internal sounds. What if (using Advanced Mode) I want to play an internal bass patch with my left hand, the CFX with my right and have part of the right hand key split also trigger the Sub Section NiceBells? Had a dig around on a CP88 at my local music store with a sales engineer. Couldn't find a way of assigning lower and/or upper key limits for an individual Section. Was there a menu I missed? The Advanced Settings menu only manipulates MIDI Zones as far as I can tell. Will this be fixed in future OS upgrades? (The store keyboard had the base OS 10.0) A single split point for internal sounds just isn't good enough.

Hi,
the only thing holding me back from buying a CP88 is the single split point for internal sounds. What if (using Advanced Mode) I want to play an internal bass patch with my left hand, the CFX with my right and have part of the right hand key split also trigger the Sub Section NiceBells? Had a dig around on a CP88 at my local music store with a sales engineer. Couldn't find a way of assigning lower and/or upper key limits for an individual Section. Was there a menu I missed? The Advanced Settings menu only manipulates MIDI Zones as far as I can tell. Will this be fixed in future OS upgrades? (The store keyboard had the base OS 10.0) A single split point for internal sounds just isn't good enough.

Then the CP is not for you. You would need an external device for your third region.
The upper and lower designations in the CP are easy enough to understand. A CP sound from the Piano, EPiano, and Sub sections can play 1) all across the Keyboard, 2) just on the left side, or 3) just on the right side of the Split Point.

The four Master Keyboard Zones that go Out via MIDI are completely independent of the internal tone engine.
Both the USB and 5-pin MIDI are available simultaneously. You can simultaneously be controlling a soft-synth on a computer/tablet/laptop while simultaneously controlling a hardware synth Out via standard MIDI.
In your example, the third sound can be from an external source via USB and/or via MIDI... and it can be regioned anywhere you’d like.

Perhaps you should look at a MONTAGE or MODX if you require more regions internally. They feature 8 internal regions.
Hope that helps.

Hi and thanks very much for your quick response! Greatly appreciated. As an MOXF8 owner and frequent Roland RD-2000 user, I get your point regarding regions. I realize other models with more of a workstation focus have that type of ability. I was just hoping this might be the ultimate jack-of-all-trades... Pretty certain I shall buy the CP88 anyway, as I love the user interface.

I purchased the CP 88 and I am loving everything about it. I want to update the CP88 with the new version 1.10. I downloaded the Yamaha Steinberg USB driver. I need to know how to now get the update to my CP88. Much appreciation

The Yamaha Steinberg USB Driver is totally separate from the CP88 Firmware update.
The Driver allows your computer to communicate with the CP for both MIDI and Audio. Useful for working with DAW software like Cubase

The “Operating System Updater” is a separate download (includes instructions). You unzip the download on your computer, copy the .PGM file to the root directory of a USB stick you use with your CP88. Read the included instruction file twice. The first time so you know what you need to do. The second time as you execute it...

Insert the USB stick in the “TO DEVICE” port of the CP, and power On the instrument while holding down the buttons as in the instructions... follow instructions in the screen

The update will proceed and tell you when Completed, to Re-boot.

Hello. I recently got a chance to try the Yamaha CP88 at a Yamaha music store in London... from a blind musician's point of view, I love it! It took me about five to ten minutes to learn the entire interface. I love how easy it is to navigate around the instrument. The keyboard feels exactly like my Yamaha C3 grand piano. I also love all the sounds of this keyboard.

Thank you so much Yamaha for making an amazing stage piano that everyone can use... no matter what disability he or she has.

If you want to know more about me, you can visit my website at:
http://www.matthewwhitaker.net

Thank you so much!