Yamaha ES User Manual

Bring Home the Magic of Music

Yamaha portable keyboards put musical
creativity at your fingertips

The Yamaha lineup of portable electronic keyboards is a musician’s

dream come true, giving you the power to sound exactly the way you

want. It starts with a new level of instrument realism thanks to a larger

sample ROM. And what does that mean? Simply put, a more realistic

digital sample of an instrument almost always requires a larger digital

sample. So by increasing the size of the sample memory, Yamaha is able

to give you even more realistic instrument voices. And you get so many of

them with Yamaha’s XG standard, the constantly growing extension of

General MIDI (GM). Not only do you get full compatibility with GM, you

get hundreds of extra voices as well as full MIDI control of voice and

effects parameters, and a whole lot more. In addition, these new

PortaTones boast upgraded speaker systems, with 2-way speakers for the

PSR-280 and above, and bass ports for the PSR-160 and above (except

PSR-340).

The world’s favorite auto-accompaniments

Of course, PortaTones are packed with the dynamic rhythms, music styles

and easy-play features that make them the world’s favorites. Plus an

important extra: the Easy Navigator gives you fast, easy, intuitive access to

all these stunning functions, allowing you to spend your time playing

music instead of reading owner’s manuals.

A fun-tastic way to discover the exciting
world of music

Yamaha’s entry-level PortaTone line offers incredible features and

performance at an affordable price. Newly developed Yamaha Education

Suite 2™, a wonderful set of music training functions make learning

music incredibly easy. And when it’s time to take a break from practicing,

simply place the keyboard in DJ mode and let the fun begin—with

awesome dance voices and accompaniment styles…and even a DJ game!

Special icons indicate at a glance the major features available on each instrument. The glossary

Icons

below explains what each icon stands for.

Vocal Harmony for XG

Add harmony parts to anything you sing
with the Vocal Harmony function, and
powerfully enhance your vocal
performances.

Easy Navigator

An on-screen navigator makes

by taking you step-by-step through the settings of various
features and functions.

even advanced functions easy

Yamaha Education
Suite 2™ (Y.E.S. 2)

functions makes it easy for anyone to learn to play the keyboard.
Seven types of lesson are available as well as a convenient chord
dictionary.

Disklavier is the integration of advanced electronics into
traditional upright and grand pianos to create a variety of
versatile new digital/acoustic hybrids.

halls to your music for an extra dimension of richness.

melodies. One track can be used to record an accompaniment
style.

A unique set of tutorial

Disklavier

(Compatible with Disklavier
software.)

Reverb

Add the ambience of a variety
of different-sized rooms and

6-Track Recorder

Compose your own songs by
overdubbing chords and

Sweet Voice

Yamaha’s exclusive Sweet Voice is so natural
it’s almost indistinguishable from the real
thing.

Portable Grand

Instantly reset the entire instrument for
optimum piano play.

Pianist Style

Piano-only styles with full left hand
accompaniment even using single-finger chords.

Dynamic Filter

Dynamically controls the

according to your playing strength — just like a real acoustic
instrument!

and precision for more lifelike instrument voices.

parameters, such as voice selection and tempo, to optimally
match the selected music style.

timbre or tone of a voice

2-Way Speaker System

Separate tweeters deliver high
frequency sounds with clarity

One Touch Setting

This function automatically
configures keyboard

Built-In FDD

The internal floppy disk drive gives you
unlimited storage capacity.

Stereo Sampled Piano

This amazingly rich and authentic

(samples) of an actual grand piano for stunningly natural sound.

calls up a full arsenal of contemporary dance voices and style
patterns, as well as a special DJ songs and games.

expressive as on an acoustic instrument.

speaker adds powerful impact to bass sound reproduction.

tones—normal and effected—simply by pressing a button.

voice uses stereo recordings

DJ Mode

One press of the DJ button

Touch Response

Your playing can be as

Bass Boost System

A special port on each

Organ Variation

Switch back and forth between
two types of organ

XG

Yamaha XG MIDI extends GM
voice selection, expression and
control.

Multi Effector

Use multiple effects in
combination to expand your
sonic range.

16-Track Sequencer

Record and play music with up
to 16 tracks of lushly layered
sound.

AWM

Yamaha Advanced Wave
Memory technology delivers
amazingly realistic sound.

Song Lyric Display

See the words to the songs
being played on your
keyboard (with lyric-encoded
recordings).

Modulation Wheel

Give modulation to the notes
as you play with fingertip
expressive control.

Pitch Bend Wheel

Give bend to the notes as you
play fingertip.

MIDI

Musical Instrument Digital
Interface lets electronic
musical instruments work
together.

XF

Lyric & Chord information can
be displayed! XF is a new file
format that expands upon the
capabilities of the Standard
MIDI File.

To Host Port

Built-in computer interface
allows easy connection to PC
or Macintosh computers.

Groove & Dynamics

Vary the accompaniment as you
play with wide-ranging custom
control.

GM

With General MIDI
compatibility, song data always
plays the correct sounds.

64-Note Polyphony

Up to 64 notes can be
reproduced simultaneously for
intricate musical
arrangements.

Style File

This versatile accompaniment
format lets you add even more
styles from floppy disk.

Stereo

Stereo sound adds realistic
character and spatial depth.

FM

FM tone generation uses digital
sine wave generators to
synthesize complex
instrumental and electronic
sounds.

DSP

Digital Signal Processing
enhances sound quality with
sophisticated digital effects.

Digital Equalizer

Control over individual
frequency ranges lets you
customize the sound.

DOC Compatibility

Access the vast library of music
available in the Yamaha Disk
Orchestra Collection.

PCM

Pulse-Code Modulation which
is the same digital sampling
technology used in the
prodution of music CDs.