Yamaha P-150, P150E User Manual

Congratulations! …and thank you for purchasing the Yamaha P-150. The P-150 is a high-performance electronic piano with full-scale, weighted action keyboard, a selection of high quality piano and other useful instrument voices, and versatile performance and other advanced features which make it ideal for professional stage and studio applications, as well as for home entertainment and music study use. The P150’s main features include:

■ High quality AWM piano and other sounds

The P-150 features a selection of twelve high quality instrument voices generated by Yamaha’s patented AWM (Advanced Wave Memory) sound generation technology. There are several piano sounds—including a concert grand piano, with full-bodied bass tones and reverberating high notes, that accurately captures the natural characteristics of a real grand piano—plus various electric pianos, vibes, organ combinations, strings and electric and upright bass. With a maximum simultaneous “polyphonic” note output of 32 notes, the P-150 delivers uncompromising performance capabilities.

■ Organ combination editing

The P-150 comes equipped with two preset organ voices, plus organ combination editing features which let you create your own organ sounds and store them in Performances for instant recall. The organ combination editing features give you precise control over flute footages as well as attack settings.

■ Digital signal processing

The P-150 has a built-in digital signal processor that lets you apply stereo reverb, chorus, symphonic and tremolo effects to the voices, and lets you tailor the quality of the voices to suit your needs with an internal equalizer, as well as a three-band graphic equalizer on the upper panel.

■ Touch-sensitive keyboard with velocity scaling

The P-150’s full-range 88-key, weighted action piano keyboard incorporates Yamaha’s unique Action Effect II keyboard technology, which gives it the genuine feel and response of a real piano keyboard. You can even adjust the keyboard’s sensitivity level, or velocity scaling, to suit your playing style, for both internal tone generator and MIDI message transmission.

■ Dual and Split voice modes

The P-150’s Dual and Split modes let you play two voices at once, a “main” voice and a “sub” voice, either by layering the two voices of your choice (Dual mode) or by assigning a different voice to each end of the keyboard (Split mode). In Split mode, the key transposition values can be set independently for both main and sub voices.

■ One-touch Performance recall

The P-150 features a Performance Play mode that lets you store up to 24 Performances, or configurations of all voice, MIDI and other parameter settings, for recall at the touch of a button. This lets you instantly change your sound and entire setup as you play, or between songs in a live set. The P-150 is set at the factory with 24 Preset Performances, but you can overwrite them and store User Performances which you create yourself. The P150 features extensive editing and storing capabilities.

■ Master keyboard features

The P-150 offers many of the control features standard in a MIDI master keyboard, including velocity sensitivity, pitch bend and modulation wheels, an assignable CS (continuous slider), program change send and receive capabilities, MIDI transpose and merge functions, and bulk dumping and multitimbral capabilities. Plus, the P-150 gives you the option of connecting a foot controller (FC) that can be assigned MIDI and other functions in the same manner as the CS. With its powerful MIDI capabilities, the P-150 can easily feature at the heart of an expanded MIDI system.

How to Use this Manual

This owner’s manual is organized and designed to help you get set up and begin enjoying the P-150 as quickly as possible, as well as to easily locate and learn about any feature you need. The GETTING STARTED section briefly but thoroughly explains the proper procedure for setting up the instrument, listening to the onboard Demo songs, and exploring the basic voices. The VOICE PLAY MODE, PERFORMANCE PLAY MODE and EDIT MODE sections include explanations of each feature and step-bystep details about how to access and manipulate the many parameters. An APPENDIX provides Voice and Performance lists and other technical information, including descriptions of error messages and a troubleshooting guide, plus MIDI specifications and other MIDI related information. Finally, an alphabetical INDEX lets you quickly reference the page number of any feature you want to locate.

Special Symbols

Throughout this manual two special symbols are used to connote additional information.

Indicates an important cautionary note for the feature being described.

Indicates a supplementary explanation for the feature being described.

■ Location

Do not use the P-150 in locations where it will be exposed to direct sunlight, extreme temperatures, high humidity or excessive dust or vibration.

■ Handling

Avoid rough handling. Do not drop the P-150 or subject it to shock, as these can damage the instrument’s internal circuitry. Also, do not apply excessive force to the controls or terminals. When moving the P-150, first unplug the AC power cord and all other cables to prevent damage to the cords and jacks. When removing plugs from terminals, always grip the plugs directly rather than pulling on the cord.

■ Cleaning

To clean the P-150, use a slightly moist cloth and a neutral cleanser. Do not use abrasive cleansers, waxes, solvents, or chemically treated cloths, as these may damage the cabinet’s finish or dull the keys.

■ AC Power

The power requirements of your P-150 has been set to match the main power supply voltage in your area. Make sure that your local AC mains voltage matches the voltage as specified on the name plate located on the rear panel of your P-150. If you plan to use your P-150 in an area with a different voltage, be sure to use an appropriate converter. If you have any doubts about voltage compatibility, please consult your local Yamaha dealer.

■ Electromagnetic Interference

Avoid using your P-150 near televisions, radios or other devices which generate electromagnetic fields, as electromagnetic interference can cause the P-150 to malfunction, and may generate interference noise in the other devices as well.

■ Extended Disuse

Electrical storms can cause power surges which can damage the P-150’s circuitry even if the power switch is turned off. Therefore, it is best to disconnect the P-150’s power cord from the AC outlet when you will not be using it for an extended period of time.

■ Service and Modification

The P-150 contains no user serviceable parts, so never open the instrument’s cabinet or tamper with the internal circuitry or mechanisms in any way. Doing so can result in electrical shock or damage to the P-150. Refer all servicing to qualified Yamaha service personnel.

■ Backup Battery

The P-150’s internal settings are preserved by a lithium backup battery which has a life span of approximately five years. (The battery’s life span may differ, depending on the time elapsed between your P-150’s date of manufacture and the date you purchased it.) When the battery charge runs low, the “ERROR1 REPLACE BATTERY” error message will appear in the LCD screen. If this message appears, save any settings you may want to keep to an external data storage device (such as the Yamaha MDF2 Data Filer) using the bulk dump procedure, then contact a qualified Yamaha service center to have the battery replaced. Do not attempt to replace the backup battery yourself!

YAMAHA CANNOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR DAMAGE CAUSED BY IMPROPER HANDLING OR OPERATION OF THE P-150!

The LCD screen displays as illustrated in this manual are for instructional purposes only, and may appear somewhat different from your P-150’s.

INTRODUCTION............................................................................................................ 1

PRECAUTIONS............................................................................................................. 2

UPPER PANEL.............................................................................................................. 4

REAR PANEL ................................................................................................................ 9

P-150 OVERVIEW....................................................................................................... 10

GETTING STARTED ................................................................................................... 14

Setting up the P-150............................................................................................................. 14

Turning on the Power ........................................................................................................... 16

Playing the Demo Songs...................................................................................................... 17

Playing the Voices................................................................................................................ 18

VOICE PLAY MODE.................................................................................................... 19

Single Mode.......................................................................................................................... 20

Stereo/Mono Piano...............................................................................................................21

Electric/Upright Bass ............................................................................................................ 21

Reverb Effects ...................................................................................................................... 22

Modulation Effects................................................................................................................ 23

Panel Equalizer..................................................................................................................... 25

Main and Sub Voices............................................................................................................ 25

Dual Mode ............................................................................................................................ 26

Split Mode............................................................................................................................. 28

Transpose............................................................................................................................. 33

MIDI Transmit Enable........................................................................................................... 36

MIDI Panic ............................................................................................................................ 37

PERFORMANCE PLAY MODE................................................................................... 38

Selecting Single Voices........................................................................................................ 39

Selecting Dual Voices...........................................................................................................40

Selecting Split Voices........................................................................................................... 40

EDIT MODE................................................................................................................. 42

System.................................................................................................................................. 44

MIDI Filter ............................................................................................................................. 46

Program Change (PC) Table................................................................................................ 46

Channel ................................................................................................................................ 47

Local..................................................................................................................................... 48

Continuous Slider (CS) / Foot Controller (FC)...................................................................... 48

Panel Switch (PS)................................................................................................................. 50

Name.................................................................................................................................... 50

Organ Combination...............................................................................................................50

Pitch Bend Wheel (PB) / Modulation Wheel (MW) ............................................................... 51

Keyboard Sensitivity............................................................................................................. 51

Internal Equalizer.................................................................................................................. 52

Reverb.................................................................................................................................. 52

Modulation ............................................................................................................................ 52

STORE......................................................................................................................... 53

APPENDIX................................................................................................................... 55

Bulk Dump .............................................................................................................................55

Initialize................................................................................................................................. 56

Using MIDI............................................................................................................................ 57

Error Messages .................................................................................................................... 60

Troubleshooting.................................................................................................................... 61

Specifications.........................................................................................................................63

Factory Default Settings ........................................................................................................64

Blank Chart............................................................................................................................70

MIDI Data Format ..................................................................................................................72

MIDI Implementation Chart....................................................................................................81

Index......................................................................................................................................82

UPPER PANEL

REAR PANEL

P-150 OVERVIEW

GETTING STARTED

VOICE PLAY MODE

PERFORMANCE

PLAY MODE

EDIT MODE

STORE

APPENDIX

UPPER PANEL

ON/ OFF

POWER

CONTRAST

PITCH MODULATION

MIN

MAX

VOLUME

-1/NO +1/YES

BALANCE DETUNE

PAGE

PS1 PS2 SPLIT TRANSPOSE MIDI

DATA ENTRY

1 [PHONES] jack

This jack on the front panel lets you connect a pair of stereo headphones to the P-150 for private listening. The internal speakers will automatically be disconnected when you plug in the headphones. The sound of the internal voices output from the [OUTPUT] jacks is not affected.

2 Keyboard

This 88-key weighted action, touch-sensitive keyboard incorporates Yamaha’s unique Action Effect II keyboard technology, which gives it the genuine feel and response of a real piano keyboard.

3 Speakers

These two built-in 13 cm speakers each provide an output of 20 watts. If you connect the P-150 to an external monitor system, you may choose to turn the speakers off using the [SPEAKER] switch located on the rear panel.

UPPER PANEL

OUT MIDI

IN THRU FOOT CONTROLLER SOFT SOSTENUTO SUSTAIN

ONOFF

SPEAKEROUTPUT

L/MONO R

INPUT

L/MONOL/MONO R

EDIT PERF.B VOICE

STORE PERF.A

SYSTEM

MIDI FILTER PC TABLE CHANNEL LOCAL CS FC PS NAME ORGAN

COMBINATION

PB MW KBD SENS. INT.EQ

PIANO 1

123456789101112

PIANO 2 PIANO 3 PIANO 4 E.PIANO 1 E.PIANO 2 E.PIANO 3 VIBES ORGAN1 ORGAN2 STRINGS BASS HALL

STAGE

ROOM

TREMOLO

SYMPHONIC

CHORUS

REVERB MODULATION

HIGHMIDDLELOW

EQUALIZEREFFECT

UPPER PANEL

ON/ OFF

POWER

PITCH

MODULATION

2 3

1 [POWER] switch

This switch turns the power on and off. When the power is turned on, the mode and status designated when the power was previously turned off will still be active.

2 [PITCH] wheel

This wheel can be used to bend the pitch of the notes that you play, up or down; the wheel automatically returns to the center position when you release it. (In Dual mode, both voices are affected; in Split mode, only the main voice is affected.) When the MIDI Transmit Switch is enabled, you can use it to transmit pitch bend messages to other instruments. You can assign the pitch bend range to any value within a one-octave range.

3 [MODULATION] wheel

This wheel can be used in various ways. Normally you will use it to apply a vibrato effect to the notes that you play, with increasing intensity as you roll it upwards; the wheel remains at the specific position that you set it when you let go of it. (In Dual mode, both voices are modulated; in Split mode, only the main voice is modulated. The vibrato effect cannot be applied to Piano voices 1 ~ 4.) You can also assign it to control reverb depth or modulation speed. When MIDI transmission is enabled, you can use it to transmit modulation messages to other instruments.

■UPPER PANEL—A

UPPER PANEL

1 [VOLUME] slider

This slider adjusts the overall volume of sound output from the internal speakers (or headphones, if connected) as well as the sound output from the [OUTPUT] jacks on the rear panel. Moving the slider upward increases volume level, while moving the slider downward decreases volume level.

2 [CS, DATA ENTRY] slider

This is a multiple function slider. As a [CS] (continuous slider), you can assign it to control a variety of functions. As a [DATA ENTRY] slider, you can use it to change specific settings and parameters, depending on the current mode and status. Moving the slider upward increases the specified value, while moving the slider downward decreases the specified value.

3 [PS1, –1/NO] button

This is a dual function button. As a [PS1] (Panel Switch 1) button, you can assign it to control various functions of the internal voices as well as connected MIDI devices, as set by the PS Edit function. As a [–1/NO] button, you can use it to change parameter settings in decrements.

4 [PS2, +1/YES] button

This is a dual function button. As a [PS2] (Panel Switch 2) button, you can assign it to control various functions of the internal voices as well as connected MIDI devices, as set by the PS Edit function. As a [+1/YES] button, you can use it to change parameter settings in increments.

5 [SPLIT, BALANCE, 1] button

This is a multiple function button. As a [SPLIT] button, you can use it to enter Split mode, whether in Voice Play or Performance Play mode, determine the split point and assign the keyboard area for the main and sub voices. As a [BALANCE] button, you can use it to set the relative volume levels of each Split and Dual voice, by holding the [BALANCE] button and moving the [DATA ENTRY] slider ". As a [1] (cursor left) button in Edit mode, you can use it to move the cursor to the left in the LCD screen in order to position it over a desired parameter.

6 [TRANSPOSE, DETUNE, q] button

This is a multiple function button. As a [TRANSPOSE] button, you can use it to set the keyboard transpose value for single as well as both Dual voices or Split voices. As a [DETUNE] button, you can use it to set the detune value for the two Dual voices, by holding it and moving the [DATA ENTRY] slider ". As a [q] (cursor right) button in Edit mode, you can use it to move the cursor to the right in the LCD screen in order to position it over a desired parameter.

7 [MIDI, PAGE] button

This is a dual function button. As a [MIDI] transmit button, you can use it to quickly enable or disable the P-150’s transmission of MIDI messages. You can also hold the [MIDI] button while pressing other buttons to access certain features. As a [PAGE] button, you can use it to step through the various pages of Edit functions when the P-150 is in Edit mode.

8 [CONTRAST] dial

This dial lets you adjust the contrast of the LCD screen for optimum visibility. Rotating it to the left will decrease screen contrast, while rotating it to the right will increase screen contrast.

9 LCD screen

This backlit 32-character Liquid Crystal Display screen provides various information about the modes and operating status of the P-150. Certain messages are displayed only temporarily, but you can designate the “Popup Time” according to your preference.

CONTRAST

MIN

MAX

VOLUME

-1/NO +1/YES

BALANCE DETUNE

PAGE

PS1 PS2 SPLIT TRANSPOSE MIDI

DATA ENTRY

1 2 3 4 5 6789

■ UPPER PANEL— B

UPPER PANEL

1 [STORE] button

This button lets you store changes that you make to a Performance, as well as copy the current Performance into any Performance memory. The P-150 can store 24 Performances.

2 [EDIT] button

This button lets you enter Edit mode and access the various Edit functions. After pressing it once, the LED above the [EDIT] button will begin blinking, as will the light above the currently selected [EDIT SELECT] button % . Pressing it again will return you to the previous Play mode.

3 [PERF. A, B] buttons

These buttons let you enter Performance Play mode and select any of the 24 Performances. The P-150 is set at the factory with 24 Preset Performances, but you can overwrite them and store User Performances which you create yourself. The [PERF. A] and [PERF. B] banks hold 12 Performances each, and a lit LED above one of the buttons indicates the currently active bank.

4 [VOICE] button

This button lets you enter Voice Play mode by pressing [VOICE] and then pressing a [VOICE SELECT] button % . A lit LED above the [VOICE] button indicates you’re in Voice Play mode.

5 [VOICE, PERFORMANCE, EDIT SELECT] buttons

These 12 buttons each have multiple functions, depending on the current mode. In Voice Play mode you can use them to select any of the 12 preset AWM instrument voices you want to play; the voice names are printed in red above the buttons. In Performance Play mode you can use them to select any of the 24 Performances (12 Performances per bank); the Performance numbers are printed above the buttons. In Edit mode, you can use them to select the Edit functions; the Edit function names are printed in green below the buttons.

6 [REVERB] button

This button lets you select either a Room, Stage or Hall reverb effect, or no reverb effect, to apply to the currently selected voice. Each voice has a default reverb setting preprogrammed at the factory which you can change.

7 [MODULATION] button

This button lets you select either a Chorus, Symphonic or Tremolo modulation effect, or no modulation effect, to apply to the currently selected voice. Each voice has a default modulation setting preprogrammed at the factory which you can change.

8 [EQUALIZER] sliders

These sliders let you graphically adjust the level of the sound output of the P-150 in three bands: High, Middle and Low. In Dual and Split modes, the changes you make will affect both voices.

EDIT PERF.B VOICE

STORE PERF.A

SYSTEM

MIDI FILTER PC TABLE CHANNEL LOCAL CS FC PS NAME ORGAN

COMBINATION

PB MW KBD SENS. INT.EQ

PIANO 1

123456789101112

PIANO 2 PIANO 3 PIANO 4 E.PIANO 1 E.PIANO 2 E.PIANO 3 VIBES ORGAN1 ORGAN2 STRINGS BASS HALL

STAGE

ROOM

TREMOLO

SYMPHONIC

CHORUS

REVERB MODULATION

HIGHMIDDLELOW

EQUALIZEREFFECT

3 456 7 8

■UPPER PANEL—C

1 2 3 5 64

1 [SPEAKER] switch

This switch lets you turn off the P-150’s internal speakers. It does not affect the output from the [OUTPUT] jacks or the [PHONES] jack.

2 [INPUT] jacks

These jacks let you input line-level signals from another electronic instrument, such as a rhythm programmer, external tone generator, or synthesizer, and monitor it through the P150’s internal speakers. Use the [L/MONO] jack when connecting only a single line.

3 [OUTPUT] jacks

These jacks output line-level signals which can be input directly to an external amplifier, mixer or other audio device. Use the [L/MONO] jack if your audio equipment has only one input.

4 Pedal jacks

These jacks let you connect up to three foot pedals and use them as sustain, sostenuto and soft pedals. A single FC4 footswitch is included with your P-150. If you wish to attach additional foot pedals, be sure to use only Yamaha models FC4 or FC5.

5 [FOOT CONTROLLER] jack

This jack lets you connect a foot controller (Yamaha FC7, available separately) for use as an auxiliary controller. The [FC] foot controller can be assigned to control a variety of functions, including reverb depth or modulation speed, which lets you change these parameters by foot as you play.

6 [MIDI] terminals

These terminals allow the P-150 to communicate with other MIDI devices, using standard MIDI cables. To control the P-150 using a sequencer or another keyboard, connect the MIDI out jack of the external device to the [MIDI IN] jack of the P-150. To control another device (such as a synthesizer or tone generator) using the P-150, connect the [MIDI OUT] jack of the P-150 to the MIDI in jack of the external device. The [MIDI THRU] jack simply passes the data received at the P-150’s [MIDI IN] jack through unaffected, and is used when connecting three or more MIDI devices in a series.

SPEAKER

ON OFF

INPUT

R L/MONO

OUTPUT

R L/MONO

SOFTSOSTENUTOSUSTAIN FOOT CONTROLLER

MIDI OUT

THRU IN

+ 30 hidden pages