Yamaha Continues Disklavier Piano Tradition with Mark III Series

 

Buena Park, Calif., April 27, 2000 -- For more than ten years, the Yamaha Disklavier piano has represented a successful marriage of tradition and technology.  That success continues with the introduction of the Disklavier Mark III series grand pianos.  The Mark III offers all of the features that have made the Disklavier the preeminent digital/acoustic instrument and adds a full range of innovative developments, including SmartKey, Quiet Mode, and audio/MIDI CD functions.

Yamaha's Disklavier Mark III (click on image for larger view)

The Yamaha Disklavier is a computerized digital/acoustic piano that offers the best of both worlds—a fine acoustic piano and the ability to record and play back performances note-for-note—with its keys and pedals moving up and down as on classic player pianos of old. In fact, its sophisticated system of fiberoptic sensors tracks the movements of the piano’s hammers, keys and pedals while capturing every nuance of performance in digital form on the same 3.5-inch floppy disks used in personal computers. The result is a technological marvel that offers endless entertainment and educational applications.

Responding to market demand for low volume performance levels, Yamaha has developed the Quiet Mode feature.  When Quiet Mode is activated, the hammers of the Mark III do not physically strike the strings.  Instead, an onboard 16MB digital piano sound is routed through the speaker system, allowing the user to decrease the volume to any level they desire.  When headphones are plugged in, sound to the speakers is cut off to provide complete privacy.  This feature also enables players to mute the piano voice while playing digital sounds from the keyboard—an ideal option for creating multi-track recordings.  Even with the mute rail engaged, the keyboard touch is not compromised, thanks to a patented “Quick Escape Action” design.

To suit the mood of any performance, the Mark III has a built-in 120-watt, six-speaker concealed sound system with adjustable brilliance control.  Specifically designed for the Disklavier, the system produces accurate audio reproduction.

The Mark III comes complete with an expanded 16MB memory, allowing users to store up to 3,500 song files into nine libraries and recall programmed playback using the onboard clock.  This popular option is now a permanent feature on the Disklavier.

Both recording and playback quality have also been advanced.  Enhanced sensors measure smaller increments of key movements and continuously log those movements and velocity, producing a more precise recording of any performance, while high-powered solenoids produce increased dynamic range and soften playback.

What’s more, the Mark III also includes Yamaha’s XG sound set, a full spectrum of instrumental accompaniment for live performance or multi-track recording.  This feature has new and improved samples for the player’s enjoyment and can be easily accessed through the more compact and aesthetically pleasing control unit. The Disklavier Mark III series of grand pianos includes nine models.

For more information on the Disklavier Mark III series grand pianos, write Yamaha Corporation of America, Piano Division, P.O. Box 6600, Buena Park, CA 90622-6600; call (714) 522-9011; or visit our website at www.yamaha.com

Source: Yamaha Corp.
www.yamaha.com