Tyros 5 – What Can We Expect?

Tyros 5 - What can we Expect?

When the Tyros 5 arranger keyboard appears, what incredible new features can we expect to see on it?

The Tyros 5 is (like Tyros 2, Tyros 3, and Tyros 4) one of the most anticipated instruments in the keyboard world. As Yamaha ‘s flagship arranger keyboard, every generation has featured the cutting edge of its technologies. The accompaniment styles have always been several steps ahead of similar instruments, both in terms of quality and sheer range. Whether it’s a contemporary pop performance, or an epic soundtrack style piece, a polka or a samba, the Tyros has the styles. In terms of sounds too, the Tyros has always delivered Yamaha ‘s best, and that ‘s before we get onto the built in arranger and expandability…

What can we expect to find in the Tyros 5 when it arrives, then? If we look at previous models, could we get an idea of what it will include? Hmmm…. It’s interesting to speculate, so here is a mini guide to what we may see- a sort of ‘reality guided’ wish list…

Tyros 5 - What can we Expect?

Super (Duper) Articulation

The Tyros 5 seems likely to continue the evolution of the Super Articulation sound technology that was first introduced on the Tyros 3. This technology recreates the subtle articulations of acoustic instruments to massively increase realism. For example, a saxophone sound could recreate legato and slide effects, and added breath and key noises. Acoustic guitars added slides when keys were pressed hard, or emulated hammer-ons or pull-offs if notes were close to each other, complete with fretting noises.

The Tyros 5 will no-doubt continue this. The Tyros range has seen its arranger functionality expanded somewhat in recent models, making it a popular tool for composers. Perhaps we’ll see a heavily ‘Super Articulated’ orchestral section? Whatever there is, you can pretty much guarantee that it will be stunningly authentic.

Tyros 5 - What can we Expect?

Expanded Vocal Sounds

One of the major additions to the Tyros 4 was a wide range of highly realistic vocal sounds, which may well be expanded in the Tyros 5. Some years ago, Yamaha began developing Vocaloid technology. In essence, this was a vocal synthesiser that could be programmed to sing words in pitch realistically. Yamaha has continued to develop this technology, the most recent update appearing only last year. Could we see this technology on the Tyros 5? Your own ‘Virtual Vocalist’?

Expanded Arranger and Hard Disk Recorder

Given the scope of the sounds we’ve just given the Tyros 5, the 16-track arranger seems a little bit limited, particularly if you are to take advantage of all those new orchestral and vocal sounds… Maybe this could be 32-tracks, or even 64 tracks. Whilst we’re at it, the previous Tyros only offered an audio recorder capable of recording two tracks. If this was expanded to eight, you could record a whole band, or overdub backing vocals, guitars…
Yamaha has also recently released some very nice ‘Modelling’ based guitar amps (the THR range). Maybe they could include a guitar input and some of this technology to aid recording?

More Polyphony

With all this power, and all these great sounds, we don’t want notes to start dropping out as the polyphony starts to drop out. Currently polyphony stands at an impressive 128 notes. Maybe we could expand this a bit?

Of course, this is all speculation, and only time will tell. What would you like to see in the Tyros 5?

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