Yamaha Announces Disklavier Mark IV Pianos

Jan 4, 2005 12:35 PM

           
 

Yamaha has announced that its Disklavier Mark IV-series pianos will include the PDA-style wireless Pocket Remote Controller, which features a full-color LCD touch screen. Select models also feature the Tablet Remote Controller, a portable 10.4-inch touch-screen LCD control-panel that offers animated, customizable visual environments. Both remote controllers use the IEEE 802.11b wireless specification to communicate with the piano over long distances, enabling full-function control of the Disklavier according to the manufacturer.

The Yamaha Mark IV also features built-in, high-capacity hard drives for storing MIDI, CD-audio, and graphics data, as well as a software-based architecture built on the Linux operating system. The Mark IV’s 80 GB hard drive replaces the 16 MB flash memory found in previous models, which were only capable of storing MIDI files.

The new Disklavier also incorporates several new family entertainment features, including karaoke-file compatibility, microphone input, and vocal harmony, heard from either the piano’s built-in speakers or an external sound system. Lyric data is displayed either via the composite video output found on all Mark IV models, or on the Tablet Remote Control. The current OS is compatible with Tune-1000 karaoke files available at www.yamahamusicsoft.com. Yamaha plans to support other formats in the future.

The Disklavier’s Media Center, where basic playback controls and the motorized CD tray are located, has a new low-profile configuration with a retractable cover. The Mark IV has video synchronization capabilities that lets users videotape their own performances and play them back later with the Disklavier synchronized to the image. The only extra hardware required is a video capture device with audio inputs, and a playback device with audio outputs, such as a camcorder.

For more information, visit www.yamaha.com/disklavier.