Yamaha P-515 club

nhanzero · 2021-10-04T10:57:09+00:00

Just got here from PW, I do feel this place is much more elegant, and because I want to tell the world about my new beauty also!

Deleted

Skropi Which woes would those be? I think that the most prevalent negative comments about the p515 are about the heavy action, which seems totally normal to me.

It's a regular NW-GH action. Takes some time to get used to, when you come from the cheap short-pivot sub 15 kilograms segment (Casio anything, Kawai "RH" Compact, Roland "PHA4" Standard, Yamaha "GH" Standard).

Drew-r

Skropi

Skropi Which woes would those be?

I remember a rash of new owners where the common thread seemed to be 1) they first tried their new 515 with headphones and immediately liked the CFX/binaural then 2) played through on-board speakers, were disappointed, could not figure out why, had no luck tweaking and twiddling to the point of frustration. A couple returned the 515 and got a different brand. One of them was a group effort involving several here 🙂 to help owner get past 1 & 2 plus figure out how to properly connect and basic use of external monitors and DAW.

I think a lot of the woe was from newby/cockpit errors.

Skropi

Drew-r I think a lot of the woe was from newby/cockpit errors.

My previous keyboard is a ew 300, it has the worst possible synth action, and utterly useless speakers. As you can imagine, the p515 is like heaven on earth for me 😂

Drew-r

Skropi

You mean kinda like “oooo” 🦨 300! Ahhhhh 515 🌹
?

Skropi

Today my son played for the first time with the hd559. Guys, he took them off three times to make sure that the sound really came from the headphones. I am sure that means that the binaural cfx is very good 😁

Deleted

Skropi I am sure that means that the binaural cfx is very good

The binaural recording is very convincing, but the very first implementation (used in the P-515) only features a single sample layer. The stereo CFX has at least four or maybe five and is worth playing aloud.

MacMacMac

Binaural is astounding, isn't it?

I've heard binaural demos (non-piano) that stink.
Just because you can have sound flying around the room doesn't mean you should.

But when I tried the N3X a year ago, with headphones ... what a delight. Truly amazing.

Skropi

Deleted The binaural recording is very convincing, but the very first implementation (used in the P-515) only features a single sample layer. The stereo CFX has at least four or maybe five and is worth playing aloud.

I personally prefer to play without headphones, as I always found them tiresome, but I always had cheap ones. Now with the hd559 I am amazed, they are very comfortable, and they dont tire me at all, but I still prefer playing without them, except when playing at night.

Drew-r

[deleted]

[deleted] Can anyone help me understand what software I would need if I were to make a video playing my P515 (recording on the piano at the same time) and then using the recorded soundtrack from the piano spliced onto the video? I'm not sure where to begin…

I think ( maybe more so wishful thinking) these kinds of piano/technical questions, in time, will become it’s own category for discussion especially by members who do not (yet) have a lot of hands-on experience with somewhat advanced DP uses BUT may want to try getting their feet wet …. with a little help from forum friends.

So far, thank you to those who replied with helpful suggestions. They were given here in a way that provides genuinely helpful, practical explanation without smacking down or belittling an inexperienced OP/inquirer the way i sometimes came to expect on PW. There, often times the aura of learned users who seem to have lots of practical experience with certain advanced uses of a DP - such as with midi over true midi versus midi over usb to a smart phone or tablet or PC ….. also recording video to be synchronized with audio ….. and the return path to DP might be midi or it might be digital audio or it might be analog audio - have a way of answering these inquiries by speaking from an over-inflated wavelength easy to not be appreciated by the inquirer who’s lack of experience is often the reason they took the risk of virtually embarrassing themselves by asking in a public forum.

Soon i too hope to try playing a DP with USB that supports midi & audio for the purpose of recording a&v, via ipad ….. just trying to give fair warning 😳

DPPianoPhil

vagfilm

At the moment, the P-515 is on top of my list (upgrading from a weightless keyed Yamaha PSR-E373), with the Roland Fp-60x in second (or even the FP-90x but that may be a tad too much). However since it (or all, really) can't be found in stock anywhere, I am willing to wait until the upcoming NAMM to see if a P-525 comes out. 🙂

porco_rosso

Deleted The binaural recording is very convincing, but the very first implementation (used in the P-515) only features a single sample layer.

Are you sure about this? Does that mean that there is only one sample per note and that the only difference between ppp/pp/p/mp/… is the loudness, but not a change in timbre due to the lack of different samples for the dynamic layers?

Deleted

porco_rosso Are you sure about this?

I am able to discern sample layers by ear, even if their timbre is changed artificially ("harmonic imaging" etc.).

However for me too many sample layers are just as annoying as too few. I notice when I hit a different sample each time I hit a key, especially if they are not blended well and I also notice the repetitiveness of too few or the entire lack of layers.

Though it's nothing unusual to only have one sample layer for a side voice inside a P-series instrument. With the 4+ layers for the Stereo CFX main voice they got it right. Everything below $1000 only has one sample layer even for the main voice.

burkey

MacMacMac you get all the piano goodness of a Clav ... at half the price

Perhaps not half the price anymore...
There's a CLP-645 selling near me for USD $480 (funny - in the time since I posted this they've raised the price up to USD $550!):
https://www.thepiano.sg/piano/used/43779/yamaha-digital-piano-clp-645-0

burkey

Deleted The binaural recording is very convincing

The problem arises when you turn your head... Then it sounds like the piano is invisible (to your left, right, up, or down!).

This is where head orientation tracking via camera plus sound modeling gives you the full 'meta' experience!

Drew-r

DPPianoPhil However since it (or all, really) can't be found in stock anywhere, I am willing to wait until the upcoming NAMM to see if a P-525 comes out. 🙂

Are you aware NAMM 22’ currently is scheduled for June?

DPPianoPhil

Thanks to you Drew-r , I do now. 😉 Thanks! Even if announced in June, it might be September or October before I could get my hands on that possible successor.

I may just have to go with the P-515 then, or one Roland or other, depending on availability.

Gamma1734

Hey, can someone help me with the question if the p515 or the vpc1 is a "better" midi controller for

vst plugins? The priority is not necessarily ppp or fff playing but just a fluid movement when playing scales super quickly, or a solid grip when playing big repeated chords passages where it doesn't feel like the keyboard is braking down under your fingers and you have to fight against the keys. Thanks.

porco_rosso

The VPC1 feels exceptionally well in this regard (fluidity and especially the solid feel of not breaking under you fingers). It should feel similar to the CA98 (?) you had, with a heavier touch and a significantly shorter pivot (thats its major shortcoming imo).

Was not a a big fan of the P515s action, but just played it a few times in a music store.

Why, do you want to sell your E-200 ATX3?

CyberGene

Gamma1734

A PW member was once researching this. He first bought a P515 and didn't like it and then ended up with a VPC1 but complained about an irregularity in the velocity response between white and black keys. Not sure what happened next... I personally like the P515 keyboard, recently played it in a store and thought the entire package is very well balanced and maybe the best digital piano for the money for any digital piano player, from beginners to advanced pianists.

« Previous Page Next Page »