new toy

I've been saving up for this purchase for a LONG time. At last, I now have my own portable 88-key digital piano, with way more bells and whistles (literally and figuratively) than I could ever hope to understand how to use. It's a Yamaha S90 ES and has one of the best key actions I've ever felt and the most realistic piano voice I've ever heard in a digital.

I was going to wait until I moved out and was living in my own apartment before making this purchase, because I was originally planning on a Clavinova (the kind that looks more like a spinet), and there's no way I would have room for one here. But a guy I know from college sent me an mp3 he recorded with his S90 ES, and I thought it was a real piano until he told me it was digital. I was hooked.

It's made to be a "stage piano" and a synthesizer workstation, so it doesn't have internal speakers, because they assume you'll be using an amp or some other hookup. There are also no built-in legs, so it's portable -- it even fits in my Civic, with the back seat folded down. So I also bought an amp, music stand, piano stand, sustain pedal, a music light, and a bag with wheels for easier transport. This means I can stand it on end and can more easily find a place to stash it in the house. Or so I thought. This all happened rather quickly, so I haven't had time to clear out a corner even to do that. Still, it's more convenient than a Clavinova, especially since I'll be able to transport it in my own car, and if necessary, even carry it around by myself (although it's infinitely easier with two people).

Unfortunately, the S90 ES was sold out at Sweetwater, where I was ordering it, and the May stock order was already spoken for. The next shipment won't be in until June 19th, then I would probably get it on the 22nd or so. That would be cutting it pretty close to my brother's outdoor wedding on the 24th, where I'll need this thing in full working condition. I was kicking myself for not ordering it two months ago when I was first researching this machine.

But I called Guitar Center in North Olmsted, and they let me have the floor model without a box or manual. They're going to call me when a new, factory fresh one comes in, then I'll give them back this one. Sweet! So if you're shopping for keyboards at Guitar Center, ask for E.J. He's cool.

Not only is there no room in this house to store the keyboard, there isn't even a good place to set it up. Most of the electrical outlets are only 2-prong, so I found a spot near the TV that had two free 3-prongers, just so I could test it out. I'm not so good with audio technology, so I didn't quite get the equalizer set properly (the treble seemed "buzzy" to me sometimes), but it's still an incredible sound.

Yamaha sampled an actual Yamaha grand piano to create the voice of the S90 -- actually, they sampled it several times. Generally, an electric keyboard with touch-sensitive keys will simulate dynamics by increasing or decreasing the volume based on how hard you press the key. But the S90 actually uses a different voice sample when you're playing softly, and even reproduces the effect of string reverberation on sustained notes. Read about it here.

I wish I had the room (and electrical outlets) to leave it set up so I could play with it, but for now it'll just have to sit in the corner. So I guess that was a birthday present to myself. :)

Oh yeah, did I mention I had a birthday yesterday? Something possibly significant happened yesterday as well, but I'd rather not announce it here until I know for sure it's going to happen. Feel free to ask me about it off-blog though.