Blake’s Take: CP OS v2.0

CP Series OS v2.0 for CP88/73 has arrived. You’ll find new pianos, new Live Sets and new features, several of which were requested from our YamahaSynth IdeaScale community. Get CP OS v2.0 here.

Here’s what’s new!

Sound

New Pianos

CP OS v2.0 adds two Concert Grand Piano Voices: The all-new CFX2 and a nicely revoiced version of the Bösendorfer Imperial 290. Let’s start with the beautiful CFX2.

CFX2

Yamaha introduced the new CFX Concert Grand Piano in 2022. Over a decade of evaluation by world-class pianists resulted in a truly remarkable piano. The new CFX features many design improvements:

  • Acoustic Resonance Enhancement (A.R.E) rim and back posts.
  • A new soundboard design.
  • A reshaped bridge.
  • An innovative hammer design.
  • A lighter frame.

The new CFX2 Voice captures this deeper tone remarkably well yet still retains the projection and clarity of the original CFX.

Imperial+

The Bösendorfer Model 290 Imperial is a 9’6” (290 cm) concert grand with a full 8-octave range from C0 to C8. That extended range adds 9 more keys below the lowest note on a standard 88-key grand piano, for a total of 97 keys. The Imperial is the flagship concert grand of the Bösendorfer line and has been in the CP Series from the beginning, appearing as “Imperial”. It has a big, resonant sound and a powerful low end. CP OS v2.0 adds a revoiced version called “Imperial+”. Imperial+ features a tighter midrange frequency response, improving note clarity and presence. The original Imperial has a bigger low end and a more resonant character. They are very similar, but Imperial+ feels like a better choice for solo playing, while the original Imperial might sound better in a larger ensemble or orchestral score.

Eight New Live Sets

CP OS v2.0 features eight new Live Sets showcasing the CFX2 and Imperial+ voices by themselves with other instruments from the E.Piano and Sub Sections.

Design

Let’s look at the design updates to the CP Series. Many of these new features are a direct result of customer requests posted on the YamahaSynth IdeaScale forum.

Tempo Delay

Tempo Delay has been added in the Delay Section. Access it by pressing the [DELAY] button until the “Digital” lamp and [TIME] knob blink. To use the Tap Tempo feature, PRESS and HOLD the [EXIT] button located on the left side in the Live Set Section and tap the [DELAY] button. The LCD will show the tempo, and three consecutive taps will engage the tap tempo.

This was a requested feature and it’s VERY welcome. It’s a feature I use all the time on the YC Series and it’s great to have on CP. It makes adjusting the delay time to a drummer’s tempo easy!

Damper Resonance Effect Adjustment

The Damper Resonance Effect recreates the sympathetic open string resonance occurring when the damper pedal is down. CP OS v2.0 adds controls for Damper Resonance amount and Wet/Dry balance. This allows discerning pianists the ability to fine-tune the Damper Resonance Amount. When taken to extremes, produces a cool ethereal pad-like effect useful as an ambient texture. Damper Resonance is found under Live Set [SETTINGS]>Sound>Piano>Damper Resonance:

Output Gain Control

Here’s another new feature requested from the YamahaSynth IdeaScale community: Output Gain adjustment. This allows you to adjust the gain of the stereo outputs by +/- 24 dB in increments of 3 dB. This is a very useful feature when you need to increase the output gain to a low-level input or decrease it to prevent clipping. You’ll find Output Gain in [MENU]>General>I/O Volume:

Section Switch Mode

CP Series has always featured Seamless Sound Switching between Live Sets or between Voices within a Live Set Section. CP OS v2.0 adds a related feature for Sections called Section Switch Mode. When switching off a section you can choose to immediately cut the sound off or only after the next key is pressed. This is great for people who want to switch a Section off during live performance but need the sound to ring through. Section Switch Mode is found in [MENU]>Control Panel>Advanced Settings>Section SW Mode:

USB MIDI Controller

The CP Series gets more versatile with the USB MIDI Controller feature. This lets you play the CP from USB MIDI controller connected to the USB TO DEVICE port. For example, if you like the feeling of a specific USB controller with a lighter synth action when playing Synth Leads in the Sub Section, just connect it with a USB cable to the [TO DEVICE] port and that’s it. It’s literally plug and play.

Doubled User Live Sets

CP OS v2.0 doubles the number of Live Sets for a total of 320 Live Sets, or 40 Pages of 8 User Live Sets. You get more sounds at your fingertips

Auto Power Off Update

Auto Power Off has been simplified to “Enable” or “Disable”. When enabled, CP will automatically shut off after 15 minutes if left untouched.

Get CP OS v2.0 here!

Blake’s Take: SEQTRAK OS v1.2

SEQTRAK OS v1.2 adds workflow improvements that make music production and live performance even easier. Best of all it’s free to all SEQTRAK users.

Get SEQTRAK OS v1.2 here.

Let’s take a closer look at what’s new in SEQTRAK OS v1.2.

Sample Looping

SEQTRAK’s onboard sampler allows you to record or import audio samples into your music. OS v1.2 adds sample looping as an option. Import your favorite sample loop or sample a live drummer, then quickly set loop points. You can use the SEQTRAK front panel or the app to set the playback type and adjust loop points. Here’s how to turn loop mode on and adjust loop points from the front panel:

The SEQTRAK App has a straightforward UI for engaging loop mode and adjusting loop points too:

Track Mute Mode

SEQTRAK OS v1.2 streamlines Track Mute Mode, allowing single-knob muting and unmuting of Tracks during playback. Press and hold the [ALL] knob, then press the [MUTE] button to enter Track Mute Mode. Check it out:

Once in Mute Mode, a single push of the Track Knobs mutes or unmutes a Track during playback, allowing you to quickly build arrangements. When a Track is muted, the Track LED turns green, and when unmuted, the Track LED is off. This makes it easy to see which Tracks are playing during live performance. It’s a useful feature when building arrangements.

Sampler Slot Mute

A related feature to Track Mute Mode is Sample Slot Mute. Like Track Mute, Sample Slot Mute allows you to mute and unmute the seven Sampler keys. Press and hold the [MUTE] button and press a Sampler Slot to mute or unmute. Check it out:

Record Count-in

I like recording the Synth 1, Synth 2, and DX tracks in real time. Before OS v 1.2, entering real-time record mode was immediate. Now you can engage a simple one-measure record count-in of “one-two-three-four,” giving you a moment to prepare before recording a track. Press and hold the [ALL] knob, then press the [REC SAMPLE] button to engage record count-in:

Here’s record count-in in the SEQTRAK App:

Keyboard Mode Octave Change

You can use the Drum Keys as a keyboard, and SEQTRAK OS v1.2 improves this feature with the ability to change the octave by +/- three octaves. Enter Keyboard Mode by pressing and holding the [ALL] knob and pressing the [KEY] button. You can change octaves using the Drum Keys in the top corners:

Quantized Project Playback

Quantized Project Playback is a new feature for better integration with other gear. It’s a feature that works when SEQTRAK is synchronized to another piece of gear, like a hardware sequencer or drum machine.

During synchronized live performance, you might want to change a SEQTRAK Project. Quantized Project Playback allows you to load a new SEQTRAK project and have it start playback on the next downbeat after the project loads. This allows seamless transitions and keeps the music playing in time.

Auto Copy Pattern Extension

This is a handy feature when creating tracks. Say you start with a one measure pattern and want to extend the length to four measures during recording. Auto Copy Pattern copies bar one to bars 2 through 4 ensuring the music will keep playing with no breaks.

Temp Project Auto Save

It’s never good when you lose your music data, and Temp Project Auto Save minimizes that event. When a project is loaded, the current state is temporarily saved. In the rare event your SEQTRAK runs out of power, you won’t lose your music.

Visualizer External MIDI Trigger

The Visualizer is visual animations for your SEQTRAK music creations. With SEQTRAK OS v1.2, you can now connect external MIDI devices via a standard MIDI cable, USB, or Bluetooth and trigger animations in the Visualizer. It’s a cool live performance feature.

SEQTRAK OS v1.2 is free for all SEQTRAK users. Get it here!

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