Yamaha Corporation of America continues to build on its successful line of portable keyboard products with the debut of the 61-key PSR292 and 76-key DGX202. Set to deliver in the third quarter of 2002, the PSR292 and DGX202 retain many of the fun and educational features of their predecessors, with a new emphasis on computer friendliness.

Consumers have always listed the piano as the most important sound in a portable keyboard. The PSR292 and DGX202 have the feel and sound of an acoustic piano with full-sized, touch-sensitive keys, a stereo-sampled piano voice and dynamic filteringÖtechnology usually reserved for high-end professional units. Playing piano is fast and easy with the Yamaha Portable Grand function, as one dedicated piano-shaped button sets up the keyboard to play as a piano in full keyboard mode.

When players say that these keyboards speak to them, they mean it, as many of the functions have vocal cues that announce in English. The built-in Yamaha Education Suite (YES) contains both right-hand and left-hand exercises, a built-in chord directory and interactive functions that grade the playing of internal exercises. YES will count down the beat, just as a teacher would. And, to make the learning experience complete, a music book containing the internal songs is included. Plus, with Yamaha's Music Database, simply select from over 200 song titles, and the entire keyboard will set itself up for that song.

Expandability has become easy and affordable, as both… read more models contain Flash ROM, allowing the user to download new music and store it in the onboard, non-volatile memoryÖeliminating the need for a disk drive.

The PSR292 and DGX202 are ideal for use with a home computer. Both models contain MIDI IN/OUT connectors, are General MIDI compatible, and feature a new Computer function button for effortless connection.

"A single button is now your expressway to music on the Web and your computer," states Jim Presley, marketing manager, Portable Keyboards, Pro Audio & Combo Division. "You no longer have to wade through function menus and a maze of selections. It couldn't be easier."

Other professional features include bass ports for enhanced sound, 32 notes of polyphony, Yamaha's exclusive Wave Memory tone generation technology and an easy-to-read, icon-based LCD display. The DGX202 also features a pitch bend wheel. Both models are easy to carry, and can be battery operated. read less