Chapters: 00:01 Opening Performance 01:31 Intro Talk 03:53 Yamaha Smart Pianist App with P-515 17:10 Korg Module App with P-515 22:06 Arturia iSem App with P-515 23:20 GeoShred with P-515 25:51 iRealB with P-515 29:00 Conclusion 29:30 End Performance

This is the most unbiased and intelligent presentation of Yamaha 515. BRAVO, Pete! In contrast to the many "pundits" who downplay this instrument in their interviews, what Pete presents is really amazingly well analyzed and demonstrated. Yahama should be ashamed that they don't have a single similar video of this level of expertise themselves. There are all sorts of comparisons on KZfaq on this topic. For the most part they can hardly be called objective due to the author's quite understandable bias or devotion to other brands of digital pianos. Well, I can understand them. Others who try to be on neutral ground rarely go into some detail but often, due to their too superficial and modest abilities as pianists, casually overlook or underestimate all the "hidden" possibilities the 515 offers. In a sense, YAMAHA are guilty of this too. Thirdly, the endless criticism of this instrument is in the direction of the keyboard being heavy (i.e. heavier than other stage pianos: KAWAI-ES 920 or ROLAND-FP 60X). In my estimation, these are totally undeserved and unjustified generalizations, because the P-515's keyboard (we are talking about an instrument of a certain price class, after all) is the most robust of all the keyboards with which it is compared. (I can't speak for the keyboards of Fatar, Korg and Nord, because I have too little experience with them). NWX (Natural Wood X- as it is called) is well supported with wooden slats on both sides. And one more thing, and an important one at that - the length of the pivot, the very length that is longer than even Roland's vaunted (but fragile and brittle on hard Rachmaninoff-like chords or brutal pop-genre fast glissandos) PHA-50. In fact, the static weight of the NWX (Yamaha P-515/CP-88) is relatively close to that of the N1/N1X AvantGrand - i.e. 56.5 g (down to the escapement simulation) and about 82-84 g to the very bottom of the key. The so called "dynamic weight" is a bit under 48 g. (The difference to the N1/N1X AvantGrand is within 1-3 g, which is negligible, but the key-repetition of P-515 is slightly faster). Finally, let's not forget that similar instruments often serve as MIDI controllers. If you're a classical pianist, try playing any Beethoven sonata on a Kawai ES-920 or Roland FP-60X by connecting via MIDI your keyboard to, say, Garritan Abbey Road CFX Concert grand or any of the Vienna Synchron Pianos Bundle. Note the dynamic range you will achieve even with applied dynamic curve changes. In this regard, the P-515 performs much better than its competitors in its price range. So I'm excluding pianos like the Kawai Novus10 and AvantGrand N1or 3X (which I've tested side-by-side, although I have a Yamaha N1 at home. I have to admit, however, that the Kawai Novus 10 really is the winner.). One good test is to try to play as quietly as possible and at the same time even. For this purpose, I think that the first movement of the sonata Op. 27, No. 2 by Beethoven is very appropriate. At Op. 10, No. 2, there are very big differences in dynamics and this is also indicative of the possibility of mastering extremes in nuances when playing. In this sense, the keyboard of the P-515 is really at a good/very good level. Talking about 515, there are reasonable criticisms that the artificial barrier at the pressure, reaching the so-called escapement, is weakly expressed. I suppose this somewhat creates the feeling of well-controlled low dynamics. Whether this is good or bad, everyone can judge for themselves. Personally, it doesn't bother me. The only cons here with the P-515 is that the piano is sold with a polar pedal that does not support the half-pedal technique, re-pedaling, and one must purchase either the dedicated stand+pedal socket (Yamaha L-515+Yamaha LP-1) or Yamaha FC3A Piano Style Sustain Foot Pedal with Half-Pedaling. Cheers, Wess

Dude unbelievable....I just got my P515 and started taking lessons some time ago, I'm so attracted to all I have seen here. Thank you!

This Yamaha P-515 model is perfect instrument!

Really informative video, and some lovely playing. Thanks very much !

Thank you very much for your informative tutorial!

Very tasteful jazz music. I wish I could learn that particular style. Do you teach online??? Big fan of the great Chick Corea.

Thanks, Pete! I found this video to be super helpful. First, I knew that the P-515 didn't have a way to save user registrations, so that feature (or rather lack of it) disqualified it from my list of possible boards to buy. I didn't realize (or had forgotten) that the companion Smart Pianist app DOES allow you to save user registrations. So now that board is back on my list. Secondly, I appreciate your demonstration of how various iPad apps can be integrated into and be controlled by the P-515. That opens up another world of possibilities, doesn't it?

I really enjoyed the video Pete. It inspired me to get the Korg Module along with the Yamaha App. Do you connect the iPad to the host or is the connection done through MIDI? I would appreciate if you could briefly how you made your connections.

I would like to add som extra sound to my CP4, This is a good starting point.

First - GREAT VIDEO. You have covered ground that no one else seemed to cover and answered a lot of my questions already. Thanks for this! Question - when you were layering the app audio (Korg module) with the P515, you changed the P515 volume in the smart pianist ap. That requires swiping on the ipad. Couldn't you have changed the P515 volume manually with the physical knob on the P515 (and the app would just slave along in the background)?

It's supposed to be 432hz, not 430hz.

Great video thanks much

Is this feasible? Playing a 4-hand piano piece: 1. record a part with two hands, then play it back via the ipad through the piano's loudspeakers and play the second part at the same time. for example Liszt Transkription of Beethoven’s Piano Concerto no. 5

Could the P-525 can also use these app ?thanks

Hi there Pete, I connected my Yamaha P 125 to this app, and when I hit the notes, it makes like a sound of interference, I can't use it. Do you know why is this? Could it be the cable?

Can you save a transposed key on your iPad.

How about Psrs970? Or past E-453 please? Thanks

Great information. Thanks ! Could you please create and share parameter setting using Smart Pianist for Steinway sound ?

Super helpful video - thank you! I have a YC73 and am looking to use an IOS iPad sound module to add a bass from the module in the lower side and use Keys A and B in the YC for a piano/strings layer in the upper. Is this possible using just the YC? Thanks in advance and keep up the great work! Rich

Excellent performance and an excellent instrument as well as Gbnd. I use Gbnd iOS in conjunction with Yamaha Genos, PSRX-SX600 and other. I use internal midi in Gbnd. However, How would I set hardware midi setting from hardware keyboards to operate? I expect it’s the same principle used on you hardware keyboard.

Great video! Question - with the iPad connected, is the iPad battery draining, or is there bus power sustaining the iPad while connected? If the battery is draining, do you just plan for that, or use a camera kit that includes a second port for charging and just run another cable?

Your video & performances are incredible, especially that one with the string/flute patch and the piano, it was so beautiful. I have a question about using it with Logic, do you know if you’re able to record WAV directly into an instrument track in Logic? Or do I need to record to USB and then transfer it?

Can you please tell me the exact name of your camera kit and would it be compatible with my IPad Pro and Yamaha p121 keyboard? I want to make sure I purchase the right thing. Thank you.

Hi Peté! The sounds from the virtual instruments come out from the audio outputs of the Yamaha Piano?

Does these sounds just stay when I am in the App smart Pianist, or can I go to garage Band and record with that sound of the piano?

Would it work with a iPad Pro that uses a USB-C cable? Is it plugged into the usb to host at the back

Thanks for the tutorial!! Do you know of a way to hook your iPad up so that it also charges?

If the audio from iPad is coming through usb back into the piano, how do u take out the volume of the internal tones so u get only tones from iPad ?

Sorry what is the cord / adapter that you attach to your IPad called?

Do you need an internet connection to run the KORG module pro? Just wondering for live playing outdoors

Does the app work with the Yamaha PSR EW310

Can one use the Yamaha smart pianist app to play grand piano with the (tiny little) Reface CP??

What brand ipad stand is used in video

Do these apps work with other yamaha digital piano? Like P-115?

Hey man, what is the model of your headphones?

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