ENGLISH P 255 FRANÇAIS DIGITAL PIANO PIANO NUMÉRIQUE PIANO DIGITAL ESPAÑOL Owner’s Manual Mode d'emploi Manual de instrucciones EN Before using the instrument, be sure to read “PRECAUTIONS” on pages 4–5. FR Avant d’utiliser l’instrument, lisez attentivement la section « PRÉCAUTIONS D'USAGE » aux pages 4 et 5. ES Antes de utilizar el instrumento, lea las “PRECAUCIONES”, en las páginas 4–5.
SPECIAL MESSAGE SECTION This product utilizes batteries or an external power supply (adapter). DO NOT connect this product to any power supply or adapter other than one described in the manual, on the name plate, or specifically recommended by Yamaha. WARNING: Do not place this product in a position where anyone could walk on, trip over, or roll anything over power or connecting cords of any kind.
Contents PRECAUTIONS .....................................................4 P-255 Manuals .......................................................6 Included Accessories .............................................6 Main Features 7 Panel Controls & Functions 8 10 Turning on the instrument ......................................10 Auto Power-Off.......................................................10 Adjusting the volume..............................................11 Setting up the music rest..........
PRECAUTIONS PLEASE READ CAREFULLY BEFORE PROCEEDING Please keep this manual in a safe and handy place for future reference. WARNING Always follow the basic precautions listed below to avoid the possibility of serious injury or even death from electrical shock, shortcircuiting, damages, fire or other hazards. These precautions include, but are not limited to, the following: Power supply/AC power adaptor Water warning • Do not place the power cord near heat sources such as heaters or radiators.
Notice Information To avoid the possibility of malfunction/ damage to the product, damage to data, or damage to other property, follow the notices below. About copyrights Handling and Maintenance • Do not use the instrument in the vicinity of a TV, radio, stereo equipment, mobile phone, or other electric devices. Otherwise, the instrument, TV, or radio may generate noise.
Thank you for purchasing the Yamaha P-255 Digital Piano. We recommend that you read this Owner’s Manual carefully in order to get the most out of the instrument’s advanced functionality. In addition, please keep this manual in a safe place so that you can refer back to it whenever needed. P-255 Manuals The following manuals have been prepared for your digital piano. Hardcopy format Digital format (pdf) Owner’s Manual (this booklet) This manual describes how to use the P255.
Main Features Exquisite sound of a concert grand piano faithfully reproduced by the Pure CF Sound Engine In order to give the P-255 the best possible piano sound, we started by selecting the one Yamaha concert grand piano with the highest quality tone and acoustic properties. Expert tuners then painstakingly ensured that the selected piano was perfectly pitched, and finally, our Pure CF Sound Engine technology was employed to meticulously sample the full lifespan of every single note.
Panel Controls & Functions @1 q w e r t y u i o !0 !1 @0 q [ ] Standby/On switch ...................................Page 10 Use this switch to turn the instrument on or set it to Standby mode. w [MASTER VOLUME] slider ............................... Page 11 Use this slider to adjust the instrument’s overall volume. e [DEMO] button ..................................................Page 13 Use this button to play demo tracks for individual Voices. r [TRANSPOSE] button ........................
Panel Controls & Functions @7 @8 @2 @3 @4 @5 @6 !9 !7 !2 !3 !4 !5 !8 !6 !6 [SPLIT] button ...................................................Page 14 @3 [L/L+R] and [R] AUX OUT jacks ..................... Page 34 Use this button to assign different Voices to the left-hand and right-hand sides of the keyboard. Use these jacks to connect your digital piano to powered speakers and the like in order to play at higher volumes. !7 [REVERB] and [EFFECT] buttons ..........
Getting Ready Setting Up Turning on the instrument Auto Power-Off 1 Plug the appliance end of the AC power cord into the bundled power adaptor as shown in the figure. 2 Plug the power adaptor’s DC cable into the [DC IN] jack on the rear panel. AC wall socket [DC IN] jack 3 2 The Auto Power-Off function automatically turns off your digital piano after a set period of inactivity in order to save power. By default, it will turn off the instrument after 30 minutes if it is not operated in any way.
Setting Up Adjusting the volume To adjust the volume, use the [MASTER VOLUME] slider at the left of the control panel while playing the keyboard to check the setting.
Setting Up Using an optional pedal unit An LP-255 Pedal Unit (sold separately) can be connected if you wish to play the digital piano using a full set of three pedals. In such a case, please set up the instrument and pedal unit on an L-255 Keyboard Stand (sold separately). Sostenuto pedal The pedal located at the middle of the pedal unit is known as the sostenuto pedal.
Main Operations Selecting & Playing Voices Selecting Voices Using the following procedure, you can select the instrument sound (such as piano or organ) to use when playing the keyboard. 1 Press a Voice button to select a Voice from the corresponding category. You can cycle through the category’s Voices by pressing the button multiple times. Refer to the Voice List (page 51) for details of the Voices included.
Selecting & Playing Voices Layering two Voices with Dual mode Using Dual mode as described below, you can layer two Voices on the keyboard and play them together. By combining Voices of different types in this way, you can create a composite Voice of greater richness and texture. 1 Select the two Voices you wish to layer using the corresponding Voice buttons. Your digital piano will get the selected Voices ready for playing. For details on selecting voices, see page 13.
Selecting & Playing Voices 3 4 Select a Voice for the right side. Use the corresponding Voice button to make your selection. Select a Voice for the left side. Use the corresponding Voice button with the [SPLIT] button held down to make your selection. (Whenever the [SPLIT] button is being held down, the Voice button corresponding to the left side’s Voice will light up.) Play the keyboard and listen to the sounds produced.
Selecting & Playing Voices Adding effects Transposing Using the digital piano’s Effect function, you can add a range of different audio effects to individual Voices. Whenever you select a Voice, the most suitable effect will be automatically set; however, you can freely set the effect type and depth. Setting the effect type Whenever you press and release the [EFFECT] button, the current effect type will be shown on the display.
Selecting & Playing Voices Tuning the instrument Using the Tuning setting, you can fine tune the pitch of the entire instrument. This can be extremely useful when playing your digital piano along with other instruments or recorded music. Tuning is set using Function parameter F1. Refer to page 41 for details. Adjusting the tone Using your digital piano’s Equalizer function, you can adjust the tone of overall instrument by increasing or decreasing the gain in three different frequency bands.
Selecting & Playing Voices Boosting the overall sound Using your instrument’s Sound Boost function when playing along with other instruments, you can raise its volume and enhance the presence of your performance without making it any less expressive. This function is particularly useful when you want not only notes played very loud, but also those played softly, to be clearly audible.
Using the Metronome Playing your digital piano along with the built-in metronome is a great way to perfect your timing. The following describes how to use this function. 1 Turn on the metronome. Press the [METRONOME] button and verify that the metronome starts to play. 2 Turn off the metronome. You can stop the metronome by pressing the [METRONOME] button once again. 120. The beat indicator flashes in time as the metronome plays.
Playing Rhythm Tracks Your digital piano’s Rhythm function provides ten different rhythm tracks for you to play along with. The following describes how to use this function. 1 Turn on a rhythm track. Press the [RHYTHM] button and verify that a rhythm track starts to play. If intro playback has been turned on using the corresponding Function parameter (page 40), the rhythm track’s intro section will be played first. 120.
Playing Songs Your digital piano can play built-in Preset Songs, User Songs that you have recorded, and commercially available songs. These songs can be in one of two different formats—MIDI or audio. MIDI and audio songs MIDI songs contain data created by recording the actions of playing and releasing keys—in other words, they do not contain actual audio.
Playing Songs (Import Songs are shown only when the USB flash drive contains data of the selected category.) Setting the playback volume (MIDI or Audio songs) Press the [FUNCTION] button while a song is playing to show the current playback volume. You can then change the volume using the [-/NO] and [+/YES] buttons. • Song number...... Used to select one specific song to play. For details, see the table on page 21. • rnd (random) ...
Playing Songs Convenient playback functions Part Cancel (MIDI songs) Your digital piano’s Preset Songs and certain other MIDI songs are divided into left-hand and right-hand parts. When playing this type of song, you can turn off either of these parts as described below to practice playing it yourself. Practicing parts individually in this way makes it easier to master difficult pieces.
Playing Songs Automatic start when you play any key Using your digital piano’s Auto Start function, you can have it start playback as soon as you play a key. To activate this function, press and hold the [PLAY/ STOP] button for at least one second. The [PLAY/ STOP] button will begin to flash at the current tempo to indicate that the instrument is on standby for a key to be played. (If you wish to deactivate the Auto Start function, again press and hold the [PLAY/STOP] button for at least one second.
Recording Keyboard Performances Your digital piano features the following two different methods for recording your keyboard performances. These methods can be used as described below depending on your requirements. MIDI recording When you record a performance using MIDI, it will be saved on the instrument or a USB flash drive as a MIDI song (SMF format 0).
Recording Keyboard Performances Typical part-button lighting pattern: NOTE • Whenever the digital piano’s internal memory or the USB flash drive is close to full, the message “Enp” will be shown after you press the [REC] button. You can start recording in such a case, but this may cause the memory to become completely filled before you are finished. Instead, we recommend that you delete any unnecessary files (page 33) to free up some memory before proceeding.
Recording Keyboard Performances Recording individual parts (MIDI songs) 4 Start recording. Recording will start automatically as soon as you play a note on the keyboard. If the rhythm track is to be recorded, recording will start as soon as you press the [RHYTHM] button. You can also press the [PLAY/STOP] button to start recording if you wish to include an empty section before your performance begins. 5 To stop recording, press either the [PLAY/STOP] button or the [REC] button.
Recording Keyboard Performances Deleting recorded parts individually (MIDI songs) Using the following procedure, you can individually delete the left and right parts of a recorded MIDI-format User Song. To delete both parts, refer to the section “Deleting a User Song” (page 33). 1 Select the User Song from which you wish to delete a part. For details, refer to Steps 1 and 2 of the section “Simple recording of all parts (MIDI or Audio songs)” (page 25).
Recording Keyboard Performances 3 Activate Record mode and select the part whose settings you have changed. Press the [REC] button followed by the [RIGHT] or [LEFT] button. (If you have changed settings common to both parts, select either the left or right part.) Verify that the selected part’s button is flashing in red. If you wish to change the tempo, reverb, or effect, please do so in this step. To cancel the process without changing any settings, press the [REC] button once again.
Using USB Flash Drives With a USB flash drive plugged in, you can use your digital piano to perform the following tasks. • Listen to songs stored on the USB flash drive........................................................ Page 21 • Record your performances on the USB flash drive ................................................ Page 25 • Copy User Songs recorded on the digital piano itself to the USB flash drive........ Page 32 • Delete songs from the USB flash drive ......................................
Using USB Flash Drives Managing files on a USB flash drive The term User Song is used to refer to songs recorded using the instrument itself; Import Songs are those created on another device. User Songs are kept in a folder named USER FILES on a USB flash drive; Import Songs are stored outside this folder. For this reason, User Songs will be handled as Import Songs if the name of the folder is changed or they are moved outside the folder using a computer.
Using USB Flash Drives Copying a User Song recorded on the instrument to a USB flash drive Using the following procedure, you can copy MIDIformat User Songs (page 25) recorded on the digital piano to a USB flash drive. User Songs copied in this way are stored in SMF format in the USB flash drive’s USER FILES folder. In addition, these songs will be automatically named USERSONGxx.mid (xx being a sequential number). 1 Plug in the USB flash drive. 2 Select the User Song you wish to copy.
Using USB Flash Drives Deleting a User Song Using the following procedure, you can delete a MIDI-format User Song (S.**) or audio-format User Song (A.**) from a USB flash drive or a User Song (U.**) stored on the digital piano itself. 1 Plug in the USB flash drive. 2 Select the song you wish to delete. Refer to page 21 for details. 3 Formatting a USB flash drive As described below, a USB flash drive can be formatted using the corresponding Function parameter.
Connecting Other Equipment CAUTION • When connecting other equipment to your digital piano, ensure that all devices are turned off first. In addition, be sure to set all volume levels to minimum (0) before turning devices on or off. Failure to observe these precautions can lead to electric shock, hearing damage, or equipment damage.
Connecting Other Equipment Connecting other MIDI devices Connecting an iPad or iPhone If you connect the MIDI terminals of your digital piano and another MIDI device (such as a keyboard, synthesizer, or sequencer) using a MIDI cable, you will be able to control the other device from the digital piano and vice-versa. CAUTION • When connecting other equipment to your digital piano, ensure that all devices are turned off first. • [IN] MIDI terminal ......
Performing Live Your digital piano features a number of convenient functions for use when setting it up on stage in order to perform live. In order to provide a practical description of the connections and settings required in this type of situation, we will focus on the following two typical modes of use.
Performing Live input jacks on the PA mixer (or an on-stage sub-mixer) using standard mono audio cables (sold separately). NOTE • If only one of the mixer’s channels is available for use with your digital piano, connect the [L/L+R] AUX OUT jack to the corresponding input jack using a standard mono audio cable. In this configuration, your left and right signals will be mixed and output from the instrument in mono. Your instrument should now be fully connected.
Performing Live Singing and playing on your own The following description covers performances where the sound of the digital piano q is output via a keyboard amplifier w and performances where your voice is amplified using a microphone r and a PA set t (i.e., an amplifier and speakers). Connect the instrument’s output to the keyboard amplifier. Keyboard amplifiers normally require sound to be input in mono.
Performing Live • We recommend setting the [EQ] sliders to their central positions and adjusting the overall tone using the keyboard amplifier. This approach provides the maximum adjustable range should you need to change the tone during your performance. • We recommend that you turn the Sound Boost function on. This function boosts the presence of your instrument so that the entire audience can clearly hear not only notes played very loud, but also those played soft.
Customizing with Function Parameters Using your digital piano’s Function parameters, you can tune the instrument, adjust the metronome volume, and make a wide range of other convenient settings. Function parameters Function Dual mode settings Split mode settings Pedal and special sound settings Volume settings MIDI function settings Backup and other settings 40 Default setting Backup parameter (page 46) F8.3 Page F1. 440 Hz Tuning system F2.1 1 (Equal temperament) Base note F2.
Customizing with Function Parameters Basic Function-parameter operations 1 Press the [FUNCTION] button as many times as necessary to select the parameter you wish to set. Each time you press the [FUNCTION] button, the parameter number shown will increase by one. You can also decrease the number being shown by pressing the [-/NO] button with the [FUNCTION] button held down. F * .* Descriptions of Function parameters F1.
Customizing with Function Parameters Werckmeister Kirnberger The Werckmeister and Kirnberger tuning systems improve the Meantone and Pythagorean tuning systems by combining them in different ways. Both are uniquely characterized by the way in which modulation can change the nuances of musical compositions. Often used in the eras of Bach and Beethoven, they are still employed today to reproduce the music of those periods on the harpsichord. F2.
Customizing with Function Parameters F4.5 Right Voice effect depth F4. Split mode settings The following parameters can be used to adjust the split point and make various other settings for Split mode in order to best suit the piece you intend to play. Settings can be made for each combination of Voices as described below. 1 Activate Split mode, select the Voices you wish to use, and then use the [FUNCTION] button to select the Function parameter(s) you wish to set.
Customizing with Function Parameters F5.4 String resonance depth F6.2 Rhythm playback volume This parameter can be used to adjust the depth of the string resonance effect applied to certain Voices—specifically, Grand Piano, Ballad Grand, and Bright Grand. Using this parameter, you can balance the volumes of the rhythm track (page 20) and the sound produced by the keyboard. • Available settings: 0 to 10 • Default setting: 5 • Available settings: 1 to 20 • Default setting: 16 F5.
Customizing with Function Parameters F6.8 Touch sensitivity This parameter can be used to adjust the degree to which the digital piano reflects differences in the strength of your playing in the sound produced. • Available settings: 1 .......Soft: Makes it possible to produce loud sounds when playing softly. 2 .......Medium: Replicates the standard response of a piano. 3 .......Hard: Requires the keys to be played quite hard in order to produce loud sounds. OFF ..
Customizing with Function Parameters F7.5 Program change on/off status MIDI Program Change messages can be sent from one MIDI device to another in order to change its Voice. In other words, your digital piano could use a Program Change message to change the voice being used on a connected device. (When a new Voice is selected using the control panel, the corresponding Program Change Number would be sent.
Customizing with Function Parameters F8.2 MIDI configuration backup • Available settings: ON and OFF • Default setting: ON Data retained • MIDI function settings F7.1, F7.2, and F7.4 to F7.6 F8.3 Tuning configuration backup • Available settings: ON and OFF • Default setting: ON If you wish to cancel the Save or Load operation, press the [-/NO] button. Backup file names P-255.bup NOTICE • Do not turn off the instrument while saving or loading backup data.
Customizing with Function Parameters Restoring factory settings To restore your digital piano to its factory settings, turn it on while holding down the rightmost key on the keyboard (C7). It should be noted that this operation will cause all backup data stored in the instrument’s internal memory (including individual backup on/off settings made using Function parameters) to be overwritten. User Songs and Import Songs stored within internal memory will be retained.
Appendix Display Messages Message Description The digital piano is being restored to its default settings—that is, the settings from when it was first turned on. CLr NOTICE • You should never turn off the digital piano while the message “Clr” is shown on the display. Failure to observe this precaution may result in all song data (page 21), including Import Songs, being deleted. con The digital piano has been connected to a computer and is being used with an application.
Troubleshooting Problem Possible cause and solution The digital piano turns off unexpectedly. This does not indicate a problem—the Auto Power-Off function turns off the instrument after the set period of inactivity. If necessary, you can deactivate this function to prevent it turning off the digital piano again (page 10). The digital piano will not turn on. The instrument may not have been plugged in correctly.
Voice List Voice button Voice name Display Touch sensitivity Stereo sampling Key-off sampling Sustain sampling String resonance Description Grand Piano GP1 O O O O O This sound was sampled from a concert grand piano. It uses different samples depending on the strength of your playing and produces smoother tonal changes. Even the tonal changes produced by the damper pedal and the subtle sounds of releasing a key are reproduced.
50 Piano Songs (Preset Songs) Song No. P.01 P.02 P.03 P.04 P.05 P.06 P.07 P.08 P.09 P.10 P.11 P.12 P.13 P.14 P.15 P.16 P.17 P.18 P.19 P.20 P.21 P.22 P.23 P.24 P.25 P.26 P.27 P.28 P.29 P.30 P.31 P.32 P.33 P.34 P.35 P.36 P.37 P.38 P.39 P.40 P.41 P.42 P.43 P.44 P.45 P.46 P.47 P.48 P.49 P.50 52 Title Invention No. 1 Composer J.S.Bach Invention No. 8 J.S.Bach Gavotte J.S.Bach Prelude (Wohltemperierte Klavier I No.1) J.S.Bach Menuett G dur BWV.Anh.114 J.S.Bach Le Coucou L-C.Daquin Piano Sonate No.
Specifications Dimensions Weight Number of Keys Keyboard Type Control Interface Touch Response Display Panel Language Piano Sound Size/Weight Voices/Tone Generation Effects/ Functions Rhythms Songs (MIDI) Songs (Audio) Overall Controls Storage Connectivity Amplifiers and Speakers Power Supply (W x D x H) Sustain Samples Key-off Samples String Resonance Damper Resonance Number of Polyphony (Max.
Index Numerics H S 50 Piano Songs (Preset Songs) ..... 52 Half-damper ..................................11 Hardcopy format .............................6 Headphones ...................................11 Singing .......................................... 38 Song .............................................. 21 Song Category list ........................ 21 Sound Boost ................................. 18 Sound setup ............................ 37, 38 Speaker on/off ...............................
FCC INFORMATION (U.S.A.) 1. IMPORTANT NOTICE: DO NOT MODIFY THIS UNIT! This product, when installed as indicated in the instructions contained in this manual, meets FCC requirements. Modifications not expressly approved by Yamaha may void your authority, granted by the FCC, to use the product. 2. IMPORTANT: When connecting this product to accessories and/ or another product use only high quality shielded cables. Cable/s supplied with this product MUST be used. Follow all installation instructions.
Information for Users on Collection and Disposal of Old Equipment This symbol on the products, packaging, and/or accompanying documents means that used electrical and electronic products should not be mixed with general household waste. For proper treatment, recovery and recycling of old products, please take them to applicable collection points, in accordance with your national legislation and the Directives 2002/96/EC.
LIMITED 3-YEAR WARRANTY ON DIGITAL PIANOS (P, CP, YDP, DGX640, DGX650) Thank you for selecting a YAMAHA product. YAMAHA products are designed and manufactured to provide a high level of defect-free performance. Yamaha Corporation of America (“YAMAHA”) is proud of the experience and craftsmanship that goes into each and every YAMAHA product.
P-255 Owner’s Manual
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