Yamaha YPG635 Review
By Dan: Learn About Us on with Comments 27
Winning both the 2007 Product of the Year and Keyboard of the Year awards from Music & Sound Retailer, the Yamaha YPG635 is a superb addition to Yamaha’s range of piano-focused portables, and retails at around $900.
The most obvious benefit to this instrument is that it features an 88 key weighted action keyboard, which is unusual for a portable. The Graded Hammer Standard keyboard makes it the perfect answer for pianists looking for the practicality of a portable keyboard, with the feel of an acoustic piano. It enables piano students to build strength in their fingers and to grow accustomed to the way an acoustic plays, whilst also benefiting from all the modern technology of an electronic instrument.
Another reason that the Yamaha YPG635 may appeal to pianists is that it has a special mode of fingering called Full Keyboard Mode. This enables you to play chords with your right hand and bass notes with your left, which is usual practice for acoustic pianists. Traditional electronic portable keyboards require chords to be played on the left of the keyboard.
Like many modern Yamaha keyboards, the YPG635 has a number of ultra modern features such as USB MIDI for computer connectivity, USB TO DEVICE for downloading onto USB storage devices, a 6 track sequencer and a backlit LCD.
Students will find the Yamaha Education Suite useful, with 30 built in songs to play along with, and an extra 70 on CD-ROM. They can also use a multi media internet service to download music books and tips on playing their portable keyboard.
The only problem that you might encounter with instrument is that it only features 32 notes of polyphony. This is a low amount for an 88 key instrument and you may find that some notes drop out in particularly dense musical passages. To get 96 notes of polyphony you would need to upgrade to the PSR 1500 Portable Keyboard which retails at around $1000. This also includes 700 musical voices and a 16 track sequencer. However, if you are mainly using the keyboard as a piano substitute 32 notes of polyphony will be more than adequate.
Get the Yamaha YPG 635 keyboard at Amazon
Filed Under: Yamaha Keyboards
Your information about polyphony is incorrect. This keyboard features 64 notes of polyphony, not 32.
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dan Reply:
August 5th, 2009 at 10:51 am
Oops you are right Mike. For some reason I had in mind the YPG625. The YPG 635 does have 64 note polyphony which replaces the YPG 625 which only had 32. My apologies.
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I’m comparing this with a Korg SP250. Do you know if the Korg has “full keyboard mode” also?…..This is actually the deciding factor for me.
Thanks,
Jesse
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Hi, I’m just wondering what’s the difference between the “Yamaha YPG635″ and the “Yamaha DGX 630″?
I’m currently looking for something that allows me to practise in the night, I have already bought a nice upright piano, so I don’t need a lot of fancy buttons, just 88 weighted keys with a hole for headphones.
Which keyboard would you recommend?? Thanks in advance!
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norman miller Reply:
April 7th, 2011 at 5:28 pm
I’m interested in the answer to the question posed regarding the two Yamaha keyboards.
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I am looking into buying the YPG635 but I noticed that Costco and Target both sell a DGX-630 which looks to me to be identical. Does anyone know the difference?
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Lonnie Reply:
January 27th, 2010 at 12:49 pm
There is no difference. They are just marketed under two designations. The DGX630 is mostly found in “mass market” places like Wal-Mart and such and the YPG635 is more for the music stores. They are the same instrument.
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Bob Reply:
May 25th, 2010 at 6:18 pm
Yes,but the price is higher at Walmart than at Guitar Center
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“…the DGX220/YPG225, DGX520/YPG525, and DGX620/YPG625. In the first place, the YPG designation is not to replace the DGX, but merely to distinguish the difference between mass market retailers such as Best Buy, Circuit City, COSTCO, etc. (DGX), and specific MusicalInstrument dealers such as Guitar Center, and Musician’s Friend (YPG). There is absolutely no difference between the DGX and YPG designation for these models other than the name”
(Copied From: http://www.yamaha-keyboard-guide.com/yamaha-portable-grand-pianos.html)
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We just ordered one from Costco-online for $750.00. Hope this is an excellent instrument as reviewed and recommended…
The name DGX/YPG was confusing-noted the comments above on the same too- and I also have seen multiple interpretation of the same-high time Yamaha explains the details on their website. Thank you !
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Bob Reply:
May 25th, 2010 at 6:23 pm
Guitar Center sells this for $699
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I’m debating between the YPG and the Yamaha MM8. Got any suggestions?
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What about the sound quality when connected to an amplifier?
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How can I connect a keybaord amplifier to my DGX630? What keyboard amplifier will match well? What wattage, stereo/mono? and how to make the connections?
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I just bought a ypg-635. It has the ability to use a usb flash drive to transfer your stored composition on the keyboard to computer.(Which i looked forward to)
After finding the requred model to work on the keyboard I transferred over my work. The playback was awful though! It was raspy and sounded completely fake.
It sounds find and normal on the playback on my keyboard but when i transfer over I have no idea what happens.
Would perhaps buying an interface help with this???
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Tom Reply:
July 24th, 2010 at 6:33 am
Brianna, The problem you are having is probably with the midi sounds in your computer. Unfortunately it sounds like the ones in your computer are of low quality. Installing a high quality sound card or, if you have a lap top, an external midi sound generator. Creative Labs sells both of high quality.
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Brianna Reply:
July 24th, 2010 at 3:34 pm
Hey, it’s not an amazing sound card, but decent I suppose. I’ll look into the midi sound generator,hopefully that will help with the problem. Thanks!
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Brianna,
I’ve been looking at this keyboard but I haven’t made a purchase yet so I’m only guessing here. I’m wondering if you are dealing with a MIDI file and it’s playback on the computer is the computer’s interpretation of the music instead of the actual song.
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Brianna Reply:
July 24th, 2010 at 3:31 pm
Yeah, I guess that is what it is. I’m still trying to find a program that will read the file correctly instead of single note raspy sound. Thanks!
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Chris Reply:
July 24th, 2010 at 7:10 pm
The previous suggestion about a better sound card might just do the trick but to get what you are looking for, you might need to plug the sound output
into your sound card and use a recording software to capture it (like Audacity). Its not as easy but you’ll get the original
Keyboard generated sounds at least.
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I put in a purchase order for this today. I’m so excited, as I need one to play with at home–hoping I don’t have to deal with any sound quality problems when recording into my laptop(after seeing the previous comments!). I’m a bit disappointed in regards to the back panel. I totally forgot to take this into account before I made my purchase–I wanted something that I could hook up to a main mixer and all for live performances.
Has anyone tried that with this? If so, does it work well?
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Tom Reply:
August 6th, 2010 at 6:24 am
The headphone jack doubles as an output for a mixer or amp and works quite well.
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I have two of these…been a pro musician for 22 years and find this to be one of the best keyboards I’ve ever owned…portability is a tough obstacle for gigs. Another cool feature is a 3 pedal add on that makes it even more realistic!
Amazon has this for $778…unbelievable!!
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Just picked the ypg-635 up at Music & Arts for $525. I’m glad the reviews are so positive.
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Astounding article bro. This kind of is just a exceedingly nicely structured posting, just the tips I was hunting for. Thanks
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for rock band performances..how does organ sound ?
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