fa see and hear correctly. YAMAHA ace still making organs ~ or as they quite correctly call them, Blectones, Because, you see, such has been the phenomenal worldwide success and recognition of the instrument since its incarnation in 1959, YAMAHA's brand name lectone’ even features in the Japanese dictionary recognising it very much as an instrument in its ow right. A teuly self contained electronic musical instrument that not only has all the ‘ive? musical potential and expressive counterpart, but also the ability to be all things to all men all at the same time ~ a complete orchestra or big band one miaute and # pop/rock band the next. The only limit being the abilities of the player; and that's important because unlike many of the competitor's attempts which require tremendous amounts of ‘muli-teacking’ to round anywhere near as good, or single keyboards with their copious amounts of ‘easy. play features, the Electone has always been an iasteument to be played LIVE. It ie an instrument to be learned, studied and mastered - in much the tame way as & piano of perhaps its closest relative ~ the classical pipe organ Tt i maybe because of this very nature, its popularity has receded, now only being available in Asia and in particular its home countey of Japan. Yes itis hugely popular with what could be considered ‘cult following, It sells too ‘and in good numbers! This ig thanks in part to the fantastic YAMAHA. Masic Foundation and its well ar the fact they don't sell any. single ‘eaty play’ keyboards over the beginner models YAMAHA in the land of ‘Tyros the ising sua But I think it is also helped really values the hard work and cffort i takes to achieve cothing tht is rally wert wal "he SngeeELS-02C isthe very latest model any Ge eee ‘tite YAMAHA oie Jen. Ie cepaces the fst genention oF Stage ~ the HLS-O1G, first clewied back in 2008. Now I admit i Teun hig fon of the BLSOL Seren Afier” being. oo ested) eet design u well athe corlout tix of maa TL olcg aad) Toor eicag (Ga renal soe fetta eae ee HL) sloog with te ight diver Sets Baad ine escent ene ineruneat a lve or hate flowing. Bet I anos tol WNL Te ae ieee ddete cate emer tnet cee era eee (ecient aod eleger arya tuccenie white sage Eletoner sinc), the difference is quite amazing ‘Yes it doesn't have the presence or exude quite the same class as YAMAHA’: mighty ELX-1m (but then again what does), but it does look a far more serious instrument than before that now looks more at home on the stage or in a studio and although it doesn't always photogeaph that well, it definitely looks far more impressive in the ‘lesh’ - pechaps balancing best in 02C guise rather thea But importantly it doesn't dominate thanks to its open body approach gives maximom view of the player's entire body allowing the audience’ full attention to be in the console “X° form. which the Without thinking piece of design of its kind and has understandably won awards as well az been doubt it is the most forward attracting features in Japanese trend setting magazines. The looks won't be for everyone traditionalists won't like it for sure this the age of the iPad and the Apple Watch, put simply it ie bang on the times and what's more the quality of fit and finish easily matches aay competitor’s instruments tha cost four times the price! (One aspect YAMAHA got very right on the Stagea O1 was the new user intr! large TF Now improved, headed up by a colour touch noticeabl ELS.020°s handles the huge screen displa larger and instant to react the bespoke serce rounds, features functions over the original ELS-01C model with ease, Users of any of the large ourse the original Stages will find the instrument an absolute doddle to e. Naturally everything i colour coded adding to the user experience but don’t expect aff wallpapers and corny graphics for, as fun as the ELS- 02C can be, cheesy it is no Naturally the operation system is updatable and upgradable allowing YAMAHA to fix any bugs or add new functionality and features at any time When you first si will So what's it like to play P2notice the BLS-02C is noticeably larger than the EL Series, Wider and very interestingly higher it has a feeling of the full console EEX about it. You even get a foot bar on the hhench which also accommodates 2 full 25 radiating pedalboard (an optional upgrade along with 61 note keyboards), After owning and performing with the ELX: 1m for the last few yeats this immediately felt comfortable to me but I can understand owners of standard EL Electones taking few minutes to adjust, ‘The next improvement is the keyboatd action, Naturally both keyboards ate initial, after AND ‘Horizon’ (the Blectone's usique side to side pitch touch control) touch sensitive, bbut the key beds themselves aze tighter, more comfortable and much quieter that before, ‘The 20 note pedalboard is initial and after touch responsive and the pedals themselves are the longer variety so heal and toe technique is entirely possible. ‘But what docs it sound like? Ia one word = ASTONISHING. Pretty much all of the 1100() voices are of breathtaking quality and realism and thanks to the Electone’s unique expressive touch eurve and amazingly natural ‘Horizon’ touch (jes), 20 need for archaic pitch and modulation wheels here), they can respond as close as youll ever find to the real thing. The entire BLX-Im sound-set is included and still sounding as good as eve although it has to be said just the odd one sil seems. to) miss the 8 Operator FM synthesis it originally included to ‘weap? the souad (which was a trademark of the EL/BLX series). There are aso. Ibundreds of new bespoke ‘Blectone’ sounds too. Next, there are over 120 breathtakingly authentic Super Articulation 2 Voices including the incredible Guitars, Vocal Sounds and effects first seen in the YAMAHA ‘Tyros 4/5 workstations. The latest AEM Piano samples are simply stunning and recreate the sound of YAMAHA’ newest CEX concert geand with infinite detail and clarity. Also, a8 first included on the EL-900, YAMAHA’. cextzemely clever and. expressive Virtval Acoustic (computer modelling) syathes Without doubt it is the most forward thinking piece of design of its kind. featured too which has now been expanded to include 94 voices plus 6 Custom voices for either your own creations or additional voices available from 3ed party developers Wall to wall Strings, shimmering Brass, delicate solo Woodwind instruments to screaming Electric Guitars and Syaths are nothing to the Stagea but there is also a complete “Digital Drawbar’ Organ section for both manuals with Sine, Vintage and Euro Organ Variations. With this function, you cin recreate classic organ sounds by ‘adjusting the flute footage levels and the percussive sounds va the virtual deawbars on screen. Thete are nine fluce footage settings, footage with three additional settings for the attack sound and when ‘ured with fone of the 18 roury speaker simulations some. extremely results can be achieved. ‘The level of customisation for cach instrumental voice is extremely impressive including. individual touch, volume, pitch, transpose, sterco position, and brilliance and vibrato settings as well as up to two different digital effets (plos Reverbl) from a choice of 300 can be added and this is even before going into editing proper! When you do ‘enter the onboard voice edit function you find exch voice is made of up to 8 ‘elements? and each individual clement has an azray of different filer sed envelope parameters along with individual pitch and pan settings. You can even set which exact notes you want the entite voice or even cach clement to play fon the keyboards ~ far mote advanced that the conventional ‘Split keyboard function on. otherinstruments. Even more useful then that ie you.can literally combine up to § completely different voices together into just ‘one ‘voice'l Within litte bit of simple maths combining. just the 4 main voices sectioas on the upper keyboard alone You could have up to 32 differen voices playing at any one time and convincing this isn't. even the entirely organ drawbar Unnecessary perhaps but it does go to show the quantum leap in sheer power this instrument processes. Thankfully there are a whopping 80 User Voice memories to store yout own creations which can of course be saved and recalled at anytime. ‘The sheer choice snd customisation ‘completely baffling at frst, initially assist the player discover some of the possibilities of the instrument as well to provide setting up the way of instantly instrument for certain situations, there are no less than 566 preset registration setups included in ‘Stages covering most imaginable genres. Put together by some of the world’s finest Blectone players these provide a great way to start discovering some of ELS-02c's voices and sound layering possibilities, ‘There is no question that YAMAHA’ 125 year pedigree shows through in every atea of ELS.02C voicing. ‘The fact chat their R&D department dwarfs that of most other ‘companies put together is cleat to hear again in this very latest ElectOne, To pick out individual voices would-be pointless as-they should be heard rather thin described but believe me whea I say they are simply light years ahead of any other fnstroment at any price. Never have such tich, autheatic and musically expressive append on an intteumest before ST eT Tae inl Date Se Dy San ‘The Rhythm and Pereustion section of the trument is nothing short of a revolut pecially compared to previous Plectones. No less than 40 different complete ‘Deum- kite’ now go to make up over 630 different [eset styles each with 4 Variations, 3 Inteo sad 3 Ending elements - as well as more ‘importantly providing aa incredible palette ‘of sounds fof your own custom patterns. YAMAHA’s mastery with Style crestion is ‘well koova from the Tytos Workstations and C¥P Clavinovas and al the best and brightest Of those ace now present on Stagea plus ‘many new unique patterns arc aleo available (and there's even an updated set of the original EL Rhythms), They are-way ahead ‘of anything else on the market and you exa't fail to be impressed. However for the true live’ Electone player it the programmable side of this part of Stages that is of fat) more interest, With such an arraylof Drumkits available including aa amazing new Orchestea! Kit which compliments the otiginal EL. kits, vrafious “Real-Drum’ kits and clever voct! effects kits, the player simply has n0 limitations for creating their own patterns, Each pattern Gan contiia up to 4 variations, 5 intros and 3 ending clemeats all of which ‘can be saved into onc of the 48 User Locations. Creation and Siting iss dream, Rhythm pattern parts cam lasbup to 32 bars cach and thanks to the iafiait® evel of programming detail available they ean. be created with all the intricacy, and flare (and imperfection!) ofa “real” drummer or percussion section. P3mem 5 ro 7 oy ee any key or pedallfor a ‘live’ drum solo eee net eee eed ss no surprise that there is plenty of user eee eee eee ee eae ee) eee eee eer) aay instso: loading of now sete if required. cal Teen ete Ei eo nerd on ees SMa wireless ‘dongle’ can be connected (I would suggest inserted into the 3rd socket located Sere eos cae ear en Rc emma peer eet evan rer tee ees {Pad or iPhone for data backup and loading ese SSRs een aera oD eens eet nes less than 14 speakers including two monitor Pere ae ee eee es larity and quite fantastic bass Pores cree ees Pe eee eee ens errs cere our ra ar er recs ere res center ees Se ee corre Te cere ad de an almost 3D quality that wraps round you; whilst when on stage or in eee te tt ae ce instrament to be placed in which ever ditection the performer chooses and still oer noes Peeters the world to feature this ete ee ares eee eee ree en bend Design is the personalised interpretation of a functional form. Design as an ‘ond in itself is pointless. Design has to serve to emphasis: It's not just about creating a shape, but a vision. to improve an objects capacity to fulfil its purpose and potential; both aesthetically and functionally. You can sketch out a shape, an idea, a design. The initial stage is really a ‘compromise between the various competing matter of finding a balance, requirements. ‘A musical instrument is d Igned to trigger an emotion, @ powerful emotion for the musician, But it should never dominate the player and serve to only take away from the player. It should have the right blend of colour, form and function But above all it is a feat of technical accomplishment. The trick lies, in finding the perfect combination of design, technology and functionality to allow the musician to fully express himself with no limits Itis in this way the Stagea project verges on the revolutionary ‘wish to add any Further modules in the future och) eels pa eect as well as being able to read and convert EL. Electone data and then even convert i back agaia i€ required. There is a good array of Tine outs and connections provided including 2 headphone sockets and a mic input with its ‘own volume and reverb settings accessible er ec eS (Music Data Recorder) can record complete cee ee eet ee Keyboard) and allows some basic “punch: Rene ere eee aces Se ees eee es displayed on screen. Being very much a live Se a ea eT es Petree ere Meteg | Pe ee eee peer er ee ort rd Pee eee eres And since the 2.11 ‘Firmware Update’ seal Per eee ea) Curren cc Erase ones eee a ragcmerierca 00 Caen Un eeemeretts) ct sts changer. Never before has an fasteument of its type allowed such realism with absolute eee eee Saeed corres er ee eer) rr eee meee ear coe eee ee ee Ce ted ee eeee re ee eS eee eee ees Ceres ce Ser eet acer y Peers! eee | pomeneetcen eee re Bare rurd sticker onthe Peers Perec! eee eae perenne Coenen erage sec aay Cee red cee es Pere cca errand Sree erty ees See ee Sek cs nee ee eee eee rr enter Peete amet ets een eae Po ee ee ee eer eee eee one en eee eee ea lectone through and through and, althougl it does take the best from YAMAHA's Tyros Ee eet ee everything the EL Bléctones hed to offer Cremer er oe ont eee eer or es So ar oe ers er ee an Te comnrs Cree ee realised and is quite simply Ce aCC oat so much potential and Pee Racers lecoaaaaae ac | ae ee ios perry rena nT Retr Sareea eee i