Yamaha PSR E473 keyboard

Yamaha PSR E473 keyboard

Key Features

• For Intermediate and Advanced Players
• 61 Full-Size Keys, Touch Sensitivity
• 820 High-Quality Sounds/Grand Piano
• 290 Auto-Accompaniment Styles, 30 Songs
• Quick Sampling, Groove Creator
• 12W Speaker System, Headphone Jack
• Live Control Knobs, Pitch-Bend Wheel
• 1/4″ Microphone Input, 3.5mm Aux Input
• USB MIDI, Onboard Audio & MIDI Recorder
• Battery or AC Powered

Yamaha PSR-E473 Portable Keyboardis ideal for intermediate players ready to step up to the next level or advanced players looking for a lightweight instrument for composing and performing on the go. Great for exploring various styles of music, it offers an impressive set of easy-to-use features including two assignable control knobs, a Motion Effect button, and a pitch-bend wheel to manipulate your sound in real time. Quick Sampling, Groove Creator, and Arpeggiator functions, along with a 1/4″ microphone input for vocals, a USB audio/MIDI interface, and two onboard audio and MIDI recorders allow songwriters to compose and capture their performances on the fly. The 12W speaker system offers a Mega Boost function that lets you crank up your sound when playing outdoors or in larger spaces.

The PSR-E473 features 61 touch-sensitive, full-size keys that sense hard and soft playing and match the dynamics of each key stroke to accurately capture every nuance of your playing style. You can enjoy a full range of instruments with 820 high-quality acoustic and synth sounds, including a high-resolution grand piano. The built-in 290 auto-accompaniment styles provide real-time band backing tracks based on the chords you play and in a variety of musical genres from around the world such as pop, rock, dance, jazz, R&B, salsa, and more.

The keyboard can be powered either via six AA batteries (available separately) or by the included power adapter.

Unique Playing Experience with Live Controls

• Two assignable knobs allow you to manipulate various effects and parameters on sounds, auto accompaniment, and more in real time, just like on an analog synthesizer.
• Modify the sounds in your performance with Filter, Pitch, and Modulation effects while holding the Motion Effect button.
• The pitch-bend wheel adjusts the pitch of the sound, adding expressivity to sounds like the guitar, sax, and trumpet.
• Hold down the Articulation button to reproduce the sounds of playing techniques that are unique to specific acoustic instruments like guitars, flutes, sax, slap bass, and more.
• Direct Category Access buttons let you instantaneously access the sounds and accompaniments you prefer for the musical genre of your choice.

820 High-Quality Sounds with 64-Note Polyphony

• 820 high-quality instrument sounds including 294 panel voices, 28 drum/SFX kits, and 458 XGlite voices, all with 64-note polyphony.
• Layer Mode: Not only can you play just one single sound, but you can layer a second sound over the first sound.
• Split Mode: You can play one sound on the left hand and a different sound on the right hand.

Real-Time Backing Tracks

• 290 auto-accompaniment styles provide real-time band backing tracks (rhythm + bass + chord accompaniment) that you can control by simply playing root notes or chords with your left hand.
• Smart Chord technology allows players of all levels to achieve complex chord harmony using only a few fingers, driving the Style engine to produce incredible-sounding ensemble accompaniments.

Capture Sounds and Play Them Back on Your Keyboard

With Quick Sampling samples can be captured using the aux input, microphone input, or onboard USB audio interface, and played back as part of your performance:

• Capture, edit, and playback up to 4 samples, max 9.6 sec/sample.
• Normal: The pitch of the sound varies depending on the key you play.
• Loop: The sample is played in a loop without changing the pitch.
• One-shot: The sample is played only once without changing the pitch.

Create Music Like a DJ

With Groove Creator, you can lay down a beat, tweak the groove, adjust the mix, and create music like a DJ. Choose from 152 arpeggio phrases with the press of a single key, and quickly capture your inspiration with the 6-track MIDI recorder.

• Create your own groove with intro, section change, and musical climax. By turning each track on/off, altering sections, or adding various effects using the live control knobs you have real-time control of your own EDM tracks.
• Once you have made a track you like, you can save it to a USB device as an audio file.

Plug in a Microphone and a Portable Music Player

• The 1/4″ microphone input allows you to connect a microphone, so you can sing along while you play, hear your voice through the instrument’s speakers, and even record your performance to USB audio. The built-in Melody Suppressor lowers the volume of vocals and melody lines of the original recordings, leaving that part open for you to play or sing.
• The 3.5mm aux input allows you to connect your portable music player, Android/iOS device, mixer, or computer and uses the instrument’s speakers to play back the audio and jam along your favorite songs.

Powerful 12W Speaker System with Mega Boost

• The 6W+6W amplifiers power the high-definition speakers, delivering electrifying, crystal-clear sound, and offering solid support in standalone performance situations. The Mega Boost function lets you greatly increase your sound level by +6 dB at the press of a button.
• Plug in headphones for quiet play at any time.

USB MIDI and USB Audio Interface for Connecting to Your Computer

• The USB to Host terminal allows you to connect the keyboard to a computer or portable device and record MIDI or 16-bit / 44.1 kHz high-quality stereo audio without the need for an additional interface.
• Record your performances to USB flash drives. The USB-to-Device external-memory port lets you load and save your settings and songs to a USB flash drive, as well as transfer data from your computer.

 

Design and Build Quality

The Yamaha PSR-E473 features a sleek and modern design with a durable plastic body that is built to withstand regular use. Its compact size, measuring approximately 37.2 inches in width, 16.2 inches in depth, and 5.5 inches in height, makes it easy to transport and store. Weighing around 14 pounds, the keyboard is lightweight enough to carry to rehearsals, gigs, or lessons without much hassle.

The layout of the PSR-E473 is intuitive, with clearly labeled buttons and a user-friendly interface that makes navigation straightforward. The 61-key touch-sensitive keyboard provides a responsive playing experience, allowing for expressive performances. The keys themselves are comfortable and well-spaced, making it easy for players of all ages and skill levels to transition between notes and chords.

The control panel is well-organized, with dedicated buttons for essential functions such as voice selection, style selection, and song playback. The large backlit LCD screen provides clear visual feedback, displaying important information such as the current voice, style, tempo, and song settings. This helps users keep track of their settings and make adjustments on the fly.

Sound Quality

One of the standout features of the Yamaha PSR-E473 is its impressive sound quality. Equipped with Yamaha’s Advanced Wave Memory (AWM) technology, the keyboard delivers rich and realistic sounds that are a pleasure to play. The AWM technology uses high-quality samples to recreate the sound of acoustic instruments, resulting in authentic and expressive tones.

The PSR-E473 boasts an extensive library of 820 voices, covering a wide range of instruments from grand pianos and electric pianos to strings, brass, woodwinds, and more. The piano sounds are particularly noteworthy, offering a warm and resonant tone that rivals those of more expensive keyboards. The electric pianos, organs, and synth sounds are also impressive, providing a diverse palette of sounds for different musical genres and styles.

In addition to its vast selection of voices, the PSR-E473 includes 290 styles that provide complete backing arrangements, allowing users to play along with accompaniments in various genres such as pop, rock, jazz, and classical. The styles are well-crafted and dynamic, responding to the player’s chord changes and creating a full-band experience.

The keyboard’s Dual Voice and Split functions further enhance its versatility. The Dual Voice function allows users to layer two different voices together, creating rich and complex sounds. The Split function enables users to assign different voices to the left and right hand, making it possible to play a bass line with the left hand and a melody with the right hand simultaneously.

The built-in effects and reverb options add depth and dimension to the sounds, allowing users to customize their tones to suit their preferences. The PSR-E473 also includes a variety of DSP (Digital Signal Processing) effects, such as chorus, flanger, and distortion, providing additional creative possibilities.

Playability and Performance Features

The Yamaha PSR-E473 is designed to offer an enjoyable and dynamic playing experience. The touch-sensitive keys respond to the player’s touch, allowing for expressive performances with varying dynamics. This feature is particularly beneficial for beginners, as it helps develop proper finger technique and control.

The PSR-E473 includes a range of performance features that make it suitable for both practice and live performance. The Arpeggio function is a valuable tool for creating complex and rhythmic patterns with ease. By holding down a chord, users can trigger automatic arpeggiated sequences, adding a professional touch to their playing. There are over 150 arpeggio types to choose from, covering various musical styles and genres.

The PSR-E473 also features a comprehensive set of real-time control options, including pitch bend and modulation wheels, as well as two assignable live control knobs. These controls allow players to manipulate the sound in real-time, adding expression and creativity to their performances. The pitch bend wheel is particularly useful for adding guitar-like bends and vibrato to the sound, while the modulation wheel can be used to add tremolo, vibrato, and other effects.

The keyboard’s 48-note polyphony ensures that even complex passages and layered sounds are played back without note dropouts, providing a smooth and uninterrupted playing experience. This is particularly important for advanced players who require more voices to be active simultaneously.

The built-in metronome and recording features are valuable tools for practice and composition. The metronome helps players keep time and improve their rhythmic accuracy, while the recording function allows users to capture their performances and compositions for later review and editing. The PSR-E473 can store up to 10 user songs, each with a maximum of 6 tracks, providing ample space for creative projects.

Connectivity and Integration

The Yamaha PSR-E473 offers a wide range of connectivity options to accommodate various setups and applications. The keyboard features a USB to Host port, allowing for easy connection to a computer or mobile device. This enables users to integrate the PSR-E473 with music production software, digital audio workstations (DAWs), and educational apps for enhanced learning and creativity.

The keyboard also includes a USB to Device port, which allows users to connect a USB flash drive for storing and transferring songs, styles, and other data. This feature is particularly useful for sharing compositions and backing tracks with others.

In addition to USB connectivity, the PSR-E473 offers an auxiliary input, enabling users to connect external audio sources such as MP3 players, smartphones, or tablets. This allows for jamming along with favorite songs or backing tracks, making practice sessions more enjoyable and engaging.

The keyboard’s headphone output is a valuable feature for silent practice, allowing users to play without disturbing others. The line output jacks provide a direct connection to external speakers or amplification systems, making it easy to integrate the PSR-E473 into a live performance setup.

The PSR-E473 is compatible with Yamaha’s Rec’n’Share app, which allows users to record audio and video of their performances using a connected smart device. The app also provides access to a variety of practice tools and backing tracks, enhancing the overall learning experience.