Clavinova

The Clavinova is a long-running line of digital pianos created by the Yamaha Corporation. They are similar in styling to an acoustic piano, but with many features common to other digital pianos such as the ability to save and load songs, the availability of different voices, and, in more recent models, the ability to be connected to a computer via USB or wireless network.

Contents

Technical information

Some Clavinovas (CLP and CVP-Series) feature "graded hammer" technology, a mechanical system of small metal hammers, weighted to be similar to those of a real pianoforte, which hit a digital pressure sensor that then translates into sound. This technology has contributed to the success of the Clavinova as a more affordable substitute for an acoustic piano. The 'Graded' action is intended to reproduce more accurately the varying weights of the hammers of an acoustic piano where the hammers vary in weight from the bass section to the treble. Newer Clavinovas, such as the CVP-407, incorporate real wood keys for added realism.

The built-in synthesizer produces the sound. Early Clavinova models used FM Synthesis. Later models use samples of real instruments which are then selected and modified by the electronics to produce the desired sound. Information comes in a MIDI or similar format either directly from the piano keyboard or from a stored source (from within the piano or via a computer or external sequencer). The synthesizer can imitate a large array of acoustic instruments, electronic instruments and other sound effects. Recent models of CVP Clavinova have hundreds of such voices. These usually include many types of pianos and organs, string, percussion, brass and woodwind instruments, as well as modern and vintage synthesizer sounds, sampled effects etc. The more recent CVP models also feature many accompaniment styles, ranging from traditional dance and classical orchestration, through to more modern club, pop, rock, big band and jazz styles.

The latest currently available models of the Clavinova CLP series are the CLP-4XX range while the latest Clavinova CVP series models are the CVP-50X, which came out in Fall of 2009.

Graded Hammer

The various graded or progressively weight keys are

Keyboard "feel" feature matrix for current models

From Yamaha Clavinova microsite.[1]

Model Graded Hammer (Non GH3) Graded Hammer Three (GH3) Natural Wood Keyboard Synthetic Ivory Keytops
CLP265GP no yes no no
CLP295GP no yes yes no
CLPS306 no yes no yes
CLPS308 no yes yes yes
CLP320 yes no no no
CLP330 no yes no no
CLP340 no yes no yes
CLP370 no yes yes yes
CLP380 no yes yes yes
CVP409GP no yes yes yes
CVP501 yes no no no
CVP503 no yes no yes
CVP505 no yes no yes
CVP509 no yes yes yes
CGP1000 no yes yes yes

Sound quality and effects feature matrix for current models

From Yamaha Clavinova microsite.[2]

Model CF Sampling AWM Sampling Half-damper effect Key-Off Samples Stereo Sustain Samples String Resonance iAFC Effects Tri-Amped
CLP265GP no yes yes no no no no no
CLP295GP no 4 level yes yes yes yes yes no
CLPS306 yes 3 level yes no no no no no
CLPS308 yes 3 level yes no no no no no
CLP320 yes 3 level yes no no no no no
CLP330 yes 3 level yes no no no no no
CLP340 yes 4 level yes yes yes no no no
CLP370 yes 4 level yes yes yes no no no
CLP380 yes 5 level yes yes yes yes yes yes
CVP409GP no 4 level yes yes yes yes yes no
CVP501 yes 3 level yes no no no no no
CVP503 yes 4 level yes yes yes no no no
CVP505 yes 4 level yes yes yes no no no
CVP509 yes 5 level yes yes yes yes yes yes
CGP1000 no 4 level yes yes yes yes yes no

History

From yamahapkowner.com[3] and Clavinova microsite[4]

CVP and CGP models

Year Model

CLP models

Year Model

See also

References

  1. ^ http://yamahaclavinova.com/about/touch.html
  2. ^ http://yamahaclavinova.com/about/sound.html
  3. ^ http://www.yamahapkowner.com/forum/index.php?action=printpage;topic=1280.0
  4. ^ http://yamahaclavinova.com/concept/history.html

External links

A special mention must be left for the 1987 model, the CLP-100 built in 1987 built by Yamaha's premier engineer Yoshi Pi two months before his death, some say yamaha have never got close to this sound. Made famous later by Stevie Wonder who bought the remaining 12 pianos before they were discontinued.