Yamaha is now shipping the GC1TA grand piano equipped with Yamaha’s “TransAcoustic” technology, which is capable of creating the sound of a 9-foot concert grand piano in an instrument the size of a 5-foot, 3-inch baby grand.
The GC1TA represents a new breed of “hybrid” instrument which incorporates specially designed, electro-acoustic transducers—devices that convert digital sound data into sound energy—that cause the soundboard to vibrate in much the same way a speaker cone would, essentially turning it into one giant speaker. This means that any sound can be delivered through this naturally resonant piano component, producing the acoustic fields and natural sounding tonal characteristics of an acoustic piano. This becomes evident when the physical resonance of the strings enhances the digitally sampled sound of Yamaha’s flagship concert grand—the CFX—creating a realistic grand piano experience. The digital samples of 18 additional instruments—piano, electric pianos, pipe organs, harpsichords and others—that can be played are enhanced by the piano’s natural string resonance. The result is an acoustic instrument possessing a massive 3D sound that not only envelops the player just as a conventional grand piano would, but also can be fully adjusted—for the first time—with a volume control, or enjoyed in the privacy of headphones.
Additional features of the GC1TA include: Scale and fine tuning of the digital voices, metronome functions, MIDI and audio recording capabilities, external device connectivity via MIDI, USB and AUX input terminal, and the ability to connect to a hi-fi, studio or live sound reinforcement system via the built-in AUX output terminal.
Yamaha has increased its focus on this “hybrid” approach to piano technology and craftsmanship in recent years. While the acoustic piano has remained virtually unchanged since the 19th century, Yamaha is working to address changing lifestyle needs, introducing important new features such as volume control and unique sound layering, while maintaining the integrity of an authentic touch.
The GC1TA has an MSRP of $31,099. For more information, click here.