The Yamaha YC61 offers gigging keyboardists authentic organ sound, playability and hands-on control in a compact package. Built around Yamaha’s Virtual Circuitry Modeling (VCM) organ engine, the YC61 recreates individual transistors and resistors to deliver classic tonewheel organ tone and character. With help from its physical drawbars, waterfall keyboard and intuitive controls, the YC61 also serves up the iconic behavior of vintage organs. The YC-61 is also equipped with high-quality acoustic and electric piano sounds from Yamaha’s acclaimed CP series. Additionally, it features an FM tone generator with 128-note polyphony for iconic FM synth sounds.
Yamaha YC61 Main Features
- Virtual Circuitry Modeling (VCM) organ engine with waterfall keyboard
- Physical drawbars with user-configurable LED lighting
- Intuitive user interface for extensive real-time control
- FM Organ provides pure synth sound with drawbar control
VCM Engine With Waterfall Keyboard for Authentic Sound and Feel
The YC61 features a Rotary Speaker simulator and Organ tone generator. Both have been optimized to take full advantage of Yamaha’s VCM (Virtual Circuitry Modeling) technology. These VCM simulations meticulously model their analog circuits. This reproduces the natural warmth and saturation of tonewheel organs and rotary speakers. The YC61’s newly developed semi-weighted waterfall keyboard is the result of painstaking research of traditional organ keyboards, plus feedback from top players. The result is a keyboard that accommodates traditional organ techniques—such as glissando, etc. It also offers expressive play for acoustic and electric pianos, synth leads, brass and more.
Physical Drawbars With Customizable LED Lighting
The Yamaha YC61 features nine physical drawbars that give you access to more sounds, flexibility and choices. The drawbars have the same footages and ratcheting you’d expect on an organ. The see-through drawbar stops also have configurable LED lighting. This makes it easy to differentiate between the simulated upper and lower configurations and play in split mode.
Intuitive User Interface for Extensive Real-Time Control
All controls required during onstage are placed in the dedicated Sections on the panel, such as Organ and Keys. This gives you direct access to the parameters you need at any time and allows you to instantly improvise sound changes on the fly.
FM Organ for Pure Synth Sound
In the early ’80s, Yamaha introduced the iconic sounds of FM (Frequency Modulation) synthesis with the launch of the DX7. The YC61 brings FM synthesis to the organ by simply switching to FM Organ. This turns the YC61’s drawbars into controls for 8 FM Operators that offer a pure sound with massive low end. You can easily inject character and vibe by adding rotary speaker or amp sim effects. Or, choose from one of three popular FM Organ modes to recreate vintage-style transistor organ tones, from warm or reedy to buzzy.