INTRODUCTION

The Yamaha YC61 Stage Keyboard is a professional 61-note performance instrument built around one central idea:

Fast, expressive, hands-on control for organ, piano and keyboard players.

At its heart is a:

61-note semi-weighted Waterfall keyboard

with Initial Touch sensitivity.

The waterfall-style action is designed particularly well for organ techniques, allowing smooth palm glissandos, fast repeated notes and expressive performance without the heavier resistance of a hammer-action piano keyboard.

The YC61 combines this performance-focused action with three powerful Yamaha sound technologies:

• VCM Organ

• AWM2

• FM

This gives the YC61 a remarkably broad sonic range.

At the centre of the instrument is Yamaha’s sophisticated organ engine, complete with:

• Physical drawbars

• Multiple VCM organ types

• FM organ sounds

• Rotary speaker simulation

• Vibrato/chorus

• Percussion controls

• Pre Drive

• Direct real-time editing

Then the Keys sections open up a huge range of additional sounds including:

• Yamaha CFX2 concert grand

• Yamaha CFX

• Bösendorfer Imperial

• Yamaha grand and upright pianos

• Vintage electric pianos

• FM electric pianos

• Clavi sounds

• Strings

• Pads

• Brass

• Synths

• Bass

• Guitars

• Orchestral sounds

With Yamaha’s current YC OS v2.0, the YC61 provides:

• 200 Voices

• 10 Organ Voices

• 190 Keys-section Voices

• 320 Live Set Sound locations

• 152 preset Live Set Sounds

• Up to 128-note polyphony for VCM Organ + AWM2

• 128-note FM polyphony

• Expanded USB MIDI-controller support

• Seamless Sound Switching for individual Sections

• Expanded Live Set storage

At only:

7.1kg

the YC61 remains exceptionally portable for a professional stage instrument.

For working keyboard players who need authentic organ-style control but also want premium piano, electric piano and synth sounds in one compact board, the Yamaha YC61 is one of the most versatile performance keyboards in Yamaha’s professional range.

QUICK PRODUCT SUMMARY

The Yamaha YC61 is a professional 61-note stage keyboard combining a semi-weighted Waterfall action with VCM organ modelling, physical drawbars, premium piano sounds, FM synthesis and direct hands-on controls.

Highlights include:

• 61-note semi-weighted Waterfall keyboard

• Initial Touch

• VCM Organ tone generation

• AWM2 tone generation

• FM tone generation

• Physical organ drawbars

• Multiple VCM organ types

• FM organ sounds

• Rotary speaker simulation

• Vibrato/chorus

• Organ percussion

• Pre Drive

• 200 Voices

• 10 Organ Voices

• 190 Keys Voices

• Yamaha CFX2 Concert Grand

• Yamaha CFX Concert Grand

• Bösendorfer Imperial

• Vintage electric pianos

• FM electric pianos

• Organ / Keys A / Keys B architecture

• 320 Live Set Sound locations

• 152 preset Live Set Sounds

• 128-note polyphony

• Extensive insertion effects

• 36 additional Effect types

• 3 rotary speaker types

• 4 amplifier types

• Master Reverb

• 3-band Master EQ with sweepable Mid

• Seamless Sound Switching

• MIDI IN/OUT

• USB TO HOST

• USB TO DEVICE

• Stereo audio input

• Standard stereo line outputs

• Two Foot Controller inputs

• Sustain and Assignable Foot Switch inputs

• Approx. 7.1kg

AT A GLANCE

Key Detail	Information
Product	Yamaha YC61
Series	YC Series
Product Type	Professional Stage Keyboard
Number of Keys	61
Keyboard	Semi-Weighted Waterfall
Touch Response	Initial Touch
Tone Generation	VCM Organ / AWM2 / FM
VCM + AWM2 Polyphony	128 Notes
FM Polyphony	128 Notes
Total Voices	200
Organ Voices	10
Keys Voices	190
Live Set Sounds	320
Preset Live Set Sounds	152
Main Sections	Organ / Keys A / Keys B
Insertion Effects	Organ + Keys A + Keys B
Effect Types	36
Speaker/Amp Models	7
Reverb	1 Type
Master EQ	3-Band with Sweepable Mid
MIDI	IN / OUT
USB TO HOST	Yes
USB TO DEVICE	Yes
Audio Input	L/MONO + R
Main Outputs	L/MONO + R
Balanced XLR Outputs	No
Headphones	Yes
Built-In Speakers	No
Width	896mm
Height	108mm
Depth	309mm
Weight	7.1kg
Condition	New

KEY FEATURES

• Professional Yamaha YC Series stage keyboard

• 61-note semi-weighted Waterfall action

• Initial Touch

• VCM Organ technology

• AWM2 sound engine

• FM sound generation

• Physical organ drawbars

• Multiple VCM organ models

• FM organ sounds

• Dedicated rotary speaker controls

• Organ percussion

• Vibrato/chorus controls

• Pre Drive

• Yamaha CFX2 concert grand

• Yamaha CFX

• Bösendorfer Imperial

• Yamaha grand and upright pianos

• Vintage electric pianos

• FM electric pianos

• Clavi sounds

• Strings

• Pads

• Brass

• Synths

• Bass

• Guitars

• 200 Voices

• 320 Live Set Sound locations

• 152 preset Live Sets

• Organ / Keys A / Keys B architecture

• Extensive insertion effects

• 36 effect types

• Three rotary speaker models

• Four amp models

• Reverb

• 3-band Master EQ

• Seamless Sound Switching

• Expanded YC OS v2.0 functionality

• MIDI IN/OUT

• USB TO HOST

• USB TO DEVICE

• Stereo audio input

• Standard jack outputs

• Foot Controller 1/2

• Sustain Foot Switch

• Assignable Foot Switch

• Full-dot LCD

• Approx. 7.1kg

61-NOTE SEMI-WEIGHTED WATERFALL KEYBOARD

The defining physical feature of the YC61 is its:

61-note semi-weighted Waterfall keyboard.

A waterfall-style key has a different front profile from a conventional piano-style key.

The front edge is designed to make classic organ techniques more comfortable, particularly:

• Palm glissandos

• Smears

• Fast repeated notes

• Percussive organ playing

• Rapid chord changes

The action retains enough resistance to provide control over piano, electric piano and synth sounds while remaining substantially faster and lighter than a hammer-weighted action.

For an organ-led stage keyboard, that balance is extremely useful.

INITIAL TOUCH

The YC61 supports:

Initial Touch sensitivity.

The instrument responds dynamically to the velocity of each note.

This is particularly important when using:

• Acoustic piano

• Electric piano

• Clavi

• Brass

• Strings

• Synth sounds

while organ Voices can be played with the more direct behaviour expected from a tonewheel-style instrument.

VCM ORGAN TECHNOLOGY

At the heart of the YC61 is Yamaha’s:

VCM Organ

technology.

VCM stands for:

Virtual Circuitry Modeling.

Rather than simply playing back a static organ sample, Yamaha models important elements of the analogue circuitry and tone-generation behaviour associated with classic organs.

The objective is to reproduce details such as:

• Harmonic interaction

• Key click

• Leakage

• Percussion behaviour

• Drawbar response

• Rotary speaker interaction

• Amplifier character

This gives the YC61 a much more dynamic organ personality than a conventional sample-only keyboard.

PHYSICAL DRAWBARS

The YC61 provides dedicated physical drawbars for real-time control of organ harmonics.

Instead of selecting a preset organ and leaving it unchanged, the player can adjust harmonic content continuously during performance.

This allows traditional organ techniques such as:

• Building registrations in real time

• Pulling in additional harmonics

• Reducing upper drawbars for softer passages

• Changing tone during solos

• Creating crescendos without changing presets

For serious organ players, this immediacy is one of the YC61’s biggest strengths.

ORGAN TYPES

With the current YC operating system, Yamaha specifies:

10 Organ Voices

across the YC range.

These include multiple VCM organ personalities and FM-based organ sounds.

YC OS updates have also added additional organ types over time, including the darker:

H4 Organ

introduced with YC OS v1.4.

H4 ORGAN

The H4 organ type adds a darker alternative to Yamaha’s other VCM organs.

Yamaha specifically developed it with:

• More mids

• More lows

• Wider percussion character

making it particularly useful for:

• Left-hand bass

• Soul

• Gospel

• Jazz

• Funk

• Rock organ

FM ORGAN

The YC61 also incorporates Yamaha FM technology for additional organ sounds.

This expands the instrument beyond traditional tonewheel-style organ character and into:

• FM organs

• Digital organ textures

• Modern organ sounds

The FM engine operates with up to:

128-note polyphony.

ROTARY SPEAKER MODELLING

A serious organ performance instrument needs convincing rotary speaker behaviour.

The YC61 provides:

3 rotary speaker types

within its Speaker/Amp section.

These can be controlled directly during performance for the classic transition between:

Slow

and:

Fast

rotary speeds.

The YC operating system has also expanded control over rotary behaviour through successive firmware updates.

AMP MODELLING

The YC61 includes:

4 amplifier types

alongside its rotary speaker models.

These help shape the overall organ or keyboard tone by recreating different amplifier characters.

Together, Yamaha specifies:

7 Speaker/Amp types

comprising:

• 3 Rotary Speaker types

• 4 Amp types

ORGAN PRE DRIVE

The Organ section includes:

Pre Drive

processing.

This allows the player to add anything from subtle warmth to more aggressive overdrive before the wider effects and rotary processing.

This is particularly effective for:

• Rock organ

• Gospel

• Blues

• Soul

• Vintage keyboard sounds

PERCUSSION

Dedicated organ percussion controls recreate the percussive attack associated with classic tonewheel organs.

This is essential for styles such as:

• Jazz organ

• Gospel

• Funk

• Soul

• Classic rock

VIBRATO / CHORUS

The YC61 provides dedicated organ vibrato/chorus control.

This allows classic modulation effects to be applied directly from the panel.

The YC operating system has also expanded the vibrato/chorus behaviour available to FM organ sounds.

AWM2 SOUND ENGINE

Beyond organ, the YC61 uses Yamaha’s:

AWM2 – Advanced Wave Memory 2

tone-generation technology.

AWM2 provides the sampled acoustic and electronic instrument library used by the Keys sections.

This includes:

• Acoustic pianos

• Electric pianos

• Strings

• Brass

• Bass

• Guitars

• Pads

• Synth sounds

• Other stage-ready instruments

FM SOUND GENERATION

The YC Series also includes:

FM sound generation.

Yamaha is one of the most important names in FM synthesis, and the YC incorporates FM not only for electric-piano style sounds but also for organ and wider keyboard textures.

This gives the YC a broader tonal palette than a conventional sample-only stage keyboard.

200 VOICES

With current YC OS v2.0 software, Yamaha specifies:

200 Voices

comprising:

• 10 Organ Voices

• 190 Keys Voices

This is significantly expanded from the YC’s original launch specification.

The current Voice library gives the YC61 substantial scope beyond its organ-focused identity.

YAMAHA CFX2 CONCERT GRAND

YC OS v2.0 adds Yamaha’s:

CFX2 Concert Grand Piano Voice.

Yamaha describes CFX2 as offering:

• Increased expression

• Enhanced resonance

• Extended dynamic range

This gives current YC61 instruments access to Yamaha’s newer flagship stage-piano Voice rather than relying only on the original CFX implementation.

YAMAHA CFX CONCERT GRAND

The YC61 also provides the:

Yamaha CFX Concert Grand.

Its powerful, clear and projecting character makes it especially effective in:

• Pop

• Rock

• Gospel

• Jazz

• Worship

• Live band settings

BÖSENDORFER IMPERIAL

The YC61 includes the sound of the:

Bösendorfer Imperial.

Its warm, rich Viennese tonal character provides a distinctly different piano personality from Yamaha’s CFX.

This makes the YC61 capable of covering both:

• Bright, projecting grand-piano sounds

• Richer, darker European piano character

ELECTRIC PIANOS

The YC61 includes a strong collection of electric piano sounds.

These cover:

• Vintage tine electric pianos

• Reed electric pianos

• FM electric pianos

• Electric grand sounds

• Clavi-style sounds

These can be combined with effects including:

• Drive

• Chorus

• Phaser

• Tremolo

• Wah

• Delay

• Amp modelling

for complete stage-ready electric piano setups.

GS-1 STYLE VOICES

YC OS v2.0 adds:

GS-1 style Voices

inspired by Yamaha’s historic GS-1 FM synthesizer.

The update also adds:

GS-1 Ensemble Chorus

modelled using Yamaha VCM technology.

This gives current YC users additional classic Yamaha FM character alongside the existing electric-piano library.

KEYS A & KEYS B

The YC61 provides two independent sampled/FM keyboard sections:

KEYS A

and:

KEYS B.

These can be used alongside the Organ section to build sophisticated live combinations.

Examples include:

• Organ + piano

• Organ + electric piano

• Organ + pad

• Piano + strings

• Electric piano + brass

• Piano + synth

• Three-way layered performance

SPLITS & LAYERS

The YC architecture makes it easy to create:

• Split keyboards

• Layered sounds

• Multi-section performance setups

without relying on deep menu programming.

This is particularly valuable for working musicians who need to change sounds rapidly between or during songs.

DIRECT PERFORMANCE INTERFACE

The YC61 is designed around immediate control.

Separate front-panel sections are provided for:

• Organ

• Keys A

• Keys B

• Effects

• Speaker/Amp

• Reverb

• Master EQ

This means many performance changes can be made directly rather than by navigating through screen pages.

For live use, that can be far more practical than a conventional workstation interface.

INSERTION EFFECTS

The YC61 provides extensive dedicated insertion processing.

Yamaha specifies:

Organ

• 1 Organ insertion system

• Pre Drive

Keys A

• Two effect systems

• 35 types for Effect 1

• 35 types for Effect 2

Keys B

• Two effect systems

• 35 types for Effect 1

• 35 types for Effect 2

This provides considerable processing flexibility for complex live sounds.

36 EFFECT TYPES

In addition to the section-specific processors, Yamaha specifies:

36 Effect types

within the YC effects architecture.

These cover a broad range of stage processing requirements.

REVERB

The YC61 includes dedicated:

Reverb

for adding room or hall ambience to the complete performance.

3-BAND MASTER EQ

The YC61 includes:

3-band Master EQ

with a:

Sweepable Mid.

This allows the overall keyboard sound to be adapted quickly to:

• Different PA systems

• Stage monitors

• Venues

• Rehearsal rooms

• Recording environments

320 LIVE SET SOUND LOCATIONS

With current YC OS v2.0, the YC61 provides:

320 Live Set Sound locations

including:

152 preset Live Set Sounds.

Live Sets store complete performance configurations.

These can include:

• Organ registrations

• Keys sounds

• Splits

• Layers

• Effects

• Speaker/Amp settings

• Controller assignments

• EQ

For gigging players, Live Sets allow complete song-specific setups to be recalled rapidly.

EXPANDED LIVE SET STORAGE

YC OS v2.0 doubled the number of:

User Live Set Pages

from:

20 to 40.

This significantly increases the number of custom performance setups that can be organised onboard.

SEAMLESS SOUND SWITCHING

The YC Series supports:

Seamless Sound Switching.

This helps sustained notes continue naturally when moving between compatible performance setups.

YC OS v2.0 goes further by adding:

Seamless Sound Switching for individual Sections.

Held notes and chords can continue sounding even when a Section is switched off during a performance.

This is a particularly useful improvement for live players.

USB HOST FUNCTION – YC OS V2.0

YC OS v2.0 expands USB functionality by allowing compatible:

USB MIDI controllers

to connect directly to the YC’s USB TO DEVICE port.

This can be particularly useful for:

• Dual-manual organ setups

• Additional keyboard controllers

• Expanded stage rigs

without necessarily routing everything through a computer.

MIDI IN / OUT

The YC61 provides traditional:

• MIDI IN

• MIDI OUT

connections.

These allow integration with:

• External keyboards

• MIDI controllers

• Sound modules

• Computers

• Stage rigs

USB TO HOST

USB TO HOST

provides computer connectivity for compatible Yamaha USB Audio/MIDI workflows.

USB TO DEVICE

USB TO DEVICE

supports compatible USB storage and, with current firmware, supported USB MIDI devices.

AUDIO INPUT

The YC61 provides stereo:

• INPUT L/MONO

• INPUT R

6.3mm connections.

This allows another compatible audio device or keyboard to be routed through the YC setup.

MAIN OUTPUTS

The YC61 provides:

• OUTPUT L/MONO

• OUTPUT R

using standard:

6.3mm unbalanced phone jacks.

IMPORTANT – NO BALANCED XLR OUTPUTS ON YC61

Unlike the:

• YC73

• YC88

the Yamaha YC61 does not provide balanced XLR outputs.

Yamaha specifies balanced XLR outputs only on the two larger YC models.

This distinction is important when comparing models for professional stage setups.

The YC61 can still connect directly to:

• Keyboard amplifiers

• Powered monitors

• Mixers

• PA systems

• Audio interfaces

through its standard jack outputs.

For longer balanced cable runs, an appropriate DI solution may be useful.

HEADPHONE OUTPUT

A standard:

6.3mm stereo headphone output

is provided.

This is useful for:

• Private practice

• Programming

• Monitoring

• Rehearsals

FOOT CONTROLLER CONNECTIONS

The YC61 provides:

• FOOT CONTROLLER 1

• FOOT CONTROLLER 2

These can be used with compatible expression and controller pedals.

FOOT SWITCH CONNECTIONS

The YC61 also provides:

• FOOT SWITCH SUSTAIN

• FOOT SWITCH ASSIGNABLE

allowing sustain and additional performance functions to be controlled from the feet.

FULL-DOT LCD

The YC61 uses a:

128 × 64-dot Full Dot LCD.

The screen is deliberately compact because the YC’s operating philosophy relies heavily on dedicated physical controls.

This helps keep the instrument performance-focused rather than screen-driven.

NO BUILT-IN SPEAKERS

The YC61 does:

not

have built-in speakers.

It is intended for use with:

• PA systems

• Powered monitors

• Keyboard amplifiers

• Headphones

• Studio monitoring

AC MAINS POWER

The YC61 connects directly through:

AC IN.

Unlike keyboards using an external DC adaptor, the YC’s power supply is integrated into the instrument.

WHO IS IT FOR?

The Yamaha YC61 is particularly well suited to:

• Organ players

• Gigging keyboardists

• Gospel musicians

• Soul and funk players

• Jazz organists

• Rock keyboardists

• Worship musicians

• Pop players

• Touring musicians

• Session players

• Multi-keyboard performers

• Players wanting piano and organ in one compact instrument

• Musicians prioritising real-time hands-on control

• Players who want a lightweight professional board

PLAYING STYLES & APPLICATIONS

The YC61 is particularly effective for:

• Gospel

• Soul

• Funk

• Jazz

• Rock

• Blues

• Pop

• R&B

• Worship

• Fusion

• Indie

• Electronic music

• Musical theatre

• Session work

• Touring

• Live band performance

• Studio recording

HOW IT COMPARES

YC61 VS YC73

The YC61 and YC73 share the same:

• VCM Organ engine

• AWM2 engine

• FM engine

• 200 Voices

• 320 Live Set Sound locations

• Effects architecture

• Organ controls

The major differences are keyboard and connectivity.

YC61

• 61 keys

• Semi-weighted Waterfall action

• Organ-focused playing feel

• Standard jack outputs

• No balanced XLR outputs

• 896mm wide

• 7.1kg

YC73

• 73 keys

• BHS Balanced Hammer Standard action

• Matt black keytops

• More piano/electric-piano oriented

• Balanced XLR outputs

• 1,086mm wide

• 13.4kg

Choose the YC61 when organ feel and maximum portability matter most.

Choose the YC73 when a hammer action and professional balanced outputs are more important.

YC61 VS YC88

The YC88 is the piano-focused flagship of the range.

YC61

• 61-note Waterfall action

• 7.1kg

• Excellent for organ

• Standard jack outputs

• Compact chassis

YC88

• 88-note NW-GH3 Natural Wood action

• Wooden white keys

• Synthetic ebony and ivory surfaces

• Graded hammer response

• Balanced XLR outputs

• 18.6kg

Choose YC61 for organ playing and portability.

Choose YC88 when premium piano feel is the priority.

YC61 VS CK61

These are both 61-note Yamaha performance keyboards but target different priorities.

YC61

• Semi-weighted Waterfall action

• VCM Organ

• Physical drawbars

• FM engine

• Premium organ-focused architecture

• Extensive organ amp/rotary modelling

• No speakers

• AC mains operation

• 7.1kg

CK61

• FSB action

• AWM2 / Organ Flutes

• Physical drawbars

• Built-in speakers

• Battery operation

• Broader portable all-round design

• 5.6kg

Choose YC61 when organ authenticity and professional stage performance are the priority.

Choose CK61 when portability, built-in speakers and battery operation are more important.

YC61 VS CP73

The comparison is primarily about instrument focus.

YC61

Centred around:

• Organ

• VCM modelling

• Drawbars

• Waterfall action

• FM

• Piano and electric piano as part of a wider performance palette

CP73

Centred around:

• Acoustic piano

• Electric piano

• Balanced hammer action

• Premium piano performance

Choose YC61 when organ is central to your playing.

Choose CP73 when acoustic and electric piano are your main sounds.

YC61 VS HAMMOND-STYLE STAGE ORGAN CONCEPT

The YC61 is not simply an organ clone.

Its strength is that it combines Yamaha’s VCM Organ architecture with:

• Premium acoustic pianos

• Electric pianos

• FM

• Synths

• Strings

• Pads

• Extensive effects

• Live Set storage

This makes it particularly attractive to players who need one compact instrument to cover an entire keyboard chair rather than carrying a separate organ and stage piano.

PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS

Specification	Yamaha YC61
Series	YC Series
Product Type	Professional Stage Keyboard
Number of Keys	61
Keyboard Type	Semi-Weighted Waterfall
Touch	Initial Touch
Tone Generation	VCM Organ / AWM2 / FM
VCM Organ + AWM2 Polyphony	128 Notes Total
FM Polyphony	128 Notes
Total Voices	200
Organ Voices	10
Keys Voices	190
Live Set Sound Locations	320
Preset Live Set Sounds	152
Main Sections	Organ / Keys A / Keys B
Organ Insertion	Pre Drive
Keys A Effects	2 Systems / 35 Types Each
Keys B Effects	2 Systems / 35 Types Each
Additional Effects	36 Types
Speaker/Amp Types	7
Rotary Speaker Types	3
Amp Types	4
Reverb	1 Type
Master EQ	3-Band with Sweepable Mid
Main Outputs	L/MONO / R – 6.3mm Unbalanced
Balanced XLR Outputs	No
Headphones	6.3mm Stereo
Foot Controllers	2
Foot Switches	Sustain / Assignable
MIDI	IN / OUT
USB TO HOST	Yes
USB TO DEVICE	Yes
Audio Input	L/MONO / R
Display	128 × 64 Full Dot LCD
Built-In Speakers	No
Power	AC IN
Width	896mm
Height	108mm
Depth	309mm
Weight	7.1kg
Condition	New

DIMENSIONS & WEIGHT

The Yamaha YC61 measures approximately:

Width: 896mm
Height: 108mm
Depth: 309mm
Weight: 7.1kg

Its compact footprint makes it significantly easier to transport and position than a conventional weighted 73 or 88-note stage keyboard.

At just 7.1kg, it is particularly practical for:

• Touring

• Frequent rehearsals

• Multi-keyboard setups

• Small stages

• Public transport

• Players carrying their own gear

CURRENT YC OS V2.0

The current Yamaha YC operating system is:

YC OS v2.0.

This update significantly expands the original YC specification.

Important additions include:

• CFX2 Concert Grand Piano Voice

• GS-1 style Voices

• GS-1 Ensemble Chorus

• New Live Set Sounds

• Reworked Live Sets

• Expanded Live Set storage

• USB MIDI-controller support through USB TO DEVICE

• Seamless Sound Switching for individual Sections

• Additional workflow improvements

For current product listings, these updated capabilities are more relevant than the original launch specification.

🎵 FAIR DEAL MUSIC EXPERT VERDICT ★★★★★

Best suited for: Organists, gospel players, rock and soul keyboardists and gigging musicians who want authentic hands-on organ control without carrying a dedicated organ plus a separate stage piano.

Likely upgrade path: Players moving from lightweight performance keyboards, older clonewheel organs, workstation organ sounds or multi-keyboard setups where a compact professional all-round board is required.

Useful pairings: Expression pedal, sustain pedal, sturdy stand, padded YC61 case and appropriate stage monitoring or PA system.

Our tip: The reason to choose the YC61 is the combination of Waterfall action + VCM Organ + physical drawbars. If piano is your main instrument, the YC73 or YC88 may make more sense. If organ techniques are central to how you play, the YC61 is the one whose keyboard is specifically designed around that job.

FDM view: The YC61 succeeds because it feels like a performance instrument rather than a workstation. You can reach the organ drawbars, rotary controls, effects and Keys sections immediately without digging through menus. The current OS has also made it considerably more capable than it was at launch, with 200 Voices, 320 Live Set locations and the newer CFX2 piano. At 7.1kg, it is a seriously powerful stage rig in a remarkably manageable package.

WHY BUY FROM FAIR DEAL MUSIC?

When you buy from Fair Deal Music, you're choosing one of the UK's most established, independent family run music retailers since 1987.

Our keyboard team can help with:

• YC61 vs YC73

• YC61 vs YC88

• YC61 vs CK61

• YC61 vs CP73

• Organ keyboard comparisons

• Expression pedals

• Sustain pedals

• Stands

• Cases

• Stage monitoring

• MIDI and USB setup

• Part exchange

PART EXCHANGE / TRADE-IN

Trade In. Trade Up.

Already own an organ, stage piano, keyboard, synthesizer or workstation?

Fair Deal Music welcomes part-exchange enquiries on suitable instruments.

Simply provide:

• Make

• Exact model

• Approximate age

• Condition

and our team can provide a no-obligation valuation towards your Yamaha YC61.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How many keys does the Yamaha YC61 have?

61.

What keyboard action does it use?

A:

Semi-weighted Waterfall keyboard.

Why use waterfall keys?

Waterfall-style keys are particularly well suited to organ techniques including:

• Palm glissandos

• Smears

• Rapid repeated notes

• Fast organ passages

Is the YC61 touch sensitive?

Yes.

Yamaha specifies:

Initial Touch.

Is it hammer weighted?

No.

The YC61 uses a semi-weighted Waterfall action rather than a piano-style hammer action.

What sound engines does it use?

The YC61 combines:

• VCM Organ

• AWM2

• FM

What does VCM mean?

Virtual Circuitry Modeling.

Yamaha uses VCM to model the behaviour of analogue circuitry and classic organ/processor characteristics.

Does the YC61 have real drawbars?

It has dedicated physical drawbar controls for the organ section.

How many Voices does the current YC61 have?

With current YC OS v2.0, Yamaha specifies:

200 Voices.

These comprise:

• 10 Organ Voices

• 190 Keys Voices

How many Live Set Sounds does it have?

320 locations.

How many preset Live Set Sounds?

152.

Does it have the Yamaha CFX2 piano?

Yes.

CFX2 was added with:

YC OS v2.0.

Does it also have the original Yamaha CFX?

Yes.

Does it have Bösendorfer piano sounds?

Yes.

The YC sound library includes Bösendorfer concert-grand character alongside Yamaha’s piano Voices.

Does it have electric pianos?

Yes.

It includes vintage tine, reed, FM and other electric-piano sounds.

Does it have FM synthesis?

Yes.

How much polyphony does it have?

Yamaha specifies:

VCM Organ + AWM2: 128 notes total

and:

FM: 128 notes.

Does it have organ percussion?

Yes.

Does it have rotary speaker simulation?

Yes.

Yamaha currently specifies:

3 Rotary Speaker types.

How many amplifier types are there?

4.

How many Speaker/Amp models altogether?

7.

Does it have effects?

Yes.

The YC61 provides multiple effects for Organ, Keys A and Keys B alongside additional effects, reverb and Master EQ.

Does it have Seamless Sound Switching?

Yes.

YC OS v2.0 also adds Seamless Sound Switching for individual Sections.

Can I connect a second MIDI keyboard?

Yes.

Traditional MIDI IN/OUT is provided.

Current YC OS v2.0 also allows compatible MIDI controllers to connect through USB TO DEVICE.

Does it have USB TO HOST?

Yes.

Does it have USB TO DEVICE?

Yes.

Does it have an audio input?

Yes.

Stereo:

• L/MONO

• R

inputs are provided.

Does the YC61 have balanced XLR outputs?

No.

This is an important difference from YC73 and YC88.

What outputs does the YC61 have?

• L/MONO

• R

standard 6.3mm unbalanced outputs.

Does it have a headphone output?

Yes.

Does it have expression-pedal inputs?

Yes.

There are:

2 Foot Controller inputs.

Does it have a sustain-pedal input?

Yes.

Does it have an assignable footswitch input?

Yes.

Does it have built-in speakers?

No.

External amplification or headphones are required.

Is a pedal included?

Yamaha lists the YC61 package with:

• Owner’s Manual

• Power Cord

Unlike YC73 and YC88, the YC61 specification does not list an FC3A pedal as standard package contents.

How wide is the YC61?

Approximately:

896mm.

How high is it?

Approximately:

108mm.

How deep is it?

Approximately:

309mm.

How much does it weigh?

Approximately:

7.1kg.

Is YC61 lighter than YC73?

Yes.

YC61 – 7.1kg

YC73 – 13.4kg

Is YC61 lighter than YC88?

Yes — substantially.

YC88 – 18.6kg.

Should I choose YC61 or YC73?

Choose YC61 if:

• Organ is your main focus

• Waterfall action matters

• Maximum portability matters

• 61 keys are sufficient

Choose YC73 if:

• You prefer hammer action

• Electric piano and piano are more central

• You want balanced XLR outputs

• You want 73 keys

Should I choose YC61 or YC88?

Choose YC61 for:

• Organ

• Waterfall action

• 7.1kg portability

• Compact stage setup

Choose YC88 for:

• Premium piano action

• 88 keys

• Wooden white keys

• Graded hammer response

• Balanced XLR outputs

Should I choose YC61 or CK61?

Choose YC61 if you want:

• VCM Organ

• Semi-weighted Waterfall action

• Premium organ-focused sound architecture

• More sophisticated rotary/amp modelling

• Professional YC workflow

Choose CK61 if you want:

• Lower weight

• Built-in speakers

• Battery operation

• Broader self-contained portability

• Lower-cost all-round stage functionality

Should I choose YC61 or CP73?

Choose YC61 when organ is central.

Choose CP73 when acoustic and electric piano are central.

The two models complement rather than directly replace one another.

WHAT’S INCLUDED?

Yamaha specifies the standard YC61 package as including:

• Yamaha YC61 Stage Keyboard

• Owner’s Manual

• Power Cord

Unlike the YC73 and YC88 specifications, Yamaha does not list an FC3A pedal as standard with the YC61.

Exact Fair Deal Music UK package contents should follow the stock actually supplied.

ORGAN FIRST. EVERYTHING ELSE READY TO GO.

The Yamaha YC61 starts with the things organ players actually need:

61-note Waterfall action.

VCM Organ.

Physical drawbars.

Rotary speaker modelling.

Percussion.

Vibrato and chorus.

Pre Drive.

Then it adds the wider stage sounds required by a working keyboard player:

CFX2.

CFX.

Bösendorfer.

Vintage electric pianos.

FM.

Synths.

Strings.

Pads.

With current YC OS v2.0 you also get:

200 Voices.

320 Live Set Sound locations.

152 preset Live Sets.

Expanded USB MIDI control.

Seamless Section Sound Switching.

And the entire instrument weighs:

7.1kg.

For players who want a genuine organ-focused stage keyboard but cannot justify carrying separate organ, piano and synth rigs, the Yamaha YC61 offers an exceptionally capable all-in-one professional solution.