In 1993, Simon the Sorcerer released as a point and click adventure computer game. It is always fun to experiment and for anyone who had the pleasure in playing Simon the Sorcerer on the PC, Amiga, Acorn etc will remember the extremely catchy theme music.

It was due to this title I purchased the Yamaha SW60XG ISA card for my PC so that the MIDI music would sound much better ( which later encouraged me to buy a MIDI keyboard to attach to my PC and then the SW1000XG). You could easily suggest that it was down to this initial investment I found my love for Yamaha and the XG format, which of course then migrated to Yamaha keyboards and encouraged me to create the ‘Yamaha Personal Keyboard Owner’ website! For a lot of games this was great, however in an ironic twist, Simon the Sorcerer wasn’t General MIDI compatible so it sounded awful. However, years on I have re-worked the originals with the support of the game publishers and creators and now here is the theme played live using a multipad I created and a couple of registrations. Using the style Oriental Pop and the Tiny Lead voice predominantly I also mute out the bass for some sections of the style to match it better with the original theme.

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I am sure there are many questions regarding the soon to be released Yamaha Tyros3 Expansion Packs, so Simon Inkley from Yamaha Corporation has kindly spared a few moments to answer a few in this exclusive to ‘Yamaha Personal Keyboard Owner‘ written interview:

First of all, what exactly is an expansion?

We have been offering Premium Styles for many years. Premium Styles can be downloaded using Internet Direct Connection or from www.yamahamusicsoft.com and added to your instrument, thus ‘expanding’ it. For Tyros3 owners, we are broadening our Premium line-up by adding Voices and Packs for download from your computer:

Premium Voices are single new sounds that are a perfectly balanced addition to your Tyros3’s factory content. Voices will also be supplied with a bank of Registration Memory settings and a Demonstration Song. Premium Packs group many different types of content and bring them together to make a ‘mini-instrument’. Packs include new Voices, Styles, One Touch Settings, Multi-Pads, Registration Memories and Demonstration Songs.

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On the official Yamaha Tyros3 website, the actual release date for the two new expansion packs and Super Articulation 2 voice has been announced. On 3rd August, 2009 – Yamaha Tyros3 keyboard owners will be able to purchase the new selections on offer.

To whet your appetites, Yamaha have also released a second audio preview of the Choir and Vocals pack.

To find out more, click the link below:
> Yamaha Tyros3 Official Website

Today I have updated the ‘Donate’ page, making it clearer what is involved in running a vast website like Yamaha Personal Keyboard Owner. YPKO is an independent enthusiast resource site which relies on donations to exist. It is very important to understand that I receive no funding from Yamaha Corporation or any other entity by running Yamaha Personal Keyboard Owner (YPKO)!

No revenue is earned through my non-commercial membership system, allowing everyone to enjoy the facilities and features on offer, however this results in a black hole where I depend on donations to help with running costs, to improve site functionality and to cover at least a small portion of the time I spend maintaining and updating this venture.

Originally I believed that this website would be a small little hobby site with maybe a few hundred members, however now we are fast approaching 10,000. This is fantastic, but to update the website and moderate such a vast membership keeping the friendly atmosphere is very challenging and indeed time consuming. So if you can, please consider donating so I can continue my efforts in providing one of the richest resources for Yamaha keyboard and digital piano enthusiasts around the world.

To find out more and to view the donation options, click the link below:
> Donate to Yamaha Personal Keyboard Owner

Yamaha have released 10 brand new Premium Styles for their flagship keyboard the Tyros3. These are designed specifically for the Tyros3, therefore making full use of the instruments features and vast selection of voices including MegaVoice and Super Articulation 2.

These can be previewed and purchased both on Internet Direct Connection (directly through your keyboard), or online using your computer.

According to the official YamahaMusicSoft Blog, the styles include:
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 Yamaha Tyros3 New Premium Styles Examples: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download