Yamaha keyboards are an ideal choice for beginners and seasoned keyboard players alike, with a wide range of high-quality sounds and functions. Every one of Yamaha keyboards has at least 61 full-size keys, and many of them are touch-sensitive. Specifically, this article looks into a special Yamaha product i.e, the Yamaha MIE-1, its specifications, features, design, price, pros and cons, and what makes it special.
Specifications
Designed for use on Mac computers, it requires many components to be fully functional. However, the Yamaha MIE-1 keyboard can be updated to sync with the Windows operating system (if it hasn’t been updated yet). Its specifications include:
- 61 Keys
- Left and right speakers
- 32 combined rhythm and orchestra modes
- 2 stereo outputs
- 4 MIDI/ USB outputs
- 2 1/4″ headphone jacks.
- Maximum Polyphony
- AC adapter DC 9 V.
- Chorus, Reverb, Equalizer
- Connectors
- Keyboard dimensions – 36 inches long, 13 inches wide, 3-4 inches deep.
Features Â
The Yamaha Music in Education (MIE) is a technology-enabled general music classroom that allows the music instructor to give complete music education to the students. It comes with lots of constituents such as
- MIE Desktop Software (the computer not included)
- All connecting cables plus 1 box of extra cables of different lengths for connections of keyboard with the computer.
- Midi interface to transfer, audio and data from the keyboard to output or recording devices.
- The teacher’s remote for easy passage of information and demonstration to learners.
- Brand new headphones for keyboard players
- Keyboards come with splitters and music wracks
- 16 keyboards are installed on 4 folding buffet tables for students, and 2 keyboards are installed on a small folding table for the instructor/teacher. (Total-18 keyboards).
- 20 Spiral Bound Song Collection for practices
- Â Boxes of printed songs, overhead transparencies for quizzes, and worksheets.
Design/Portability
Although the Yamaha MIE is designed for education, meant to be stationed where teaching and learning of music would take place, perhaps for stage use as well.
However, its usefulness isn’t limited to education, the 61-keyed technology-enabled classroom keyboard is designed in a way that’s easy to move around for lovers of music who would love to have one of the 90s keyboards as an asset.
Pricing and Budget
Presently, the price of a Yamaha MIE-1 keyboard ranges between two hundred dollars and eight hundred dollars.
The unstable and unfixed price is dependent on the seller’s asking price and the buyer’s negotiation skill.
It is worthy to note that the production of Yamaha MIE-1 has long ceased as sophisticated Yamaha keyboard products are being invented, this could be a cause of its fluctuating price because available Yamaha MIE-1 are from existing users and not the company.
Although the cost of the technology-enabled music classroom was huge (thousands of dollars) at its invention in the 90s, one can say the price is worth the quality and quantity of the product purchased for that amount.
Keyboard
The Yamaha MIE-1 keyboard is a 61-keyed piano that is designed to produce a topmost quality instrumental performance for teaching and learning, as well as entertainment.
With speakers on its left and right side and two stereo outputs, the keyboard also possesses 32 combined rhythm and orchestra modes.
Sound Quality and Speakers
Yamaha Voice and Style Expansion is a pack that’s embedded in the Yamaha MIE-1 keyboard which allows users to expand their creativity by making the keyboard sound like various voices or instruments.
The sounds produced from the in-built speakers are real just like that of a piano. Where other acoustic instruments aren’t available, it is safe to say that users can rely on the sound production of Yamaha MIE-1.
Connectivity
Although, the connectivity of Yamaha MIE-1 could be quite challenging especially if you need to get MIDI data recorded. However, it has been made simpler for users by following the under listed steps.
- Connect a Musical Instruments Digital Interface (MIDI) or a Universal Serial Bus to your Yamaha MIE-1 keyboard. (You are likely to come across 4 different types of audio-out ports on the keyboard i.e, USB audio and MIDI, USB MIDI only, MIDI only, Auxiliary).
- The other end of the cable is connected to the computer or audio interface.
- Once the keyboard is connected to your computer, you can turn it on. You might be required to put the keyboard in PC or MIDI mode to get MIDI data recorded.
- Download MIDI drivers for the Yamaha MIE-1 keyboard. Endure you download the latest one.
- In the sound settings, select the keyboard or audio interface.
- Then open your digital audio workstation.
With the aforelisted steps, your connection is intact and audio recordings will produce the exact sound that comes out of your keyboard.
Space Consideration
Apart from the set that needs enough space for 18 pianos (which is usually used for teaching), there’s the consideration for space.
The keyboard can be used virtually anywhere as long as the user can find a place to sit. It could be placed on the lap, used at the corner or a room, a stage, etc.
Pros and Cons
Pros
The advantages of Yamaha MIE-1 include.
- High-quality sound: you get a life-like sound that is clear and realistic
- No tuning is required as sounds are programmed
- Headphone for players
- Different Instrument Sounds
- The ability to record: users can record in different forms of audio format and share across platforms that they wish.
- Cost-effective
- Smart accompaniments: with Yamaha MIE-1, players can control the harmony, dynamics as well as style of music.
Cons
In other to create an aesthetic balance, the cons of the Yamaha MIE-1 keyboard are as follows.
- Its complexity. It has many sample sounds, effects, and sequences in-built. Figuring these out requires a lot of learning.
- Obsolescence leads to a decline in value.
Conclusion
The pros of Yamaha MIE-1 outnumber its cons. If you ever considered getting an ‘old school’ piano which would still give you many qualities of recent digital pianos, Yamaha MIE-1 is a product for you to consider. It could be used personally, in the studio, and for teaching and learning. Also, its price is pocket-friendly.
