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Enhance your musical expression and experience with the Yamaha TransAcoustic™ piano

For decades, Yamaha has been a renowned name in the world of musical instruments, and its TransAcoustic™ pianos are further evidence of the company’s commitment to innovation. With the integration of cutting-edge technology, these instruments revolutionize the way musicians interact with — and experience — playing the piano.

Read on to learn how TransAcoustic™ pianos differ from SILENT Pianos™, how TransAcoustic™ piano technology works, the many advantages of playing a TransAcoustic™ piano, how to expand your performances using the Smart Pianist app, and details on which Yamaha pianos are available with TransAcoustic™ technology.

How is a TransAcoustic™ piano different than a SILENT Piano™?

Yamaha TransAcoustic™ Pianos are the next stage in piano technology — a step beyond SILENT Pianos™. So, what’s the difference?

Like SILENT Pianos™, TransAcoustic™ pianos offer the ability for headphone-enabled silent play, recording capabilities, and app interactivity. But while SILENT Pianos™ require headphones to hear the different piano sounds and effects, TransAcoustic™ models project their digital sounds from a tone generator using the acoustic soundboard of the piano as a loudspeaker.

TransAcoustic™ pianos deliver an immersive acoustic experience. Using advanced digital technology, these pianos generate a rich, authentic, and natural sound that resonates through the instrument’s body.

Here’s how TransAcoustic™ technology works

In a traditional acoustic piano, hammers inside the piano strike the strings. These strings reverberate and produce a faint tone, which is amplified by a vibrating soundboard (usually made of spruce and located on the piano’s interior). The soundboard is, in essence, a big organic speaker that, when fully vibrating, amplifies and enhances the beautiful, complex, and harmonic tones of an acoustic piano.

The secret behind TransAcoustic™ technology is its special transducer, which converts electric signals into vibrations. A digital tone generator connected to the transducer allows the player to play sampled sounds of two of the world’s most renowned concert grand pianos — the Yamaha 9ft CFX and the Bösendorfer 9’6” Imperial grand — recorded with stunning realism using Binaural sampling techniques.

The result is a rich, authentic musical experience. Imagine sitting at a TransAcoustic™ upright piano yet hearing a concert grand playing — It’s truly unique!

The many advantages of playing a TransAcoustic™ piano

TransAcoustic™ pianos offer musicians many opportunities to express themselves, and the possibilities are practically endless! These instruments offer:

Versatility and flexibility

Thanks to the built-in digital technology, you can blend a TransAcoustic™ piano’s acoustic sound with high-quality digital samples — including string instruments, organs, or synthesized sounds. Whether playing classical compositions, jazz improvisations, or contemporary pop songs, you’ll love exploring new realms of musical expression.

An authentic playing experience

Because TransAcoustic™ pianos feature a natural wooden keyboard and responsive action, you’ll enjoy a familiar, tactile experience and the ability to convey emotion with precision and nuance.

The ability to practice anytime, anywhere

Traditional acoustic pianos can limit practice opportunities, but with Yamaha’s TransAcoustic™ technology, you can easily switch to silent practice mode. When it’s engaged, an optical sensor will capture the movement of the keys, and the piano digitally produces the sound. As a result, you can enjoy the piano’s acoustic feel and response while hearing its sound in your headphones.

Recording capabilities

Using TransAcoustic’s built-in recording function and a USB flash drive, you can record your performance or practice and play it back in WAV format or burn it to a CD.

Live performance advantages

For musicians who perform live, Yamaha TransAcoustic™ pianos offer the ability to blend the acoustic sound with digital samples, eliminating the need for additional instruments or equipment on stage, streamlining setup, and reducing logistical challenges. Plus, these instruments project sound in a way that allows it to fill larger venues with a consistent, powerful sound that reduces the need for amplification.

Simplified maintenance

Traditional acoustic pianos require regular maintenance to perform at their best, but TransAcoustic™ pianos’ digital technology eliminates the need for tuning. Plus, TransAcoustic™ pianos are constructed of the same solid, high-quality materials for which Yamaha is known pianos to ensure their longevity and durability.

Yamaha’s Smart Pianist app takes your playing to the next level

Yamaha TransAcoustic™ pianos also come with Bluetooth® MIDI so that you can connect wirelessly to Yamaha’s Smart Pianist app. It’s easy to use and allows you to reproduce the sounds of other instruments, overlay voices, access a vast collection of sheet music, and much more.

Many popular Yamaha pianos are available with TransAcoustic™ technology

Yamaha offers two models of its TransAcoustic™ technology, updated in 2023:

  • The TC3 is available in Yamaha’s popular B1, B2, and B3 upright models;
  • The TA3 is available as U1, U3, YUS1, YUS3, and YUS5 upright pianos and as a GC1, C1X, and C3X grand piano.

Stretch your imagination

Ready to open up a whole new world of possibilities? The best way to discover whether a Yamaha TransAcoustic™ piano is right for you is to play it yourself! Visit our showroom today to experience the piano in a whole new way.