Description

Yamaha YC61 61-KEY Stage Keyboard with Drawer Organ with Semi-Weighted Waterfall Action

The Yamaha YC61 is a professional 61-key stage keyboard built for live performance, combining authentic drawbar organ control, premium acoustic and electric piano sounds, and intuitive hands-on operation in a lightweight portable design. Inspired by Yamaha’s historic YC combo organs and powered by advanced Virtual Circuitry Modeling (VCM) technology, the YC61 delivers rich vintage organ tones alongside modern stage keyboard versatility.

Designed specifically for gigging musicians, the YC61 features real-time physical drawbars, seamless sound switching, dedicated effects controls and a newly developed waterfall keyboard for expressive organ performance. Whether performing on stage, rehearsing with a band or recording in the studio, the YC61 offers fast access to inspiring sounds without complicated menus or programming.

Highlights

• 61-key semi-weighted waterfall keyboard
• Newly developed VCM Organ engine
• Authentic drawbar organ performance controls
• Physical LED drawbars with Upper/Lower control
• Yamaha CFX, C7, S700 and U1 piano sounds
• Vintage electric piano and FM synth sounds
• Seamless Sound Switching (SSS)
• Triple sound engine design
• 145 onboard voices
• 160 Live Set memories
• Lightweight 7.1kg portable design
• Real-time hands-on controls
• Rotary speaker simulation and amp modelling
• USB MIDI and Audio interface
• Master keyboard functionality
• Flexible split and layer performance modes
• Professional live performance workflow

Authentic VCM Organ Performance

At the heart of the YC61 is Yamaha’s advanced Virtual Circuitry Modeling engine, designed to recreate the character, response and behaviour of classic vintage organs and rotary speaker systems. Unlike static sample playback, VCM technology models the actual electronic behaviour of vintage circuitry, delivering a far more natural and expressive organ experience.

The dedicated Organ section features physical LED drawbars, rotary speaker controls, percussion, vibrato and chorus effects, all positioned for immediate access during live performance. Dual Upper and Lower manual control allows authentic split organ performance directly from the keyboard or via an additional external controller keyboard.

Premium Yamaha Acoustic & Electric Piano Sounds

Alongside its organ focus, the YC61 includes an exceptional collection of Yamaha acoustic and electric piano voices. Premium Yamaha CFX, S700, C7 and U1 piano samples provide rich concert grand realism, while classic tine and reed electric pianos deliver vintage stage keyboard character.

The instrument also includes FM-based electric piano sounds generated directly from Yamaha’s FM synthesis engine, delivering the unmistakable tone of classic digital keyboards with outstanding clarity and dynamic response.

Designed for Professional Live Performance

The YC61 has been engineered specifically for performing musicians, with an intuitive front-panel layout designed to minimise menu diving and maximise real-time control. Dedicated knobs, switches and buttons provide instant access to effects, layers, splits, EQ and sound shaping functions.

The lightweight chassis weighs only 7.1kg, making the YC61 highly portable for gigging musicians while maintaining a robust professional build quality suitable for regular live use.

Flexible Split, Layer & Master Keyboard Control

The YC61 allows highly flexible split and layer configurations across its Organ, Keys A and Keys B sections. Sounds can be layered together, assigned across keyboard zones or controlled from external MIDI keyboards for advanced live performance setups.

Integrated master keyboard functionality also allows the YC61 to control external sound modules and software instruments, making it ideal as the centrepiece of a professional stage or studio rig.

Advanced Effects & Real-Time Sound Shaping

The YC61 includes a powerful effects architecture with multiple insert effects, rotary speaker simulations, amp modelling, reverb and master EQ controls. Dedicated effect knobs and one-knob sound shaping controls allow performers to quickly adjust tone during performance without interrupting workflow.

Seamless Sound Switching ensures smooth transitions between sounds and Live Sets without audio dropouts, helping performers maintain uninterrupted performances on stage.

Specifications

Keyboard & Touch Response

• 61-key semi-weighted waterfall keyboard
• Initial touch response
• Waterfall organ-style action
• Designed for expressive organ performance
• Fast synth and keyboard response

Tone Generation

• VCM Organ engine
• AWM2 sound engine
• FM synthesis engine
• Independent FM polyphony
• Authentic rotary speaker modelling

Voices & Live Sets

• 145 total voices
• 6 Organ types
• 139 Keys voices
• Piano categories:
  • Grand
  • Upright
  • CP
  • Layer
• Electric piano categories:
  • Rd
  • Wr
  • Clavi
  • FM
• Synth categories:
  • Pad
  • Strings
  • Brass
  • Lead
  • Bass
• 160 Live Sets
  • 80 Presets
  • 80 User locations

Premium Piano Sounds

• Yamaha CFX Concert Grand
• Yamaha S700 Grand Piano
• Yamaha C7 Grand Piano
• Yamaha U1 Upright Piano

Organ Features

• Physical LED drawbars
• Upper/Lower manual operation
• Rotary speaker simulation
• Percussion controls
• Vibrato and chorus controls
• Pre-drive organ saturation
• Split organ functionality

Effects & Sound Shaping

• Multiple insert effects
• Rotary speaker effects
• Amp simulations
• Reverb
• Master EQ
• Envelope and filter controls
• One-knob sound shaping
• Dedicated effect controls

Performance Features

• Seamless Sound Switching (SSS)
• Split and layer modes
• Live Set memory system
• Real-time control layout
• Fast sound access
• Assignable controllers
• External keyboard integration
• Master keyboard mode

Connectivity

• USB MIDI/Audio interface
• MIDI IN/OUT
• USB TO HOST
• USB TO DEVICE
• Stereo outputs
• Headphone output
• Audio input
• Foot controller inputs
• Sustain pedal input

Display & Interface

• Graphic LCD display
• 128 x 64 pixels
• Dedicated section controls
• Real-time parameter feedback
• Intuitive live workflow

Dimensions & Weight

• Width:
  • 896 mm
• Depth:
  • 308 mm
• Height:
  • 108 mm
• Weight:
  • 7.1 kg

Included Accessories

• Owner’s manual
• Power cord