Yamaha CK 76

The Yamaha CK76 is a versatile 76-key stage keyboard designed for musicians who switch between live performances, rehearsals, and studio work. Its FSB semi-weighted keyboard, front-panel controls, and wide range of sounds allow you to quickly switch from an electric piano to an organ or synthesizer. With its built-in speakers, battery power, and weight of 6.7 kg, it’s also ideal for musicians who travel frequently.

Key Features

• 76-key semi-weighted FSB keyboard, suitable for playing electric piano, organ, and synthesizer.
• Over 360 built-in sounds, including Yamaha CFX and S700 acoustic pianos, electric pianos, organs, and synthesizers.
• Direct controls, drawbars, and built-in effects to modify sounds while playing.
• Live Set memories to save your settings and quickly recall them on stage.
• 6 W + 6 W stereo speakers and the option to run on eight batteries for playing without external amplification.
• Bluetooth Audio connectivity, audio inputs, and a USB audio/MIDI interface for accompanying your songs or working with a computer.

Touch and Versatility

The Yamaha CK76 features a 76-key semi-weighted FSB keyboard. This action offers medium resistance—different from that of a hammer-action keyboard—and is particularly well-suited for musicians who use multiple sound families. It makes it especially easy to transition between electric piano playing, organ chords, and synthesizer lines.

Its 76 keys provide a wider range than a 61-key keyboard, which is useful for developing left-hand accompaniments while leaving room for right-hand melodies. The design remains compact for travel and stage setups.

Sounds and Real-Time Control

The CK76 features over 360 sounds covering the main needs of live keyboardists. It includes the Yamaha CFX and S700 pianos, several families of electric pianos, vintage organs, synthesizers, strings, and brass instruments. This diversity allows you to prepare a wide-ranging repertoire without needing multiple instruments.

The organ section features physical drawbars to adjust the sound’s character while playing. Filter and effect controls are also accessible from the front panel. This lets you fine-tune a sound between songs or make adjustments on the fly during an improvisation, without having to navigate through multiple menus.

Live Set Configurations and Presets

Live Set memories let you save your settings and quickly recall sounds prepared for each song. You can organize your configurations in advance to minimize adjustments during a concert.

The CK76 also lets you layer multiple sounds or assign different sounds to different parts of the keyboard. With the 2.0 operating system, Advanced Split mode allows for up to three playing zones, each of which you can assign a distinct sound. For example, you can set up a configuration combining a bass sound in the low register, an electric piano in the middle, and a synthesizer sound in the high register.

Speakers and Portability

The Yamaha CK76 features two 6-watt speakers, allowing you to play without an additional amplification system. This setup is convenient for practicing at home, rehearsing in a small space, or playing in a venue without a sound system. For a concert requiring greater sound coverage, its audio outputs allow you to connect it to a mixing console or powered speakers.

Weighing 6.7 kg, it’s easy to transport regularly. The keyboard runs on AC power or eight batteries, with a claimed battery life of up to 4 hours and 30 minutes depending on usage conditions. Yamaha also offers the SC-DE76 carrying case with shoulder straps, available separately.

Bluetooth and Audio Inputs

The Bluetooth Audio feature allows you to receive audio from a smartphone or tablet directly on the CK76. You can stream a backing track and play along simultaneously, without an audio cable between the two devices. This connection is for audio reception only and does not support MIDI data transmission.

The audio inputs allow you to connect a microphone, guitar, or other instrument. The external signal can be processed using dedicated features, including effects and equalization. This capability is particularly useful for singing while rehearsing or for integrating an additional sound source into a lightweight setup.

USB Connection and Music Production

Thanks to its USB audio/MIDI interface, the Yamaha CK76 can be connected to a computer to work with music software. The MIDI connection allows you to record played notes or control virtual instruments, while USB audio transmission lets you record the keyboard’s sound directly into compatible software.

The CK76 also features traditional MIDI connections for communicating with other equipment. It can thus serve as the main keyboard in a live performance setup or as a controller in a studio, while retaining its own sounds and performance controls.