Yamaha P120 Manual

							ENGLISH
DEUTSCH
FRANÇAIS
ESPAÑOL
˜ 
						

							This product utilizes batteries or an external power supply 
(adapter). DO NOT connect this product to any power supply or 
adapter other than one described in the manual, on the name 
plate, or specifically recommended by Yamaha.
WARNING: Do not place this product in a position where anyone 
could walk on, trip over ,or roll anything over power or connecting 
cords of any kind. The use of an extension cord is not recom-
mended! IF you must use an extension cord, the minimum wire 
size for a 25 cord (or less ) is 18 AWG. NOTE: The smaller the 
AWG number ,the larger the current handling capacity. For longer 
extension cords, consult a local electrician.
This product should be used only with the components supplied or; 
a cart, rack, or stand that is recommended by Yamaha. If a cart, 
etc., is used, please observe all safety markings and instructions 
that accompany the accessory product.
SPECIFICATIONS SUBJECT TO CHANGE: 
The information contained in this manual is believed to be correct 
at the time of printing. However, Yamaha reserves the right to 
change or modify any of the specifications without notice or obliga-
tion to update existing units.
This product, either alone or in combination with an amplifier and 
headphones or speaker/s, may be capable of producing sound lev-
els that could cause permanent hearing loss. DO NOT operate for 
long periods of time at a high volume level or at a level that is 
uncomfortable. If you experience any hearing loss or ringing in the 
ears, you should consult an audiologist. 
IMPORTANT: The louder the sound, the shorter the time period 
before damage occurs.
Some Yamaha products may have benches  and / or accessory 
mounting fixtures that are either supplied with the product or as 
optional  accessories. Some of these items are designed to be 
dealer assembled or installed. Please make sure that benches are 
stable and any optional fixtures (where applicable) are well 
secured BEFORE using.
Benches supplied by Yamaha are designed for seating only. No 
other uses are recommended.
NOTICE: 
Service charges incurred due to a lack of knowledge relating to 
how a function or effect works (when the unit is operating as 
designed) are not covered by the manufacturer’s warranty, and are 
therefore the owners responsibility. Please study this manual care-
fully and consult your dealer before requesting service.
ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES: 
Yamaha strives to produce products that are both user safe and 
environmentally friendly. We sincerely believe that our products 
and the production methods used to produce them, meet these 
goals. In keeping with both the letter and the spirit of the law, we 
want you to be aware of the following:
Battery Notice: 
This product MAY contain a small non-rechargeable battery which 
(if applicable) is soldered in place. The average life span of this 
type of battery is approximately five years. When replacement 
becomes necessary, contact a qualified service representative to 
perform the replacement.
This product may also use “household” type batteries. Some of 
these may be rechargeable. Make sure that the battery being 
charged is a rechargeable type and that the charger is intended for 
the battery being charged.
When installing batteries, do not mix batteries with new, or with 
batteries of a different type. Batteries MUST be installed correctly. 
Mismatches or incorrect installation may result in overheating and 
battery case rupture.
Warning: 
Do not attempt to disassemble, or incinerate any battery. Keep all 
batteries away from children. Dispose of used batteries promptly 
and as regulated by the laws in your area. Note: Check with any 
retailer of household type batteries in your area for battery disposal 
information.
Disposal Notice: 
Should this product become damaged beyond repair, or for some 
reason its useful life is considered to be at an end, please observe 
all local, state, and federal regulations that relate to the disposal of 
products that contain lead, batteries, plastics, etc. If your dealer is 
unable to assist you, please contact Yamaha directly.
NAME PLATE LOCATION: 
The name plate is located on the bottom of the product. The model 
number, serial number, power requirements, etc., are located on 
this plate. You should record the model number, serial number, and 
the date of purchase in the spaces provided below and retain this 
manual as a permanent record of your purchase.
Model
Serial No.
Purchase Date
SPECIAL MESSAGE SECTION
PLEASE KEEP THIS MANUAL
92-BP  (bottom) 
						

							3P-120/P-120S
1
PRECAUTIONS
PLEASE READ CAREFULLY BEFORE PROCEEDING
* Please keep this manual in a safe place for future reference.
 WARNING
Always follow the basic precautions listed below to avoid the possibility of serious injury or even death from electrical 
shock, short-circuiting, damages, fire or other hazards. These precautions include, but are not limited to, the following:
• Only use the voltage specified as correct for the instrument. The required 
voltage is printed on the name plate of the instrument.
• Use the specified adaptor (PA-300 or an equivalent recommended by 
Yamaha) only. Using the wrong adaptor can result in damage to the 
instrument or overheating.
• Check the electric plug periodically and remove any dirt or dust which may 
have accumulated on it.
• Do not place the AC adaptor cord near heat sources such as heaters or 
radiators, and do not excessively bend or otherwise damage the cord, place 
heavy objects on it, or place it in a position where anyone could walk on, 
trip over, or roll anything over it.
• Do not open the instrument or attempt to disassemble the internal parts or 
modify them in any way. The instrument contains no user-serviceable parts. 
If it should appear to be malfunctioning, discontinue use immediately and 
have it inspected by qualified Yamaha service personnel.• Do not expose the instrument to rain, use it near water or in damp or wet 
conditions, or place containers on it containing liquids which might spill 
into any openings.
• Never insert or remove an electric plug with wet hands.
• Do not put burning items, such as candles, on the unit. 
A burning item may fall over and cause a fire.
• If the AC adaptor cord or plug becomes frayed or damaged, or if there is a 
sudden loss of sound during use of the instrument, or if any unusual smells 
or smoke should appear to be caused by it,  immediately turn off the power 
switch, disconnect the adaptor plug from the outlet, and have the instrument 
inspected by qualified Yamaha service personnel.
Power supply/AC power adaptor
Do not open
Water warning
Fire warning
If you notice any abnormality
(3)-7  1/2 
						

							4P-120/P-120S
2
Always turn the power off when the instrument is not in use.
Even when the power switch is in the “STANDBY” position, electricity is still flowing to the instrument at the minimum level. When you are not using the instrument for a long 
time, make sure you unplug the AC power adaptor from the wall AC outlet.Yamaha cannot be held responsible for damage caused by improper use or modifi cations to the instrument, or data that is lost or destroyed.
 CAUTION
Always follow the basic precautions listed below to avoid the possibility of physical injury to you or others, or damage 
to the instrument or other property. These precautions include, but are not limited to, the following:
• When removing the electric plug from the instrument or an outlet, always 
hold the plug itself and not the cord.
• Unplug the AC power adaptor when not using the instrument, or during 
electrical storms.
• Do not connect the instrument to an electrical outlet using a multiple-
connector. Doing so can result in lower sound quality, or possibly cause 
overheating in the outlet.
• Do not expose the instrument to excessive dust or vibrations, or extreme 
cold or heat (such as in direct sunlight, near a heater, or in a car during the 
day) to prevent the possibility of panel disfiguration or damage to the 
internal components.
• Do not use the instrument in the vicinity of a TV, radio, stereo equipment, 
mobile phone, or other electric devices. Otherwise, the instrument, TV, or 
radio may generate noise.
• Do not place the instrument in an unstable position where it might 
accidentally fall over.
• Before moving the instrument, remove all connected adaptor and other 
cables.
• Use only the stand specified for the instrument. When attaching the stand or 
rack, use the provided screws only. Failure to do so could cause damage to 
the internal components or result in the instrument falling over.
• Before connecting the instrument to other electronic components, turn off 
the power for all components. Before turning the power on or off for all 
components, set all volume levels to minimum. Also, be sure to set the 
volumes of all components at their minimum levels and gradually raise the 
volume controls while playing the instrument to set the desired listening 
level.• When cleaning the instrument, use a soft, dry cloth. Do not use paint 
thinners, solvents, cleaning fluids, or chemical-impregnated wiping cloths.
• Do not insert a finger or hand in any gaps on the instrument. 
• Never insert or drop paper, metallic, or other objects into the gaps on the 
panel or keyboard. If this happens, turn off the power immediately and 
unplug the power cord from the AC outlet. Then have the instrument 
inspected by qualified Yamaha service personnel. 
• Do not place vinyl, plastic or rubber objects on the instrument, since this 
might discolor the panel or keyboard.
• Do not rest your weight on, or place heavy objects on the instrument, and 
do not use excessive force on the buttons, switches or connectors.
• Do not operate the instrument for a long period of time at a high or 
uncomfortable volume level, since this can cause permanent hearing loss. If 
you experience any hearing loss or ringing in the ears, consult a physician.
Saving and backing up your data
• Depending upon the Backup Settings (page 40), internal data is retained for 
about 1 week after the power is turned off. If the period is exceeded, the data 
will be lost. Be sure to turn the power switch on for a few minutes at least 
once a week. The data could be lost due to malfunction or incorrect 
operation. Save important data to external media such as the Yamaha MDF3 
MIDI data filer.
Backing up the external media
• To protect against data loss through media damage, we recommend that 
you save your important data onto two external media.
Power supply/AC power adaptor
Location
Connections
Maintenance
Handling caution
Saving data
(3)-7  2/2 
						

							5P-120/P-120S
Introduction
Thank you for choosing the Yamaha Electronic Piano P-120/P-120S. Your P-120/P-120S is a fine musical 
instrument that employs advanced Yamaha music technology. With the proper care, your P-120/P-120S will 
give you many years of musical pleasure.
The P-120/P-120S Electronic Piano offers unmatched sonic realism and natural 
grand-piano type playability with Yamaha’s original “AWM Dynamic Stereo Sampling” 
tone generation technology for rich, musical voices, and a special “Graded Hammer” 
keyboard which provides graded key weight and response throughout the keyboard 
range. The grand piano voices feature totally new samples painstakingly recorded 
from a full concert grand piano.
Both GRAND PIANO 1 and 2 voices feature multiple velocity-switched samples 
(Dynamic Sampling), a “Soundboard Reverb” effect that accurately simulates the res-
onance of a piano soundboard and “Key-off Samples” that add the subtle sound pro-
duced when the keys are released. They also feature special “Sustain Samples” that 
recreate the unique resonance produced by an acoustic grand piano’s soundboard 
and strings when its damper pedal is pressed.
Dual mode allows 2 voices to be played simultaneously.
Split mode allows different voices to be played by the left and right hands.
The sustain pedal includes a natural resonance effect for the piano voices, simulating 
the string and sound-board resonance of acoustic pianos.
Metronome feature with variable tempo facilitates practice.
A two-track digital recorder allows the recording and playback of anything you play on 
the keyboard. Up to three user songs can be recorded and stored in the P-120/P-
120S.
MIDI compatibility and a range of MIDI functions make the P-120/P-120S useful in a 
range of advanced MIDI music systems.
Built-in computer interface for direct connection to personal computers running 
advanced music software.
In order to make the most of your P-120/P-120S’s performance potential and features, we urge you to read 
this Owner’s Manual thoroughly, and keep it in a safe place for later reference.
 Trademarks• Apple and Macintosh are trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries.
• IBM-PC/AT is a trademark of International Business Machines Corporation.
• Windows is the registered trademark of Microsoft® Corporation.
All other trademarks are the property of their respective holders.
Included Accessories
 Owner’s Manual
 Music Stand
 Pedal
 PA-300 AC Adaptor (included or optional depending on locale)
3 
						

							6P-120/P-120S
The Control Panel....................................................... 8
Connections.............................................................. 10
Selecting & Playing Voices...................................... 13
Playing the Demonstration Tunes........................... 14
Voice Demo................................................... 14
Preset Song.................................................. 15
Preset Song A-B Repeat.............................. 16
Preset Song Part Cancel.............................. 17
Synchro Start........................................... 17
AUX PEDAL Start/Stop ........................... 17
The Dual Mode......................................................... 18
Other Dual Mode Functions .................... 18
The Split Mode......................................................... 19
Selecting the Right and Left Voices ........ 19
Setting the Split Point .............................. 19
Other Split Mode Functions ..................... 19
Reverb...................................................................... 20
Adjusting Reverb Depth .......................... 20
The Effect.................................................................. 21
Adjusting Effect Depth ............................. 21
Brilliance................................................................... 22
Transposition............................................................ 22
Touch Sensitivity...................................................... 23
Tuning....................................................................... 24
Tuning Up ................................................ 24
Tuning Down ........................................... 24
To Restore Standard Pitch ...................... 24
The Metronome & Tempo Control........................... 25
The Metronome............................................. 25
Metronome Time Signature..................... 25
Metronome Volume Function .................. 25
Tempo Control.............................................. 25
Using the User Song Recorder................................ 26
Recording...................................................... 26
Changing the Initial Settings ................... 28
Erasing a Single Track ............................ 28
Playback........................................................ 28
Synchro Start .......................................... 29
AUX PEDAL Start/Stop ........................... 29
The Function Mode................................................... 30
To Select a Function ............................... 30
F1: Tuning..................................................... 31
F2: Scale........................................................ 31
F2.1: Scale.................................................. 31
F2.2: Base Note .......................................... 31
F3: Dual Mode Functions............................. 32
F3.1: Dual Balance ..................................... 32
F3.2: Dual Detune....................................... 32
F3.3: 1st Voice Octave Shift ....................... 32
F3.4: 2nd Voice Octave Shift ...................... 32
F3.5: 1st Voice Effect Depth ....................... 33
F3.6: 2nd Voice Effect Depth ...................... 33
F3.7: Reset ................................................. 33
F4: Split Mode Functions............................. 33
F4.1: Split Point .......................................... 33
F4.2: Split Balance...................................... 33
F4.3: Right Voice Octave Shift.................... 34
F4.4: Left Voice Octave Shift ...................... 34
F4.5: Right Voice Effect Depth ................... 34
F4.6: Left Voice Effect Depth ...................... 34
F4.7: Sustain Pedal Range ......................... 34
F4.8: AUX Pedal Range ............................. 34
F4.9: Reset ................................................. 34
Contents
4 
						

							7P-120/P-120S
F5: Pedal Functions...................................... 35
F5.1: AUX PEDAL Mode ............................ 35
F5.2: Sustain Sample Depth ....................... 35
F5.3: Soft Pedal Effect Depth ..................... 36
F5.4: SUSTAIN PEDAL Type ..................... 36
F5.5: AUX PEDAL Type ............................. 36
F6: Metronome Volume................................ 36
F7: Preset Song Part Cancel Volume.......... 36
F8: MIDI Functions........................................ 37
A Brief Introduction to MIDI ..................... 37
F8.1: MIDI Transmit Channel Selection ...... 37
F8.2: MIDI Receive Channel Selection ....... 37
F8.3: Local Control ON/OFF ....................... 38
F8.4: Program Change ON/OFF ................. 38
F8.5: Control Change ON/OFF ................... 39
F8.6: MIDI Transmit Transpose .................. 39
F8.7: Panel/Status Transmit ....................... 39
F8.8: Bulk Data Dump ................................ 39
F9: Backup Functions.................................. 40
F9.1: Voice .................................................. 40
F9.2: MIDI ................................................... 40
F9.3: Tuning ................................................ 40
F9.4: Pedal ................................................. 40
Connecting to a Personal Computer........................ 41
Connecting to an Apple Macintosh 
Series Computer ..................................... 41
Connecting to an IBM-PC/AT Series 
Computer................................................. 42
Using a USB Interface 
(such as the Yamaha UX256, UX96) ...... 43
Factory Preset Recall............................................... 44
Troubleshooting....................................................... 44
Voice Descriptions.................................................. 45
Preset Song List...................................................... 48
Factory Setting List................................................. 49
MIDI Data Format..................................................... 50
MIDI Implementation Chart..................................... 54
Specifications.......................................................... 55
5 
						

							8P-120/P-120S
The Control Panel
1[MASTER VOLUME]  Control
The [MASTER VOLUME] control adjusts the 
P-120/P-120S’s output volume (level). 
The [MASTER VOLUME] control also adjusts 
headphone volume when a pair of headphones is 
plugged into the PHONES jack (page 11).
2[BRILLIANCE] Control
The [BRILLIANCE] Control adjusts the tonality 
or “timbre” of the output sound from a mellow tone 
to a bright tone.
3[DEMO] Button
Activates the demo playback mode in which you 
can select playback of different demonstration 
sequences for each of the P-120/P-120S’s voices. 
See page 14 for details.
4METRONOME [START/STOP] Button
Turns the metronome sound on and off. The 
[TEMPO/FUNCTION# , ] buttons, are used to 
set the tempo of the metronome sound. The 
[–/NO] and [+/YES] buttons are used to change 
the time signature (beat) of the metronome, if used 
while the METRONOME [START/STOP] button 
is held — page 25.
5[TEMPO/FUNCTION#] Button
This button provides access to the TEMPO con-
trol and a range of utility functions — including the 
MIDI functions — which significantly enhance ver-
satility and playability. See page 30 for details.
6[TEMPO/FUNCTION# , ] Buttons
These buttons adjust the tempo of the metronome 
function as well as the playback tempo of the song 
function. The tempo range is from 32 to 280 beats 
per minute — page 25. These same buttons are also 
used to select functions — page 30. 
7[–/NO], [+/YES] Buttons
These buttons select a preset song number for 
playback, and are also used to adjust a range of other 
parameters (i.e. their “–/NO” and “+/YES” func-
tions).
8SONG [PRESET] Button
This button enters the preset song mode. While in 
this mode you can use the [–/NO], [+/YES] but-
tons to select from 50 songs.
9SONG [USER 1/2/3] Button
This button selects one of the Recorder’s three 
user songs.
B0 A0 G0 F0 E0 D0 C0 B-1 A-1C1 D1 E1 F1 G1 A1 B1 C2 D2 E2 F2 G2 A2 B2 C3 D3 E3 F3 G3 A3 B3 C4 D4 E4 F4 G4 A4 B4 C5 D5 E5
1
234567
890!
@#
$%^&
PHONES Jacks (Left side panel) (See page 11)
Tuning keys (See page 24)
6 
						

							The Control Panel
9P-120/P-120S
0SONG [TRACK 1] and [TRACK 2] Buttons
The P-120/P-120S has a 2-track recorder, and 
these buttons are used to select the track(s) to be 
recorded or played back. See page 27 for details.
!SONG [START/STOP] and [REC] Buttons
These buttons control the P-120/P-120S’s user 
song recorder, letting you record and play back just 
about anything you play on the keyboard.
@VOICE Buttons & [VARIATION] Button
Simply press any of the voice selectors to select 
the corresponding voice. The voice selector LED 
will light to indicate which voice is currently 
selected. Press the [VARIATION] button so that its 
indicator lights to select a variation of the currently 
selected voice.
There is also a dual mode in which two voices 
can be played simultaneously across the full range of 
the keyboard (see page 18 for details), and a split 
mode which allows different voices to be played by 
the left and right hands (see page 19 for details).
#[SPLIT] Button
Engages the split mode, in which different voices 
can be played on the left- and right-hand sections of 
the keyboard. See page 19 for details.
$[REVERB] Button
The [REVERB] button selects a number of digi-
tal reverb effects that you can use for extra depth and 
expressive power. See page 20 for details. 
%[EFFECT] Button
This button selects a number of effects which can 
give your sound greater depth and animation.
^[TOUCH] Button
The [TOUCH] button makes it easy to adjust the 
touch response of the P-120/P-120S to match your 
playing style. See page 23 for details.
&[TRANSPOSE] Button
The [TRANSPOSE] button allows access to the 
P-120/P-120S’s TRANSPOSE function (to shift the 
pitch of the entire keyboard up or down in semitone 
intervals).Music Stand
The P-120/P-120S is supplied with a music stand that can be 
attached to the instrument by inserting it into the holes at the 
rear of the control panel.
F5 G5 A5 B5 C6
D6 E6 F6 G6 A6 B6 C7
7 
						

							10P-120/P-120S
Connections
1DC IN 16V Jack
Make sure that the [STANDBY/ON] switch of the P-120/P-120S 
is set to STANDBY.
Connect one end of the AC cable to the PA-300 AC power adap-
tor. Connect the AC adaptor’s DC cable to the DC IN 16V jack. Plug 
the other end of the AC cable into an AC outlet.
After turning the power OFF, simply reverse the procedure to dis-
connect the power.
• Use ONLY a Yamaha PA-300 AC Power Adaptor (or other adaptor 
specifically recommended by Yamaha) to power your instrument 
from the AC mains. The use of other adaptors may result in irrepa-
rable damage to both the adaptor and the P-120/P-120S.
• Unplug the AC Power Adaptor when not using the P-120/P-120S, or 
during electrical storms.
2[STANDBY/ON] Switch
Press the [STANDBY/ON] switch once to turn the power ON, a 
second time to turn the power OFF. When the power is initially 
turned ON, a voice selector LED will light.
• Even when the switch is in the “STANDBY” position, electricity is 
still flowing to the instrument at the minimum level. When you are 
not using the P-120/P-120S for a long time, make sure you unplug 
the AC power adaptor from the wall AC outlet.
HOST SELECT
1 67
89
2345
Side panel
PA - 300q we
AC cable
DC
cable
8