Yamaha P 250 Owners Manual

							P-25051
Basic Operation
Song Playback
The P-250 enables you to play back a recorded performance. You can also play the keyboard 
while the P-250 is playing back a song.
■Playback
1
Display the song selection screen.
Press either SONG SELECT [ ] or [ ] button.
2Select the desired song.
2-1Use A [–]/[+] to select from “PresetSong” or 
“MemorySong”.
If the internal storage memory contains one or more 
songs, the P-250 will display “MemorySong.”
2-2Use the C [–]/[+] or SONG SELECT [ ]/[ ] 
buttons to select a song.
3Start playback.
Press the [START/STOP] button.
Starting playback automatically when you
start playing the keyboard (Synchro Start)
You can start playback as soon as you start playing 
the keyboard. This is called the “Synchro Start” 
function.
To enter Synchro Start standby mode, press and 
hold down the [TOP] button and press the [START/
STOP] button. The [START/STOP] indicator flashes.
Now play the keyboard. Playback starts simulta-
neously.
To cancel the Synchro Start function, press the 
[TOP] button while the P-250 is in Synchro Start 
standby mode.
Use the B [–]/[+] buttons to move back and forth 
(fast reverse and fast forward) through the song.
You can play the keyboard while the P-250 is play-
ing back a song. You can also play the notes in a 
voice different from the playback voice by select-
ing a voice from the panel. In this case, to adjust 
the volume balance between the song playback 
and the sound you are playing on the keyboard, 
use the [SONG BALANCE] slider. (page 49)
Press either SONG SELECT [ ]/[ ] button to 
return to the song selection screen.
VOICE/PERFORMANCE TEMPO SONG SONG BALANCE
MASTER VOLUME
MIDI SETTINGCHORUSREVERB SPLIT CONTRAST
XG8
16 B
YES NO
D A
CBASS
157
PERFORM. FILE MASTER EQ EDIT
VARIATIONPERFORMANCEVOICE EDIT VIBES
GUITAR
146
SYNTH. PAD
135 E.PIANO3 HARPSI.
CLAVI.
ORGAN 1
EXIT
9B A 1 G.PIANO 1
EX.TRACKSSONG FILEPANEL LOCK
TRACK1
TOP SONG SELECT
KEYBOARD SONG
MINMAXREC START/STOP
SYNCHRO START NEW SONGTRACK2MIDI OUT
ORGAN 2
102 G.PIANO 2
STRINGS
113 E.PIANO1
CHOIR
124 E.PIANO2
OTHER SETTING
DOWN SONG SETTING UP
1
2-22-1435
TEMPO [DOWN]/[UP]
TIP
Use the “SongRepeat” parameter in the “SONG SETTING” 
menu (page 64) to select repeat playback of all songs or 
repeat playback of a single song.
NOTE
If the song name extends beyond what can be displayed in 
the screen, you can press the D [+] button to step one char-
acter to the right. Press the D [–] button to step one charac-
ter to the left. 
						

							Song Playback
52   P-250
Basic Operation
Adjusting the tempo
You can use the TEMPO [DOWN]/[UP] buttons to 
adjust the playback tempo as required before or 
during playback. The default tempo (the song’s 
original tempo) is set when you press the [DOWN] 
and [UP] buttons simultaneously.
Press the SONG SELECT [ ] or [ ] button to 
return to the song selection screen.
4Stop playback.
When playback is complete, the P-250 automatically 
stops and locates the top of the song.
To stop playback in the middle of a song, press the 
[TOP] button. You can also pause playback by press-
ing the [START/STOP] button.
5Return to the main screen.
Press the [EXIT] button.
Turning Track Playback On and Off
When you select a song on the P-250, the indica-
tors for tracks that contain data ([TRACK 1], 
[TRACK 2], [EX.TRACKS]) light up green.
While the P-250 is playing or stopped, pressing 
these track buttons turns off the indicators, and the 
data on those tracks will not be played. Press the 
track buttons repeatedly to toggle track playback 
on and off.
You can play the part that is turned off.
See page 33 for information on the type of song data 
that the P-250 can play back.
TIP
In the song selection screen:
•Press the SONG SELECT [ ] or the C[–] button while 
playback is stopped in the middle of a song to locate the 
top of the song.
•Press the SONG SELECT [ ] or the C[–] button dur-
ing playback to restart playback from the top of the song.
•Press the SONG SELECT [ ] or the C[+] button dur-
ing playback to start playback from the next song.
NOTE 
In songs recorded at a free tempo, the actual number of 
bars occasionally may not match the number of bars indi-
cated on screen.
NOTE
Some preset songs contain song data recorded at a free 
tempo.
TIP
Songs containing a large amount of data may not be read 
properly by the instrument, and as such you may not be 
able to select them. The maximum capacity is about 200—
300KB. However, this may vary, depending on the data con-
tent of each song.
TIP
Change the character type (CharacterCode) as appropriate 
for the selected song (page 55).
TIP
If the P-250 starts playing back while Performance mode is 
on, Performance mode will be temporarily turned off. The 
performance parameter settings remain the same. 
						

							P-25053
Basic Operation
Handling Song Files [SONG FILE]
Song File screens, which are accessed via the [SONG FILE] button, enable you to save, delete, 
and rename recorded songs, and change the type of characters on screen.
The following parameters are provided for these operations:
■Basic Song File Operation
Message are occasionally displayed on screen to facilitate operation. Refer to the “Message List” on 
page 82 for an explanation of each message, the appropriate actions to take, and troubleshooting informa-
tion.
1Select the desired song.
Select a song you wish to save or rename.
2Access the Song File menu.
Press the [SONG FILE] button.
To close the Song File menu, press the [EXIT] button 
once or twice.
3Select the desired parameter.
Press the [SONG FILE] or A [–]/[+] buttons repeat-
edly to display the desired item from the following:
•SaveToMemory
•DeleteSong
•RenameSong
•CharacterCode
4Set the parameter or execute the command.
Use the B [–(NO)]/[+(YES)], C [–]/[+], or D [–]/[+] 
buttons.
For more information regarding this procedure, refer 
to the corresponding section.
5Close the Song File menu.
Press the [EXIT] button.
Operation Parameter Reference page
Saving a Song File in Storage Memory SaveToMemory 54
Deleting a Song File from Storage Memory DeleteSong 54
Renaming a Song (Song File) RenameSong 55
Changing the On-Screen Character Type CharacterCode 55
VOICE/PERFORMANCE TEMPO SONG SONG BALANCE
MASTER VOLUME
MIDI SETTINGCHORUSREVERB SPLIT CONTRAST
XG8
16 B
YES NO
D A
CBASS
157
PERFORM. FILE MASTER EQ EDIT
VARIATIONPERFORMANCEVOICE EDIT VIBES
GUITAR
146
SYNTH. PAD
135 E.PIANO3 HARPSI.
CLAVI.
ORGAN 1
EXIT
9B A 1 G.PIANO 1
EX.TRACKS SONG FILEPANEL LOCK
TRACK1
TOP SONG SELECT
KEYBOARD SONG
MINMAXREC START/STOP
SYNCHRO START NEW SONGTRACK2MIDI OUT
ORGAN 2
102 G.PIANO 2
STRINGS
113 E.PIANO1
CHOIR
124 E.PIANO2
OTHER SETTING
DOWN SONG SETTING UP
3
4 2
 31
5 
						

							Handling Song Files [SONG FILE]
54   P-250
Basic Operation
■Saving a Song File in Storage 
Memory [SaveToMemory]
If you record a song and then turn off the 
power, the song will be erased. To save a 
recorded song, you must save it into the P-250 
storage memory. You can also save preset 
songs, as well as additional or overwritten 
recordings (page 49) to storage memory.
Refer to page 53 for information on the 
basic operation of song files. The follow-
ing steps are supplement for Step 4 on 
page
  53.
 
4-1 
Name the song. 
To move the cursor (a small underline), use the C 
[–]/[+] buttons.
To insert a space, press the C [–]/[+] buttons 
simultaneously. 
To select a character marked by the cursor, use the D 
[–]/[+] buttons.
To delete a character, press the D [–]/[+] buttons 
simultaneously.
You can use up to 58 characters for a song name. If 
the name is longer than the screen, use the C [–]/[+] 
buttons to move the cursor and scroll the name. 
4-2 
Execute the operation. 
Press the B [+(YES)] button located next to “Exe-
cute?-->.” 
“Sure?-->” is displayed on screen. Press the B [+(YES)] 
button again to confirm the operation. (To cancel the 
operation, press the B [–(NO)] button.)
During the operation, “Executing” is displayed on 
screen. When the operation is complete, “Completed” 
is displayed.
The song is automatically numbered as “Mxx,” where 
“M” means “Memory” and “xx” is a number.
If storage memory contains one or more songs, and 
you save a new song, the P-250 automatically sorts 
the songs alphabetically and renumbers them. ■
 Deleting a Song File from 
Storage Memory [Delete-
Song] You can delete song files in storage memory. 
You cannot delete preset songs or the cur-
rently-selected song. Refer to page 53 for information on the 
basic operation of song files. The follow-
ing steps are supplement for Step 
 4
  on 
page
  53.
 
4-1 
Select a song to delete. 
Use the C [–]/[+] buttons to select a song. 
4-2 
Execute the operation. 
Press the B [+(YES)] button located next to “Exe-
cute?-->.” 
Follow the instructions on-screen.
Deleting the memory song does not erase the song 
data from the current memory. However, if you return 
to the song selection screen, song information other 
than the song name is replaced by a dashed line “—
—————”.
After you delete a song, the P-250 automatically 
updates the song numbers. 
 CAUTION
 
Do not turn off the power to the P-250 while the screen dis-
plays “Executing.” Otherwise, the data currently held in stor-
age memory may be lost. 
TIP
 
Song Title 
•You can change the type of characters on screen using 
the “CharacterCode” (page 55) parameter.
•When you later select a saved song, the name with an 
extension “.MID” will appear. 
 CAUTION
 
Do not turn off the power to the P-250 while the screen dis-
plays “Executing.” Otherwise, the data currently held in stor-
age memory may be lost. 
TIP
 
To delete the currently-selected song, select “ALL” for the 
“ChannelClear” parameter (page 63) accessed from the 
[SONG SETTING] button. Alternatively, press the SONG 
SELECT [ ]/[ ] buttons simultaneously to display 
“SongChanged Save?”. This message means: “A song has 
been edited. Do you wish to save the change?” Press the B 
[–(NO)] button. The currently-selected song is deleted and 
a blank “NewSong” is selected. 
						

							 
P-250 
55 Handling Song Files [SONG FILE] Basic Operation  ■
  Renaming a Song (Song 
File) [RenameSong]  You can change the title of any song, except 
for preset songs and “P-000:NewSong”.   Refer to page 53 for information on the 
basic operation of song files. The follow-
ing steps are supplement for Step 
  4
   on 
page
  53.
 
4 
Name the song as described in the 
“SaveToMemory” section (page 54).
 
After you rename a song, all songs are sorted alpha-
betically and renumbered. ■
 Changing the On-Screen 
Character Type 
[CharacterCode] You can change the type of characters that 
appear on-screen. To select International or Japanese, use the D [–]/[+] 
buttons.
 
Character list  
International
Japanese 
 CAUTION
 
Do not turn off the power to the P-250 while the screen dis-
plays “Executing.” Otherwise, the data currently held in stor-
age memory may be lost. 
TIP
 
The [CharacterCode] setting is also reflected in the display 
of the performance and performance file names. 
						

							   MEMO  
56    
P-250 
Edit Operation 
						

							 
P-250 
57 
Edit Operation
  Edit Operation 
Edit Operation explains detailed functions and settings for convenient and advanced techniques. 
Editing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58
Settings for Song Recording and Playback [SONG SETTING] . . . . . . . . . . . . .62
Editing a Voice in Detail [VOICE EDIT] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .65
Adjusting the Master Equalizer [MASTER EQ EDIT]. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .71
MIDI [MIDI SETTING] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .73
Other Settings [OTHER SETTING]  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .76 
						

							 
58    
P-250 
Edit Operation
  Editing  You can set various parameters to make the best use of P-250 functions. For a basic procedure 
to make these settings, refer to page 61.  ■
  Parameter List  The following parameters are available.  Song recording and playback [SONG SETTING]
Voices [VOICE EDIT] 
In Dual mode, assign parameters with an asterisk (*) to the Main part and Layer part voices. In Split Dual mode, assign them 
to the Main, Layer, Left, and LeftLayer part voices. Operation Parameter name on the screen Reference page 
Correcting note timing  Quantize 62
Specifying whether playback starts immediately along with the first 
voicingQuickPlay 62
Auditioning channel ChannelListen 63
Deleting data from a channel ChannelClear 63
Specifying the range and playing back repeatedly FromToRepeat 63
Specifying a phrase for playback by phrase number PhraseMark 63
Playing back a song repeatedly SongRepeat 64
Setting the click time signature TimeSignature 64
Setting the click volume ClickVolume 64
Turning the click on/off ClickOnOff 64 
Operation Parameter name on the screen Reference page
 
Setting the octave* Octave 65
Setting the volume level* Volume 65
Setting the position of right and left channels* Pan 66
Adjusting fine pitch offset between two voices in Dual mode Detune 66
Selecting the reverb type ReverbType 66
Setting the reverb depth* ReverbSend 66
Setting the chorus type ChorusType 66
Setting the chorus depth* ChorusSend 67
Turning the chorus on/off ChorusOnOff 67
Selecting the insertion effect type* Ins.Type (Ins) 67
Setting the speed of the vibraphone vibrato effect* VibeRotorSpeed (RotorSpeed) 67
Turning the vibraphone vibrato on/off* VibeRotorOnOff (RotorOnOff) 67
Adjusting the speed of the rotary speaker* RotarySpeed (Rot.Speed) 67
Adjusting the insertion effect depth* Dry/WetBalance (Dry/Wet) 68
Adjusting the brightness of the sound* Brightness 68
Adjusting the resonance effect* HarmonicContent (Harmonic) 68
Adjusting the low-range frequency of the part EQ* EQ LowFreq. (EQ L.Freq) 68
Adjusting the low-range gain (amount of boost/cut) of the part EQ* EG LowGain 68
Adjusting the high-range frequency of the part EQ* EQ HighFreq. (EQ H.Freq) 68
Adjusting the high-range gain (amount of boost/cut) of the part EQ* EG HighGain 68
Setting the touch sensitivity* TouchSense 68
Assigning the Pedal 1 function Pedal 1 69
Assigning the Pedal 2 function Pedal 2 69
Assigning the Pedal 3 function Pedal 3 69 
						

							 
P-250 
59 Editing 
Edit Operation
  Master Equalizer [MASTER EQ EDIT]
MIDI [MIDI SETTING]
Other settings [OTHER SETTING]  Assigning the Pedal 4 function Pedal 4 69
Assigning the modulation wheel function Modulation 69
Setting the MSB of the Send Bank Select message* SendBankMSB (SendMSB) 70
Setting the LSB of the Send Bank Select message* SendBankLSB (SendLSB) 70
Setting the Program Change message* SendPG# 70
Turning the Internal tone generator on/off* InternalTG 70 
Operation Parameter name on the screen Reference page
  Setting the Master Equalizer type Edit or Master Equalizer type name 71
Adjusting the low range gain of the Master Equalizer  LowGain 71
Adjusting the low-middle range gain of the Master Equalizer LowMidGain 71
Adjusting the middle range gain of the Master Equalizer MidGain 71
Adjusting the high-middle range gain of the Master Equalizer HighMidGain 71
Adjusting the high range gain of the Master Equalizer HighGain 71
Adjusting the low frequency of the Master Equalizer LowFreq. 71
Adjusting the low-middle frequency of the Master Equalizer LowMidFreq. 71
Adjusting the middle frequency of the Master Equalizer MidFreq. 71
Adjusting the high-middle frequency of the Master Equalizer HighMidFreq. 71
Adjusting the high frequency of the Master Equalizer HighFreq. 71
Adjusting the low range resonance of the Master Equalizer LowQ 72
Adjusting the low-middle range resonance of the Master Equalizer LowMidQ 72
Adjusting the middle range resonance of the Master Equalizer MidQ 72
Adjusting the high-middle range resonance of the Master Equalizer HighMidQ 72
Adjusting the high range resonance of the Master Equalizer HighQ 72 
Operation Parameter name on the screen Reference page
 
Setting the MIDI transmit channel MidiOutChannel 74
Setting the MIDI receive channel MidiInChannel 74
Turning the Local control on/off LocalControl 74
Specifying keyboard performance or song data to be transmitted via 
MIDIMidiOutSelect 74
Specifying the type of data received via MIDI ReceiveParameter 75
Specifying the type of data transmitted via MIDI TransmitParameter 75
Transmitting the initial settings on the panel InitialSetup 75
Executing Voice Data Bulk Dump VoiceBulkDump 75 
Operation Parameter name on the screen Reference page
 
Selecting a touch response TouchResponse 76
Fine-tuning the pitch Tune 76
Selecting a tuning curve for a piano voice PianoTuningCurve 76
Selecting a scale Scale 77
Setting the Split Point SplitPoint 77
Setting the key Transpose 77
Specifying the depth of the soft pedal SoftPedalDepth 77
Specifying the depth of the string resonance StringResonanceDepth 77
Specifying the depth of sustain sampling for the damper pedal SustainSamplingDepth 78
Specify the volume of the key-off sound KeyOffSamplingDepth 78
Selecting a pedal function for vibraphone VibraphonePedalMode 78
Assigning the START/STOP function to a pedal  PedalStart/Stop 78 
						

							  Editing 
60    
P-250 
Edit Operation
  Selecting a type of pedal PedalType 78
Setting the point at which the pedal starts to affect the sound HalfPedalPoint 78
Pitch bend range PitchBendRange 79
Setting the [SONG BALANCE] function assignment  SongBalanceAssign 79
Turning the speaker on/off Speaker 79
Setting the Master Equalizer lock EqualizerLock 79
Selecting items saved at shutdown MemoryBackUp 79
Restoring the normal (default) settings FactorySet 79