Now available from Yamaha, the Piaggero NP-V80 digital piano offers a lightweight, ultra-portable design matched with realistic piano touch and tone. This 76-key digital piano joins the NP-V60 in the Piaggero series -- a play on the words "piano" and "leggero" (Italian for "light").

Ideal for players who don't have the space for a full-size acoustic piano but want the sound quality of one, the NP-V80 features Yamaha's Graded Soft Touch keyboard action, exclusive Yamaha Style content that helps you feel like you are playing with an ensemble, 30 internal songs for use with the Performance Assistant function and lessons, a music database that includes 305 song titles for quick keyboard set-ups, and much more. The NP-V80 weighs a little less than 16 pounds, and its price weighs in at $599 (MSRP).

To re-create the playability of an acoustic piano, the Piaggero NP-V80 features Yamaha's Graded Soft Touch (GST) keyboard, which gives keys in the lower octave a heavier touch than those in the upper octaves. While this scaled level of resistance is graded for a piano-like response, the keys themselves are not weighted, for the sake of portability.

The instrument also features XGlite Voices and drum / sound FX kits, plus a number of more popular instrument Voices, such as organ, strings, and guitar; all sounds were recorded using Yamaha's AWM (Advanced Wave Memory) stereo sampling technology to get a realistic sound. The Piaggero NP-V80 includes 160 preset Styles too, ranging from basic rock and jazz beats to contemporary electronic rhythms that provide instant backup accompaniment. All Piaggero Styles feature custom intros, variations, and endings that deliver complete control over your arrangement.

In addition, the included Music Database offers pre-set combinations of Styles, Voices, effects, and tempos based on the song you would like to perform. Additional titles can be downloaded online and transfered via USB to the Piaggero's Music Database.

What makes the NP-V80 stand apart from the NP-V60, its sibling in the series, is the NP-V80's Intelligent Arpeggiator. Play a chord and the Intelligent Arpeggiator automatically plays the notes with the appropriate feel of the instrument. Different types of pianos, for example, have different signature "grooves"; acoustic pianos, electric pianos, clavinets, synthesizers, and so forth are all played differently. The Intelligent Arpeggiator matches the appropriate keyboard groove to the current Voice being played; just select a Voice and play a chord.

The NP-V80 is now available for $599 at Yamaha piano dealerships. For full specs and more information, visit yamaha.com.