Digital workstation based on rompler samples with digital filters and an 8 tracks-sequencer.
Company: Yamaha
Model: SY-55
Class: Synthesizer
Keyboard: 61 keys
Weight: 10 kg
Dimensions:
430 (w) x 405 (h) x 88 (d) mm
Dates: 1989
Synthesis: PCM rompler
Resolution: 16 bits
Polyphony: 16 voices
Multitimbric: 16 parts
Oscillator: 4
Filter: Digital Low pass
LFO: 1
Sequencer: 8 tracks
Demo: 1
Video: 1
Review 1
DOWLOAD: user manual - 400 free Sy55 patches
Overview
KEYBOARD 61 velocity keys with aftertouch. Main panel features a 16 X 2 display, 39 push buttons, 1 slider data and 2 wheels for modulation and pitchbending.
Rear panel terminal connectors:
- Midi interface
- breath controller input
- damp footswitch
- expression pedal input
- click out (metronome for sequencer)
- master audio outs
- headphones out
- 2 card slots for PCM waves and datas
Sound Synthesis
PCM Rompler unit manages up to 16 voices polyphony based on 16-bits resolution AW2 Advanced Wave Memory 2 synthesis.
The patch main architecture is composed by 1, 2 or 4 samples or ELEMENTS.
Each ELEMENT is a sample from the wavetable and features independent parameters:
-
volume
-
tuning amount
-
effect amount
-
keyboard zone assign.
Wavetable
a 2mb ROM contains 74 waveforms at 32 or 48 kHz, organized 3 categories:
- 50 PCM acoustics including piano, organs, guitar, brass and more
- 8 PCM basic
digital basic like saw, square and more
- 16
PCM drums and percussions
Performance
Multitimbric system manages up to 16 parts each with assigned reserved polyphony, tuning, pan position, volume and effect level. The global pitch amount can be assigned to aftertouch or randomized for each note.
Envelope
there are 3 EG families per element:
- AEG amplitude : 4 segments + 5 levels
- PEG pitch: 4 segments + 5 levels
- CEG1 filter: 6 segments + 5 levels
- CEG2 filter: 6 segments + 5 levels
Filter
up to 2 digital resonant filters in cascade, they both feature a -12dB slope.
- Filter 1 mode is both lowpass and highpass
- Filter 2 mode is only lowpass.
Cutoff can be controller by LFO or dedicated EG, but not by both at the same time.
LFO
1 delayed digital modulator for each ELEMENT and 3 destinations:
- AMOD: amplitude
- PMOD: pitch
- CUTOFFMOD : filter cutoff
Effects
Digital DSP: reverb, delay, gate and distortion
Sequencer
System manages up to 8 tracks, recording mode in either step mode or real-time with a 1/48 resolution max. The time signature can be user defines in quite all manners (including 1/4, 4/4, 1/8/, 8/8,1/16, 16/16) in addition it is possible to used dotted, triples and ties.
Memory
- 64 ROM patches
- 64 RAM patches
- 16 ROM performances
- 16 RAM performances
- 999 sequencer measures
- 8000 sequencer notes
Review
OK: filter/ pads / cheap
NOT : polyphony / outdated acoutsic / some PCM waves
"Those nineties synthesizers still shines for smart rompler/filter combo! great sweeping pads with a typic metallic reverb touch!"
Text , review, special demos copyright polynominal.com / Eric Pochesci
polynominal.com is not associated or affiliated with Yamaha in any manner.
