Yamaha SY-99
Music Synthesizer (1991)

Classic digital workstation based on a complex mix of FM + PCM samples playback.

Even if time has passed, the Sy99 remains a true digital masterpiece.

KEYBOARD 76 dynamic keys with aftertouch.
The main panel features a 240 x 40 pixels LCD display, 64 buttons, a data encoder, 2 volume sliders for individual outs and 3 wheels: pitchbender, modulation 1 and modulation 2 (both assignable).

Back panel terminal connections:
- main analog signal out
- aux analog out
- Midi Interface IN / OUT / THRU
- breath controller input
- headphones out
- volume pedal input
- assignable pedal input.

 

 

TECH main cores CPU H8/532  (IC 128) + sub HD63C0 + HD63B1 manage 32 voices or so called "elements"- DAC system based on Burr Brown PCM56P + YM3029.

SYNTHESIS the whole polyphony is shared between 2 digital syntheses:

- AWM2 PCM samples - AFM FM frequency modulation+ RCM convolution this special FM functions allows to use an internal noise generator or a sample element AWM as modulator input for an OP.

STRUCTURE a basic SY99 patch is composed by 1 / 2 / 4 elements from different syntheses according to 10 soundpath structures (notes: NOTE: RCM algorithms number 9 and 10 use a PCM voice or an imported sample as an FM modulator - but not as carrier - to an operator.

01 1 X AFM - mono 02 2 X AFM - mono 03 4 X AFM - mono 04 1 X AFM - poly 05 2 X AFM - poly 06 1 X AWM - poly 07 2 X AWM - poly 08 4 X AWM - poly 09 1 X AFM + 1 X AWM - poly RCM 10 2 X AFM + 2 X AWM - poly RCM

AWM PCM SAMPLES the intenal 8 MB ROM wavetable contains 267 PCM waveforms coded at maximum 48 kHz at 16 bits based on AWM2 synthesis (YM7119 also digital filter).
The internal ROM wavetable is organized into 4 main categories:

- acoustic instruments e.g piano, trumpet, reed, bass... - drum set shots - basic waves e.g sawtooth, square... - transients

SAMPLE IMPORT SY engine imports waveforms in 3 ways:

1- standard SDS Midi dump 2- disk floppies also TX16W sampler compatible 3- PCM cards from other AWM2 compliant machines like SY55, SY85 or SY-77

EXPANSION a collection of set of DATA / DATA +PCM cards were available.
The Sy99 is fully complatible with both SY/Tg77 PCM+ data cards (it needs prior special import function) but also with AW2 PCM cards e.g. RY30 or TG/SY-55 systems

ID set name pic S7701 2 Sax1 S7702 2 Drum1 W7751 2 Rock S7704 2 Brass S7705 2 String Section W7731 2 Synwave1 W7732 2 Synwave2 W7752 2 House and Latin VC7701 1 Shofuku ACT-1  VC7702 1 Shofuku ACT-2  VC7703 1 R&D Tokyo Selection Vol.1 Studio Player   VC7704 1 R&D Tokyo Selection Vol.2 90's Pop Source   VC7705 1 JSPA Selection Vol.1 Four Seasons   VC7706 1 JSPA Selection Vol.2 Brand New Sound   VC7707 1 R&D Tokyo Selection Vol.3 Synth Ethnic   VC7708 1 R&D Tokyo Selection Vol.4 Super Pad

AFM FM is generated by IC YM7107 (FM EG by YM7103) is improved from traditional YAMAHA DX7 engine: each of the 6 FM operators uses one of 16 waveforms with variable phase (sinewave + 15 harmonic tonal variations, generated reading the internal halfsine ROM lookup table in different manners / speed) interconnected to together in 45 FM algorithms or signal paths.
Sinewave + 15 harmonic variations HEAR variations

Special FREE ALGORITHM EDIT mode allows to freely connect FM elements for custom-user algorithms using only Midi exclusive systems. Each operator has 2 inputs which can be modulated by feedback from any other OP, from a digital white noise or an internal PCM AWM waveform HEAR RCM

PERFORMANCE system handles up to 16 tracks in mutitimbric modes and some special performance features:

- 4 split zones - 4 patches per layer. Each layer features an amplitude EG bias and a programmable stereo pan movement with 64 motion envelope presets. - special microtuning tuning allows 64 editable slots with pre-loaded most common scales.

 

FILTER AWM - AFM engine features 2 digital resonant filters at -12 dB each routable in cascade mode for a total -24/dB routed in serial or parallel mode:

A- filter 1 is set to lowpass mode B- filter 2 is either lowpass or highpass. HEAR resonance

LFO various modulators depending on the synthesis:

- LFO AWM: 3 modulators, 5 shapes with variable phase attack: triangle, saw, square, sine and sample & hold. Destinations: pitch, amplitude and filter. - LFO AFM: same as AWM + 1 extra sub LFO routed to vibrato (only 4 waveforms) - LFO PAN: 2 extra-oscillators used for panning motion and effects modulation for both AWM AFM.

HEAR LFO PAN

ENVELOPE various EGs depending on the synthesis:

- EG1 AWM amplitude: is split into attack and hold, 5-segments each - EG2 AWM pitch: same structure as EG1 AWM - EG3 AWM filter 1: 7-segments - EG4 AWM filter r2: 7-segments - 1 EG AFM pitch: 4-segments structure + 4 time levels - 6 EG AFM OP: 4-segments structure + 4 time levels - 1 EG AFM filter1: 7-segments - 1 EG AFM filter2: 7-segments.

EFFECT very high-quality double DSP - SEEMS - derived from famous YAMAHA SPX-990 multieffect with serial or parallel mode. The digital processor features 63 editable effects e.g. reverb, delay, leslie, distortion, ringmodulator, Aphex enhancer, pitch shifter, EQ, flanger and chorus.
HEAR FX rich phasing

 

SEQUENCER

Main features are: 16 tracks - 99 patterns - 27000 notes - 10 songs. Main edit functions are: punch IN-OUT steps, quantizes, swings, metronome click and full Midi SMF standard support import / export. Sync: the internal sequencer can be hooked to external clock from other Midi systems MIDI full Sysex implementation, but few Midi CC#. Some internal Midi utility tools like Sysex recorder, flow data monitoring, events filter and special not-so-common Transform from Control change X to Y function.

HEAR Yamaha original sequence

 

MEMORY :

- 128 ROM patches - 64 RAM patches - 512 Kb sample RAM. Patch RAM doubled if MCD-64 card is present. Sample RAM is upgradable using modules SYEMB-05 up to a maximum of 5 modules for a total of 3 MB of RAM. Finally whole data can be saved to 720 Kb floppy drive, which is compatible to MS-DOS File system. Battery replacement: RAM system features 2 X CR-2032 battery soldered to the board. - Click to enlarge pic -

MAINTENANCE 2 common issues:
- Floppy drive stops working with errors. Original Mitsumi MF-353C-62M model based on a belt traction that dries in time and breaks, but easy to fix with new belt replacement. It is also possible to install a standard PC disk drive or a USB drive emulator. Consider drive pinouts and connectors are different from standard and a rewiring is needed or a special 24 to 36 pin adapter DIY.

- Display backlight fades away. Once again there are many cheap third-part -foil replacement on the market, basic soldering skills are needed as well as some patience to disassemble the synthesizer.

 

RELATED MODELS:

	SY-77 a more affordable version with same RCM synthesis. Rackmount is the TG77 sy-99 vs sy-77 The 77 features a smaller wavetable, no sample import and different sound fx engine.
	SY-22 (1990) vectorial synth: a mix of FM and PCM synthesis. Upgraded later to SY-35. Module version is TG-33
	SY-85 (1992) last of the SY : plain rompler with sample import. Relative module version is TG-500
	Montage (2016) latest workstation . A new Sy99?

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