Yamaha SY99
| SY99 | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Yamaha |
| Dates | 1991[1] |
| Technical specifications | |
| Polyphony | 32-voice |
| Timbrality | 16-part |
| Oscillator | 6-Operator FM, PCM (AWM2) |
| Synthesis type | FM, subtractive |
| Filter | HPF, LPF[2] |
| Aftertouch expression | Yes |
| Velocity expression | Yes |
| Storage memory | 128 preset patches, 128 user patches, 16 user multi-patches |
| Effects | 2 × 63 types |
| Input/output | |
| Keyboard | 76 key |
| Left-hand control | Pitch wheel, 2 × modulation wheel |
| External control | MIDI (In, Out, Thru) |
The Yamaha SY99 is a synthesiser combining frequency modulation synthesis (branded as Advanced FM) and sample-based synthesis (branded as Advanced Wave Memory 2) and the direct successor to Yamaha's SY77/TG77. Compared to the SY77, it has a larger keyboard at 76 keys instead of 61, a larger ROM with more in-built AWM samples, the ability to load user-specified AWM samples into on-board RAM, an upgraded effects processor (based upon the Yamaha SPX900 rather than the SPX50 or SPX90), and several other enhanced features.
Specifications[edit]
- Date produced: 1991
- Polyphony: 16 notes ("Elements") of AFM + 16 notes (Elements") of sample-playback (AWM2)
- Voice Architecture: Each voice can have up to 2 AFM (6-operator) Elements polyphonically, or 4 AFM (6-op) Elements monophonically, plus up to 2 AWM Elements
- Filter: 2 multi-stage, time-variant, with resonance and self-oscillation per Element
- Sequencer: 16 tracks, ~27,000 note capacity, 99 patterns, up to 10 songs (cf. the SY77's single song only and ~16,000 notes)
- Effects: 2 internal digital effects processors with 63 types of effects, derived from Yamaha's popular rack-mounted processor, SPX900
- Keyboard: 76 notes with velocity and channel aftertouch, which can be zoned along with pitch-bend to affect only specific keys (unlike on the SY77)
- Memory: 128 preset patches and 128 user patches, 16 preset multi-patch setups (up to 16 voices each) and 16 user multi-patches, 512kB of RAM as standard for user-loaded AWM samples or MIDI data recording from/to connected devices
- Expandability: 5 rear-mounted slots for SYEMB05 memory modules of 512kB each, up to a total of 3MB RAM with standard hardware. The final firmware revision, v1.57, supports up to 8MB of total RAM, a capacity that so far has only been reached by Musitronics' now-discontinued 5 MB upgrade board coupled with the full complement of 5 SYEMB05 modules (2.5MB) and standard RAM (0.5MB).
- Control: MIDI in, out, and thru; pitch wheel; 2 modulation wheels; enhanced functions as a master keyboard when compared to the SY77, etc.
Demo song[edit]
"99 flavors", an instrumental song by Chick Corea from his Beneath the Mask album, is named after the SY99;[3] the sequenced version was included on an accompanying floppy disk as a factory demo song.
Notable users[edit]
- Brian Eno
- Chick Corea[1]
- Front 242
- Jean Ven Robert Hal
- Patrice Rushen
- Toto
- Vangelis[1]
- Thomas Darnal
- Pochonbo Electronic Ensemble
- Masato Nakamura
References[edit]
- ^ a b c "Yamaha SY99". Vintage Synth. Retrieved 15 June 2018.
- ^ "Yamaha SY-99". Polynomial. Retrieved 15 June 2018.
- ^ Beneath the Mask -album's booklet
Further reading[edit]
- "Yamaha SY99". Music Technology. Vol. 5, no. 11. October 1991. p. 26. ISSN 0957-6606. OCLC 24835173.
External links[edit]
- Yamaha Sy99 Advanced Audio Demonstration
- Yamaha SY99 | Vintage Synth Explorer
- Yamaha SY99 Music Synthesizer F.A.Q.
- Yamaha SY99 Operating manual
| Synthesizers |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Modules | ||
| Samplers | ||
| Workstations | ||
| Drum machines | ||
| Effects units | ||
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