Does anyone else enjoy cheap Yamahas like the PSR?

[VtrPsckWrs]

Mine is a PSR-110.

[SciNote]

I guess it depends on how you define "cheap." But yes, these Yamahas can be quite capable.

My main keyboard is actually a Yamaha PSR-E433, which was originally released in 2012. Its "street price" (the price most people would actually pay for it in a store, not the often-inflated manufacturer's list price) was about $250, and I have been very happy and impressed with its capabilities. $250 is, of course, not as cheap as many of the smaller keyboards, but it's a lot less than the cost of many vintage and modern synths.

This keyboard has over 600 sounds built in, and the ability to combine any two together, which can be thought of as like two VCO's in an analog synth. And, unlike may other home/portable keyboards, there is a filter (with both cutoff and resonance), as well as a simple AR (attack, release) envelope generator -- and these features can be applied independently to both of the two sounds, allowing you to create an incredible variety of sounds. And there are even two rotary control knobs that can be set to control the filter or envelope generator (as well as other features, like reverb and chorus), though when using the knobs, the control affects the sound of both of the voices playing at once. You have to go into a function menu to adjust the filter and envelope of the individual sounds independently.

Additionally, the keyboard can be split, allowing for a third sound on the left-hand side, though filter and envelope control is not available for this left-hand split voice.

It has up to 32 note polyphony, and can store 32 registrations, or patches. And this doesn't even get into all of the rhythms, styles, DJ patterns, and yes, even arpeggios available on this keyboard.

Since my PSR-E433 was released, Yamaha has updated the line several times, so that now the PSR-E463 model is the most current. It adds things like DSP, tunable scales, audio input, and basic sampling capabilities, and typically sells for about $300. The next version, likely to be called the PSR-E473, will likely be released sometime this year, but this is pure speculation.

I am considering actually submitting a review of the PSR-E433 one of these days.

[commodorejohn]

Some of 'em are pretty fun. I have a PSR-48 for nostalgy purposes (my aunt and uncle had one when I was a kid, and the demo song made such a strong impression on me that, years later, my attempt to recreate it from memory mutated into a whole multi-part space-rock epic which I'm still fairly proud of.) That said, most of them are just built off Yamaha's lower-tier FM/AWM chips, so there's very few that offer sounds you can't easily recreate on an FB-01, TG-33, or older PC with an OPL2/3 on the sound card. What intrigues me more, as instruments, are some of the oddballs that don't quite fit the mold. I forget exactly what model it was, since I gave it to my niece and nephew some years back and haven't seen it since, but I picked up a tiny, ridiculous little Yamaha toy keyboard - mini-keys, either 32-key or possibly just 20 - which sounded less like FM than filtered pulse waveforms, or possibly a crude single-cycle sample mockup thereof. Wish I'd dug one up for myself, I kinda liked that.

[madtheory]

Not the PSRs. As commodorejohn said, they're mostly nothing you can't do with a more capable FM box. Except for that strange Japanese only, sample based PSR with some people singing Japanese sohlfah on it. That's brill, but I have it in Kontakt so don't need the keyboard. The VSS samplers are lovely sounding things.

The cheaper Casios are much better, stranger and more varied IMHO: the vowel-consonant things such as CT-6000, as well as the CT-40x and CT50x keyboards. And the programmable additive CT-1000P with the crazy sequencer/ arp.

[SciNote]

It's interesting to look at these classic/vintage Yamahas and Casios. In the late 1980's and early 1990's, I worked at an electronics store, and I worked in the department that sold these keyboards. At the time, I never even realized that at least some of the Yamahas were using FM technology, and I even owned a DX-7 at the time. But looking back, it explains a lot. I remember that, compared to the Casios of the time, the Yamahas, in my opinion, sounded pretty bad -- kind of flat and lifeless sound. Now I realize that the cheaper Yamahas were likely using just a 2-operator FM system, and without any kind of built in chorus effect, you cannot really effectively animate the sound with just two operators (unless the operators are side by side and you're just detuning 2 sine waves). There may have been some LFO/wah-wah effect on some of the sounds, but I always felt that the similarly priced Casios sounded better at the time. Now, some of the more expensive Yamahas did use a 4-operator system, but I really don't remember messing around with them too much.

Then, around 1990 or so, Yamaha started to turn things around. They came out with the PSR-47 and PSR-48 (which, as far as I could tell, was just a PSR-47 with different coloring for the buttons, but someone correct me if I'm wrong), and that's when the sounds started to improve significantly, as well as when additional features, like dual layering and split keyboard were added.

Then, they came out with the PSR-500 around 1991, and there was no looking back. Not only could you combine sounds and split the keyboard, but you could change the octave and volume of each sound, as well as add reverb, allowing for a wide range of full-bodied sounds.

And, as I've researched these keyboards more, I've learned about a few oddballs, though I have no direct experience with them. One is the Yamaha DSR (not PSR) -2000, which is a 4-operator unit with much more synth control than a typical PSR of the time -- though not as much as, say, a DX-9. And another is the Casio DM-100 -- a portable keyboard that actually has 2 manuals, or keyboards, in the same unit -- though I believe it uses mini-keys.

[Virgule]

Is there a website that has a detailed list of all the different Yamaha home keyboards ever made?

It's hard to keep up about specs with so many of them,

[madtheory]

Yes in 1989 Yamaha finally got their ROMpler technology out of the gate. So your 1990 memory is about right:
https://www.bananas.com/blogs/news/hist ... the%20time.

There were some PSS and PSR keyboards with sample ROM but memory was expensive so they didn't sound that great- apart from the HS400 I mentioned earlier:


This is a great channel for both Yamaha and Casio home keyboards:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCE8ya- ... aJCOH7KHLA

[VtrPsckWrs]

I've now learned a lot about Yamahas, then.

By cheap I mean similar to the PSR110. It's not a toy-like instrument like the HS400 but it's very basic. The volume buttons and the ones to choose the instrument produce a beep that cannot be turned off.

I've had musicians run away in fear and contempt when they learned that was what I played.

Are there any artists using those?

[Mixolydian]

I have a Yamaha PSS-170, a 2 operator FM synth. It has a few good sounds (and my wife likes it.) I also have a Casio SK-1, the famous lo-fi sampler keyboard. It's fun.

Over the years, I've probably owned over 20 home keyboard synths - mostly purchased in second hand stores although I did buy a couple of them new.

[glenesis]

Is there a website that has a detailed list of all the different Yamaha home keyboards ever made?

It's hard to keep up about specs with so many of them,

I don't think this is complete but it's a good start
http://www.nurykabe.com/dump/docs/PSS/

This is a handy list of all Yamaha keyboards in the year they came out.
https://www.keysound.co.uk/FAQ/Find-out ... al-Piano/5

I LOVE PortaSounds, and thee speakers on them sound unique, warm, and woody wonderful.

[Akusta]

The are many reasons to enjoy cheap Yamahas. Light keys which leads to fast play though not precise. 88 key keyboard. Keys will last 4 years or so if you play keys really hard (from experience) It is really light, can bring anywhere, Good for jazz/rag, has a DJ option (Real nice), lots of sounds.

[Black Tomorrow]

I've had a PSR-740 for about 20 years. Strangely, it's been my main workhorse for most of that time, even if just as a MIDI controller. But it's still essential for some sounds, and I'll likely be selling my Triton before ever considering getting rid of my PSR.

[Virgule]

This is a handy list of all Yamaha keyboards in the year they came out.
https://www.keysound.co.uk/FAQ/Find-out ... al-Piano/5

Awsome, and just what I was hoping for. Thank you

[Danswift]

I had a Yamaha PSS-780 years ago.

It's a pretty terrible keyboard overall but it does have a few really cool sounds.

I actually wouldn't mind another one tbh..plus they're super cheap to pick up,the last one I saw in a second hand store was selling for £25 or so.

A good one to pass onto the kids to get them started too when you realise just how terrible it actually is despite looking at these things through rose tinted nostalgia glasses hehe..

[justin_havu]

I'm the proud owner of a PSR-530 and a PSS-270. Two completely different instruments with their own vibe.