Introducing the

y S80 Music Synthesizer with Modular Synthesis Plug-in System Guided Tour and Key Features How to use this document: Go through each section while seated at the S80 keyboard. The Tour will help you understand what each button and knob does in the different modes. Don’t be afraid to try out each function as you go through the article. Important Yamaha Terminology Voice: A Yamaha S80 Voice is a sound that is made from 4 complete multi-sampled instrument sounds called Elements. An Element could be an 88-note, stereo sampled piano or a complete stereo string orchestra waveform. Each Element can stand on its own as a completed sound. Voices themselves can be combinations of Elements (up to 4) and each can be note limited to make splits or velocity limited to make velocity crossfades. Performance: A Yamaha S80 Performance is a multi-functional entity that can be for real time play (Performance Layer) or for playback of a multi-track sequence (Performance Multi). As a Performance Layer you can combine up to 4 Voices. In a Performance Multi you can combine up to 16 Voices + 2 optional PLG Voices + an A/D input signal. Master Keyboard: A Yamaha S80 Master Keyboard setup is an ‘overlay’ to a Performance. You can only access Master Keyboard setups from Performance mode. They can hold data for the internal S80 tone generator (TG) and data for external MIDI gear. PLG: Modular Synthesis Plug-in System: Yamaha products with this feature allow you to add hardware plug-in boards that can be either complete synthesizers or specialized effect processing. These PLG series boards add to the multi-timbral capability, and to the polyphony. The synthesizer boards can add new technology (VL, AN, DX (FM)) or more samples (PF, XG) or vocal effect processing (VH).

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Guided Tour of the S80 front panel: Wheels Pitch Bend and Modulation wheels – Both are assignable via Controller Setups

Sliders There are 5 sliders on the front panel. The first slider is the main output Volume. There are 4 Control Sliders. In VOICE mode these default to Element Levels. You can instantly vary the balance between the 4 possible Elements in each Voice. This is great on layered sounds like piano/strings to set a quick balance and on organs for drawbar-type action. Not all Voices have all 4 of the element slots active. In PERFORMANCE mode the sliders are programmable per Performance (via the Master Keyboard setup). The default is Voice Levels. You can instantly vary the balance between the 4 possible Voices in each Performance. Not all Performances have 4 Voices active.

The Screen and associated Knobs and Buttons: User interface Under the S80 screen you will find (left to right) the [SHIFT] button and the associated gray PAGE knob. These are used together to see an overview of selectable edit parameter groups. Try it: Press [EDIT], then hold down the [SHIFT] button and with the same hand turn the PAGE knob. It may take a few seconds to get used to holding [SHIFT] and turning the PAGE knob, simultaneously. Try this out with your left hand – hold down the [SHIFT] button with your ring or middle finger and turn the knob with your index and thumb. This overview screen is very useful to navigate the edit groups quickly. Five black direct-display knobs interface with the data visible in the screen. Note that these knobs are designated A, B, C, 1, and 2. To the right of these knobs is the Data Entry knob. To the right of the screen you will find a grid of important buttons (see details below). Details: [SHIFT] shortcuts/cursor movement The [SHIFT] button has many uses. It is used in conjunction with the PAGE knob to see an overview of edit mode pages or by itself to show alternate option screens in a particular mode. It is used in conjunction with a key press during edit procedures to select a note limit when setting up key zones. Holding [SHIFT] while in VOICE or PERFORMANCE play mode, will show the current transpose octave of the keyboard and what MIDI channel you are set to transmit on. You can change the MIDI transmit channel by using [SHIFT] + knob A or holding [SHIFT] + a program button [1] – [16]. While editing, using [SHIFT] + [DEC/NO], [INC/YES] will move the cursor left or right when you need to make a selection from several options. Or if you hold [SHIFT] and turn a knob the cursor will immediately jump to that knob’s parameter, then simply release the [SHIFT] button to return the knob to its normal value change function. PAGE knob: Voice/Performance SEARCH; Access to multi mix parameters; Edit navigation The PAGE knob, when turned from the main Voice or Performance screen, activates the Search function and access directly to the mix parameters of the multi-timbral setup. SEARCH: From the ‘VCE Srch’/Voice Search or ‘PFM Srch’/Performance Search screen you can view the bank: number: category: name of the current selection. You will have 4 knob selections: MEMORY, NUMBER, CTGRY (category), SEARCH. Each knob is active for use in locating a particular sound. To search by category you simply move the knob labeled CTGRY to select the type of Voice or Performance you are seeking. The familiar 2 letter prefix will indicate the type, Pf (piano type), Or (organs), St (strings), Br (brass), Ba (bass), Sc (synth comp), Dr (drums), Se (sound effects), Fx (musical effects), Pi (pipe), Rd (reeds) etc. When you turn the CTGRY knob the 2 letters will flash, use the [INC/+1], [DEC/-1] or the [ENTER] buttons to advance through all sounds in the category. It will search through all available banks (PRE1, PRE2, INT, EXT if a card is present) and will ultimately wrap around. Of course, you can turn the SEARCH knob (knob 2) to quickly see all the sounds in the current Memory category. To exit the SEARCH mode you can either touch the [VOICE] or [PERFORM] button or turn the PAGE knob counterclockwise one tick to return to the main play screen. Or, you can drop directly into [EDIT], if you so desire. MIX PARAMETERS: While in a Performance setup for sequencing, the PAGE knob can gives you access to Volume, Pan, Reverb Send, Chorus Send, and Note Shift via a graphic view. This will let you quickly set

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relative values for these parameters during playback of a file without having to drop down in to edit mode. Use the Program buttons [1] through [16] to select the Part and use the DATA knob or [DEC/NO], [INC/YES] buttons to change values. Use the [EXT] button to select the A/D input Part, and [PLG1] and [PLG2] buttons to select PartP1 and PartP2. (Note Shift is not available for the A/D Part). NAVIGATION: While in Edit mode, the PAGE knob helps navigate by literally turning pages. A set of triangular icons, ‘up’, ‘up and down’ and ‘down’, are used to indicate the current page location in relationship to other edit pages. For example, when only the down triangle appears (6), there are pages below this one but none above. Therefore, you are at the top of the list and must turn the PAGE knob clockwise (to the right) to see the next screen. When you see both an up and down triangle (v), there are screens both above and below the current one. And when you only see the up triangle (5), you are at the bottom of the list and must turn the PAGE knob counterclockwise (to the left) to view the previous screen. [SHIFT] + PAGE: Edit mode overview Holding [SHIFT] and turning PAGE, when you are in Voice edit mode will allow you to select edit options via a shortcut. Try it: • •

From Voice mode press [EDIT] Hold down [SHIFT] with the ring or middle finger of your left hand and turn the PAGE knob between your index finger and thumb of the same hand. Move the cursor through the various editing areas – these are like bookmarks to a page in this edit area. For editing convenience the S80 will return to the last page edited.

The Voice mode screen option selections are divided into 2 rows: COM (common) = everybody/all elements together, and ELEM (element) individually. Each row has 6 selections separated by a chevron that will house the cursor when you make a selection. To select an option you must turn the [PAGE] knob while holding down the [SHIFT] button. Alternatively, once you have selected the option select screen, you can use the [DEC/NO], [INC/YES] buttons while continuing to hold down the [SHIFT] button to make a selection. There are also shortcut selectors: the Program select buttons [1-6] and [9-14] can be used to select these pages while in Voice edit mode. Try it: While in Voice EDIT press Program button 1 to see a ‘GEN’ or general screen, Program button 2 is a ‘Quick Edit’ screen, Program button 3 is an ARP (arpeggiator) page, Program button 9 is an element ‘OSC’ (oscillator) page and so on. They work like bookmarks and take you to a screen in that section of editing parameters. Use the PAGE knob alone to select other screens in that edit area or to scroll through all the available screens, one at a time. Use knob A to select a particular Element to edit. •

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Common parameters are grouped into the following categories: General, Quick Edit, Arpeggio, Controllers, Low Frequency Oscillator (common), Effect processing. Element parameters are grouped into the following categories: Oscillator, Pitch, Filter, Amplifier, Low Frequency Oscillator (element), and Equalizer.

Voice mode screen options for AWM2 (sampled) sounds: Com: > GEN > QED > ARP > CTL > LFO > EFF Elem: > OSC > PCH > FLT > AMP > LFO > EQ The Voice edit screens for the PLG series boards will vary by the technology involved. Each board type will have a unique set of editing features under the heading ‘PLG_Native’, (see below). Voice mode screen option for PLG plug-in sounds: Com: > GEN > QED > ARP > CTL > LFO > EFF Elem: > OSC > PCH > EQ >PLG_NATIVE When in Performance edit the same routine (holding [SHIFT] and turning the PAGE knob) will reveal the screen selections. While in Performance edit the program buttons [1] – [16], [PLG1], [PLG2], [EXT], and [PRE1] are shortcut buttons used to select the Part to be edited. EXT selects the A/D input Part and the [PRE1] button selects Common parameters. Select of the various edit screens via the PAGE knob. Performance mode screen options: Com: > GEN > QED > ARP > CTL > MEQ > EFF Part: > MIX > TON > LYR > RCV > >MKB

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Common parameters are grouped as follows: General, Quick Edit, Arpeggio, Controllers, Multi-band Equalizer, Effect processing. Part parameters are grouped as follows: Mix, Tone controls, Layer, Receive Channel. MKB is Master Keyboard functions – Active for a Performance when MASTER KEYBOARD LED is illuminated.

Direct Display Knobs; A, B, C, and 1, 2 The knobs labeled A, B and C default to Low EQ Gain, Mid EQ Gain, and High EQ Gain, respectively. You can customize their assignment. What knobs A, B and C are assigned to is global for Voice mode and is setup under [UTILITY]. This means the setting is the same for all Voices. You can also set what Control Change (cc) Message they send out via MIDI. The default condition is cc18, cc19 and cc20, respectively. Knobs 1 and 2 are programmed within each Voice itself. Their default condition for MIDI transmit is: cc16 and cc17. Each Voice can be customized as to what appears on these 2 knobs. You will enjoy the S80’s ability to show you what you are editing while in Voice mode. It instantly shows you the value as you change it. When you stop turning the knob, the screen will revert back to showing the parameter to which it is assigned. When a Voice is combined with other Voices in a Performance Layer this assignment will remain active. In Performance knobs 1 and 2 can be doing different things to the different Parts of the Performance Layer. The screen will indicate +0 at the twelve o’clock position and show you how far or below you offset the assigned parameters. (You must view the assigned parameters from Voice mode). A Performance Layer can contain up to 4 Voices – routing can get quite complex. Knob A takes on a different function when you enter Voice edit mode. It will select whether you are editing parameters Common (C) to the entire Voice or an individual Element (1, 2, 3, or 4). In a Performance, Knob A selects the Part to be edited. Alternatively, you can use the right-side Bank and Program buttons to select edit options. Bank Select buttons [A] – [D] select an element to edit 1-4, while buttons [E] – [H] turn the element on or off. Program buttons [1] – [6] and [9] – [14] select the first page of an edit area. The normal position of the knobs is at 12 o’clock. The parameters that are controlled by these knobs are offsets to the original values. You are not viewing absolute value but are adding (clockwise) or subtracting (counterclockwise) to the stored value of the parameter. In Performance mode each of the numbered knobs will be doing multiple things according to what Voices are assigned to the Performance Layer. Each Voice will be effected according to its stored assignment. One very nice thing about the knobs and sliders is that you can customize the sound of a Voice or Performance via these controls and then store it directly to a user location (all without ever pressing the [EDIT] button). This is great when updating your most used sounds with a new EQ and Effects setting for the room you happen to be playing. Returning the Voice or Performance to normal is as simple as storing the knobs back to their 12 o’clock positions. Buttons

At the right side of the screen you will find 3 pair of buttons: Row 1 – [EFFECT BYPASS] and [MASTER KEYBOARD] Row 2 – [EXIT] and [ENTER] Row 3 – [DEC/NO] and [INC/YES] [EFFECT BYPASS] There are 4 effect processors available in Voice mode: a reverb processor (12 algorithms), a chorus processor (14 algorithms) and a dual Insertion effect (24 and 92 algorithms). The Effect Bypass is an intelligent bypass. You can select to bypass the Insertions, the Reverb or the Chorus in any combination. This is set globally under [UTILITY]. The default is that the Reverb and Chorus processors are muted when the EFF BYPASS is activated. The Insertion effects remain active. This is great in the recording studio when you often want to bypass the synths reverb but still use the S80 Voice’s insertion effect (rotary speaker, Compressor+Distortion, Auto Wah, etc.) [MASTER KEYBOARD]/Performance There are 128 programmable controller setups. Layer, Split and 4-zone setups are available. The 4-zone setups allow the user to choose whether a zone is active internally (TG) or externally (MIDI) or both simultaneously. Each Master Keyboard setup can be an ‘overlay’ for a Performance. In other words, while a Performance organizes internal sounds into playable entities, the MASTER KEYBOARD setup makes it possible to communicate both internally and externally via MIDI to the rest of your MIDI rig. It is possible to

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put a Piano/Bass split in a Performance and overlay a 4-zone MIDI configuration when you press the [MASTER KEYBOARD] button. The Master keyboard setups are how the S80 communicates with external MIDI devices. You can send out Bank Select and Program Changes to configure your external products with each Performance (128). [EXIT] and [ENTER] Better know where these are to operate a Yamaha product. In general, EXIT gets you ‘out’ and ENTER gets you ‘in’. Any flashing data in the screen wants you to push [ENTER] to make it happen or [EXIT] to cancel. [DEC/NO] and [INC/YES] These are basically self-explanatory. Used in conjunction with the [SHIFT] Button to move the cursor around the edit screens. They change Voices or Performances in main play modes.

MODES There are 9 buttons in this section. There are 3 rows of 3 buttons as follows: [VOICE] – selects the main Voice mode. [PERFORM] – selects Performance mode for multi-timbral/multi-channel operation [STORE] – starts the store procedure, completed when you hit [ENTER] and [YES] [UTILITY] – make all the global settings for internal and external interface (MIDI, Master Tune, etc.) [CARD] – communication with the Smart Media card storage device* (see below) [SEQ PLAY] – linked to the [PLAY] button directly below it (see next section), for operation of playback sequencer – setup chain play and playback parameters; access to demo sequences. [EDIT/compare] – enter the edit function for Voice or Performance mode. If pressed while already in edit mode the compare function is activated. This will cause the LED to flash and let you A/B your current sound with the stored sound. You cannot do any further edits while compare is engaged. [JOB] – Initialize the current Voice or Performance, additionally, you can select to initialize Common and individual components of each, Recall last edited Voice or Performance, Copy common parameters, or individual parameters, and Bulk dump options. Use the [INC/YES] button or DATA knob to see Job options. [PLAY/STOP] – uh-huh, you guessed it! Start and stop Demos or direct SMF chain play from SmartMedia card. Used in conjunction with the [SEQ PLAY] button directly above it. The right front panel is dedicated to recalling sounds and setups: Memory location, Bank selection and Program Voice/Performance access – similar to SY99, EX5, VL1, etc. Press a Memory, followed by a Bank, then the Program button to make a selection. It is not necessary to press the Memory button if you are already in the correct memory area. It is not necessary to press the Bank, if you are already in the correct bank. The [DEC] and [INC] buttons and Data Entry knob will also change sounds when either Voice or Performance mode is selected. Memory: There are 6 Memory buttons. PRE 1 – Preset 1 / 128 locations – Voice mode PRE 2 – Preset 2 / 128 locations – Voice mode INT – Internal / 128 Voice and Performance locations. EXT – External / read from the optional Smart Media card. 128 Voices, 64 Performances PLG 1 – Plug In 1 / if optional PLG series board is installed. 64 Voices; PLG 2 – Plug In 2 / if optional PLG series board is installed. 64 Voices; Hold [PRE1], then press [PRE2] - 8 Preset Drum Kits 1-8 Hold [INT], then press [EXT] – Two Internal Drum Kits 1-2, Two EXT 3-4* *Optional SmartMedia card Bank: The 8 Bank buttons A-H – select bank, LED flashes; The PLG Voice and EXT Performance Memory have Banks A-D only. Program: Program buttons in two rows: 1-8 and 9-16 – completes the selection process.

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While in edit mode the Memory, Bank and Program buttons act as shortcut buttons to various edit pages. After a few weeks working with the S80 and familiarizing yourself with its edit options you will be able to use these shortcut buttons to navigate quickly through the different edit levels. When you are ready to create your own original Voices make sure you take a look at the XGworks Lite program (see the CDROM that came with your S80). It can support the S80 Voice Editor software. Included also is Voice editing software for the PLG series boards (VL, AN, DX, XG, VH etc.) Quick Access This Voice mode feature will group the sounds into 8 categories each with a labeled button. The Quick Access groups are sounds that are most often used. When Quick Access is pressed the S80 jumps to Voice mode and organizes the Voices for rapid recall. The 8 Bank buttons (A-H) become the 8 categories for Quick Access: Acoustic Piano, Electric Pianos, Organs, Guitar/Bass, Strings, Brass, Synth and Others. When the Quick Access LED is lit you can touch the category for the kind of sound you want and the 16 Program button will place the best 16 sounds from that category. The last four slots in each category are user configurable. They contain sounds from the INTERNAL Voice bank. (Any custom Voices stored in those locations will be included in the Quick Access bank). Benefit: for the customer that is not a MIDI-Jedi Knight but wants to get around quickly and just play. SmartMedia Card The SmartMedia Card is for storage. The S80 can handle 4, 8, 16, or 32MB cards. The unit has a security guard that will hold the card in place against theft. The card will hold Voice and Performance data as well as MIDI files for playback. SmartMedia is a very elegant way to load and save data from the S80. You will be able to load individual Voices or Performances, as well as entire volumes. SmartMedia cards hold more data and in the long run are more convenient and durable than floppies. Included on the CD-ROM with the S80 is a Card Filer utility that will enable the user to move data from a computer (PC or Mac) directly to the SmartMedia card via MIDI or the S80 To Host connection. Sales Points: The S80 weighs in at a reasonable 53lbs. This means that it can go to the gig. The S80 will be the choice for both top professionals and hobbyist. Yamaha has been building musical instruments since 1887 and pianos since 1900, no manufacturer has the experience and expertise when it comes to professional weighted-action. Feel the difference in the S80 key bed. It is both initial and aftertouch sensitive. The S80 is the long awaited follow up to the KX88. The KX88 reigned as the professional’s master MIDI keyboard controller of choice worldwide from 1984-1996. It was, and still is, found in the stage setups of touring musical groups. Why? The action. The S80 is a 4-zone Master Keyboard Controller combined with a professional expandable piano/synthesizer. It builds on the AWM2 sample playback sound set of the EX5. The S80 is expandable via Modular Synthesis Plug-In System, unlike the EX where the alternate technologies are generated on the internal DSP. Each PLG board will have its own DSP resources and CPU. Each board has its own set of Voices and adds its own polyphony. There are 2 user installable plug-in slots and both can be used simultaneously. The boards can be easily changed in a few minutes. The S80 has a greatly expanded arpeggiator (128 types) and a playback sequencer. It can play a set list of 100 songs directly from a SmartMedia card. You can even update the list as songs play back. Filters The S80 also features more of a synthesizer than other piano/synths on the market because it has resonant filters – the sonic difference is something you can hear and feel. The competition attempts to simulate resonant filters by sampling resonant waves but, “There ain’t nothing like the real thing, baby”. It is about real-time ‘behavior’ – the S80 filters will respond to velocity and/or control movements. This makes the filters fully dynamic.

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Equalizers: There are 3-bands of EQ available in play mode – the default assignment of the Knobs A, B and C. You are actually accessing three of the bands of the 5-band parametric EQ. Each Performance has its own 5-band parametric EQ. In addition to that each Voice element has a selectable 2-band EQ or a single band parametric. The 3-band EQ on the main screen means you can quickly adjust for the sound for the current room environment from gig to gig. Within the Performance the 5-band is critical when equalizing the overall sound of a Performance used in a multi-timbral sequence. The 2-band EQ is used to balance elements within a Voice. The single band parametric is great for fixing a problem range within a single element, in a specific note range. You can never have enough EQ! Theory of Operation: From this guide you can conclude that there are many different ways to setup and use your S80 synthesizer. There is Voice mode, which allows you to layer 4 elements and use its 4 effect processors (2 Insertion plus Reverb and Chorus). There is Performance mode, which allows you to layer 4 Voices in a single entity or to setup 16 way multi-timbral configurations for use with a sequence. From Performance mode you have the addition of the Master Keyboard ‘overlay’ – think of this as your connection to the external world of MIDI – each Performance can store 1 Master Keyboard setup (128). From the Master Keyboard 4-Zone overlay you can store Bank Select and Program changes for external MIDI gear, automating your MIDI rig from the S80 front panel. When you get into the S80 you can better make a decision about which way is the best way to accomplish your musical goal. Although this guide offers several scenarios you will certainly find ways to further customize the structure of sounds. For example, the architecture is flexible enough to layer technologies within a Performance Layer. This means you can create sounds that contain 2 plug-in technologies with sample playback (AWM2) sounds. Because the PLG series boards are hardware, there are none of the limitations in DSP resources as with the EX series.

Performance Mode A Performance can house up to 16 Parts + an A/D input + up to 2 PLG boards. As many Parts as desired can be placed on a single MIDI channel for simultaneous play. You can independently select a key range for the arpeggiator. Parts are designated Part01 – Part16, PartA/D, PartP1 and PartP2. Be sure to notice the difference between Part01, Part02 and PartP1, PartP2. PartP1 and PartP2 refer to the Plug-ins. There is a dual Insertion effect (24/92 algorithms) available for Part01-Part16 or PartA/D. There is a separate Insertion effect (24 algorithms) available for the PartP1, PartP2. This means that signal coming in the analog input can be processed with effects. All Parts have an individual send to the Reverb and Chorus processors. When in a Performance you can activate the Insertion effect for any Part 1-16, or Part A/D and it will recall its exact settings from Voice mode. Additionally, if a Plug-in Voice is part of your Performance it will be able to use its Insertion effect from Voice mode. Setting up a Performance MULTI MODE SEARCH: Searching for a Voice within a Performance – When setting up a Performance for sequencing it is often convenient to audition different sounds to playback a specific track. For example, you have recorded your bass line but would like to try a couple of alternate bass sounds to see how they fit. • Press Performance [EDIT] • Use knob A or the Program buttons 1-16 to select the Part • If necessary, turn the PAGE knob fully counterclockwise (to the left) to view the top screen: MIX Voice: shows the Voice Name • Use knobs B, C, 1 and 2 to select MEMORY, NUMBER, CATEGORY and SEARCH respectively. To search bass sounds use the knob under the word Category to select category ‘Ba’ (bass), then use the SEARCH knob to see all the sounds in the current Memory location or use the [INC/YES] button to see all the bass sounds in all available Memory locations. It will stop at the last bass sound found. When you have selected all the sounds you like for this multi setup, press [STORE] > [ENTER] > [YES] to store the entire Performance.

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FAQ How do I quickly change MIDI transmit channel? From the main Voice or Performance mode screen hold [SHIFT] + program button [1-16] or hold [SHIFT] + turn Knob A. Alternatively, you can find the MIDI Channel setup page under [UTILITY]. How do I get my sequences into the S80? The S80 plays back sequences directly from Smart Media card. One card can literally hold hundreds and hundreds of song files. Data can be transferred from a computer directly to the SmartMedia via the Card Filer software included on the CDROM. Save your song as a SMF and the software will write directly to a SmartMedia card in the S80. Alternatively, data can be transferred from a computer (PC or Mac) to a SmartMedia card via a floppy disk adapter or a PCMCIA adapter. These adapters allow you to transfer data on to a SmartMedia as if it were a floppy disk or a fixed disk (HD). Why SmartMedia card? We are certainly in the last days and times of the 1.4MB floppy diskette. The floppy disk is rapidly becoming a small change in a dollar conscientious world. With the growing amounts of data and the fact that computers companies have already begun to abandon the format completely, it seems timely to move to a bigger more elegant system. SmartMedia (3.3Volt) currently are plentiful in 4, 8, 16, and 32MB formats, and are principally used for the rapid growing digital camera market. Soon 64MB and 128MB cards will be available. The SmartMedia solution is a nice alternative to the much more expensive hard disk/SCSI route. SCSI is a big step for many of the target customers. SmartMedia is fast, economical and easy. In most cases a SmartMedia card is less expensive than a single SCSI-2 cable. SmartMedia is 4 times faster than a floppy disk. A single SmartMedia card will hold literally hundreds of SMFs; Hundreds of Voice and Performances; It gives you real time access to an additional 128 Voices and 64 Performances via the EXT Memory banks. Is a Smart Media setup expensive? No. When you compare the cost of a SmartMedia setup to the expense involved in a Jaz or Zip SCSI rig, you can see it is a less expensive proposition. The included Card Filer software (Windows and Mac) will let the user move data to and from SmartMedia directly via the built in computer interface. What about the piano sound? One of 4 main pianos in the S80 is a gorgeous stereo sample of a Yamaha S700 grand piano. The S700 is a handcrafted grand piano that cost more than $250,000. There are only a few of these in the world. They cost so much because the soundboard is chosen, cut and finished completely by hand...oh and they sound amazing! The core sampling strategy for making this incredible instrument: Sample the strings just slightly below the point of chaos. Most sampled pianos use the "three fingered fortissimo " strategy in order to get enough brightness. In doing so they drive the string into chaotic vibration. Once they EQ it to get the brightness, the result is the typical "sampled piano sound" (gritty and harsh). By not driving the string into chaos, when you EQ the S700, it still retains the struck bar sound we know and love. The S700 was fitted with the Yamaha Disklavier technology, which allowed us to create sequences capable of delivering exact layers of velocity. One successful and significant change in sampling strategy was that we used MIDI velocities. Normally a musician would have access to only one parameter (velocity) and would therefore have to choose the best compromise between amplitude and timbre from one control (velocity). We were able to match the amplitudes with velocity and then go in and adjust the felts until the timbres matched. This yielded data of unequalled smoothness. Even the raw data was perfectly matched. The original sample sessions were conducted with 24-bit sampling and generated over 17 gigabytes of data. It is this data that eventually became the number 1 piano in the S80 (PRE 1: 001 (A01) [Pf: StereoGrnd]).

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Beyond this the S80 gives a choice among pianos – there are actually 5 complete acoustic pianos to choice from in the S80 sample set. Rather than give you just one piano (like it or not) you have a choice in the S80. Play them! PLG series hardware plug-in system synthesizers/effectors add to the S80 capabilities. What Plug-ins are available? PLG150-VL – Groundbreaking Physical Modeling technology; Pipe/string model PLG150-DX – Legendary 6-operator FM synthesis technology; adds hundreds of DX/TX voices; 16-note PLG100VH – Vocal harmony adds 3 parts to your vocals or a ‘vocode’ mode that forces your voice to the pitch you are playing on the keyboard. Is used like an Insertion effect for the A/D input. PLG150-AN – 5-note analog physical modeling board; complete history of analog synthesis on a plug-in PLG150-PF – tons of pianos, e. pianos and clavs; adds 16Mb of AWM2 data and 64note polyphony PLG100-XG – gives the S80 GM and XG compatibility; adds 32note polyphony, hundreds of voices. More PLG boards to come... Is the PLG150-DX FM board the same as the FS1R FM? This question has arisen several times already. The answer is, no. The PLG150-DX is equivalent to an original DX/TX (classic 6-operator FM). Of course, the chip doing the multiplication is higher in resolution, and is much faster and cleaner than the original DX7. You can expect a new clarity from your classic DX/TX sounds. We can expect an FS-type plug-in board down the road. S80 Abbreviation Guide: • • • • • • • •

• • • • • • • • • • •

ARP – Arpeggiator – 128 types, including drum grooves, guitar strums, techno rhythms AMP – amplifier (envelopes: Attack, Decay, Sustain, Release) Com – Common (items shared by all components in the Voice or Performance) CTL – Controllers – up to 6 user definable controller sets per Performance. EFF – Effects. Each Voice has 4. Rev (12), Chorus (14) and 2 Inserts – Large (70) and Small (43). Total = 139. Elem – Element (Up 4 elements per Voice) EQ – Voice mode selectable 2-band or single band parametric per element FLT – Filter (resonant filters) 12 filter types: BEF6, BPF_W, BPF12D, BPF6, HPF12, HPF24D, LPF6+HPF, LPF18S, LPF18, LPF24A, LPF24D, and LPF12+HPF. Where W= wide, D= digital, A= simulates analog, S= shelving GEN – General Voice mode parameters (name, poly mode, Micro tuning) LFO – Low Frequency Oscillator. Also EFLO = element LFO; CLFO = common LFO LYR – layer (Performance mode settings for poly mode, arpeggiator, MIDI receive channel, note limit, velocity limit, tuning, note shift). MEQ – multi-band equalizer in Performance mode. 5-band. Low, Low-mid, Mid, High-mid, High MIX – volume pan, sends, etc. MKB – Master keyboard setup. OSC – Oscillator PCH – Pitch P.EQ – Parametric equalizer. Control bandwidth, frequency and gain QED – Quick Edit parameters TON – tone (Performance mode settings for filter, envelope, portamento, PB range, velocity sensitivity)