Yamaha PSS-20
(monophonic squarewave keyboard with nice electronic percussion)
This small, white squarewave keyboard from 1989 has 2 big silicone rubber
buttons ("SELECT GREEN", "SELECT BLUE") those are to be pressed together
with keys to select functions. Its coarse electronic percussion are interesting
for tekkno.
main features:
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32 mini keys
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monophonic
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8 quasi OBS preset sounds {sax, violin, oboe, clarinet, piano, vibes, banjo,
marimba}
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8 quasi OBS preset rhythms {8beat, 16beat, 12beat, swing, tango, samba,
march, waltz}
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all functions selected through keyboard keys
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volume control (4 steps; low ones distort lousy because they steal D/A
converter bits)
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vibrato and sustain
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transpose (-6..+5 semitones)
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monophonic arpeggio accompaniment The accompaniment can NOT be used together
with melody play, but only instead. All 8 sounds can be used for it.
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main voice is based on multipulse squarewaves with complex digital envelopes
those have audible zipper noise.
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percussion made from 4 unique electronic sounds {2 hihats (very grainy
metallic), squarewave drum, click (base drum)}
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pitch recognition audiogame
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simple sequencer (record, playback, no edit)
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CPU "YM7108, 91 17 67 C" (18 pin DIL)
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6 demo melodies
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the pitch of this crystal clocked instrument is unfortunately quite detuned.
modifications:
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cinch sound output jack with speaker mute switch added.
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real volume pot added
The main voices are nothing really great; they resemble Casio
VL-Tone but sound thinner and harsher. The hollow and sonorous
"vibes" sounds interesting; "banjo" and "marimba" ring automatically. The
rhythms of this small tablehooter are very impulsive and quite interesting
for tekkno- like things (although there is no tekkno base drum included).
A more advanced instrument with similar timbres and simple synthesizer
is the Yamaha PSS-80.
| removal
of these screws voids warranty... |
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