Trend price : 500€
Classic digital workstation based on hybrid syntheses: advanced FM, sample wavetable and convolution.
Company: Yamaha
Model: Sy-99
Class: Synthesizer
Keyboard: 76 keys
Country: Japan
Weight: 20 Kg
Dimensions: 254 (w) x 407 (h) x 120 (d) mm
Dates: 1991
Display: 240 x 40 LCD
Synthesis: HYBRID RCM
PCM Resolution: 16 bits
N. waves: 267 PCM
ROM size: 8 mega
FM operators: 6 OP
Algorithms: 45 modesl
Polyphony: 32 voices
Multitimbric: 16 parts
Filter: low pass + high pass
LFO: 3 modulators
Sequencer: 16 tracks
Notes: 27000 max
Microtuning: 64 tables
Sync: Midi clock
MIDI: IN / OUT / THRU
CPU (main)_ H8/532
DAC: BB PCM56P
Demo: 1
Video: 1
Review: 1
DOWNLOAD: user manual - service manual -
Overview
76 dynamic keys with aftertouch.
The main panel features a 240 x 40 pixels LCD display, 64 buttons, a data encoder and 2 volume sliders for individual outs .
Back panel terminal connectors:
-
main signal out
-
aux analog out
- Midi Interface
- breath controller input
- headphones
- volume pedal input
- assignable pedal input
Voice
32 voices or elements and 3 kind of syntheses:
- AWM PCM samples (16 voices)
- AFM FM frequency modulation (16 voices)
- RCM convolution & modulation
AWM PCM
8 MB ROM wavetable contains 267 waveforms coded at maximum 48 kHz at 16 bits based on AWM2 synthesis.
AFM FM
widely improved from traditional DX-7 engine. Each of the 6 FM operators uses one of 16 different waveforms (sinewave + 15 harmonic variations) interconnected to together in 45 signal paths or algorithms. Each operator has 2 inputs which can be modulated by feedback from any other OP, from a white noise or an internal PCM waveform.
RCM convolution
special structure algorithms RCM algorithms use a PCM voice or an imported sample as an FM modulator (but not as carrier) to an operator.
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
SY engine offers 2 digital resonant filter at -12 dB each routable in cascade mode for a total -24/dB routed in serial or parallel mode:
- filter 1 is set to lowpass mode
- filter 2 is either lowpass or highpass
LFO
- AWM: 3 modulators with 5 waveforms with variable phase attack : triangle, sawtooth, square, sinusoidal and sample & hold. 3 possible destinations: pitch, amplitude and filter
- AFM: 3 modulators: same as AWM + 1 extra sub LFO routed to vibrato (only 4 waveforms)
Envelope
- 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 filte 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
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#.
TIP: 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.
Memory
-
128 ROM patches
-
64 RAM patches
- 512 Kb sample RAM
Review
OK: sounds great / power
NOT : storage / complicated / edit
"All-time must from Yamaha: the best FM/ PCM mix. Programming is tough but the sound is impressive ...still today!"
Text , review, special demos copyright polynominal.com / Eric Pochesci
