® YAMAHA AUTHORIZED PRODUCT MANUAL
YAMAHA
INTRODUCTION Congratulations on your purchase of the Yamaha PortaSound PSS-680! You now own one of the most sophisticated portable electronic keyboards available. Controlled by an advanced microcomputer, the PortaSound PSS-680 offers far more musical enjoyment and versatility than any other instrument in its class. In fact, it gives you the fun and functions of a who/e host of digital music machines, namely ...
CONTENS PRECAUTIONS-TAKING CARE OF YOUR PORTASOUND.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 CONTROL PANEL.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 2 PART I GETTING TO KNOW THE PSS-680 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 POWER .....................
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. Keyboard Assign M O D E Transmitted Data .................................................................................................. Memory Bulk Dump.. ............................................................................................ Received Data .................................................................................................
CONTROL PANEL POWER switch VOLUME slider AUTO ACCOMPANIMENT group 3a MODE selectors 3b ORCHESTRATION buttons SONG MEMORY 4a CHORD bank selectors 4b MELODY bank selectors 4c RECORD button VOICE LIST STYLE LIST EFFECT selectors VOICE/STYLE number display 2 TEMPO/PARAMETER & VALUE display VALUE buttons VOICE/STYLE SELECT group 11a VOICE switch 11b STYLE switch 11c Number buttons DIGITAL SYNTHESIZER group 12a Voice BANK selectors 12b STORE button 12c Synthesizer Parameter selectors 12d DIGITAL SYNTHESIZER fl
PARAMETER CHANGE group 13a TEMPO button 13b Parameter selectors DEMO START/STOP switch MIDI group 15a MIDI OUT CHANNEL list PITCH BEND wheel CUSTOM DRUMMER controls Percussion control keys AUTO ACCOMPANIMENT SECTION RHYTHM CONTROL pads 20a START/STOP switch 20b SYNCHRO START/ENDING control 20c INTRO/FILL IN controls MELODY SECTION HAND PERCUSSION section 22a HAND PERCUSSION pads 22b SYNCHRO BREAK switch 22c PERCUSSION SET selectors Built-in speakers REAR PANEL DC(9-12V)IN AC power adaptor terminal AUX.
PART I GETTING TO KNOW THE PSS-680 This part of the manual first shows you how to provide the PSS-680 with POWER, using batteries or an AC adaptor. You can then turn it on and start PLAYING it right away. Next, listen to a DEMONSTRATlON of what the PortaSound PSS-680 can do. Reading PART II will then enable to perform this kind of professional-sounding music all by yourself.
QUICK GUIDE Selecting Voices To choose any instrument sound you like, simply look up its name in the VOICE LIST (5) and input the corresponding number with the number buttons (11c). (It may be necessary to press the blue VOICE switch (11a) first.) Selecting Styles The STYLE LIST (6) shows you which rhythm and accompaniment styles you can choose from. Press the blue STYLE (11 b) switch, then enter the desired style number with the number buttons (11c).
INDEX ILLUSTRATION 6
PART II BASIC FEATURES WHAT YOUR PortaSound CAN DO Using the QUICK GUIDE and listening to the DEMO song has already given you a first impression of your new PortaSound’s capabilities. This chapter tells you more about them.
for totally automatic performances, or to enhance any music you are playing live. In addition, you can play four different sets of 8 percussion instruments by hand like a drummer with the easy-to-use HAND PERCUSSION pads, further enhancing the Rhythm and Auto Accompaniment with your own solos, and record your own original CUSTOM DRUMMER pattern. Headphones For private practicing and playing without disturbing others, connect headphones to the rear panel HEADPHONES jack (26).
For instant access at the touch of a button, you can store up to five selected voices in the Digital Synthesizer Memory BANKS 1 thru 5 (12a). short explanation of what each effect does, and how to adjust PORTAMENTO: VIBRATO Operation 1. Select the voice you want to store. 2. Hold down the red STORE button (12b) and simultaneously press the desired BANK button (12a), for example BANK 1. The VOICE/STYLE display will indicate “b.1”.
• The pitch bend range setting is retained even when power STEREO CHORUS Stereo Chorus creates the “spacy” impression of several instruments being played at the same time for a warm, threedimensional “symphonic” sound. It is the only effect that influences not only the melodies you play, but also all accompaniment sounds (except PCM percussion). DUET Duet differs from the other effects in that it can only be used in combination with the AUTO ACCOMPANIMENT functions.
rapid change, hold down either button. Pressing both – and + simultaneously resets the original value (i.e. the value before you started to make changes). TRANSPOSE Range: +/– 12 semitones Overview With the exception of the PCM percussion sounds, all PortaSound voices can be transposed over a range of two octaves. In other words, you can use the TRANSPOSE function to raise or lower the pitch of both the MELODY SECTION and the AUTO ACCOMPANIMENT SECTION in semitone steps.
Operation 1. Press MELODY VOL. . The TEMPO/PARAMETER &VALUE display will show This display tells you that the MELODY VOL. value is now 8 (the normal setting). 2. Adjust the melody volume with the VALUE buttons. + raises the volume, – lowers it. l l To instantly return to MELODY VOLUME to value 8, press both VALUE buttons simultaneously. MELODY VOLUME setting is retained when power is turned off.
RHYTHM MACHINE FUNCTIONS A rhythm (or drum) machine provides a background of rhythm patterns played by various percussion instruments. This not only makes most popular music sound better, it also helps you keep perfect time, just like a metronome. This section introduces the PortaSound’s rhythm machine functions. Most of the following operations can be applied in exactly the same way for the AUTO ACCOMPANIMENT features explained further below, so it is a good idea to memorize them well.
one measure), the PortaSound continues with the basic rhythm. The three intros available for each pattern are all different. However, with some of the simplest styles, the difference is not as pronounced as with the more complex ones. Stopping the Rhythm a) START/STOP (20a) Hitting this pad again stops the rhythm immediately. b) SYNCHRO START/ENDING (20b) Press this pad when you want the rhythm to end naturally on a special “ending pattern”.
Points to Remember The PortaSound will switch to the new rhythm style at the beginning of the next measure, retaining the current tempo. However, if the style number is altered within the first quarter of a beat, the PortaSound will switch styles during the same beat. (See the paragraph on Single Finger Auto Accompaniment, p.18, for a more detailed explanation.) l In the case of rhythm patterns consisting of two measures, the order of these measures is maintained when styles are switched.
Note: If you hit a pad at the beginning of a measure while the rhythm is playing, Synchro Break will become effective. However, in order to enable a more natural fill in, it will not work when a pad is hit at the beginning of the measure following such a Synchro Break measure. To turn off SYNCHRO BREAK, press its button, making sure the indicator goes out. With SYNCHRO BREAK off, you can play your own percussion “over” the regular rhythm, adding variety to the usual patterns.
feature allows you to add such rolls by holding down the ROLL key (El) while hitting drum pad. By pressing ROLL and ACCENT at the same time, you can create loud rolls. f) Damping the Open Hi-Hat When programming the custom pattern, you can’ damp the sound of open hi-hat notes by hitting the closed hi-hat pad with the appropriate timing (slightly after the open hi-hat notes). 3. Press PROGRAM/END again to memorize the rhythm. As soon as you have completed your custom rhythm pattern, press PROGRAM/END.
AUTO ACCOMPANIMENT FEATURES There are several basic types of AUTO ACCOMPANIMENT features available on the PSS-660. An outline of their functions is given here, along with an explanation of the MODE (3a) and ORCHESTRATION (3b) controls. A detailed operation guide for features A) through E) follows below. A) B) C) D) E) The Single Finger Chord function lets you play entire chords with just one finger.
A) Single Finger Chords Press the AUTO ACCOMPANIMENT SINGLE FINGER MODE selector (3a) to turn on the Single Finger mode. (The rhythm must be off.) Now play single keys in the AUTO ACCOMPANIMENT SECTION (19) of the keyboard with one finger and notice how the PortaSound produces complete major chords instead of just single notes.
Other interesting voices you may want to try for this march are numbers 28 (TREMOLO ORGAN), 11 (CELLO) and 95 (HUMAN VOICE 2). In any case, you will notice that the selection of a suitable voice and style is very important to bring out the atmosphere of a piece.
DUET Major: Minor: Overview Seventh: Minor seventh: Major seventh: Minor seventh flatted fifth: Seventh sustained fourth: Augmented: Diminished: Minor major seventh: Sixth: Minor sixth: Seventh flatted fifth: Points to Remember The inverted forms of chords (in the case of a major chord for instance 3—5—l and 5—l—3, etc.) are also recognized. Any combination of notes other than those listed above is ignored.
SONG MEMORY The SONG MEMORY section (4) comprises ten memory banks in which you can digitally record melodies and chord progressions for instant automatic playback. Difficult (fast) or complicated passages can be memorized at a comfortable low speed and played any time with the correct tempo at the touch of a button, making perfect performances easier than ever. The SONG MEMORY consists of five MELODY (4b) and five CHORD (4a) banks, which are treated here separately.
Points to Remember If several MELODY banks have been recorded simultaneously, they are treated as one “set”. In other words, they can only be played back together. As soon as any of the memory selectors of such a set is pressed for playback, the LED indicators of the other selectors in this set will also light up, showing that they belong together. Starting to record will erase any data currently stored in the selected MELODY bank(s).
CHORD Memory The CHORD memory is a highly sophisticated automatic performance feature that not only lets the PortaSound play programmed chord progressions and rhythm arrangements, but also memorized melodies and custom drum patterns with the desired timing. The following kind of data can be stored in each CHORD memory bank. Note that the resolution differs according to the type of data. (“Resolution” means the maximum number of data changes the PortaSound will accept within a certain time.
If a rhythm is playing — 1. Press the desired CHORD bank selector. The selector’s indicator will start to blink slowly. Playback will commence from the beginning of the next measure following the one during which you pressed the selector. As soon as playback begins, the CHORD indicator will stop flashing and remain lit. The TEMPO will switch from the currently selected value to the tempo memorized in the CHORD bank.
PART III ADVANCED FUNCTIONS DIGITAL SYNTHESIZER Like a Yamaha DX synthesizer, the PortaSound PSS-680 uses an FM sound source — and like a digital synthesizer, it lets you, adjust various voice settings (parameters) in order to create your own original sounds. Five of these custom voices can be stored in special memory banks. The following short basic course on "FM Synthesis" which will help you understand this process, making it easier for you to achieve the kind of sound you have in mind.
As you can see, the different ratios produce totally different wave forms — saw-tooth waves give a bright tone color suitable for strings and brass, while square waves sound milder and “simpler”, having fewer harmonics (overtones), and are good for woodwinds like clarinet and oboe. To generate the basic sine waves, the PSS-680 uses digital oscillators called “operators” in FM synthesis. The basic configuration of theses operators is shown on the front panel illustration reproduced here. Set MOD.
The attack rate for the carrier envelope is set to its maximum value, 63. This means that the carrier level peaks immediately when a key is pressed. Now set the value to 01 and press any key, holding it down for several seconds. Notice how long it takes the volume to reach its peak. The two things you can learn from this are: a) The higher the ATTACK RATE value, the faster the attack. b) The carrier (OPERATOR 2) level determines the volume of a sound.
Some voices will sound distorted if the TOTAL LEVEL is raised to over 90 especially when they are used with melody volume level 69’. If this happens, lower the TOTAL LEVEL for that voice. This completes the explanation of the DIGITAL SYNTHESIZER section. You will still need a bit of practice to be able to use it the way you want. In the meantime, compare the five new voices in banks 1 to 5 with the original SINE WAVE sound.
MIDI What is MIDI? MIDI stands for “Musical Instrument Digital Interface”. It is an international standard interface system that allows musical instruments such as your PortaSound PSS-680, synthesizers, drum machines, sequence recorders, computers and other equipment to “communicate”.
When a MIDI instrument receives information coded with its “own” channel number (the one specified for reception on that unit), it will execute the command. If the data is coded with a different MIDI channel number, the command will simply be ignored and the instrument will wait for the next message.
Keyboard Assign Mode Transmitted Data In this mode, Timing Clock, Start/Stop and note on/off data are transmitted. The 16 MIDI channels are used to send the following information: Channel 1 to 16 (assignable) 11 12 to 14 15 16 Information PERFORMANCE MANUAL Data Any of the 16 channels can be assigned for transmission of normal keyboard performance data, i.e. the melody and accompaniment you play all by yourself.
D#2 51 RIM SHOT RIM SHOT Program Change Data E2 52 SNARE LOW SNARE LOW is transmitted F2 53 HI TOM HI TOM a) F#2 54 HAND CLAP HAND CLAP G2 55 COWBELL COWBELL G#2 56 CABASA CABASA A2 57 HI-HAT CLOSED HI-HAT CLOSED A#2 B2 58 59 BRUSH HIT HI-HAT OPEN BRUSH HIT HI-HAT OPEN C3 60 CRASH CYMBAL CRASH CYMBAL C#3 61 SPLASH CYMBAL SPLASH CYMBAL D3 62 D#3 63 RIDE CYMBAL RIDE CYMBAL E3 64 CONGA LOW CONGA LOW F3 65 CONGA HI CONGA HI F#3 66 G3 67 G#3 X RIDE C
• As the default setting, all channels 1 to 16 are on for re- Operation 1. Press TRANSMIT CH/MEMORY BULK DUMP twice. • If the PortaSound is already in TRANSMIT CHANNEL select mode (indicated by an on the TEMPO/ PARAMETER & VALUE display), press this button only once. The TEMPO/PARAMETER & VALUE display will start to blink, showing that the PortaSound is ready for memory bulk dump. 2. Press the VALUE + button. This starts the bulk dump. (The TEMPO/PARAMETER & VALUE display goes out during transmission.
Sound Source Mode 99 Transmitted Data All normal (manual) keyboard performance data is transmitted, but no corresponding sound is produced by the PortaSound ("local off"). This means that you can control external MIDI sound sources from the PSS-680 keyboard even while the PortaSound is “muted”. Channel settings are the same as for Keyboard Assign mode. Bulk dumps can also be performed in this mode.
MIDI RECEIVE CHANNEL FILTER At delivery, all channels are on for reception (corresponds to OMNI mode). In mode 00, the external clock is off. Overview This function allows you to choose on which of the 16 MIDI channels the PortaSound will receive data in either MIDI RECEIVE MODE, Keyboard Assign 00 or Sound Source 99. It also lets you determine whether the PSS-680 will be controlled by external or internal clock data.
MIDI CONNECTION EXAMPLES The following hook-ups are suggestions that will help you make the most of your PortaSound’s sophisticated MIDI functions. The first three examples show how you can play the PSS-680 via external MIDI equipment, while example four gives you ideas for controlling other sound sources from the PortaSound. Example 5 shows connection to a simple MIDI recorder. Finally, hooking the PSS-680 to a sequencer allows mutual control that even lets you edit the SONG MEMORY data.
Set the PSS-680 MIDI MODE to 00, and make sure the PortaSound transmission channels and the tone generator/ rhythm machine reception channels correspond. It is also a good idea to adjust the tone generator voice numbers (e.g. setting P.Change to “individual” on the TXS1Z) so that choosing a PortaSound voice will automatically select a corresponding external voice. Don’t forget to make use of the PSS-680’s MIDI OUT channel assignment possiblities.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATlON ALL RESET Overview Static electricity and other factors can very rarely cause the Portasound’s internal microcomputer to “lock up” so that it is no longer possible to use the instrument’s controls. When this happens, you can reset all internal settings to their default values. The contents of the RAM is erased by this procedure, canceling all settings and memorized data.
SPECIFICATIONS Key board 61 keys (C1 ~ C6) Voice ("00 ~ 99”) Synth Brass, Jazz Organ, Pipe Organ 1, Piano 1, Harpsichord 1, Electric Piano 1, Celesta, Vibraphone, Marimba 1, Steel Drum 1, Violin 1, Cello, Jazz Guitar, Rock Guitar 1, Wood Bass 1, Trumpet, Trombone, Horn, Soprano Sax, Clarinet, Flute, Oboe, Harmonica, Whistle, Music Box, Honky-Tonk piano, Toy Piano, Transistor Organ, Tremolo Organ, Small Church Organ, Funky Clavi, Accordion, Giockenspiel, Hawaiian Guitar, Banjo, Bowed Bass, Acoustic Guitar, H
EXCLUSIVE DATA FORMAT 1. FORMAT NO. = (00H), FORMAT NAME = (FM 2OPERATOR VOICE DATA) HEADER & EOX STATUS =F0H ID =43H INST. CLASS =76H FORMAT NO. =(00H) DATA (DESCRIBED BELOW) CHECK SUM DATA = TWO'S COMPLEMENT OF 7BITS SUM OF ALL DATA BYTES. EOX =F7H DATA CONTENTS NOTICE FOLLOWING DATA: BYTES ARE TO BE DIVIDED INTO 4BIT DATA AND SENT AS LESS SIGNIFICANT 4BITS OF DATA PART. SIGNIFICANT 4BITS ARE SENT FIRST. M: MODULAR C: CARRIER INDICATES THE NUMBER OF BANK TO WHICH FOLLOWING DATA HAVE TO BE SENT.
2. FORMAT NO. = (01H). FORMAT NAME = (MELODY MEMORY 5BANKS) HEADER & EOX STATUS =F0H ID =43H INST. CLASS = 76H FORMAT NO. =01H DATA (DESCRIBED BELOW) CHECK SUM DATA = TWO'S COMPLEMENT OF 7BITS SUM OF ALL DATA BYTES. EOX = F7H DATA CONTENTS NOTICE: FOLLOWING DATA BYTES ARE TO BE DIVIDED INTO 4BIT DATA AND SENT AS LESS-SIGNIFICANT 4BITS OF DATA PART. SIGNIFICANT 4BITS ARE SENT FIRST.
3. FORMAT NO. = (02H), FORMAT NAME = (CHORD MEMORY DATA) HEADER & EOX STATUS =F0H ID =43H INST. CLASS =76H FORMAT N. =02H DATA (DESCRIBED BELOW) CHECK SUM DATA = TWO'S COMPLEMENT OF 7BIT SUM ALL DATA BYTES. EOX = F7H DATA CONTENTS NOTICE: FOLLOWING DATA BYTES ARE TO BE DIVIDED INTO 4BIT DATA AND SENT AS LESS SIGNIFICANT 4BITS OF DATA PART. SIGNIFICANT 4BITS ARE SENT FIRST. BANK NUMBER UUUUUUUU = BANK #, TO WHICH FOLLOWING DATA WILL BE SENT. 0~4 MEANS BANK#1 ~5. ANY DATA OVER 5 IS ACCEPTED AS 0.
4. FORMAT NO. = (03H), FORMAT NAME = (RHYTHM PATTERN DATA) HEADER & EOX STATUS = F0H ID = 43H INST. CLASS = 76H FORMAT NO. = 03H DATA (DESCRIBED BELOW) CHECK SUM DATA = TWO'S COMPLEMENT OF 7BITS SUM OF ALL DATA BYTES. EOX = F7H DATA CONTENTS NOTICE: FOLLOWING DATA BYTES ARE TO BE DIVIDED INTO 4BIT DATA AND SENT AS LESS SIGNIFICANT 4BITS OF DATA PART, SIGNIFICANT 4BITS ARE SENT FIRST. BANK#: BANK# TO WHICH FOLLOWING DATA MUST BE SENT. THIS DATA IS IGNORED.
[PORTABLE KEYBOARD] Model PSS-680 Mode 00 MIDI Implementation Chart Manual/ Transmitted Melody Memory Orchestra Chord Play 1 2 3 Base Function Basic Channel Default Changed 1-16 (*1) 11 1-16 Default Messages Altered 3 Mode Note Number: Note ON Note OFF After Touch Key’s Ch’s 4 4 4 4 x ******************** 24-108 (*3) ******************* True voice Velocity 3 12 13 14 15 x x 9nH, v = 1-127 (*5) x 9nH, v = 0 X X Version: 1.
[PORTABLE KEYBOARD] PSS-680 Model MIDI Implementation Chart Mode 99 Function Transmitted Recognized Basic Channel Default Changed 1-16 (*1) 1-16 1-16 (*2) 1-16 Mode Default Messages Altered 3 x *********** 3 (*9) x x True voice 24-108(*3) *********** 24-108 24-108(*4) Velocity Note ON Note OFF X 9nH, v = 1-127 (*5) X 9nH, v = 0 9nH, v = 1-127 X 9nH, v = 0 /8nH After Touch Key’s Ch’s x x x x Note Number: Version: 1.
• This applies only to products distributed by Yamaha Music Corp. Attention users in the U.S.A. PortaSound PSS-680 prepared in accordance with FCC rules. The PortaSound PSS-630 uses frequencies that appear in the radio frequency range, and if installed in the immediate proximity (within three meters) of some types of audio or video devices Interference may occur.
YAMAHA YAMAHA CORPORATION P.O.
YAMAHA PSS680 OM Yamaha Corporation of America PSS680 OM 9/10/98 29645 6600 OrangeThorpe Avenue, P.O.
