Operation Manual

Using the Plug-in Boards
99
Quick GuideUsing the Plug-in Board
Owner’s Manual
Plug-in Boards give you an enormous amount of additional sonic flexibility and power. When installed, they work seamlessly
and transparently within the system of this synthesizer—meaning that you can use their sounds and functions just as if they
were built right into this synthesizer at the factory.
The boards that are available for and can be installed to this synthesizer are described below.
Up to three Plug-in boards can be installed to the S90 ES. These boards are not simply a source of more Voices; they are
also full-featured, editable tone generators in their own right and extend the system-level specifications such as maximum
polyphony.
In addition, they allow you to use synthesis systems besides AWM2. You can play Plug-in Voices just like ordinary internal
Voices and use them as Parts in a Performance/Multi.
This synthesizer is compatible with the Modular Synthesis Plug-in System (see below).
Available Plug-in Boards
There are three types of Modular Synthesis Plug-in System-compatible Plug-in Boards: Single Part, Multi-Part and Effect
Plug-in Board. Using these, you can build your own system based on the sounds you require.
Single Part Plug-in Boards
Single Part Plug-in Boards let you add a completely
different synthesizer or single timbre tone generator (page
115) and play its voices by using a single part of this
synthesizer. Some boards allow you to use synthesis
systems besides AWM2.
● Analog Physical Modeling Plug-in Board
(PLG150-AN)
Using Analog Physical Modeling (AN) synthesis, the very latest
digital technology is used to accurately reproduce the sound of
analog synthesizers. With this board installed, you have real-time
control over the playback of vintage synthesizer sounds as well as
the very latest sounds heard in today’s club-oriented music.
● Piano Plug-in Board (PLG150-PF/PLG150-AP)
These boards have the AWM2 tone generators mounted a massive
waveform memory (16MB), which is dedicated to the reproduction
of piano sounds. The PLG150-PF offers 136 stereo sounds,
including a number of acoustic and electric pianos. The PLG150-
AP offers 32 stereo sounds, including a wide variety of
exceptionally high-quality, authentic acoustic piano sounds, as
well as an assortment of unusual effect-processed piano sounds.
Each board enables you to expand the polyphony of the
instrument by up to 64 notes. You can even install two of these
boards to double the polyphony to 128 notes.
● Advanced DX/TX Plug-in Board (PLG150-DX)
The sounds of the DX7 are available on this Plug-in Board. Unlike
PCM-based tone generators, this board uses the powerful FM
Synthesis system — the same as found on DX-series
synthesizers—for extraordinarily versatile and dynamic sound
shaping potential. Sounds are compatible with those of the DX7,
and the board can even receive DX7 data via MIDI bulk dump.
● Virtual Acoustic Plug-in Board (PLG150-VL)
With Virtual Acoustic (VA) synthesis, the sounds of real instruments
are modeled (simulated) in real time, giving a degree of realism
that cannot be achieved using conventional PCM-based synthesis
techniques. When playing these sounds using an optional MIDI
Wind Controller (WX5), you can even capture some of the physical
feel of woodwind instruments.
● Drum Plug-in Board (PLG150-DR)/Percussion Plug-in
Board (PLG150-PC)
Once connected and installed, the PLG150-DR/PLG150-PC
becomes a seamless additional sound source of AWM2 for the
host tone generator or synthesizer—providing a total of 88 drum/
percussion voices. Thanks to the built-in effect processing power,
the PLG150-DR/PLG150-PC has two separate effect blocks—
Insertion and Reverb—that can be applied to each kit.
Multi-Part Plug-in Board
Multi-Part Plug-in Boards let you add a completely
independent multi-timbral tone generator to the S90 ES
(page 115)—expanding the Voice capacity and polyphony
of the instrument with a full sixteen additional instrument
parts.
● XG Plug-in Board (PLG100-XG)
This Plug-in Board is a 16-part XG sound generator. You can play
back XG/GM song files using the rich variety of sounds and effects
on this board.
Effect Plug-in Board
Effect Plug-in Boards let you add a completely different
effect block to the host synthesizer.
● Vocal Harmony Plug-in Board (PLG100-VH)
With this board installed, you can add harmonies to selected parts
using four types of effects. Chorus parts for vocals can be created
automatically from chords that have been prepared and stored as
MIDI data. You can also use this synthesizer like a vocoder by
connecting and using a microphone while playing the keyboard.
Using the Plug-in Boards
About MODULAR SYNTHESIS PLUG-IN SYSTEM
The Yamaha Modular Synthesis Plug-in System offers powerful expansion and upgrade capabilities for Modular
Synthesis-Plug-in-compatible synthesizers, tone generators and sound cards. This enables you to easily and effectively
take advantage of sophisticated synthesizer and effects technology, allowing you to keep pace with the rapid and multi-
faceted advances in modern music production.