Yamaha

Explore Yamaha vintage synthesizer equipment in the Vintage Technology Archive.

Analog Synthesizers

• AN1x — Yamaha AN1x virtual analog synth (1997), £899 new — physical-modeling engine, resonant self-oscillating filter, 8 knobs, Scene buttons, step sequencer.
• CS-60 — Yamaha CS-60 eight-voice analog polysynthesizer, part of the CS-50/CS-60/CS-80 family. Period dealer listings show original prices around $1,895-$3,450.
• CS-80) CS-60 — Yamaha CS-60 eight-voice polyphonic synthesizer from the late 1970s, aimed at organ players wanting chordal playing with synth flexibility.

Digital Synthesizers

• FS1R — Yamaha FS1R (1998) — Formant Shaping Synthesis rack module with 8 operators, 88 algorithms, and 1408 preset voices. The last great FM machine.
• SY22 — Yamaha SY22 vector synthesizer — AWM+FM engine, 374 waveforms, joystick vector control, 64 user voices, 16 effects. The Prophet VS lineage in an affordable package.
• TG77 — Yamaha TG77 rack synth — SY77's RCM engine in a 19-inch module with 12 outputs, 128 ROM voices, and a 40x8 LCD.
• TX81Z — Yamaha TX81Z FM expander module — half-rack tone generator used by session players and film composers, quoted at $319 used in 1991 and £130 by 1996.

Digital Synthesizers

• DX21 (1985) — Yamaha DX21 (1985) 4-operator FM synth — 61 keys, 8-note poly, 32 voice memories, MIDI. Specs and period press from a thin but honest record.

Drum Machines

• MR10 — Yamaha MR10 — 600g preset drum machine from the Producer Series. Twelve rhythms, five playable finger pads, optional bass-drum pedal.
• RX-11 — Yamaha RX-11 digital rhythm programmer — the MIDI-era drum machine behind 80s demos and live rigs. A working tool, not a trophy.

Keyboards

• Montage — A flagship synthesizer introduced in 2016, combining AWM2 and FM-X sound engines with Motion Control Synthesis. Includes the complete spec table.

Rack Effects

• SPX990 — Yamaha SPX990 multi-effects processor — 20-bit conversion, true stereo I/O, 80 presets, 100 user memories, XLR and TRS. The studio rack staple.

Samplers

• A3000 — Yamaha A3000 rack sampler — 32-voice, 32MB, on-board effects, and a Version 2 OS update that added Loop Remix, 16 filter types, and a MIDI-syncable LFO.
• VSS-30 — Yamaha VSS-30 — an 8-bit PortaSound sampling keyboard used by Sigur Rós since 2005. Short sample time, gritty character, no MIDI.

Sequencers

• QY10 — Yamaha QY10 pocket sequencer — 8 tracks, 8 songs, 28-note polyphony, 29 instruments, VHS-tape sized, $399 in 1991.

Synthesizers

• Montage 8 — Yamaha Montage 8 flagship 88-key weighted workstation — AWM2 + FM-X engines, 256-voice polyphony, 7-inch touchscreen, Motion Control.
• Reface CS — A 37-key virtual analog modeling synthesizer released in 2015 with hands-on control and 8-note polyphony. With full specifications and production years.

Workstations

• SY85 — Yamaha SY85 AWM synthesizer — four-voice layering, eight assignable sliders, expandable sample RAM. A performance-first workstation sold with a dog joke.

Other Models

• 01V96 — Yamaha 01V96 digital mixer — 40 channels of 24-bit/96kHz, 12 mic preamps, 100mm motorized faders, surround panning. $2,499 in 2003.
• 02R96 — Yamaha 02R96 digital console — 56 input faders that stay put at 24-bit/96kHz, surround, DAW integration. A working studio desk that still earns its keep.
• A5000 — Yamaha A5000 flagship sampler — 126-voice polyphony, 32-part multitimbral, 128Mb RAM capacity (4Mb supplied), Editors' Choice winner.
• AW 4416 — Yamaha AW4416 — 44-channel digital mixer and 16-track hard disk recorder. Great sonics, clumsy track editing. $3,599 in 2001.
• CP-60 — Yamaha CP-60 electric piano — model number is ambiguous with Classé's CP-60 preamp; specs and dates unconfirmed in available sources.
• CP-70 — The Yamaha CP-70 — a real acoustic grand piano in a flight case, with piezo pickups and a legendary stage reputation.
• CP10 — Yamaha CP10 — the archive has found no verified specs, dates, or price for this model number; period sources point to a Meyer Sound equaliser of the same name.
• CP70B — Yamaha CP70B electric grand — documented only in Yamaha's CP-70/70B/80 parts list. Panel variants, XLR outs, NJM4558DV op-amps; specs and years unconfirmed.
• CS-15 — Yamaha CS-15 analog synthesizer (late 1970s–early 1980s) — an obscure, thinly documented model from Yamaha's affordable CS line. What the record actually shows.
• CS-15D — Yamaha CS-15D preset monophonic synthesizer — 29 mixable preset voices plus one panel-programmed Channel 2 patch, with CV/trigger cascade support for multi-synth rigs.
• CS-30L — Yamaha CS-30L analog synth, documented through its own patch book — sequencer, portamento, LFO and slide levers, with verified specs scarce.
• CS-50 — Yamaha CS-50 — four-voice polyphonic synthesizer from Yamaha's CS family, with presets plus adjustable sounds; period dealer pricing around $2,050 list.
• CS01 — Yamaha CS01 — battery-powered monosynth from Yamaha's Producer Series, sold with a strap and built-in speaker, originally around $189–$249.
• CS6R — Yamaha CS6R rack synth module — CS6x sibling with two PLG expansion slots for AN, VL, DX, PF and XG cards. The expandable workhorse.
• CS70 — The Yamaha CS70 analog synthesizer — documented in Massive Attack's Heligoland sessions; a supporting-player CS-family synth with thin surviving documentation.
• CX5M — Yamaha CX5M: the Z-80 MSX music computer ($469, 1985) with FM synth, DX7 voicing, and a cult of patch-trading owners.
• D1500 — Yamaha D1500 digital delay — 16 memories, 0–1023 ms range, 20 Hz–18 kHz, and period-claimed first MIDI-compatible delay. $895 list.
• DM-1000 — Yamaha DM1000 digital production console — period reviews praised its flexible digital patching, clear LCD, and excellent conversion. Two Mini-YGDAI slots keep it useful today.
• DM-2000 — Yamaha DM2000 digital production console — 24-bit/96kHz, 96 input channels, surround panning, six Mini-YGDAI slots. A price/performance landmark.
• DMC1000 — Yamaha DMC1000 digital mixing console (1991): 22 inputs, 10 output buses, four-band parametric EQ, dual SPX1000 effects, $32,000 launch price.
• DME24N — Yamaha DME24N — a 24-channel, 96kHz programmable DSP processor for install and live sound, controllable over Ethernet, CobraNet, USB, RS232/422 or MIDI.
• DME64N — Yamaha DME64N digital mix engine — 64 channels of I/O, up to 10 96kHz DSP processors, Ethernet/CobraNet/USB/MIDI control. A programmable black box for installs.
• DSP5D — Yamaha DSP5D — a rackmount PM5D-RH expander that doubles a host console's I/O to 96 mono/16 stereo channels, c.2006, ~$27,000.
• DX7IID — Yamaha DX7IID dual-FM synth: two six-operator engines, 64-voice memory, microtuning, and DX7 compatibility.
• FB-01 — Yamaha FB-01 FM Sound Generator: 240 preset + 96 user voices, 4-operator FM, $345, 4.6 lbs. A computer-dependent black box that put Yamaha FM within reach.
• LS9-16 — Yamaha LS9-16 digital mixing console — 32 mono inputs, 16 mic pres, M7CL-grade EQ and dynamics, $5,999 at launch. A compact live desk.
• LS9-32 — Yamaha LS9-32 digital mixing console — 32 channels, 42 lbs, virtual effects rack, 300 scene memories, MP3 recorder/player. The compact desk that defined small-format digital live mixing.
• M2000 — No verified Yamaha M2000 exists in the documented record — the M2000 name belongs to an AMEK console and a TC Electronic effects unit. Identify before buying.
• M7CL — Yamaha M7CL digital mixing console — 32/48 channels, EtherSound SB168-ES stagebox pairing, free v2 and StageMix iPad updates. A working console, not a collector's piece.
• M7CL-48 — Yamaha M7CL-48 digital console — 48 channels, Centralogic surface, 3 MY-card slots, and a family that grew into the EtherSound M7CL-48ES.
• MDF2 — Yamaha MDF2 MIDI Data Filer — battery-powered 3.5-inch floppy SysEx storage and SMF playback, $449, 30–250 bpm tempo range.
• MFC2 — Yamaha MFC2 MIDI foot controller ($325) for the WX7 wind controller — two MIDI channels, Key Hold, 30-patch select.
• MM10 — Yamaha MM10 (1982) — a $110 battery-powered stereo mic/line mixer, the portable heart of Yamaha's Producer Series.
• MM30 — Yamaha MM30 — the 4x2 mixer at the heart of Yamaha's budget Producer Series, sold at £199 with the MT44 four-track cassette deck.
• MT44 — Yamaha MT44 four-track cassette recorder — the no-frills heart of Yamaha's modular home studio system with MM30 mixer and RB30 rack.
• MX-12/4 — Yamaha MX-12/4 (1997) — 12-input, 4-bus analog mixer with 7-band graphic EQ, on-board digital effects, and phantom power. $599.95 at launch.
• PM-5000 — Yamaha PM-5000 large-format analog live console with digital scene recall, 28-52 channels, four-band parametric EQ, 35 buses, 12 VCAs.
• PM1D — Yamaha PM1D digital mixing console — the touring workhorse Yamaha pitched on reliability and 24/7 support. Period trade-press history and integration notes.
• PM4000 — Yamaha PM4000 live mixing console (1992) — 24 to 48 channels, 4-band parametric EQ, 8 VCA groups. The touring standard behind Pink Floyd and Simple Minds.
• PM4000M — Yamaha PM4000M monitor console — 44 or 52 inputs, 22 discrete mixes (18 mono, 2 stereo), eight VCA and mute groups. A touring monitor desk still rented decades later.
• PM5D — Yamaha PM5D digital live console — 64 inputs, 96 kHz, 24-bit/32-bit processing, 8 stereo effects, motorized faders, scene automation.
• ProMix 01 — Yamaha ProMix 01: the affordable automated digital mixer with 16 inputs, motorised faders, SPX990 effects, and 48kHz S/PDIF out.
• REV7 — Yamaha REV7 digital reverb — 1980s studio workhorse originally priced at $1,195, with 30 presets and 60 user memory slots.
• REX50 — Yamaha REX50 digital multi-effects processor — 30 presets, 60 user memories, 16-bit processing at 12 kHz bandwidth, MIDI control, circa 1987.
• RX15 — Yamaha RX15 (1984): a $495 PCM drum machine with 13 sounds, 100 patterns and MIDI — the affordable digital entry point for DX7-era studios.
• RX21 — Yamaha RX21 digital drum machine — nine PCM voices, £250 budget price, step-time LCD display. A 1985 RX-series rhythm machine that punched above its price.
• SB168-ES — Yamaha SB168-ES EtherSound stage box for the M7CL-48ES — 16 mic/line in, 8 out, 24-bit 48 kHz, one Cat-5 cable.
• SK-20 — Yamaha SK-20 polyphonic strings-and-organ synth from the Symphonic Ensembles line, reviewed in Electronics & Music Maker, March 1981.
• SK-30 — Yamaha SK-30 — SK Series organ/strings/poly-synth keyboard with split keyboard and solo synth. Used values around £275 by 1998.
• SK15 — Yamaha SK15 (1981) Symphonic Ensemble — 61-key analog keyboard with 7-stop organ, strings, and programmable polysynth sections. The SK10's polysynth sibling.
• SPX-90II — Yamaha SPX-90II digital multi-effects processor — 30 presets, 60 user slots, 13 effect types, the chorus guitarists still chase.
• SU10 — Yamaha SU10 — a one-pound, 16-bit phrase sampler with resonant filter, scratch ribbon, and 48-sample memory. Original price $399.
• SW1000XG — Yamaha SW1000XG PCI card — 64-voice XG synth, 6 effects, 12-channel recording, $699 MSRP. A late-'90s project studio in a slot.
• SY-99 — Yamaha SY-99 (1991) flagship synth — hybrid AFM/AWM2, 16-voice, 16-track sequencer, digital output. Specs, period review notes, and market history.
• TG100 — Yamaha TG100 General MIDI tone generator — EQ Magazine found only the standard 128 GM voices, and the early GM standard was still being written.
• TX1P — Yamaha TX1P 1U piano tone generator: AWM grand/upright, electric piano, harpsichord, vibes, 16-note polyphony, $895 retail.
• TX816 — Yamaha TX816 — eight DX7-equivalent FM tone modules in one rack unit, the backbone of mid-80s MIDI rigs.
• WT11 — Yamaha WT11 tone generator — the module half of the WX11/WT11 wind synth system. Seven-octave range, MIDI In, breath-controlled.
• WX11 — Yamaha WX11 wind controller — breath-driven MIDI with real velocity, seven-octave range, $505 solo / $995 with WT11 module. A practical entry into Yamaha's wind controller line.