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Yamaha SY77
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Yamaha SY77 is a 16 voice multitimbral music workstation first produced by Yamaha Corporation in 1989. The SY77 is a synthesizer whose architecture combines AFM (Advanced Frequency Modulation) synthesis, AWM2 (Advanced Wave Memory 2) for ROM-borne sample-based synthesis, and the combination of these two methods christened Realtime Convolution and Modulation Synthesis (RCM). The same technology was also packaged in a rack-mounted module released simultaneously, the TG77.
SY77 | |
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Manufacturer | Yamaha |
Dates | (Japan) December 1, 1989 |
Price | (Japan) ¥300,000 |
Technical specifications | |
Polyphony | 32 (16 AFM layers, 16 AWM layers), shared between up to 16 voices |
Timbrality | 16 voices, each containing up to 2 AFM layers and 2 AWM layers |
Oscillator | sine wave and 15 harmonically enhanced variants thereof |
LFO | sine, sawtooths, triangle, sample-and-hold; can control pitch, amplitude, cutoff, etc. |
Synthesis type | Digital Frequency modulation, Digital Sample-based |
Filter | lowpass (12 dB or 24 dB), highpass, or multi-pole |
Storage memory | 64 custom patches can be stored in battery-powered onboard RAM |
Effects | 2 reverb units (40 effect types) and 2 modulation units (4 effect types) |
Input/output | |
Keyboard | 61 keys with velocity sensitivity and aftertouch |
Left-hand control | Pitch-bend, 2 modulation wheel |
External control | MIDI |
The SY77 is equipped with a 61-key keyboard with velocity and aftertouch; has a pitch wheel and two modulation wheels (the latter being quite a rare feature among keyboards in general); and has a large backlit LCD display, expansion slots, floppy-drive, on-board effects, and a 16,000 note sequencer. Programming is performed through a keypad on the front panel.
When the SY77 was released in late 1989, its initial prices were close to $3000 USD/£2000 GBP. In 1991, it was followed by the SY99, a successor that cost ~$4000/£3000 and expanded its capabilities with a 76-key keyboard, the ability to load user-specified samples for AWM, a more advanced effects unit, and other features.