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Sound Modules

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    Yamaha SEQTRAK all-in-one production instrument drum machine synth sampler

    Yamaha SEQTRAK: all-in-one production system

    Compact unit combines drums, synthesis, sampling & more

    SEQTRAK is a lightweight, portable production system that packs in a range of drum programming, synthesis, sampling and sound design capabilities. 

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    Yamaha Motif Rack XS

    Synthesizer Module

    Yamaha's Motif range has proved to be both popular and enduring — so is the latest incarnation, the Rack XS, your cue to join the Motif party?

    Reviews Oct 2008
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    Yamaha Motif Rack ES

    Workstation Synth Module

    Yamaha's original Motif Rack was a fine-sounding, well-specified synth module, but it suffered from MIDI timing problems when reviewed in SOS. Two years on, we put the follow-up Motif Rack ES to the test...

    Reviews May 2005
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    Yamaha Motif Rack

    128-voice Rackmount Synth

    It seems simple enough — take the successful Motif workstation, remove the keyboard, and release it as a more affordable rack unit. But there's lots more to the Motif Rack than meets the eye...

    Reviews Jun 2003
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    The Yamaha DX1 & Its Successors [Retrozone]

    Sounds Of The '80s: Part 2

    In the second instalment of this two-part retro, Gordon Reid recalls FM's finest hour, and describes the heyday of what was perhaps the most successful family of synthesizers ever developed.

    Reviews Sep 2001
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    Yamaha TX81Z [Retrozone]

    FM Synthesizer Module

    Paul Sellars goes back to a time when minimalism ruled in synth design...

    Reviews Oct 1999
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    Yamaha MU128

    Sound Module

    Yamaha's latest XG MIDI module achieves more onboard sounds and greater polyphony and multitimbrality than previous tone generators Ñ and allows users to install additional synthesizer and effects boards. Simon Trask explores the power of MU...

    Reviews Feb 1999
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    Yamaha FS1R

    FM Synthesis / Formant-shaping Tone Generator

    FM synthesis was the success story of the mid-'80s, and synth based on its principles, like Yamaha's DX7, sold by the bucketload — until affordable sample-based synths arrived at the end of the decade. Now, with their new FS1R, Yamaha have updated the technology for the late '90s.

    Reviews Dec 1998
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    Yamaha MU100R

    Tone Generator

    Yamaha have taken their MU90R, wired in a VL tone generator and put three-part harmoniser in the effects section. The result is the MU100R. Christopher Holder gets virtual.

    Reviews Nov 1997
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    Yamaha MU90R

    GM/XG Tone Generator

    Yamaha have scooped the insides out of their well-specified MU80 half-rack GM/XG sound module and transplanted them into a full rack case, with a few extra features aimed at making the resulting MU90R stand out from the GM crowd. Christopher Holder is generally impressed.

    Reviews May 1997
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    Yamaha TX802

    FM Synth Module (Retro)

    Paul Ward dons a Miami Vice-style jacket and a pair of pink-rimmed Armani shades, and travels back to the '80s heyday of FM synthesis for a retro look at the one-time flagship of Yamaha's synth range, the multitimbral TX802 expander.

    Reviews Jan 1997
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    Yamaha MU10XG

    GM/XG Sound Module

    The MU10XG's unassuming casing conceals a sound source with hidden depths which you can explore using MIDI SysEx.

    Reviews Dec 1996
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    Yamaha P50m

    Piano Tone Generator

    Almost a decade since the release of their classic EMT10, Yamaha have returned To the piano module market, spinning off some of the technology used in their top-end digital pianos and using it in an inexpensive half-rack expander format. Dave Crombie tickles the virtual ivories...

    Reviews Nov 1996
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    Yamaha VL70m

    Virtual Acoustic Synth Module

    At under £500 — less than an eighth of the original price of its VL1 predecessor — Yamaha's VL70m constitutes a brave attempt to bring physical modelling synthesis within the reach of all musicians. Martin Russ joyfully welcomes this monophonic modelling module...

    Reviews Oct 1996
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    Yamaha VL70M

    Virtual Acoustic Tone Generator (Preview)

    Martin Russ sidles up to an innocent-looking phone-box, receives his instructions, and sets to work decoding Yamaha's affordable new Virtual Acoustic synth. This preview will self-destruct in five seconds...

    Reviews Sep 1996
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    Yamaha P150

    Electronic Piano

    Few people would deny that there's nothing like a real acoustic piano — but they're not always the most practical of instruments. Paul Ward looks at an electronic alternative that could be the answer.

    Reviews Jun 1996
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    Yamaha MU50 & Yamaha CBX-K1

    Tone Generator & MIDI Keyboard XG

    Two of Yamaha's most recent products, the MU50 synth module and the CBX-K1 mini keyboard, are designed to compliment each other as the nucleus of a budget, GM-compatible music-making setup.. Paul Nagle evaluates the pair, and considers the potentially confusing role of Yamaha's XG MIDI format...

    Reviews Sep 1995
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    Yamaha MU5

    Tone Generator

    It's 28-voice polyphonic, with 128 sounds and a computer interface — and comes in a box the size of a video tape. Derek Johnson finds out whether size matters after all.

    Reviews Jun 1995
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    Yamaha MU80

    Tone Generator

    Could this be the ultimate one-box solution to your sound generation needs? Kevin Earley finds out.

    Reviews Apr 1995
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    Yamaha TG300

    General MIDI Tone Generator

    A new shape? A large LCD? Martin Russ finds out what Yamaha are up to with their latest expander, which aims to give GM compatibility ans a whole lot more...

    Reviews Mar 1994
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