Yamaha PortaTone PSR-36 User manual

Owner's Guide
Spielanleitung
Mode d'emploi
Manual del Propietario
YAMAHA

Congratulations!
Thank you for purchasing a Yamaha
PortaTone PSR-36. This PortaTone
is an ultra-modern keyboard with a
design based on the latest digital
electronics technology.
To be sure you get maximum satis-
faction, we suggest you follow
the steps in this manual carefully
while actually playing the
instrument.
Contents
Before playing
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1. Nomenclature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
2. Playing back the Demonstration
Music..........................................3
3. Starting to Play
(Orchestra
Section) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
4. Voice Editing
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
4
5. Using the Built-in Drummer
(PCM/Stereo Rhythm Section)
. . . . . 7
6. Creating Original Rhythm
Patterns (Custom Drummer) . . . . . .
10
7. Adding Accompaniment
(Auto Bass Chord Section)
. . . . . . .
12
8. Chord Sequence Programming .
15
9. External Jacks
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
10. OptionalAccessories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
17
11. About MIDI
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
19
12. Taking Care of Your PortaTone 22
13. Specifications
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
23
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6
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Before playing
Inserting Batteries
insert six 1.5V SUM-1 "D" size, R-20,
Remove the battery compartment cover
on the bottom of the instrument and
or equivalent alkaline batteries (sold
separately), making sure that the
polarities are placed as directed inside
the compartment. Replace the cover,
ensuring that it locks securely in place.
Optional power adaptors
Household current: Power Adaptor PA-4/
PA-40 is available for household current.
No other adaptor is usable, so when
you purchase a power adaptor please
ensure that it is model PA-4/PA-40.
Car Battery: Car Battery Adaptor CA-1
plugs into a car cigarette lighter socket.
1

Nomenclature
Power Switch
Master Volume Control
Auto Bass Chord Volume Control
Bass & Chord Variation Selectors
Bass & Chord Voice Selectors
Auto Bass Chord Mode Selector
Auto Bass Chord Key Section
Rhythm Volume Control
Rhythm Variation Selector
Custom Drummer Function Selectors
Custom Drummer Key Section
Tempo Controls
Rhythm Selectors
Fill-in Button
Synchro Start and Start Buttons
Stop Button
Intro./Ending Button
Keyboard Percussion Button
Duet On/Off Switch
Sustain Selector
Orchestra Bank Selector
Orchestra Voice Selectors
Digital Synthesizer Selector
Voice Data Controllers
Chord Sequencer Record Button
Chord Sequencer Play Button
MIDI Button
Demonstration Button
Pitch Controls
2

Playingbackthe
DemonstrationMusic
First,trylisteningtothe Demonstration
Music.
To hearthis music,dothe following:
1.Switch on
2.Adjust the volume
Slidethe MASTER VOLUME control
about three-quarters of the way towards
Max. to set the volume level.
3.Press the DEMONSTRATION
button
"William Tell Overture" will start to play
assoon asyou press thisbutton.
Slidethe POWER switch
to the ON
position.Thepower-on lightwill then
illuminate.
3

button again.
To stop the music, press the STOP
button
or the DEMONSTRATION
You can change the programmed
voice, rhythm and tempo as you like.
However, you shouldn’t select a 3-Beat
rhythm, since it would not match the
demonstration piece.
Starting to play
Orchestra section
First, try the sounds in the Orchestra
section, which is a fundamental part of
this keyboard.
1. Choose an instrument voice
First set the Orchestra Bank selector
for the desired bank of voices (Orchestra
Bank selector in upper position to select
upper row of voices labeled in silver
above the voice selectors, lower position
to select lower row of voices labeled in
yellow.) Then press the Orchestra Voice
selector for the desired voice in the
selected bank.
l When you turn the keyboard ON, the
BRASS 1 voice will automatically
be selected if the Orchestra Bank
selector is set to the upper position,
and the BRASS 2 voice will be selected
if the Orchestra Bank selector is set
to the lower position.
4

Notes:
1. Vibrato is automatically applied to voices which
benefit from application of this effect.
2. Be sure to set the Auto Bass Chord MODE
selector to the OFF position. When the
selector is set to the SINGLE FINGER or
FINGERED position. the keys in the Auto Bass
Chord key section cannot be used for melody
playing.
2. Try other voices
Make your selection from among the
voices in the ORCHESTRA section
Note:
The maximum number of notes that can be played
simultaneously (normally twelve) will be reduced
when the Auto Bass Chord, Duet and Digital
Synthesizer are used. The minimum number of
simultaneous notes is two.
3. Adding sustain
Slide the SUSTAIN selector to its “1”
or “2” setting, and notes will be sustain-
ed after you lift your fingers from the
keys. SUSTAIN 1 produces a short
sustain, SUSTAIN 2 produces a longer
sustain.
Pitch control
The PITCH control function enables
you to fine-tune the keyboard for when
you want to play in an ensemble. Each
time is pressed, the pitch increases
very slightly, up to a maximum of 50
cents above the preset level. Whenever
is pressed, the pitch drops slightly,
also to a maximum of 50 cents.
Notes:
1.If you hold down one of the PITCH controls, the
pitch will change continuously.
2. If you press both of the PITCH controls together,
the pitch will return to the preset level (A3=
440Hz).
5

Voice Editing
DIGITAL SYNTHESIZER
As one of the PSR-36’s special features,
the Digital Synthesizer function allows
you to expand the 32 orchestra voices
to total of 100,000 different voices.
Let’s create various voices using
DIGITAL SYNTHESIZER.
1. Select the desired voice by pressing
one of the 32 Orchestra Voice
selectors
2. Set the Digital Synthesizer selector
to ON.
3. Adjust the volume using the Master
Volume control
4. Set each Voice Data controller
(SPECTRUM, BRILLIANCE,
ENVELOPE, VIBRATO and DETUNE)
to the position which results in
the desired sound.
SPECTRUM
This controls the timbre or tone color
of the voice.
BRILLIANCE
This determines how brilliant or mellow
the voice is.
ENVELOPE
Controls the attack of the notes (whether
the notes begin sharply or smoothly).
VIBRATO
This controls the vibrato effect.
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DETUNE
Increasing the DETUNE setting produces
a “thicker” multi-instrument type sound.
5. Now, let’s play some notes. By
comparing the same voice in both the
ON and OFF settings of the Digital
Synthesizer Selector you can
distinguish the difference in timbre.
l The degree to which a voice changes varies
with the selected voice.
Using the built-in
drummer
PCM/Stereo rhythm section
Now it’s time to add a dynamic rhythm
accompaniment to your melody.
1. Choose a rhythm
Pick the rhythm that best suits the music
you’re going to play and press the
corresponding Rhythm selector
When you turn the keyboard ON,
the DISCO rhythm is automatically
selected.
7

2. Start the rhythm
After selecting a rhythm, press the
START selector
Synchro Start
Use the SYNCHRO START button
If you want the rhythm to begin from
the moment you first press a key. Any
of the 19 keys (up to F
#2
) beginning
at the left of the keyboard (Auto Bass
Chord
key section will activate the
rhythm.
Intro./Ending
Instead of using START, you can have
the rhythm begin by using the
INTRO./ENDING button . When this
selector is pressed, the rhythm will
start after a two-bar intro-phrase.
3. Adjustments
Volume
The Rhythm VOLUME control
lets YOU adjust the rhythm volume in
relation to the melody volume.
Tempo
Use the TEMPO controls to adjust
the speed of the rhythm.
Variation
The Rhythm VARIATION selector
gives a choice of five patterns for
each rhythm.
4. Making use of the Tempo Light
The Tempo Light functions as a visual
metronome, making it simple for you to
confirm the rhythm tempo. It flashes
indicating tempo when the rhythm is
running and also when the SYNCHRO
START button has been pressed but
you have not yet started the rhythm by
pressing a key.
8