Yamaha PortaTone PSR-640 User manual

PSR640/740 STEP BY STEP PROCEDURES
I. Enabling an External MIDI Device to Control Keyboard Sections on a
PSR640/740
II. Creating a User Style
III. Loading Styles
IV. Multi Track Recording
V. Playing Songs Continuously
VI. Quick Recording
VII. Recording to PSR640/740 Sequencer from External MIDI Source
VIII. Recording Tempo Changes
IX. Registration Memory
X. Tracks 2 and 3 Won’t Record
XI. Using Vocal Harmony on a PSR740

I. Enabling an External MIDI Device to Control Keyboard
Sections on a PSR640/740
The PSR640/740 can be configured so that an external MIDI device will control it
the same way its own keyboard does (controlling whatever sections are active on
the front panel). It can also be configured so that the Auto Accompaniment
section ONLY is controlled (independent of the keyboard).
1) Press the [FUNCTION] button.
2) Turn the Data Dial until 'F5 MIDI' is displayed in the screen.
3) Press the [NEXT] button.
4) Turn the Data Dial until ‘Receive Channel' is displayed in the screen.
5) Press the [NEXT] button.
6) Use the black [1] – [16] buttons below the screen to select the desired
MIDI Channel (the Channel being transmitted by the external MIDI
device) in the screen.
7) Turn the Data Dial until ‘KEYBOARD’ is selected for the Channel in the
screen.
NOTE: To trigger ONLY the Auto Accompaniment section, dial ‘CHORD’
instead.
8) Press the [EXIT] button.
Owner's Manual, p.131

II. Creating a User Style
The following procedure describes how to create a User Style from scratch. This
is useful when the PSR640/740 does not have a built-in Style which fits the style
of music that the user wants to play. Creating a User Style from scratch is also
useful to create custom drum accompaniments.
NOTE: Yamaha Style Disks (Auto Accompaniments) are available for purchase
online at www.yamahamusicsoft.com. To order by phone, call Music Dispatch at
[phone]. Ask for the Hal Leonard Music Software Catalog.
1) Turn ON the red [RECORD] button (red LED illuminates).
2) Use the [-] and [+] buttons to select ‘Style' in the screen.
3) Press the [NEXT] button.
4) Use the Numeric Keypad to type a number from 161 – 163, which are
the User Style locations. The screen will display ‘UserStyle1’ –
‘UserStyle3'.
TIP: For example, if the screen displays '161 8 Beat 1', this is an
indication that the User Style Memory is NOT clear.
If the User Style Memory is not clear, proceed to step 5; otherwise,
proceed to step 6.
5) To Clear the User Style Memory:
a) Press the [NEXT] button.
b) Press the [+] or [-] button to select ‘Edit'.
c) Press the [NEXT] button.
d) Press the [+] or [-] button to select ‘Clear'.
e) Press the [NEXT] button.
f) Press the [+] or [-] button to select ‘ALL'.
g) Press the [NEXT] button.
h) Press the [+] button to confirm the clear operation. The screen
will display 'Completed'.

i) Press the [BACK] button 3 times and proceed to step 7.
6) Press the [NEXT] button.
7) Press the [+] or [-] button to select ‘Record'.
8) Press the [NEXT] button. The screen will display 'Section=Main A'.
9) Press the [+] or [-] button to select one of the Accompaniment Sections,
‘MAIN A/B/C/D, FILL IN A/B/C/D, SMPL ENDING, or ENDING’.
10) Press the [NEXT] button.
11) Press the [+] or [-] button to select one of the Accompaniment Tracks,
‘RHYTHM MAIN, RHYTHM SUB, BASS, CHORD 1, CHORD 2, PAD,
PHRASE 1, or PHRASE 2.
12) Press the [NEXT] button.
NOTE: Style Tracks, ‘BASS, CHORD 1, CHORD 2, PAD, PHRASE 1, and
PHRASE 2’ must be played in the key of C, in order for the Tracks to
transpose correctly when played as a PSR640/740 Style. This means that
the pattern must use only the chordal tones of C Major 7, (C, E, G and B).
However, these tones can be used in any octave.
13) If necessary, select the Voice or Drum Kit to use for the Recording.
a) Press the silver [VOICE R1] button, above the Data Dial.
b) Use the Numeric Keypad to select a desired Voice or Drum Kit.
c) Press the blue [EXIT] button.
14) If necessary, activate the Metronome:
a) Press the silver [FUNCTION] button, above the Data Dial.
b) Press the [+] or [-] button until the screen displays 'F4 Utility'.
c) Press the [NEXT] button.
d) Press the [+] or [-] button to select ‘Metronome'.
e) Press the [NEXT] button.

f) Press the [+] button to select ‘ON'.
g) Press the [EXIT] button. At this point the user may try out the
Voice or Drum Kit before recording.
15) Press the black [SYNC START] button (red LED illuminates). The
Metronome will start to tick (if activated in step 14). Begin playing the
Style pattern at any time. Recording will begin on the first note.
16) Press the [START/STOP] button when finished.
17) Proceed to one of the optional steps below, steps 18, 19,or 20.
18) Save the User Style:
TIP: Save often, as the Style develops to each satisfactory level.
a) Press the [BACK] button 4 times. The screen displays ‘OK to
store?’.
b) Press the [+] button.
c) If necessary, press the [+] or [-] button to select a User Style
location, 161 - 163.
d) Press the [NEXT] button.
e) Press the [+] button to confirm the Save operation.
NOTE: If any changes are made to the Style at this point, they can
be undone because the previous version of the Style has been
saved to memory.
f) Press the [EXIT] button to exit Record mode, or press the
[NEXT] button and proceed to step 6, to continue recording.
19) To Undo changes to the User Style:
NOTE: ‘Undo’ will clear all changes since the last Save was done.
a) Press the [BACK] button 4 times. The screen will display ‘OK to
store?’.
b) Press the [-] button. The screen will display the current Style.
c) Press the [NEXT] button.

d) Press the [EXIT] button to exit Record mode, or proceed to step
6 to continue recording.
20) To Quantize a recorded Track of the User Style:
NOTE: Quantizing aligns the timing of the notes. It can, in many cases,
correct timing mistakes.
a) Press the [BACK] button 3 times.
b) Press the [+] or [-] button to select ‘Edit'.
c) Press the [NEXT] button.
d) Press the [+] or [-] button to select ‘Quantize'.
e) Press the [NEXT] button.
f) Press the [+] or [-] button to select one of the Style sections,
‘MAIN A/B/C/D, FILL IN A/B/C/D, SMPL ENDING, or ENDING’.
g) Press the [NEXT] button.
h) Press the [+] or [-] button to select one of the Accompaniment
Tracks, ‘RHYTHM MAIN, RHYTHM SUB, BASS, CHORD 1,
CHORD 2, PAD, PHRASE 1, or PHRASE 2.
i) Press the [NEXT] button.
j) Press the [+] or [-] button to select a Quantize value, '1/4', '1/6',
'1/8', '1/12', '1/16', '1/24' or '1/32'.
TIP: Select a value that is equal to the smallest increment of time in
the pattern. If the smallest increment is a 16th note, then quantize
using the value '1/16'.
k) Press the [NEXT] button. The screen will display ‘OK to
quantize?'.
l) Press the [-] button to cancel, or press the [+] button to confirm
the Quantize operation. The screen will display 'Completed'.
m) Press the [BACK] button 4 times.
n) Press the [+] or [-] button to select ‘Record'.

o) Press the [NEXT] 3 times.
p) Press the [START/STOP] button to hear the changes of the
Quantize operation.
1] If the changes are acceptable proceed to step 18.
2] If the changes are not acceptable proceed to step 19.
Reference: Owner's Manual, p. 110-121

III. Loading Styles
1) Insert the floppy disk into the disk drive.
2) Press the [LOAD] button.
3) Select the file to be loaded, using the Data Dial, or [+/YES] and [-/NO]
buttons.
4) Press the [NEXT] button to display the ‘LOAD TO’ screen.
5) Select the destination, using the Data Dial, or [+/YES] and [-/NO]
buttons.
6) Press the [NEXT] button to display the ‘EXECUTE’ screen.
7) Press the [+/YES] button to execute the Load operation, or press the [-
/NO]
button to abort the Load operation.
Once the Style has been loaded, locate the Style:
1) Press the [EXIT] button to bring up the main screen.
2) Press the Style button.
3) Using the [-/NO] button, scroll to the User Style location containing the
Style
that was previously loaded.
4) Once the Style appears in the display it can be played. Make sure that
the
[ACMP ON/OFF] button is ON (red LED illuminated).

IV. Multi Track Recording
The PSR640/740 has the ability to do Multi Track recording. The following
procedure explains how to record the Auto Accompaniment, as well as individual
Tracks.
Recording the Auto Accompaniment into a Song:
1) Insert a formatted floppy disk.
2) Turn ON the [RECORD] button (red LED illuminates).
3) Use the DATA DIAL or [-/NO] and [+YES] buttons to select 'Song'.
4) Press the [NEXT] button.
5) Use the DATA DIAL or [-/NO] and [+YES] buttons to select 'New Song'.
6) Press the [NEXT] button.
7) Use the DATA DIAL or [-/NO] and [+YES] buttons to select
‘MULTITRACK recording.
8) Press the [NEXT] button 3 times to display the ‘PART’ page.
9) Press the [9] button under the screen to display the Parts that Tracks 9 –
16 will record from. These settings already default to the 8 different Parts
used by the Auto Accompaniment (but can be changed if desired).
10) Press the [NEXT] button to display the Song Record ‘MODE’ page, where
Tracks can be selected for recording.
11) Press the [9] button under the screen to select Track 9.
12) Use the DATA DIAL or [-/NO] and [+YES] buttons to select ‘REC’ for the
Track.
13) Repeat steps 10 – 11 using the [10] – [16] Track buttons, to set the
remaining Auto Accompaniment Tracks to ‘REC’.
14) Press the [NEXT] button.
15) Press the [STYLE] button.

16) Use the DATA DIAL, [-/NO] and [+YES] buttons, or Numeric Keypad to
select an Auto Accompaniment Style.
17) Press one of the [MAIN A] – [MAIN D] buttons to select the first section
that will play (red LED illuminates).
18) If an Introduction to the Song is desired, press the [INTRO] button (red
LED illuminates).
19) Press the [EXIT] button to return to Record mode.
20) Press the [NEXT] button.
21) To start recording the Auto Accompaniment, press the [START/STOP]
button or play a chord in the Auto Accompaniment section of the
keyboard.
22) To stop recording the Auto Accompaniment, press either the
[START/STOP] button for an immediate stop, or the [ENDING] button for
an appropriate ending.
23) The screen will display ‘OK to save the data?’. Press the [+/YES] button to
save the recording to the floppy disk, or press the [-/NO] button to record
the Auto Accompaniment over again.
Recording Individual Instrument Tracks:
1) Select the ‘PART’ page to choose the Parts that Tracks 1 – 8 will record
from:
a) If the Accompaniment Parts for the Song have already been recorded
using the steps above, press the [BACK] button to display the ‘PART’
page.
b) If each Track of the Song is to be recorded ‘from scratch’ without any
Auto Accompaniment, perform steps 1 – 8 in the section above.
2) Select Track 1 (for example) by pressing the [1] button under the screen.
3) If recording from the ‘Voice R1’ section of the keyboard (normally used for
individual Parts), use the DATA DIAL or [-/NO] and [+YES] buttons to
select ‘RIGHT1’ in the screen.
4) Press the [NEXT] button to display the Song Record ‘MODE’ page, where
Tracks can be selected for recording.
5) Press the [1] button under the screen to select Track 1.

6) Use the DATA DIAL or [-/NO] and [+YES] buttons to select ‘REC’ for the
Track.
7) Press the [NEXT] button.
8) Press the silver [VOICE R1] button above the Data Dial.
9) Use the DATA DIAL, [-/NO] and [+YES] buttons, or Numeric Keypad to
select a Voice.
10) Press the [EXIT] button to return to Record mode.
11) Press the [NEXT] button.
12) To start recording the Voice, press the [START/STOP] button or play a
key in the Voice R1 section of the keyboard.
13) To stop recording the Voice, press the [START/STOP] button.
14) The screen will display ‘OK to save the data?’. Press the [+/YES] button to
save the recording to the floppy disk, or press the [-/NO] button to record
the Voice over again.
15) To record subsequent Tracks, press the [BACK] button, then repeat steps
2 – 14 for the desired Tracks.
Owner’s Manual, p. 92-105

V. Playing Songs Continuously
Songs on disk can be played back in five ways; SINGLE, SINGLE REPEAT, ALL,
ALL REPEAT, and RANDOM. To have Songs play continuously, select 'ALL
REPEAT' from the 'Play Mode' screen.
1) Insert the desired Song disk into the Floppy Disk Drive.
2) Press the [SONG] button.
3) Use the [BACK] and [NEXT] buttons to display the 'Song UTILITY' page.
4) Turn the Data Dial to select 'Play Mode' in the screen.
5) Press the [NEXT] button.
6) Turn the Data Dial to select 'ALL REPEAT' in the screen.
7) Press the [EXIT] button to return to the main screen.
8) Press the [START/STOP] button to start the first Song. All Songs on the
disk will now be played continuously.
Owner's Manual, p. 76-77

VI. Quick Recording
1) Insert a formatted floppy disk.
2) Press the [RECORD] button.
3) Turn the (DATA) knob or press the [-/NO] or [+/YES] buttons to choose
‘Song'.
4) Press the [NEXT] button.
5) Turn the (DATA) knob or press the [-/NO] or [+/YES] buttons to choose
New Song’.
6) Press the [NEXT] button.
7) Turn the (DATA) knob or press the [-/NO] or [+/YES] buttons to choose
‘Quick' recording.
8) Press the [NEXT] button.
9) Turn the (DATA) knob or press the [-/NO] or [+/YES] buttons to choose
‘Melody+ACMP' .
10) Press the [NEXT] button.
11) Press the [VOICE R1] button to the right of the display.
12) Type in the number of the Voice or turn the (DATA) knob to choose the
desired Voice.
13) Press the [STYLE] button to the right of the display.
14) Type in the number of the Style or turn the (DATA) knob to choose the
desired Style.
15) Press the [EXIT] button.
16) Play the keyboard to start recording.
17) Press the [START/STOP] or [ENDING] button when finished recording.
The screen will display 'OK to save the data?'.
18) Press the [+/YES] button to save the recording.

VII. Recording to PSR640/740 Sequencer from External MIDI
Source
The on-board sequencer of the PSR640/740 can be used to record MIDI data
from external sources, such as MIDI bass pedals, keyboards and hardware or
computer-based sequencers. This is done by assigning the desired MIDI Receive
Channels to 'Keyboard' mode.
1) Press the [FUNCTION] button.
2) Turn the DIAL to select 'F5 MIDI' in the screen.
3) Press the [NEXT] button to the left of the screen.
4) Turn the DIAL to select 'Receive Channel'.
5) Press the [NEXT] button to display the MIDI Receive Channels in the
screen.
6) Press any of the 16 buttons under the screen to select a desired MIDI
Channel.
7) Turn the DIAL to select 'KEYBOARD' for that Channel.
Any MIDI Channels with 'KEYBOARD' selected will receive incoming MIDI data
from an external source, which can be recorded onto a corresponding Track in
the PSR640/740 'Song Record' section.
Owner's Manual, p. 131

VIII. Recording Tempo Changes
Tempo changes can be recorded throughout a Song by changing the Tempo and
recording to a blank Track.
1) With a Song in Record mode, use the [BACK] and [NEXT] buttons to
display the 'RECORD MODE' screen.
2) Turn the Data Dial to select ‘Multi Track’.
3) Press the [NEXT] button four times, to display the ‘MODE’ screen.
4) Select an empty Track by pressing one of the 16 buttons under the
screen.
5) Turn the Data Dial to the right, to select 'REC' next to the selected Track.
6) Press the [NEXT] button once to display the 'Recording>' screen.
7) Press the [START/STOP] button to start the Song playing.
8) Press the [TEMPO/TAP] button.
9) While listening to the Song, turn the Data Dial to select a desired Tempo
in the screen.
10) Press the [EXIT] button.
11) Press the [NEXT] button once to display the ‘RECORDING’ screen.
12) Press the red [START/STOP] button to start the Song playing. The
Tempo last selected will be recorded.
13) To change Tempo as the Song is playing, press the [TEMPO/TAP] button
and turn the Data Dial.
14) When all desired Tempo changes have been made, press the
[START/STOP] button to stop the Song.
15) Press the [+/YES] button to save the Song to the floppy disk.
Owner’s Manual, p. 96-97

IX. Registration Memory
Registration Memory allows the user to save panel settings as a 'snapshot' to a
Registration Memory location, and then instantly recall the settings by pressing a
single button.
Registration Memory provides up to 128 complete setups (32 Registration Banks
with 4 setups each), which can be recalled instantly during a performance. Each
of the 32 Registration Banks can be named if necessary.
Saving a Registration:
1) Make the desired settings.
2) Press the [FUNCTION] button.
3) Turn the Data Dial to select 'F2 Regist Memory' in the screen.
4) Press the [NEXT] button.
5) Turn the Data Dial to select a Registration Bank.
6) Press the [NEXT] button.
7) Use the keys of the PSR640/740 to name the Registration Bank, if
necessary.
8) Press the [EXIT] button.
9) Press the round button in the 'REGISTRATION MEMORY' section to
make the green LED illuminate.
10) While holding the [MEMORY] button, press one of the 'REGISTRATION
MEMORY' buttons [1] through [4]. The current settings are now stored to
that button (in the selected Bank).
Recalling a Registration:
1) Press the [FUNCTION] button.
2) Turn the Data Dial to select 'F2 Regist Memory' in the screen.
3) Press the [NEXT] button.

4) Turn the Data Dial to select a Registration Bank.
5) Press the [EXIT] button.
6) Press the round button in the 'REGISTRATION MEMORY' section
to make the green LED illuminate.
7) Press the desired gray 'REGISTRATION MEMORY' button [1] through [4]
to get the Registration to be used.
Owner's Manual, p. 62-64

X. Tracks 2 and 3 Won’t Record
Many Yamaha Portable Keyboard models have multiple keyboard Parts such as
'Right 1', 'Right 2' and 'Left'. These are used for Voice splits and layers when
playing live or using 'Quick Record'. However, when using the 'Multi Track’
recording feature to record 'Track by Track', it is easier to use the 'Right 1' Part
for each Track, selecting a different Voice each time.
The default setting of the Recorder Tracks is set up for using 'Quick Record'
mode; Track 2 is assigned to the 'Right 2' Part of the keyboard, and Track 3 is
assigned to the 'Left' Part of the keyboard. Because of this, when using the 'Right
1' Part to record each Track in "Multi Track’ record mode, Tracks 2 and 3 will not
record. To avoid this, assign both Tracks 2 and 3 to the 'Right 1' Part.
NOTE: The Track 9 - 16 default assignments are to the different Parts of the
Auto Accompaniment section (Bass, Rhythm, etc.), but each one of these Track
assignments can also be changed to 'Right 1' if desired.
When in ‘Multi Track’ recording mode, assign Tracks 2 and 3 to the 'Right 1'
Part of the keyboard:
1) Press the [RECORD] button.
2) Turn the Dial to select ‘Song' in the screen.
3) Press the [NEXT] button.
4) Dial 'New Song'.
5) Press the [NEXT] button.
6) Turn the Dial to select ‘Multi Track' in the screen.
7) Press the [NEXT] button three times.
8) Press the [2] button under the screen to select Track 2.
9) Turn the Dial to select 'RIGHT1' in the screen.
10) Press the [3] button under the screen to select Track 3.
11) Turn the Dial to select 'RIGHT1' in the screen.
Owner's Manual, p.96-97

XI. Using Vocal Harmony on a PSR740
PSR740 Vocal Harmonies can be generated from the original voice of a singer,
by playing notes on the keyboard, or from a Track of a Song. This effect is used
“live,” and does not record the actual sound of the singer’s voice.
Setup:
1) Turn ON the keyboard.
2) Make sure that the [ACMP ON/OFF] and Vocal Harmony [ON/OFF] LEDs
are both ON.
3) Plug a 250 Ohm Dynamic Microphone into the ‘MIC/LINE IN’ jack.
(See diagram below.)
4) Set the ‘MIC/LINE’ switch (in the upper left corner) to ‘MIC’.
5) Adjust the ‘INPUT VOLUME’ knob (next to the ‘MIC/LINE’ switch) while
singing into the microphone. The red ‘OVER’ LED will remain light if the
signal level is too loud. (A few blinks once and awhile is OK though.)
Disabling/Enabling Auto Accompaniment While Using Vocal Harmony:
Vocal Harmony can be used with or without the Auto Accompaniment playing.
To disable Auto Accompaniment, follow these steps:
1) Press the [ACMP/SONG VOLUME] button (above the DATA DIAL). The
screen will display the current Auto Accompaniment Volume level.
2) To DISABLE Auto Accompaniment, turn the DATA DIAL to select Acmp
Volume ‘0’ in the screen.
3) To ENABLE Auto Accompaniment, turn the DATA DIAL to select Acmp
Volume ‘15’ (approximately) in the screen.

Making Vocal Harmony Follow Chords Played on the Keyboard:
Vocal Harmony effects can be controlled by playing chords on the keyboard (and
singing into a microphone), but the type of effect chosen depends on which
section of the keyboard is being played. Effects using the 'Chordal' Harmony
mode require chords to be played in the Auto Accompaniment section of the
keyboard. Effects using the 'Vocoder' Harmony mode require chords to be played
in either the 'VOICE R1' or 'VOICE R2' section of the keyboard (when 'UPPER' is
selected for the HARMONY PART), or the 'VOICE L' or 'Auto Accompaniment'
section of the keyboard (when 'LOWER' is selected for the HARMONY PART).
NOTE: For the most natural sounding Harmonies, set the GENDER TYPE to
'OFF'. The 'MALE' setting will lower the pitch of the singer's original voice, and
the 'FEMALE' setting will raise the pitch of the singer's original voice.
Vocal Harmony Effect Settings:
1) Press the [VOCAL HARMONY] button.
2) Select a Vocal Harmony TYPE. The Harmony mode (Chordal or Vocoder)
used by the selected Type is displayed on the left side of the screen.
3) Press the [NEXT] button.
4) Select the GENDER TYPE ('OFF' for no Gender change).
5) Press the [NEXT] button three times.
6) Select the HARMONY PART depending on which section of the keyboard
will be triggering the Vocal Harmony. (See explanation above.)
7) Press the [NEXT] button three times.
8) Select 'OFF' for the SONG TRACK.
Vocal Harmony Mixer Settings:
1) Turn ON the [MIXER] button (red LED illuminates).
2) Press the 'VOCAL HARMONY' [ON/OFF] button to adjust the HARMONY
volume.
3) Press the [TALK] button to adjust the MIC volume.
4) Turn OFF the [MIXER] button (red LED turns OFF).