Yamaha QY10 User manual

YAMAHA
MUSIC SEQUENCER
OPERATION MANUAL

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installed and used according to the instructions found in the users manual, may cause interference
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which can be determined by turning the unit "OFF" and "ON", please try to eliminate the problem by
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Relocate either this product or the device that is being affected by the interference.
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TUTORIAL SECTION

Congratulations!
You are the proud owner of aYamaha QY10 Music Sequencer! In apackage no larger
than avideo cassette, your QY10 has everything you need to program complete compositions
or accompaniments: 8-track sequencer, 28-note polyphonic/30-voice tone generator, and
26-voice rhythm machine. You can record each track in real time or note-by-note, either
using the micro-keyboard on the QY10 panel or an external MIDI instrument. The QY10
even provides arange of preset backing "patterns" in avariety of styles including rhythm,
bass, and two chord parts that you can use as abasis for your compositions. You can use
the patterns in whole or in part ... or program new ones of your own. Once you've recorded
the basic parts, the QY10 gives you arange of important editing functions so you can
reshape and refine your work until it sounds exactly the way you want it to.
In order to take full advantage of the many features and powerful capabilities of your
QY10, we urge you read through the manual carefully —the Tutorials section first, then
the Reference section —while trying out the features described. Also be sure to keep the
manuals in asafe place for later reference.

MAIN FEATURES
•8- song memory with 8sequencer tracks each: 4for melody and chord lines; 4for
backing including chords, bass, and rhythm.
•30 PCM voices and 26 drum instruments provide adiverse and colorful "palette" of
sound.
•32-note sequencer polyphony; 28-note tone-generator polyphony.
•Enter notes and chords via the QY10 "micro-keyboard," or via afull-size external
instrument connected to the MIDI interface.
•Real-time and step-write programming capability.
•Exclusive chord entry system makes programming even complex chords quick and
easy.
•76 preset patterns provide aconvenient foundation for backing tracks, while 24 memory
locations can be programmed with your own, totally original patterns.
•MIDI bulk dump capability lets you transfer QY10 sequence data to compatible
sequencers and instruments.
•Versatile editing functions.

CONTENTS
TUTORIALS
ABOUT THE MANUAL 7
PRECAUTIONS 8
POWER SUPPLY 10
THE CONTROLS &CONNECTORS 12
GETTING STARTED 18
Play the Demo 18
Listen to the Preset Patterns 20
Try Out the Voices 23
CREATING AN ACCOMPANIMENT 26
Track Muting 31
RECORDING THE SEQUENCER TRACKS 32
OTHER IMPORTANT FACTS 34
Important Facts About the Backing Tracks 34
Creating Original Patterns 34
Chords and Automatic Harmonization 36
How Much Free Memory Do You Have? 37
Driving External Tone Generators 38
Conclusion 38

REFERENCE
SONG MODE 41 *
SONG EDIT 59 *
SONG JOBS 69*
VOICE MODE 83 *
UTILITY MODE 89*
PATTERN MODE 97 *
PATTERN EDIT 105 *
PATTERN JOBS 109 *
ERROR MESSAGES 120
SPECIFICATIONS 124
INDEX 127
*Local tables of contents provided on these pages.

ABOUT THE MANUAL
The QY10 manual is divided into two sections: "Tuto-
^ils" (this section), and "Reference."
The "Tutorials" Section
This is the section you should start with. The "Tutori-
als" section provides step-by-instructions covering afew of
the most basic QY10 operations, and is designed to get you
familiar with the QY10 in the shortest possible time.
The Tutorials section will teach you how to;
*Play back the demonstration songs.
*Select the pattern mode and listen to the preset
patterns.
*Select the voice mode and try out the voices.
*Program asimple accompaniment.
*Add alead line to the accompaniment.
*Create asimple backing pattern.
^Go through the Tutorials section first ,and actually try
out the procedures on your QY10.
The "Reference" Section (pages 41 through 117)
The Reference section is the part of the manual you'll
want to refer to after you gain initial familiarity with the
QY10 —i.e. after you've carefully gone through the Tuto-
rials. The Reference section provides full details of the
QYlO's many functions and features. Unlike the Tutorials
section which is designed to be read through from beginning
to end, the Reference section allows you to directly reference
information on individual functions. So if you're recording
asequence and you want to know how to "quantize" a
track, the Reference section is where you'll find the an-
swer.

PRECATIONS (PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE PROCEEDING!!)
1. AVOID EXCESSIVE HEAT, HUMIDITY, DUST
AND VIBRATION
Keep the unit away from locations where it is likely to
be exposed to high temperatures or humidity —such as
near radiators, stoves, etc. Also avoid locations which are
subject to excessive dust accumulation or vibration which
could cause mechanical damage.
2. AVOID PHYSICAL SHOCKS
Strong physical shocks to the unit can cause damage.
Handle it with care.
3. DO NOT OPEN THE CASE OR ATTEMPT
REPAIRS OR MODIFICATIONS YOURSELF
This product contains no user-serviceable parts. Refer
all maintenance to qualified Yamaha service personnel. Opening
the case and/or tampering with the internal circuitry will
void the warranty.
4. MAKE SURE POWER IS OFF BEFORE MAK-
ING OR REMOVING CONNECTIONS
Always turn the power OFF prior to connecting or
disconnecting cables.
5. HANDLE CABLES CAREFULLY
Always plug and unplug cables by gripping the connectof
not the cord.
6. CLEAN WITH ASOFT DRY CLOTH
Never use solvents such as benzine or thinner to clean
the unit. Wipe clean with asoft, dry cloth.
7. ALWAYS USE THE CORRECT POWER SUPPLY
The QY10 should only be powered using the specified
batteries or Yamaha AC Adapter. The use of other batteries
or adapters can cause serious damage to the QY10.
8. ELECTRICAL INTERFERENCE
Since the QY10 contains digital circuitry, it may cause
interference and noise if placed too close to TV sets, radios
or similar equipment. If such aproblem does occur, move
the QY10 further away from the affected equipment.
9. MIDI CABLES
When connecting to QY10 to MIDI equipment, be sure
to use high-quality cables made especially for MIDI data
transmission. Also avoid cables longer than about 15 meters,
8

as longer cables can pick up electrical noise that can causes
data errors.
10. MEMORY BACKUP
The QY10 contains aspecial long-life battery that re-
^fns the contents of its internal RAM memory even when
mpower is turned OFF. The backup battery should last for
approximately 5years. When the backup battery finally
fails the contents of the QY10 memory will be lost. When
this happens, have the backup battery replaced by qualified
Yamaha service personnel. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO REPLACE
THE BACKUP BATTERY YOURSELF!
IMPORTANT!: We recommend that you use the QY10
MIDI Bulk Dump function to transfer important data to
aMIDI data recorder or other storage device for safe
long-term storage. Yamaha cannot be held responsible
for data loss caused bv battery failure or improper operation
of the OY 10.

POWER SUPPLY
Your QY10 Music Sequencer will run either from bat-
teries or an AC adapter —both sold separately. Follow the
instructions below according to the power source you intend
to use.
•Using Batteries
Six 1.5V AA size (SUM-3 or R6P) or equivalent alka-
line batteries (sold separately) must first be installed in the
battery compartment.
2. Insert the six batteries, being careful to follow the polarity^
markings inside the compartment. i
3. Replace the compartment cover, making sure that it
locks firmly in place.
When to Replace the Batteries
When the batteries run down and are no longer able to
operate the QY10, the following display will appear:
1. Open the battery compartment cover —located on the
instrument's bottom panel —by sliding it in the direc-
tion of the arrow,
©
©©
I- {-- CiH .:-.r- i„j i.-. i.i I
When this display appears, replace the batteries with a
complete set of six new batteries. NEVER mix old and new
batteries!
To prevent possible damage due to battery leakage,
remove the batteries from the instrument if it is not to be
used for an extended period of time. *~
x^
10

•Using An Optional Power Adapter
Plug the DC output cable from an optional Yamaha
PA-IB or PA-3 AC Adapter into the DC IN 12V 300mA
jack on the rear panel, then plug the adapter into aconven-
^§nt wall AC power socket.
*Do not attempt to use an AC adapter other than the
Yamaha PA- IB or PA-3 to power the QY10. The use of an
incompatible adapter may cause irreparable damage to the
QY10, and might pose aserious shock hazard!
Be sure to unplug the AC adapter from the AC mains
socket when the QY10 is not in use.
*
11

THE CONTROLS &CONNECTORS
SIDE PANELS /REAR PANEL
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MUSIC SEQUENCER
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POWER Switch
Slide to the ON position to turn the power on. Always
turn the POWER switch OFF when the QY10 is not in use
to prevent unnecessary wear on the batteries.
^DC IN 12V 300mA Connector
The DC output cable from an optional Yamaha PA- IB
or PA- 3AC Adapter can be connected here to power the
QY10 when the batteries are depleted, or simply to reduce
wear on the batteries when an AC outlet is handy. When the
AC Adapter is used the batteries are automatically discon-
nected.
[Details on page 11]
©MIDI IN and OUT Connectors
In addition to allowing input from an external MIDI
keyboard or other MIDI instrument via the MIDI IN con-
nector (Reference, page 49), the QY10 outputs all sequence
playback in real time via the MIDI OUT connector so that
external tone generators and rhythm machines can be driven
if required. The QY10 also allows sequence data to be
"bulk dumped" to other MIDI sequencers or keyboards
with built-in sequencer functions, as well as to asecond
<W0 (Reference, page 93). You can, for example, do the
tuj/c programming for acomposition on the portable QY10,
then dump the data to your computer before finishing it off.
You can also dump the data to aMIDI data recorder for
long-term high-capacity storage.
LINE OUT Connector
This stereo mini-jack delivers the audio output of the
QY10 at line level for direct connection to astereo sound
system, mixing console, or similar equipment.
QPHONES Jack
Just about any pair of stereo headphones with astereo
mini-plug can be plugged in here for easy, convenient
monitoring anywhere, anytime.
©VOLUME Control
The VOLUME control adjusts the volume of the sound
delivered via the PHONES and LINE OUT jacks.
13

TOP PANEL ©
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14

Liquid Crystal Display
This 16-character LCD panel displays all necessary
information when playing or programming the QY10.
[MENU] Key &Function Keys
^The [MENU] key can be used in most situations to call
amenu of functions related to the current mode or function
being performed. The four small function buttons immedi-
ately below the LCD panel are then used to select the
desired item from the displayed menu.
@[SONG] and [PATT] Keys
These keys select the QYlO's song and pattern modes,
respectively. The song mode is the QYlO's main operating
mode, allowing recording, editing, and playback of any of
its 8possible songs. The pattern mode allows recording and
editing of backing patterns to be used in songs.
[EXIT] Key
As its name implies, the [EXIT] key allows you to exit
from just about any function and return to the previous
mode or display.
%CURSOR [M] and [] Keys
These move the underline cursor around on the display,
so you can select specific functions or parameters for pro-
gramming. If an arrow (->) appears at either end of the dis-
play, it mean that another display "page" can be accessed
by moving the cursor beyond the end of the current display
in the direction indicated by the arrow.
©[-] and [+] Keys
These are the QYlO's decrement and increment keys,
allowing step-wise or continuous decrementing or incrementing
of the value of the the selected parameter. Press either key
briefly to decrement or increment the value by one, or hold
either key for continuous decrementing or incrementing in
the specified direction. For parameters that have values in
the tens or hundreds, it is possible to increment or decrement
by tens by pressing the [SHIFT] key and then the [+] or [-]
key.
The [-] and [+] keys also function as [NO] and [YES]
keys when the QY10 requests confirmation of an operation.
OSequencer Keys —[•], [M], [<4]9[], [], and []
The sequencer keys are similar to the transport controls
on atape recorder, providing stop, playback, record, "fast
wind," and return-to-top functions (Reference, page 42).
[•] Record standby.
[h] Return to top of song (measure 1).
[*«] ...Skip backward. Press briefly to skip one
measure, or hold for continuous scrolling.
[] Stop.
15

[] Play from current measure.
[>] ...Skip forward. Press briefly to skip one meas-
ure, or hold for continuous scrolling.
©Numeric/Chord Keys
These keys have three separate functions, depending
on the current operation.
When entering numeric parameters such as atempo or
pattern number, they usually act as anumeric keypad (refer
to the numbers at the upper left corner of each key). In this
case the newly entered number will flash on the display,
and will be actually entered only when the [ENTER] key is
pressed.
In the step record mode these same keys allow direct
entry of arange of important musical elements including
rests, dynamics, and phrasing (Reference, page 46 ... 48).
The two symbols directly above each key indicate the element
that can be entered by simply pressing the key (left symbol)
and by pressing the key after pressing the [SHIFT] key
(right symbol).
When entering chords these 10 keys provide easy ac-
cess to 20 different chord types (Reference, page 51). If
you want aB-flat minor seventh chord, for example, just
press the B-flat key on the micro-keyboard (see below) and
then the [m7/m9] key. The left chord type on each key is
entered simply by pressing the key, and the right chord type
is entered by first pressing the [SHIFT] key (or by pressing
the key twice).
16
©[ENTER] Key
After you enter anew parameter value, chord, note, or
other musical element, the [ENTER] key will normally
have to be pressed to actually enter the new value.
<B> [SHIFT] Key
As already mentioned in "© Numeric/Chord Keys," above,
the QY10 keys often provide access to two different functions.
In these cases the second function can be accessed by first
pressing the [SHIFT] key (an "S" will appear at the left of
the display) and then the appropriate function key (the "S" will
then disappear).
<D Micro-keyboard and [A] and [] Keys
If you're on the road or away from it all, all you need is
the QY10 and apair of headphones. The micro-keyboard
and transpose keys let you record and edit sequences with-
out any other equipment. The micro-keyboard corresponds
to aone-octave span of aconventional keyboard (note the
white and black keys), and the [A] and [] transpose keys
shift the pitch of the micro-keyboard up or down in semi-
tone increments. The white keys can also be used for track
selection when the track display is selected (Reference,
page 43) —note the track numbers abacking track nar"^ -
(CI, C2, BASS, RHYTHM) below the white keys.
If you prefer to use afull-size keyboard or other MIDI
instrument, just plug into the QY10 MIDI interface and
play.

©[TRACK/TRANS] Key
This key accesses the QY10 track display including
track selection and track mute functions (Reference, page
43), as well as the main transpose function (Reference,
Daee 44). The track display and transpose displays are se-
^;ed alternately each time the [TRACK/TRANS] key is
pressed. Press the [EXIT] key to return to the previous
display.
17

GETTING STARTED
In this section we'll look at afew of the most basic 3.
QY10 operations to give you an idea of how it sounds, and
how some of the controls operate.
Play the Demo
The QY10 is programmed with three demonstration
songs that will give you an idea of its vast creative poten-
tial. Here's how you can play and listen to the demonstration
songs.
1. Plug apair of stereo headphones into the QY10 PHONES 4.
jack —apair of "portable headphone stereo" type
headphones will do nicely —and turn the POWER
switch ON.
2. If the song mode display is not showing (see below),
press the [SONG] key to select it (Reference, page 42).
TiZa 4. bi
If it's not already there, use the CURSOR [] keyjo
move the underline cursor to the rightmost pararm
on the screen (the song number, "SI" through "S8"),
then press and hold the [+] key until "DM" appears
(you could also press the [9] key and then the [ENTER]
key).
is DEMO ;oNGi m
Press the sequencer [] to start playback, and adjust
the VOLUME control for the most comfortable listen-
ing level.
1'DEMO -, :~i Ki p1DM
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_SONG3DM
18