Yamaha PortaSound PSS-780 User manual

YAMAHA
SarlaScuna.
mH SS- 780
/MUSIC.STIITION
OPERATING MANUAL English Version

INTRODUCTION
Congratulations
on
your
purchase
of
the
Yamaha
PortaSound
PSS-780!
You
now
own
one
of
the
most
sophisticated
portable
electronic
keyboards
available.
Controlled
by
an
advanced
microcomputer,
the
PortaSound
PSS-780
offers
far
more
musical
enjoyment
and
versatility
than
any
other
instrument
in
its
class.
In
fact,
it
gives
you
the
fun
and
functions
of
a
whole
host
of
digital
music
machines,
namely
...
e
An
electronic
keyboard
offering
100
high-quality
preset
voices
using
the
famous
Yamaha
FM
sound
source.
@
A
digital
synthesizer
that
lets
you
alter
any
of
the
preset
voices
to
taste
and
save
up
to
five
of
these
edited
versions.
@
A
versatile
rhythm
machine
using
32
percussion
instru-
ments,
PCM
recorded
for
breath-taking
realism.
With
100
basic
rhythm
patterns
featuring
three
intros/fill-ins
and
one
ending
each,
you
have
an
amazing
400
rhythm
vari-
ations
at
your
disposal.
What's
more,
you
can
even
play
percussion
by
hand
like
a
drummer
and
record
your
own
onginal
Custom
Drummer
pattern.
@
Asophisticated
automatic
accompaniment
system
giving
you
Single
Finger
Chords,
automatic
bass,
chords
and
orchestra,
automatic
Duet
and
orchestration
capabilities.
@
A
simple
but
very
useful
sequencer
offering
unique
mu-
sical
possibilities:
You
can
digitally
record
up
to
five
melodies
and
chord
progressions
each
and
play
them
back
any
time
at
the
touch
of
a
button.
@
A
highly
advanced
MIDI
controller
and
multi-timbral
MIDI
sound
source.
Used
as
a
controller,
the
PortaSound
can
play
a
number
of
external
MIDI
instruments
simul-
taneously
on
various
channels.
As
a
sound
source,
it
will
perform
several
voices
as
well
as
percussion
independently
at
the
same
time.
Read
this
manual
carefully
while
playing
your
new
Porta-
Sound,
and
you
will
be
able
to
make
full
use
of
its
many
fantastic
features
in
no
time.
ABOUT
THIS
MANUAL
One
look
at
your
new
PortaSound
PSS-780
tells
you:
this
is
an
advanced
instrument
with
a
great
variety
of
func-
tions.
Though
this
is
true,
don’t
let
the
large
number
of
buttons
fool
you
—
the
PSS-780
is
actually
very
easy
to
use.
As
you
can
see
from
the
INDEX
ILLUSTRATION
on
p.6,
the
controls
are
all
organized
in
easy-to-understand
functional
groups.
Once
you
get
to
know
them,
you
will
have
no
trouble
operating
your
PortaSound,
making
it
do
exactly
what
you
want
it
to,
To
get
acquainted
with
your
new
keyboard
and
have
fun
with
it
from
the
start,
please
read
PART
I
first.
You
can
then
use
the
INDEX
ILLUSTRATION
to
look
up
information
on
buttons
or
functional
groups
you
are
especially
interested
in
right
away.
Otherwise,
continue
with
PART
II.
This
manual
is
structured
into
three
main
parts.
The
shortest
and
simplest
one,
PART
|
—
GETTING
TO
KNOW
THE
PSS-780,
gives
you
all
the
information
you
need
to
play
your
new
instrument,
making
use
of
its
most
basic
features.
It
also
shows
you
how
you
can
listen
to
the
pre-programmed
DE-
MONSTRATION
song.
The
functions
mentioned
shortly
in
the
QUICK
GUIDE
illus-
tration
of
PART
I
are
explained
in
greater
detail
in
PART
II.
Particularly
if
you
already
have
some
experience
with
digital
keyboards,
the
QUICK
GUIDE
will
enable
you
to
use
these
functions
immediately.
On
the
other
hand,
if
you
are
a
total
newcomer,
reading
the
next
part
will
make
operations
clearer
to
you.
PART
I]
—
BASIC
FEATURES
contains
a
systematic
overall
introduction
of
WHAT
YOUR
PortaSound
CAN
DO,
followed
by
detailed
explanations
of
most
PortaSound
functions.
It
tells
you
all
about
voice
and
style
selection,
effects,
Hand
Per-
cussion,
the
Auto
Accompaniment
features
and
the
Song
Memory.
Each
section
starts
out
with
a
short
Overview
giving
you
a
general
idea
of
the
respective
functions.
You
can
then
try
them
out
right
away
by
following
the
steps
described
under
Operation.
Note
that
in
the
text,
bold
print
indicates
basic
Operational
steps,
while
the
regular
print
below
it
gives
all
the
necessary
explanations.
Therefore,
you
can
simply
follow
the
instructions
in
bold
print
when
you
want
to
get
to
know
a
feature,
and
read
the
details
and
Points
to
Remember
later.
Finally,
PART
HI
shows
you
how
to
use
those
ADVANCED
FEATURES
that
require
a
bit
of
specialized
know-how
—
the
Digital
Synthesizer
section
to
create
your
own
FM
sounds,
and
the
MIDI
functions
for
communication
with
other
MIDI
instruments,
sequencers
and
computers.

CONTENTS
PRECAUTIONS—TAKING
CARE
OF
YOUR
PORTASOUND
..........-.00000+
1
GONTROL
PANELS
pcacinscutcncndaanstaontnreanaaiiauaneess
2
PART I
QUICK GUIDE
INDEX
ILLUSTRATION
0...
ccc
ccc
ceeesececneseeeneereseeessceeenessasesersnteeetasenerssnaransees
6
PART
11
BASIC
FEATURES...
eesccsssssnessessssnneeeeessensnnmmeesseennnees
7
WHAT
YOUR
PortaSound
CAN
DO...
ccc
ene
tieeeettaetnersettansensneeents
7
Voices,
Rhythm
and
Auto
ACCOMPANIMENE
..........
sete
eset
tenets
neta
ne
eseestsenenens
7
Headphone
.......cccceccsecccesesesesssesssevseseecseeesseeseseaesenenentrssanesserseresanesscasenseneneranenesenees
8
Connecting
the
PSS-780
to
Your
Stereo...
ns
teen
etree
tennessee
teeneneens
8
VOICE/MELODY
SECTION
..........cecccesccsssscsesseresenesseneeenecssnesseseresnsesnarersesase
senses
8
SELECTING
A
VOICE
....c.ccccccccccccececsceesteeeeeseesseseeecsaeeeenssasnessassestesensnesertiscsscescenanens
8
PITCH
BEND
Wheel
........cccccecccesecstsstetenerscsesssessssrenssensnensreersseaeesnerenenatiseseesenaeees
10
PARAMETER
CHANGE
SettingS
.......cccccccsesesescsesesseereseeserensterssresssesasenarenesessenes
10
TRANSPOSE
[9]
wu.ccceccccseseccecssescsetsessscsssesssessscseenerenenssseesasasecenvenersserasgenerenentee
11
TUNING
(a)
cccccccccccccccceescececcsseessscsesessestscseecssseassenenenssseesesisecnensnersssensesieenerteeeens
11
MELODY
VOLUME
[8]
oc.
cccsssccesccescssescssseceneneneeseeceetenenersnesssinessesesenanssesesanaes
11
RHYTHM
MACHINE
FUNCTIONS
.......0...
ccc
eeteeseseeesesnereeesseseenenenseitneenes
13
STYLE
SELECT—Choosing
the
RAYth
........cccscceeeneetie
teers
rsneeeenresseeerenees
13
RHYTHM
CONTROL
.........
cece
a)
TEMPO
voeececccccccceccescssesscsscsecsecsecseeeeseseeescsessassacsesseseeeaeneesesaersessessassassarseseseeenenesgee
14
BEAT
Display
.......c:cccccccccssssessesccescssscsesscenenerereeecseaenerenersnaeenasenssseneenesseesnsenenenenentg
14
Changing
the
Rhythm
Style
During
Performance...
a
14
HAND
PERCUSSION
ue
ccc
eceereeteeeeeeeenenees
we
15
CUSTOM
DRUMMER
......cccccccecceteeecteescrecaeesseeseeeersesseneetseeesnessertieaersasssteneenseees
16
AUTO
ACCOMPANIMENT
FEATURES
1.0...
ceeeteeteneererieeeetenetaateetnnenes
18
MOD
Biv
scccececeo
iis
ocsteckices
scan
iva
Gicheckbd
ance
iaadabosts
Ainadenves
civesth
tan
aguaineabelassnagediesebesits
18
ORCHESTRATION...........
..
18
A)
Single
Finger
Chords
...........ccseeeeteeree
aw
19
B)
Single
Finger
Auto
ACCOMpaniMeNt
.......-.
eset
teeeestetesereeeetecerttetiees
20
C)
Fingered
Auto
ACCOMPANIMEN
.........
eects
teteeseeeenetenetstntnee
tenets
tatterees
20
DUET...
.ceccccccccsssscecssssccssssssesssssscerssscesensccessssessaconeseversssceaseseendcaeeeestaassnessasetseaassiacneas
21
SONG
MEMORY.
....0..0cccccccccccccccccceeeneeseeecsastsseeesesssessesenseneenesesseretaseatensinesesnsnaes
22
MELODY
Memory
we
CHORD
Memoty
.u..cccccccecceseesestecsessssssiateessssescseseassecenenenenssenerscsensineaeerasserssensnenanenes
24
PART
11
ADVANCED
FUNCTIONS
1.
eseseseeeeeettetmmmeessis
26
DIGITAL
SYNTHESIZER
.....0.....0.0.cccccccce
ccc
cseteceecreeeesneeneeseneenseneenestenereereesaateenersanaes
26
FM
SYNTHESIS
BASIC
COURSE
..0....cceecccscceeeeeseseeeneeeteeeeneteeenteatarree
.
26
1)
Voice
Parameters
and
Values......
..
26
2)
A
Bit
of
FM
Theory.............04
..
26
3)
Creating
SOUS...
cece
cceneneeeeereete
renee
tesenissesesnesenenciseeetetens
aa
27
SYNTHESIZER
PARAMETERS.
........:.cccccssscsceseeetteeeteeereetetsniarseseeesaeneseeteneseeneranes
29

IUD Di iscieicecceceeseet edeasaescevesens ‘
What is MIDI?.....
MIDI MODE fel .......0....
Keyboard Assign MODE [22]
Transmitted Data ..............00
Memory Bulk Dump.
Received Data..........c.cceescseeseeeee
Sound Source Mode [99].................
Transmitted Data ..........cccececsseeeee
Received Data
MIDI RECEIVE CHANNEL FILTER [d]
TRANSMIT CHANNEL [8] Selection
MIDI CONNECTION EXAMPLES
PRECAUTIONS — TAKING CARE OF YOUR PORTASOUND
SE a I eT CSET ST
Your new PortaSound is a fine musical instrument — and should be treated as such.
Handle it with care and common sense, and it will give you years of enjoyment.
e Location
Avoid exposure to direct sunlight or other sources of heat.
Never leave it inside a car where it can get very hot. Vi-
bration, excessive dust, cold, low or high humidity can
also cause malfunction.
e@ Handling
Avoid rough handling. Don’t drop or jolt the PortaSound
as this can damage the internal circuitry. Pressing too
hard on keys or controls may lead to malfunctions. When
cords are plugged into the rear panel jacks, pay particular
attention not to apply excessive force to them since this
may damage the terminals.
e Adaptors
Use only the power adaptor described in the POWER
section. Disconnect the AC adaptor when not using your
PortaSound.
e Batteries
+ When not using your PortaSound for long periods, be
sure to remove the batteries to avoid damage through
battery leakage.
* Replace weak batteries before they run down com-
pletely.
- Always replace all batteries with new ones.
- Do not use different kinds of batteries at the same time.
«In case electrolyte has leaked into the battery com-
partment, wipe it off completely before installing new
batteries.
+ Never disassemble, heat or throw discarded batteries
into a fire. Dispose of them properly.
e@ Cleaning
Clean the exterior with a soft, dry cloth. Using chemical
solvents will damage the finish.
Interference Through Electromagnetic Fields
Do not use your PortaSound close to television sets or
other equipment receiving electromagnetic signals as this
could cause interference noise in the other appliance.
Service and Modifications
Your PortaSound contains no user serviceable parts.
Opening it or tampering with it in any way can lead to
electrical shock as well as damage. Of course, any resulting
damage will no longer be repaired free of charge. Refer
all servicing to qualified YAMAHA personnel.

OOo
°o
6900
CONTROL PANEL
23
ip
&
RP
3b
4a
4b
5
mG
CUSTOM DRUMMER BY THM CONTROL
SPATE Fe ste
17 nie
E
VAMANAvjaimePSS7O0
|
18 19 20a 20b 20c gi 1
HEADPHONES AUX OUT ___DCI9,}2iIN
© 6 dla
POWER
switch
@
TEMPO/PARAMETER
&
VALUE
display
VOLUME
slider
@
VALUE
buttons
AUTO
ACCOMPANIMENT
group
®
VOICE/STYLE
SELECT
group
3a
MODE
selectors
tia
VOICE
switch
3b
ORCHESTRATION
buttons
14b
STYLE
switch
SONG
MEMORY
11ic
Number
buttons
4a
CHORD
bank
selectors
@
DIGITAL
SYNTHESIZER
group
4b
MELODY
bank
selectors
12a
Voice
BANK
selectors
4c
RECORD
button
12b
STORE
button
VOICE
LIST
12c
Synthesizer
Parameter
selectors
STYLE
LIST
12d
DIGITAL
SYNTHESIZER
flowchart
EFFECT selectors
VOICE/STYLE number display

a Ditatic @ im» @Q@Oin OG )
ial
1
11b
12a
|
12cl
|13a
© PERCUSSION SET,
1 .
;
wh
=
7
ne
dis
:
at
cc!
re
SSC agra Rea (Pe 8
22a Gh) 22b 22c
@® PARAMETER CHANGE group @ MELODY SECTION
13a TEMPO button @ HAND PERCUSSION section
13b Parameter selectors 22a HAND PERCUSSION pads
®
DEMO
START/STOP
switch
22b
SYNCHRO
BREAK
switch
®
MiDi
group
22c
PERCUSSION
SET
selectors
15a MIDI OUT CHANNEL list ® Built-in speakers
@ PITCH BEND wheel
® CUSTOM DRUMMER controls REAR PANEL
® Percussion control keys @ DC(9-12V)IN AC power adaptor terminal
® AUTO ACCOMPANIMENT SECTION ® AUX. OUT jacks
@ RHYTHM CONTROL pads @ HEADPHONES jack
20a START/STOP switch @ MIDI terminals
20b SYNCHRO START/ENDING control
20c INTRO/FILL IN controis

PART I
GETTING
TO
KNOW
THE
PSS-780
This
part
of
the
manual
first
shows
you
how
to
provide
the
PSS-
780
with
POWER,
using
batteries
or
an
AC
adaptor.
You
can
then
turn
it
on
and
start
PLAYING
it
right
away.
Next,
listen
to
a
DEMONSTRATION
of
what
the
PortaSound
PSS-780
can
do.
Reading
PART
II
will
then
enable
to
perform
this
kind
of
professional-sounding
music
ail
by
yourself.
The
QUICK
GUIDE
briefly
introduces
the
most
basic
features
without
going
into
detail
so
you
can
enjoy
yourself experimenting and discovering.
POWER
SS
Your
PortaSound
PSS-780
works
on
batteries
or
household
current.
Since
batteries
are
also
needed
to
support
the
internal
RAM
memory,
buy
six
1.5V
“C”
size
(SUM-2,
R-14)
alkaline
batteries.
(Be
sure
to
read
the
precautions
concerning
batteries
on
p.
1).
To
save
battery
power,
you
can
also
use
a
Yamaha
PA-3,
PA-4
or PA-40
AC
adaptor.
Inserting Batteries
Turn
the
instrument
upside-down
and
remove
the
battery
compartment
lid
by
pushing
its
tab
in
the
direction
of
the
arrow
embossed
on
the
lid.
Insert
the
six
batteries,
making
sure
that
their
poles
are
aligned
as
shown
in
the
illustration
below.
Replace
the
lid.
It
should
lock
in
place
with
a
click.
Low Battery Warning
When the battery voltage drops below a certain level, the
LED displays will start to blink. As soon as this happens,
replace all six batteries with new ones. If you allow the bat-
teries to become spent completely, any data you have stored
in the internal memories will be lost.
Using an AC Power Adaptor
When
you
want
to
connect
your
PortaSound
to
a
wall
socket,
buy
a
Yamaha
PA-3,
PA-4
or
PA-40
Power
Adaptor.
No
other
adaptor
can
be
used,
so
be
sure
to
ask
for
the
right
kind.
Plug the adaptor into a convenient wall socket and its con-
nector
into
the
DC(9-12V)IN
terminal
(24)
on
the
back
of
your PortaSound as shown. (Even when power is turned
off,
the
AC
adaptor
backs
up
the
PortaSound
RAM
memory.)
4
HEADPHONES © AUX. OUT = DCX9-12)IN
R Lean *
PLAYING
Slide the POWER switch (1) upward to the ON position.
The LED displays and various indicators will light up to
confirm that the PortaSound is turned on.
You can now play the keyboard. Adjust the sound level with
the VOLUME slider (2), pushing it up toward MAX to in-
crease volume and down to lower it.
e Be sure to turn your PortaSound off again by sliding the
POWER switch (1) back to OFF after you have finished
playing. This will save battery power.
DEMONSTRATION
To get an idea of the music your new PortaSound is capable
of playing, listen to the factory-programmed demonstration
song.
Start
it
by
pressing
the
yellow
DEMO
START/STOP
button (14).
e
The
song
will
continue
until
you
press
DEMO
START/STOP
again,
or
the
START/STOP
pad
(20a).
You
will
soon
be
playing
music
in
this
kind
of
professional
style
by
yourself
—
PART
II
will
teach
you
all
the
necessary
operations.
Most
of
these
steps
can
also
be carried
while
the
PortaSound
is
performing
the
demonstration
song,
allowing
you
to
alter
this
song
according
to
your
taste.

QUICK GUIDE
YAMAHA font PSS-7Bo
@) Selecting Voices
®
©
©
To choose any instrument sound you like, simply look
up its name in the VOICE LIST (5) and input the corre-
sponding number with the number buttons (11c). (It may
be necessary to press the blue VOICE switch (11a) first.)
Effects
Add special effects to the instrument sounds by pressing
these selectors.
Pitch Bend Wheel
Bend the pitch of melody notes upward or downward
with this wheel.
Single Finger Chords
You can play entire chords automatically with just a
finger or two — press the SINGLE FINGER selector (3a),
then play keys in the AUTO ACCOMPANIMENT SEC-
TION.
Automatic Accompaniment
With SINGLE FINGER mode on, hit the START/STOP pad
(20a) to start the rhythm. Play the AUTO ACCOMPANI-
MENT SECTION and enjoy automatic bass, chord and
orchestra accompaniment. To stop it, press SYNCHRO
START/ENDING (20b).
€) Selecting Styles
The STYLE LIST (6) shows you which rhythm and ac-
companiment styles you can choose from. Press the blue
STYLE (11b) switch, then enter the desired style number
with the number buttons (11c).
Tempo
To adjust the speed of the rhythm/accompaniment, press
TEMPO (13a), then use the VALUE buttons (10) to make
it faster or slower.
Rhythm Control
START/STOP (20a) starts or stops the selected rhythm.
Hit the INTRO/FILL IN pads (20c) instead for a different
beginning or for variations while the drum sounds are
playing. (Works for Auto Accompaniment too.)
SYNCHRO START/ENDING (20b) lets the rhythm begin
automatically when you play the AUTO ACCOMPANI-
MENT SECTION (19), or ends it with a special pattern.
Orchestration
These switches (3b) turn the four components of the Auto
Accompaniment — bass, rhythm (drums), chords and
orchestra parts — on and off to suit your music.
Hand Percussion
Hit these 8 pads (22a) any time to play your own drums.
Use the PERCUSSION SET selectors (22c) to choose one
of four different drum sets.

INDEX ILLUSTRATION
PITCH BEND .......... cece ences 10
nak
ria
i U1 ) Whit L | | a | |
YAMAHA tosis -SS-7BO
8 (VOICE),
13 (STYLE)

PART II
BASIC
FEATURES
WHAT YOUR PortaSound CAN DO
Using
the
QUICK
GUIDE
and
listening
to
the
DEMO
song
has
already
given
you
a
first
impression
of
your
new
PortaSound’s
capabilities.
This
chapter
tells
you
more
about
them.
Voices, Rhythm and Auto Accompaniment
To better understand the PortaSound’s functional structure,
think of it as comprising the following three sections:
Auto Accompaniment Section
Voice/Melody Section
Rhythm Section
As the names say, the Voice/Melody Section controls all
features concerning the voices you play, usually in the form
of a melody, while the Auto Accompaniment Section helps
you perform the accompaniment to these melodies. The
Rhythm Section can be used separately like a drum machine,
or in combination with Auto Accompaniment.
@ This is not a strict division. These sections are closely
interconnected ~- for instance, RHYTHM CONTROL
influences both the Rhythm and the Auto Accompaniment
Sections, and the SONG MEMORY MELODY banks
are just as much part of Voice/Melody as they are of Auto
Accompaniment. Keeping this division in mind, though,
makes it easier to understand the PortaSound features.
Voice/Melody Section
In the tradition of Yamaha’s famous DX7 synthesizers, the
preset instrument sounds available on the PortaSound
PSS-780 are referred to as “voices”. With the Digital Syn-
thesizer functions explained in PART ITI (p.26), you can alter
them to create your own original sounds, then save up to five
of these for instant access at the push of a button.
For more expressiveness and realism, you can add various
EFFECTS (p.9) to the voices. PORTAMENTO and PITCH
BEND (p.10), for instance, can greatly enhance strings, brass
or bass sounds.
Easy Play Functions
If the melody you want to play is in a difficult key, you can
TRANSPOSE the entire keyboard (p.11) to an easier one.
Melodies (or parts of them) you find particularly hard to
perform can be memorized in the MELODY banks of the
SONG MEMORY (p.22). For example, if a phrase is too
fast for you, record it at a comfortable slow tempo and then
play it back any time at the correct speed by simply pressing
the corresponding MELODY button.
Rhythm
and
Auto
Accompaniment
Sections
Since
these
sections
are
so
closely
interrelated,
many
of
their
functions
are
treated
together
in
this
manual.
The
Rhythm
and
Auto
Accompaniment
features
can
enhance
your
performances
in
four
basic
ways:
The
PortaSound
PSS-780
is capable
of
L.
playing
a
rhythm
accompaniment
to
your
music
with
re-
alistic
percussion
sound
patterns
in
a
hundred
different
musical
styles,
functioning
like
a
high-quality
drum
ma-
chine.
Many
variations
of
these
basic
patterns
are
possible
with
RHYTHM
CONTROL.
2.
letting
you
play
complete
chords
by
using
only
a
single
finger
of
your
left
hand
(SINGLE
FINGER
chords).
3.
performing
an
entire
accompaniment
arrangement,
com-
plete
with
drums,
bass,
chords
and
orchestra,
easily
con-
trolled
by
your
left
hand.
Again,
RHYTHM
CONTROL
can
be
used
to
add
a
great
number
of
variations.
You
can
even
change
the
ORCHESTRATION,
deleting
or
adding
parts
to
the
accompaniment
at
the
touch
of
a
button.
4.
digitally
recording
whole
melodies
or
various
melody
sections
as
well
as
entire
chord
progressions
in
the
SONG
MEMORY.
These
can
be
played
back
at
the
touch
of
a
button.
The
PSS-780
thus
also
does
the
job
of
a
simple
but
particularly
flexible
sequencer
—
you
can
use
it
either
7