Yamaha DS-55 User manual

YAMAHA
DIGITAL SYNTHESIZER
SYNTHETISEUR NUMERIQUE
DIGITAL SYNTHESIZER
OPERATION MANUAL
MANUEL D'INSTRUCTIONS
BEDIENUNGSANLEITUNG
TTT mT,

Congratulations!
Your
DS55
Digital
Synthesizer
is
a
fine
example
of
advanced
YAMAHA
music
technology.
It
uses
the
un-
matched
YAMAHA
FM
tone
generation
system
to
create
rich,
vibrant
simulations
of
acoustic,
electric
and
electronic
instruments
—
and
sounds
that
are
totally
different.
The
DS55
offers
200
outstanding
preset
voices
that
you
can
use
immediately.
You
can
also
edit
the
presets
using
the
DS55's
easy
editing
system
to
create
subtle
variations
or
completely
original
voices.
Up
to
100
of
your
original
creations
can
be
stored
in
internal
memory
for
instant recall. The
DS55
even
has a built-in delay effect
that can add extra warmth and
ambience
to any
voice
you
play. Of
course
you can play
any
single
voice,
but
the
DS55
also offers
a
split play mode in
which
you
can
play
two
voices
on
different
sections
of
the
keyboara,
and
a
dual
play
mode
in
which
two
voices
can
be
played
simultaneously
across
the
entire
keyboard.
Perhaps
the
highlight
of
the
DS55
is
its
remarkable
Auto
Performance
system.
This
YAMAHA
innovation
provides
a
wide
range
of
beautifully
orches-
trated
accompaniment
patterns
that you can
use for practice
or
performance.
Of
course, the
DS55
is
fully
MIDI
equipped
so
it
can
serve
as
the
center
of
a
sophisticated
MIDI
music
system.
For
even
more
conven-
ience,
the
DS55
will
operate
from
an
AC
adapter
or
batteries,
so
you
can
play
anywhere,
anytime.
In order to make the most of the fine performance and many features provided by your DS55, we urge you to
read this operation manual thoroughly, and keep it in a safe place for later reference.
CONTENTS
NN
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PRECAUTIONS `... 1
THE
STORE
FUNCTION
—
[STORE
button]
....16
TIANSPOSE LL 15
DS55
CONTROLS
AND
CONNECTORS
....2
AUTO
PERFORMANCE
................
17
CONTROL
PANEL
........
coo.
2
Pattern
Change
`...
17
REARSPANEL
uc
243
add
4
BOYS
ME
ii
e
do
pens
18
BOTTOM
PANEL,,,
coco
5
AIPCQQIO?
curar
ta
2
de?
18
THE
PLAY
MODES,
TUNING
8:
DELAY
....6
LISTEN
TO
THE
DEMONSTRATION
THE
SINGLE
PLAY
MODE
..................
6
See
EE
18
The
Preset
and
User
Voice
Banks
..........
A
RFORMANCE
Selecting
Voices
a
bafer
ses
4
S
EE
>
PLAYING
THE
SELECTED
ge
T
A
ears
19
THE
SPLIT
PLAY
MOE
@
BRING
THe
SELECTED
AUTO
PERFORMANCE
Assigning
Voi
he L
SR
EE
E
Koy
ge
Numbers
when
PN
pa
20
THE
DUAL
PLAY
MODE
8
py
Rey
umber
when
IKEY
is
Selected
20
Dene
ee
el
USING
THE
MIDI
FUNCTIONS
>...
22
MASTER
TUNE
aaen
ee
e
10
MIDI
Switch
sissa
ccc
cece
kanen
22
USING
THE
DELAY
EFFECTS
...............
11
MIDI
Channel
`...
22
VOICE
EDITING
&
THE
STORE
FUNCTION
11
Omni
Mode
.....
6...
eevee
eee
ees
22
Understanding
and
Using
the
Edit
Function
EXCIUSIVE
ll
22
DISPIBVS
ii
ii
ka
jali
Ba
ea
td
11
Bulk
Dump
of
One
Voice
................
23
TONE
—
[TONE
button]
e,
12
All
Data
Bulk
Dump
a
23
AMPLITUDE
ENVELOPE
—
[AMP
EG
button]
.
.12
Setup
Data
Bulk
Dump
e,
23
BRILLIANCE
ENVELOPE
—
[BRL
EG
button]
..13
RECEIVING
VOICE
DATA
FROM
EXTERNAL
LOW
FREQUENCY
OSCILLATOR
(VIBRATO
&
EQUIPMENT
-naaasar
24
TREMOLO)—
[LFO
button]
................
14
THE
MULTI-INSTRUMENT
MODE
........
24
OTHER
VOICE
EDITING
FUNCTIONS
—
AN
EXAMPLE
OF
MULTI-INSTRUMENT
[FUNCTION
button]
`...
14
MODE
USE?
ii
Ai
a
KA
BA
ala
adas
tada
26
Pitch
Bend
Range
`,
14
USING
THE
DS55
KEVBOARD
TO
PLAV
Modulation
Wheel
Function
..............
14
IN
THE
MULTI-INSTRUMENT
MODE
.........
27
Breath
Controller
Function
...............
14
ERROR
MESSAGES
..................
27
Name
of
Voice...
15
SPECIFICATIONS
....................
28
“Assign
Mode...
15
INDEX
`...
29
Velocity
Depth...
15
MIDI
DATA
FORMAT
..............
Add-1
MIDI
IMPLEMENTATION
CHART
.....
Add-6
>

PRECAUTIONS
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 mechani-
cal damage.
AVOID PHYSICAL SHOCKS — Strong physical shocks
to the unit can cause damage. Handle it with care.
DO NOT OPEN THE CASE OR ATTEMPT REPAIRS
OR MODIFICATIONS YOURSELF — This product
contains no user-serviceable parts. Refer all mainte-
nance to qualified YAMAHA service personnel. Open-
Ming the case and/or tampering with the internal cir-
` cuitry will void the warranty.
MAKE SURE POWER IS OFF BEFORE MAKING OR
REMOVING CONNECTIONS — Always turn the
power OFF prior to connecting or disconnecting
cables. This is important to prevent damage to the unit
itself as well as other connected equipment.
HANDLE THE CABLES CAREFULLY — Always plug
and unplug cables by gripping the connector, not the
cord. Also avoid applying excessive force to the cables
or connectors during use.
CLEAN WITH A SOFT DRY CLOTH — Never use sol-
vents such as benzine or thinner to clean the unit.
Wipe clean with a soft, dry cloth.
POWER SUPPLY — The DS55 must be powered from
either an optional YAMAHA PA-3 AC Adapter (the AC
input voltage of the adapter supplied depends on the
area in which the equipment is sold), a YAMAHA PA-1
or PA-1B AC Adapter, or the specified dry batteries. At-
tempting to use an AC adapter other than the PA-3,
PA-1 or PA-1B can cause serious damage to the DSS5.
ELECTRICAL INTERFERENCE — Since the DS55 con-
tains digital circuitry, it may cause interference and
noise if placed too close to TV sets, radios or similar
equipment. If such a problem does occur, move the
DS55 further away from the affected equipment.
BACKUP BATTERY — The DS55 contains a long-life
backup battery that retains the contents of its RAM
memory locations even when the power is turned
OFF. The backup battery will last for approximately 5
years. When the battery finally fails, the contents of
the internal RAM memory will be lost. If this happens,
have the battery replaced by qualified YAMAHA serv-
ice personnel. Dot not attempt to replace the battery
yourself,
worldwide,
following measures:
of corrective measures.
of America, 6600 Orangethorpe Ave., Buena Park, CA 90620, U.S.A.
Commission helpful:
— Stock No, 004-000-00345-4.
FCC INFORMATION
While the following statements are provided to comply with FCC Regulations in the United States, the corrective measures listed below are applicable
This series of YAMAHA professional music equipment uses frequencies that appear in the radio frequency range and if installed in the immediate proximity
of some types of audio or video devices (within three meters), interference may occur. This series of YAMAHA professional music equipment has been type
tested and found to comply with the specifications set for a class B computing device in accordance with those specifications listed in subpart J of part 15 of
the FCC rules. These rules are designed to provide a reasonable measure of protection against such interference, However, this does not guarantee that
interference will not occur. If your professional music equipment should be suspected of causing interference with other electronic devices, verification can
be made by turning your professional music equipment off and on. If the interference continues when your equipment is off, the equipment is not the source
of interference. If your equipment does appear to be the source of the interference, you should try to correct the situation by using one or more of the
Relocate either the equipment or the electronic device that is being affected by the interference. Utilize power outlets for the professional music equipment
and the device being affected that are on different branch (circuit breaker or fuse) circuits, or install AC line filters.
In the case of radio or TV interference, relocate the antenna or, if the antenna lead-in is 300 ohm ribbon lead, change the lead-in to a co-axial type cable.
If these corrective measures do not produce satisfactory results, please contact your authorized YAMAHA professional products dealer for suggestions and/
If you cannot locate a franchised YAMAHA professional products dealer in your general area contact the Electronic Service Department, YAMAHA Corporation
If for any reason, you should need additional information relating to radio or TV interference, you may find a booklet prepared by the Federal Communications
“How to identify and Resolve Radio — TV Interference Problems". This booklet is available from the U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington D.C. 20402
[This information on:safety-is provided to comply with U.S.A. laws, but should be observed by users in all countries. i

DS55
CONTROLS
AND
CONNECTORS
BREATH CONT PHONES
vv
CONTROL PANEL
PP NN NN cr
O Keyboard
The DS55 keyboard is a high-quality 61-key type
that features full touch response — i.e. the key-
board can be used to control musical dynamics
just as in an acoustic piano.
MASTER VOL Control
The MASTER VOL control adjusts the volume
(level) of the signal delivered to the rear-panel
OUTPUT jacks. The VOLUME control also adjusts
headphone volume when a pair of headphones is
plugged into the PHONE jack.
PITCH BEND Wheel
The PITCH BEND wheel offers extra expressive
control by allowing you to “bend” notes played on
the keyboard. Roll the wheel UP to raise pitch, or
DOWN to lower pitch. The amount of pitch bend
produced by the PITCH BEND wheel for a specific
voice can be programmed using the Pitch Bend
Bend Range parameter accessed by the FUNC-
TION
button
(see
“OTHER
VOICE
EDITING
FUNC-
TIONS — [FUNCTION button)” on page 14).
O MODULATION Wheel
Another DS55 expression control, the MODULA-
TION WHEEL makes it possible to apply varying
degrees of vibrato, tremolo or wow-wow effect to
the voice being played. Whether the MODULA-
TION WHEEL controls vibrato, tremolo or wow-
wow for the selected voice is determined by the
Modulation Wheel parameter accessed by the
FUNCTION button (see “OTHER VOICE EDITING
FUNCTIONS — [FUNCTION button!" on page 14).
O Liquid Crystal Display
This 16-character x 2-line LCD (Liquid Crystal Dis-
play) serves as the DS55's information and human
interface center. It displays the number and name
of selected voices, editing functions and values,

ao
and all other information you need for smooth,
simple operation.
PLAY MODE Buttons
The PLAY MODE buttons — PRESET, USER,
' SINGLE, SPLIT and DUAL — allow selection of
the DS55's various voice banks and play modes.
Details on page 6
EDIT Buttons
The TONE, AMP EG, BRL EG, LFO and FUNC-
TION buttons in the EDIT group provide access to
all functions and parameters required for voice
editing. The editing parameters are separated into
logically related groups, and editing procedures
have been made: simpler than ever so you can
easily create new voices.
Details on page 11
O DELAY Buttons
The ON/OFF, SHORT and LONG buttons control
the DS55's internal delay system, allowing you to
add delay effects to any voice for extra depth and
ambience.
Details on page 11
MIDI Buttons
The DS55's many MIDI functions are accessed by
the MIDI buttons. In addition to general channel
and mode selection, the DS55 has a MIDl-control-
lable multi-instrument mode that can be accessed
and controlled via the MID! buttons.
Details on page 19
Data Entry Buttons
The number buttons (0 through 9) and the -1 and’
+1 buttons are used for voice selection and data
entry when required by any of the DS55's editing
or other functions.
Details on page 11
3

W AUTO PERFORMANCE Buttons
The AUTO PERFORMANCE SELECT and START/
STOP buttons provide access to the DS55's most
remarkable feature — the auto accompaniment
function.
Details on page 17
Y STORE Button
The STORE button accesses both the DS55's
memory protection and data storage functions, al-
lowing voices you have edited to be stored in any
of the 99 available user memory locations.
Details on page 16
® TUNE Button
The TUNE button accesses the MASTER TUNE
function, allowing you to tune the DS55 to match
other instruments or recorded material.
Details on page 10
6 BREATH Jack
The BREATH jack accepts one of VAMAHA's origi-
nal breath controllers (BC1 or BC2), allowing wind-
instrument breath and tongueing techniques to be
used for the application of various effects.
Details on page 14
6 PHONE Jack
A standard pair of stereo headphones can be
plugged in here for private practice or late-night
playing.
REAR PANEL
G POWER Switch
Slide to the ON position to turn power ON, and to
the OFF position to turn power OFF. When the
power is turned ON a brief greeting will appear on
the DS55's LCD, then the SINGLE PLAY mode
(see “THE SINGLE PLAY MODE on page 6) will
be automatically selected and you're ready to play.
O DC(10—12V)IN Jack and Cable Clip
The DC output cord from an optional YAMAHA
PA-3 AC Adapter or PA-1/PA-1B AC Adapter
should be plugged in here when the DS55 is to be
operated from AC power. The AC adapter cord
can be clipped into the cable clip located next to
the DC(10—12W)IN jack as shown below, to pre-
vent accidental unplugging of the cord during use.
Gm
6 L/MONO & R OUTPUT Jacks
These two monaural 1/4* phone jacks deliver the
stereo output signal from the DS55 to subsequent
amplification or mixing equipment. These jacks
can be connected directly to the inputs of a key-
board amplifier, recording equipment or a mixing
console. Since the DS55 SPLIT and DUAL PLAY
modes offer true stereo sound, we recommend

connecting both output jacks to the corresponding
inputs of a stereo or two-channel! sound system in
order to get the best possible sound. If this is not
possible, connect only the LIMONO OUTPUT jack
to the amplification equipment used.
@ SUSTAIN Jack
This jack accepts an optional YAMAHA FC-4 or FC-
5 footswitch which functions as a sustain pedal
when connected. The sustain pedal functions in
the same way as a damper pedal on an acoustic
piano — when the pedal is pressed notes played
have a long sustain. Releasing the pedal immedi-
ately stops (damps) any sustained notes.
@® FOOT VOLUME Jack
e
The FOOT VOLUME jack accepts an optional
YAMAHA FC-7 Foot Controller which permits foot
volume control for extra expressive capability.
BOTTOM PANEL
Q Battery Compartment
If you intend to use battery power (which makes
the DS55 very portable and convenient), six 1.5V
SUM-2, R-14 or equivalent alkaline batteries (sold
separately) must first be installed in the DS55 bat-
tery compartment.
Open the battery compartment cover located in
the center of the instrument's bottom panel.
Insert the six batteries, being careful to follow the
polarity markings (+, -) on the inside of the com-
partment.
Replace the compartment cover, making sure that
it locks firmly in place.
@ FEEDBACK LEVEL Control
This control makes it possible to adjust the overall
“length” of the DS55’s delay effects to match
your music.
Details on page 11
MIDI IN, OUT & THRU Connectors
The MIDI IN connector receives MIDI data from
an external MIDI device (such as another MIDI
keyboard or a MIDI sequencer) which can be used
to control the DS55. The MIDI THRU connector re-
transmits any data received at the MIDI IN con-
nector, allowing “chaining” of several MIDI instru-
ments or other devices. The MIDI OUT connector
transmits MIDI data generated by the DS55 (e.g.
note and velocity data produced by playing the
DS55 keyboard).
More details on MIDI are given in “MIDI FUNC-
TIONS” on page 21.
Caution:
@ When the batteries run down, replace them with a
complete set of six new batteries. NEVER mix old
and new batteries.
4 To prevent possible damage due to battery leak-
age, remove the batteries from the instrument if it
is not to be used for an extended period of time.
“aaa
8
DS55 CONTROLS AND CONNECTORS 5

THE PLAY MODES, TUNING & DELAY
EE a
THE SINGLE PLAY This is the DS55’s “normal” play mode in which you can play a single selected
MODE voice on the keyboard. The SINGLE PLAY mode is always selected automatically
when the POWER switch is turned ON. The SINGLE PLAY mode can also be
selected from any other mode by pressing the SINGLE button in the PLAY MODE
group. When the SINGLE PLAY mode is selected, the LED above the SINGLE
button will light and a display similar to the one shown below will appear on the
LCD. Up to 8 notes can be played simultaneously in the SINGLE PLAY mode.
Indicates that the SINGLE mode is selected.
PLAY SINGLE
AO) Soft Brass
This is the name of the selected voice.
This is the bank and number of the selected voice (in this example
voice “01” of bank “A” is selected).
The Preset and User The DS55 has two PRESET voice banks (bank A and bank B), each containing 100 y
Voice Banks (00 through 99) different preset voices (a total of 200 voices). The preset voices
are stored in ROM (Read Only Memory) and cannot be edited or changed in any
way. The DS55 also has a USER voice bank (bank U) which has 100 RAM (Random
Access Memory) locations into which you can store edited versions of the preset
voices.
E BANK A
PERFORMANCE PERFORMANCE PERFORMANCE PERFORMANCE
NAME NAME NAME,
Elegant FloatChime Guitar 1 Sax 1
SoftBrass Guitar 2 Sax 2
WideString . E.Guitar Oboe
Cosmic SandBell Harp Clarinet
LargePipes Suspense Koto Flute
SynString 1 Fog Marimba Recorder
FolkGuitar HuskyVoice Violin 1 Harmonica ~ M4
Piano 1 Swirlies Cello 1 Whistle
E. Piano 1 HuskyChoir CelloEns. Castanet
DistGuitar PluckBrass UpriteBass Triangle
SoftString AngelChoir E.Bass 1 BellTree
SynString 2 FluteVoice E.Bass 2 Referee
RichString SmallPipes SynBass 1 SteelDrum 1
SynBrass 1 ) E.Organ 1 SvnBass 2 SteelDrum 2
SvnBrass 2 : E.Organ 2 SynBass 3 GuiRoach
SynBrass 3 Piano 2 SynBass 4 Zap!
BrethBrass E.Piano 2 Bass Shwhap!
SoftEns. | WireBrass NasalLead Poundwood
WarmEns. EasyClav SolidLead OilDrum
OrchesEns. FunkyClav ClariLead SynSnare 1
Sunbeam Harpsichrd Trumpet 1 DragonHit
Shimmer 1 Vibe TightBrass DuneHit
SoftCloud Celeste Trombone 1 Warp
Bamarimba TubeBell Horn 1 ModernTele
Sandarimba MusicBox Horn 2 Encore

E BANK B
PERFORMANCE
NAME
PERFORMANCE
NAME
PERFORMANCE
NAME
PERFORMANCE
NAME
MultiMoon
BrassEns.
SynBrass 4
SynBrass 5
SynBrass 8
Brass 1
Brass 2
Brass 3
Strings 1
Strings 2
Violin 2
Cello 2
Pizzicato
TremString
SynString 4
SynString 5
SynEns. 1
SynEns. 2
SynVoice
Digital Vox
Aqua
MusicSaw
DolbyDream
DigiEns.
MetalTwang
Selecting Voices
1.
FletlessB.
BrassLead
FatLead
SaxLead
RaspLead
ToughLead
AnasynLead
Wow
ProfetStab
TootyFloot
Trumpet 2
Trombone 2
Flugelhorn
MuteTrumpet
PanFlute
Bassoon
Calliope
WoodEns. 1
WoodEns. 2
Piccolo
Glocken
Xylophone
Gong
CowBell
AgogoBell
Shimmer 2
SandTube
SpaceEcho
DigitalPop
Upright
Grand PF
HonkyTonk
ToyPiano
Rose
WirePiano
NasalClav
E.Organ 3
E.Organ 4
E.Organ 5
Accordion
LeadGuitar
FuzzGuitar
MuteGuitar
Banjo
E. Sitar
Shamisen
SoftHarp
E.Bass 3
SynBass 5
SynBass 6
WoodBlock
Bongo
HandDrum
Cuica
SteelDrum 3
BassDrum
Snare
Cymbal
Slap
Timpani
Tom
SynTom
Tompany
Kick & HH
SynSnare 2
SynPerc. 1
SynPerc. 2
SpaceBell
Bell
GameSound1
GameSound2
Alarm
Thunder
WhiteNoise
ClashClap
Press the PRESET button to select the PRESET voice banks (the LED above the
PRESET button will light), or the USER button to select the USER voice bank
(the LED above the USER button will light).
. If you have selected the PRESET voice banks, you can switch between banks A
and B by pressing the PRESET button. If preset bank A is selected, pressing
PRESET will select bank B, and vice versa. There is only one USER voice bank
(“U") so no further bank selection is possible if USER is selected.
. Voices within the selected bank can be selected by using either the -1 and +1
buttons or the number buttons (0 through 9). Press the +1 button briefly to
increment the voice number by 1, or hold it down for continuous incrementing
(release the +1 button when the desired voice number has been reached). The
-1 button works in the same way except that it decrements the selected voice
number.
To select a voice using the number buttons, enter the number of the desired
voice in two digits. To select voice number “07,” for example, first press the
“0” button (the second digit on the LCD will change to a ”?”) and then the “7”
button. To select voice number 55, press the “5” button twice. The new voice
will be selected as soon as the second digit is entered.
THE PLAY MODES, TUNING & DELAY 7

THE SPLIT PLAY The SPLIT PLAY mode allows you to play two different voices from any of the
MODE DS55 voice banks on different sections of the keyboard. You could, for example,
play a bass voice on the left-hand (lower) section and a piano voice on the right-
hand (upper) section of the keyboard. You can also specify the “split point” — the
key at which the lower and upper sections of the keyboard are separated. Up to 4
notes can be played simultaneously on the upper and lower sections of the key-
board {a total of 8 notes).
SPLIT POINT
Yv
LOWER VOICE UPPER VOICE
Press the SPLIT button in the PLAY MODE group to enter the SPLIT PLAY mode.
SPLIT mode selected.
ys
PLAY SPLIT
U45/U23 PNT- C3
| | Split point set at C3 (Middle C).
Voice number 'U23' assigned to the upper section.
Voice number "U45" assigned to the lower section.
Assigning Voices to the After you've selected the SPLIT PLAY mode by pressing the SPLIT button, as
Lower
and
Upper
Keyboard
described
above,
pressing
the
SPLIT
button
again
causes
a
display
similar
to
the
Sections and Specifying following to appear:
the Split Point
Assign lower SPLIT mode voice.
PLAY SPLIT lower
U12 ELEC-BASSI
aq
Currentiv selected lower voice name.
Currentiv selected lower voice bank and number.
Vou can now select a new voice for the lower section of the kevboard: select the
desired voice bank using the PRESET or USER buttons, then use the -1 and +1 or
number (0 through 9) buttons to select a voice as described in “Selecting Voices”
on page 7.
After selecting a new lower voice, press the SPLIT button again to move ahead to
the upper voice assignment display:
Assign upper SPLIT mode voice.
PLAY SPLIT upper
A12 ELEC-PIANO
Currentiv selected upper voice name.
8 Currentiv selected upper voice bank and number.

THE DUAL PLAY
MODE
e
Assigning Dual-mode Voices
and Setting Detune
You can now select a new voice for the upper section of the keyboard: select the
desired voice bank using the PRESET or USER buttons, then use the -1 and +1 or
number (0 through 9) buttons to select a voice as described in “Selecting Voices”
on page 7.
After selecting a new upper voice, press the SPLIT button again to move ahead to
the split point display:
Assign SPLIT mode split point.
PLAY SPLIT point
point = C3
Current split point key.
Immediately after this display appears you can select the desired split point by
pressing the corresponding key on the DS55 keyboard. This method can only be
used once after the split point display has been selected. Further changes to the
split point can be made by using the -1 and +1 buttons.
Press the SPLIT button again to return to the first SPLIT PLAY display. The voice
and split point assignments are stored in the DS55's memory, and will be recalled
whenever you enter the SPLIT PLAY mode from any other mode — until new
assignments are made.
The DUAL PLAY mode allows you to combine and play two voices from any of the
DS55 voice banks across the entire keyboard. You can also specify an amount of
“detune” between the two voices used, creating a thicker, distinctly ''multi-instru-
ment” sound. Up to 4 notes can be played simultaneously in the DUAL PLAY
mode.
Press the DUAL button in the PLAY MODE group to enter the DUAL PLAY mode.
D U11 1stVoice Bank, number and name of 1st voice.
ASS 2ndVoice Bank, number and name of 2nd voice.
After you've selected the DUAL PLAY mode by pressing the DUAL button, as
described above, pressing the DUAL button again causes a display similar to the
following to appear:
Assign 1st DUAL mode voice.
PLAY DUAL tone 1
U11 FirstVoice
Currently selected 1st voice name.
Currently selected 1st voice bank and number.
You can now select a new 1st voice for the DUAL PLAY mode: select the desired
voice bank using the PRESET or USER buttons, then use the -1 and +1 or number
(0 through 9) buttons to select a voice as described in “Selecting Voices” on page
7.
THE PLAY MODES, TUNING & DELAY 9

10
MASTER TUNE
After
selecting
a
new
ist
voice,
press
the
DUAL
button
again
to
assign
the
2nd
voice:
Assign 2nd DUAL mode voice.
PLAY DUAL tone 2
A SecondVoice
Currently selected 2nd voice name.
Currently selected 2nd voice bank and number.
You
can
now
select
a
new
2nd
voice
for
the
DUAL
PLAY
mode:
select
the
desired
voice
bank
using
the
PRESET
or
USER
buttons,
then
use
the
-1
and
+1
or
number
(0
through
9)
buttons
to
select
a
voice
as
described
in
“Selecting
Voices”
on
page
7.
After
selecting
a
new
2nd
voice,
press
the
DUAL
button
again
to
move
ahead
to
the
detune
display:
PLAY DUAL
dual detune = 07
Detune,
as
the
name
implies,
makes
it
possible
to
alter
the
relative
pitches
of
the
two
voices
used
in
the
DUAL
mode.
Slight
detuning
can
thicken
the
overall
sound
by
producing
sympathetic
“beats”
between
the
two
voices.
The
detune
range
is
from
00
to
7,
with
a
setting
of
“00”
producing
no
detune
effect.
The
desired
detune
value
can
be
entered
either
by
using
the
-1
and
+1
buttons,
or
by
pressing
the
appropriate
number
button
(0
through
7).
Press
the
DUAL
button
again
to
return
to
the
first
DUAL
PLAY
display.
The
voice
assignments
and
detune
setting
are
stored
in
the
DS55’s
memory,
and
will
be
recalled
whenever
you
enter
the
DUAL
PLAY
mode
from
any
other
mode
—
until
new
assignments
are
made.
There
may
be
situations
in
which
you
need
to
tune
the
DS55
to
other
instruments
or
recorded
material
—
the
MASTER
TUNE
function
allows
you
to
do
just
that.
Press the TUNE button to call the MASTER TUNE function:
Master tune =+00
Tuning
can
be
adjusted
over
a
range
of
-64
to
+63
by
using
the
-1
and
+1
buttons,
or
by directly
entering
the
desired
tune
value
using the number
buttons
(0
through
9).
Remember
to
enter two
digits
when
entering
the
tune value
via
the
number
buttons. The ”+/-" button located to the right of the +1 button can be used to
change a “+” setting to a '—' one, and vice versa.
A setting of “+00” corresponds to standard concert pitch — i.e. A3 = 440 Hz. “+”
settings increase pitch while '—' settings lower pitch. Each increment corresponds
to approximately 1.56 cents (one cent is one-hundredth of a semitone).
THE PLAY MODES, TUNING & DELAY
4)

e
USING THE DELAY The DS55 has a built-in delay effect system that can be used to add extra ambi-
EFFECTS
ence and depth to any of its voices. The delay system is controlled by the three
DELAY buttons — ON/OFF, SHORT and LONG. The delay effect can be turned
ON or OFF using the ON/OFF button. The SHORT button selects a short delay
time, and the LONG button selects a long delay time. The DS55 memorizes the
delay settings you make for each voice in the SINGLE PLAY mode (USER mem-
ory), so the appropriate settings are automatically recalled each time you select a
voice. DELAY settings are also memorized for the SPLIT and DUAL PLAY modes.
The overall length of the SHORT and LONG delay effects can be adjusted using
the FEEDBACK control on the rear panel. The FEEDBACK control setting affects
the entire delay system and is not memorized for each voice.
VOICE EDITING & THE STORE FUNCTION
Understanding and Using
the Edit Function Displays
The DS55 offers a range of voice editing parameters that allow you to edit any of
its voices — PRESET or USER — to create subtle variations or totally new sounds.
You can even give your original creations original titles so you can identify them at
a glance.
To edit a voice, simply select it in the normal way, then use any of the editing
parameters accessed by the TONE, AMP EG, BRL EG, LFO or FUNCTION buttons
(the various editing parameters are described below). Once you're satisfied with
the sound you've created, use the STORE function (described on page 16) to store
the new voice into one of the 100 USER memory locations. If you do not STORE
the new voice into a USER memory location, all your editing work will be lost as
soon as you select a different voice or press the SINGLE button. Please note that
all editing takes place in a special memory location called the “edit buffer,” and
that any changes you make are not actually made to the original voice you selected
for editing, but to a “copy” of the voice residing in the edit buffer. The contents of
the edit buffer are changed each time you select a new voice — that's why you
have to STORE an edited voice to a USER memory location if you want to keep it.
Each of the DS55's EDIT buttons — TONE, AMP EG, BRL EG, LFO and FUNC-
TION — provides access to a number of related editing parameters. When you
press the TONE button in the EDIT group, for example, the following display will
appear:
“T" = Tone
TONE
EDIT
[TWV]
$=
age
Al2
Tone
=+10
u
VI = Volume
| ] Current value of selected edit parameter.
Selected edit parameter.
Currently selected voice bank and number (i.e. the bank and number of the
voice you are editing).
The TONE button accesses three editing parameters: Tone, Wave and Volume.
These are represented by the three letters inside the square brackets to the right
of the top line of the display — [TWV]. When you first press the TONE button, the
first of the available parameters will automatically be selected. This is indicated by
the fact that the letter “T” within the square brackets is flashing. The other para-
meters — “W” and “V” — can be selected in sequence by pressing the TONE
button. If you press the TONE button again after the last parameter — "V" in this
case — is selected, the first parameter will be selected again. 11

12
TONE -
[TONE button]
Tone
Wave
Volume
AMPLITUDE
ENVELOPE —
[AMP EG button]
This process repeats as many times as you press the TONE button.
All of the other EDIT buttons work in the same way — any of the parameters
accessed by an EDIT button can be selected by pressing the same EDIT button
repeatedly until the letter representing the desired parameter begins to flash. Once
the desired parameter has been selected, its value can be edited by using the -1
and +1 buttons or by directly entering the value using the number buttons (0
through
9).
When
a
parameter
is
selected
that
has
a
range
from
''—'
to
“+”
values,
the “+/-" button located to the right of the +1 button can be used to change a “+”
setting to a '—' one, and vice versa.
Once the required edits have been made, you can press another EDIT button to
access and edit other parameters, press the STORE button to access the STORE
function that allows you to store your creation in a USER memory location, or
select any other mode by pressing the appropriate button.
The
TONE
button
accesses
two
parameters
(Tone
and
Wave)
that
change
the
basic
tone
or
timbre
of
the
voice,
and
one
parameter
(Volume)
that
adjusts
the
overall
volume
of the
voice.
All
of
the
edit
parameters
accessed
by
the
TONE
button
have
a
range
of
-10
to
+10.
A
setting
of
"+00"
represents
the
original
value
of
the
selected
parameter
(i.e.
no
change).
If
an
exclamation
mark
(!)
appears
to
the
right
of
the
parameter's
value,
the
parameter
is
set
at
its
limit
and
cannot
be
increased
or
decreased
further.
“T" = Tone
“W” = Wave
“Y” = Volume
TONE EDIT [TWV]
A12 Tone =+10
This parameter changes the brilliance of the voice. Brilliance can be increased by
setting “+” values, or reduced by setting “-” values.
This parameter actually changes the timbre of the voice by altering its harmonic
structure. The audible change produced will depend to a large degree on the
original voice data.
The Volume parameter adjusts the volume of the voice. This is handy since chang-
ing the Tone and or Wave values can significantly alter the perceived volume of the
voice. Use Volume to set the voice to the required volume level. Volume can be
increased by setting “+” values, or reduced by setting '—' values.
The AMP EG button accesses three parameters that shape the “amplitude enve-
lope” of the voice. The amplitude envelope determines how fast the attack of the
sound is, how quickly the sound decays after the attack, and how quickly the
sound level returns to zero after the note (key) is released. In addition to the tone
or timbre of the sound, the amplitude envelope is one of the most important
factors in “identifying” a specific voice. A simple graphic representation of an
amplitude envelope is given below.
DECAY
SUSTAIN (not adjustable)
LEVEL
RELEASE
TIME
yo
ma

|
All
of
the
edit
parameters
accessed
by
the
AMP
EG
button
have
a
range
of
-10
to
f
+10.
A
setting
of
“+00”
represents
the
original
value
of
the
selected
parameter
(i.e.
no
change).
If
an
exclamation
mark
(l)
apears
to
the
right
of
the
parameter's
value, the parameter
is
set at
its
limit
and
cannot be increased
or decreased
further.
“A” = Attack
“D” = Decay
AMP EG EDIT[ADR]
| A12 Attack =+10
“R” = Release
Attack
The
Attack
parameter
determines
how
fast
the
level
of
the
voice
increases
from
zero to maximum
when a key is
played.
Percussive
voices such
as
piano
and
harpsichord,
for
example,
have
a very
fast attack,
while
strings and
flute type
|
voices
have
a
slower,
gentler
attack.
The
attack
speed
can
be
increased
by
setting
“on o nm
+” values, or reduced by setting '—' values.
Decay Decay is the amount of time it takes for the sound to fall to the sustain level of the
voice after the attack has finished. Some voices have no sustain and will decay to
e
zero
before
the
key
is
released.
The
decay
speed
can
be
increased
by
setting
“+”
E
values, or reduced
by setting
'—' values.
Release Release determines the length of time it takes for the level of the voice to fall to
zero after a note (key) played is released. With voices that have no sustain (i.e.
they decay to zero before the key is released), the release parameter only applies
if
a
key
is
released
before
the
sound
decays
to
zero.
The
release
speed
can
be
”. $”
|
increased
by
setting
“+”
values,
or
reduced
by
setting
''—'
values.
BRILLIANCE The BRL EG button accesses three parameters that shape the “brilliance enve-
ENVELOPE
—
`
one"
of
the
voice.
The
brilliance
envelope
has
the
same
parameters
as
the
ampli-
[BRL EG button] tude envelope, described above. The difference is that the brilliance envelope
changes the tone of the voice rather than its level.
All
of
the
edit
parameters
accessed
by
the
BRL
EG
button
have
a
range
of
-10
to
+10. A setting of “+00” represents the original value of the selected parameter
(i.e. no change). If an exclamation mark (!)appears to the right of the parameter's
value, the parameter is set at its limit and cannot be increased or decreased
| P further.
“A" = Attack
“D” = Decay
BRL EG EDIT[ADR]
A12 Attack =+10
'R' = Release
|
Attack
The
Attack
parameter
determines
how
fast
the
tone
of
the
voice
reaches
its
maxi-
|
mum
brilliance
when
a
key
is
played.
The
brilliance
attack
speed
can
be
increased
li
l
l
“non won
by setting “+” values, or reduced by setting '—' values.
Decay Decay is the amount of time it takes for the brilliance of the sound to fall to an
intermediate level after the attack has finished. The brilliance decay speed can be
“uae
increased by setting “+” values, or reduced by setting '—' values.
Release Release determines the length of time it takes for the tone of the voice to fall to
|
minimum
brilliance
after
a
note
(key)
played
is
released.
The
brilliance
release
| speed can be increased by setting “+” values, or reduced by setting '—' values.
|
VOICE
EDITING
&
THE
STORE
FUNCTION
13
|
A

LOW FREQUENCY
OSCILLATOR
(VIBRATO & TREM-
OLO)— [LFO button]
Speed
Vibrato
Tremolo
OTHER VOICE EDIT-
ING FUNCTIONS —
[FUNCTION button]
Pitch Bend Range
Modulation Wheel
Function
Breath Controller
Function
14
The
three
parameters
accessed
by
the
LFO
button
control
operation
of
the
internal
low-frequency
oscillator.
The
low-frequency
oscillator
is
an
oscillator
with
a
fre-
quency
range
from
a
few
tenths
of
a
second
to
several
seconds,
which
is
used
to
control
slowly
varying
effects
such as
tremolo
and
vibrato.
The
LFO
parameters
allow
you
to
control
the
speed
of
the
LFO,
the
amount
of
tremolo
(periodic
volume
variation)
it
produces,
and the
amount
of
vibrato
(periodic
pitch
variation)
it
pro-
duces.
Tremolo
and vibrato
effects
can
be
produced
simultaneously.
“S” = Speed
“Y” = Vibrato
“T” = Tremolo
LFO EDIT
A12 Speed
Adjusts the speed of the LFO. LFO speed can be increased by setting “+” values,
or reduced by setting '—' values.
Sets
the
depth
of
the
vibrato
effect
produced
by
the
LFO.
Vibrato
depth
can
be
increased
by
setting
“+”
values,
or
reduced
by
setting
“—"
values.
Sets the depth of the tremolo effect produced by the LFO. Tremolo depth can be
increased by setting “+” values, or reduced by setting “~" values.
The
parameters
accessed
by
the
FUNCTION
button
do
not
directly
affect
the
basic
sound
of
the
voice
being
edited,
but
they
control
a
number
of
important
“support”
parameters
such as
how the
DS55's
controllers
(pitch
bend
wheel
and
modulation
wheel)
function,
etc.
“P” = Pitch Bend Range
“M” = Modulation Wheel
“B” = Breath Controller
“N” = Name of Voice
“A” = Assign Mode
“Y” = Velocity Depth
“T" = Transpose
FUNC ED[ PMBNAVT]
Pit bend rng= 12
This
parameter
determines
the
pitch
range
covered
by
the
DS55's
pitch
bend
wheel.
The
range
of
this
parameter
is
from 00 to
12,
with
each
increment
corre-
sponding
to
a
semitone.
A
setting
of
“00”
produces
no
pitch
bend
even
if
the pitch
bend
wheel
is
moved.
A
setting
of
12
gives a
total
range
of
2
octaves
—
one
up
and
one
down
(12
semitones
=
1
octave).
This parameter determines whether the modulation wheel controls vibrato, trem-
olo or wow-wow. The three possible settings are “vib” for vibrato, “tre” for
tremolo, and “wow” for wow-wow. If a modulation wheel function for the se-
lected voice has not been previously selected, “—” appears on the display in place
of “vib,” “tre,” or “wow.”
The Breath Controller Function can be utilized by plugging a YAMAHA BC1 or BC2
into the BREATH jack. This parameter determines whether a YAMAHA BC1 or
BC2 breath controller plugged into the DS55's BREATH jack controls vibrato, trem-
olo or wow-wow. The three possible settings are “vib” for vibrato, “tre” for
tremolo, and “wow” for wow-wow. If a breath controller function for the selected
. voice has not been previously selected, “—” appears on the display in place of
“vib,” “tre,” or “wow.”
14
en

SW
Name of Voice This function lets you create an original title for a new voice you have created, so
you can easily identify it later. When the Name function is called, the current name
of the voice being edited is shown on the lower line of the LCD, and an underline
cursor appears under the first character of the voice name.
|
| i FUNC ED[PMBNAVT] |
| NAME: VoiceName
|
The
DS55's
keyboard
(white
keys)
is
then
used
to
enter
a
new
character
at
the
i
cursor
position.
Numbers
are
entered
using
the
number
buttons.
Refer
to
the
kev-
l
board/character
chart
below
to
see
which
kevs
correspond
to
which
characters.
|
Note
that
the
C1
key
switches
from
upper
to
lower
case,
and
vice
versa.
When
|
upper
case
is
selected,
“NAME” to the
left of the lower
LCD
line
will
be
in
upper-
|
case
characters, while
it
will
appear
in
lower-case
characters
when the
lower-case
|
mode
is
selected.
When
a
character
has
been
entered,
press
a
black
key
on
the
DS55
keyboard
to
move
the
cursor one
character
to
right,
ready
to
enter
the
next
character
of
your voice name. The
—1 and
+1 buttons
can
also
be
used
to move
the
d
e
cursor
backward
and
forward,
respectively.
Continue
entering
the
required
charac-
ters
(or spaces)
until
your
voice
name
is complete.
; |
—
Capital
abcdef
ghijkimnopqrstuvwxyz/::;?
<—
Lowercase
Press
C1
(the
lowest
key)
to
Press
a
white
key
to
enter
Press
a
black
key
to
move
to
the
next
select
lowercase
or
capital
the
corresponding
charac-
character
in
the
voice
name.
(You
can
letters.
ter.
also
use
the
+/-
keys
to
move
through
the
name.)
Note:
”+” and “—" symbols can be entered using the +/- (SYNC) button — press
“uon
EI once for “+” or twice for “-.”
Assign Mode The Assign Mode parameter sets the DS55 for either monophonic (mono) or
polyphonic (poly) operation. The polyphonic mode is the one you'll normally use
with most voices, since it allows you play up to 8 notes simultaneously. The mono
i
mode
is
useful
for
certain
types
of
voices
—
bass
voices
and
some
sound
effects
i
—
since
it can provide a
thicker, richer
sound.
Velocity Depth Velocity Depth determines how the DS55 responds to keyboard dynamics (i.e.
how hard or fast you play the keys). The Velocity Depth range is from 0 to 7. The
higher the setting, the greater the response will be to variations in the way you
play the keys. The amount of variation produced will depend on the initial settings
of individual voices.
Transpose The transpose parameter allows you to shift the pitch of the entire keyboard up or
down by a maximum of 2 octaves in semitone increments. The range is from -24
to +24. A setting of +4, for example, will raise the pitch of the keyboard by a major
third (middle C will have the pitch of E above middle C, etc.).
VOICE EDITING 8: STORE FUNCTION 15
|

THE
STORE
The
STORE
button
actually
accesses
2
functions:
Memory
Protect
and
Store.
As
FUNCTION
—
with
the
voice
editing
functions
described
above,
when
Memory
Protect
is
off
the
[STORE
button]
“P”
and
“S”
functions
are
alternately
selected
by
pressing
the
STORE
button.
Please
note
that
the
STORE
mode
can
only
be
selected
from
a
voice
editing
mode
or the SINGLE PLAY mode.
“P”
ZM
P
STORE
[PS]
|
—
Se
EH
rotect
MEM.protect
=
on
|
Memory
protect
currently
“on.”
Memory protect function selected.
Memory
Protect
Memory
Protect
should
normally
be
turned
“on”
to
prevent
accidental
alteration
of
data
in
the
DS55
memory.
It
is
turned
on
automatically
whenever
the
POWER
switch
is
turned
ON.
Memory
Protect
must
be
turned
“off,”
however,
whenever:
you
store
a
voice
that
you
have
edited
to
a
new
memory
location.
If
you
do
not
">
turn
Memory
Protect
off,
the
STORE
function
cannot
be
selected.
Once
you
have
completed
the
STORE
operation,
it's
a
good
idea
to
turn
Memory
Protect
back
on
to
protect
your
data.
Memory
protect
can
be
turned
"off
by
pressing
the
-1
button,
and
'on'
by
pressing
the
+1
button.
Store
When
you
press
the
STORE
button
a
second
time
after
turning
Memory
Protect
“off,”
a
display
similar
to
the
following
will
appear:
Store
AQ1
to
Ux%
a
The
number
you
input
will
appear here.
Input number!
The
first
voice
on
the
upper
line
is
the
one
you
have
edited
and
will
be
storing
to
a
new
user
memory
location,
and
the
second
(with
the
flashing
asterisks)
is
the
user
memory
location
you
specify
to
which
the
voice
will
be
stored.
Use
the
number
buttons
to
enter
the
number
of
the
memory
location
you
wish
to
store
to
(enter
NA
two
digits).
When
you've
entered
the
second
digit,
the
display
will
look
something
like this:
Store AO1 to U23
<VoiceName> OK 7
Now
press
the
+1
(YES)
button
to
execute
the
STORE
operation,
or
the
-1
(NO)
button
to
cancel
the
STORE
operation
and
return
to
the
previous
display.
Note:
When
you
store
the
voice
you've
created
to
a
location
in
the
User
bank,
any
voice
data
previously
in
that
location
will
be
erased.
16 VOICE EDITING & THE STORE FUNCTION

AUTO PERFORMANCE
The DS55 Auto Performance function provides a range of 43 different Auto Per-
formance sequences that can be used as accompaniment for performance or prac-
tice. The 43 Auto Performance sequences are divided into three types — PAT-
TERN CHANGE, KEY SHIFT and ARPEGGIO — as shown in the Auto Performance
Sequence list, below. In all cases, the selected Auto Performance sequence is
controlled by the keys C1 through C2 (the lowest octave on the DS55 keyboard).
N Auto Performance Sequence list
Number of Number of
Nime Melody Notes* Nanie Melody Notes*
Cruise TV Game
Latin SoulKing
i Swan Dreaming
i e Oh!Blues Country
Respect
Bubble
Roadstar
Maria
LA Night
Japan
Memories
Samba
Wendy
: Fly Away
Power pop
Salsa
I saw H.
Discoman
Metalkid
HeilR&R
Fusion
3 Finger
Nature
Dog walk
IceCream
Ballade
Meatball
Elec Pop
TubeBell
Pizz
Brastring
Syn String
KEY SHIFT
hy
E
Š
E
EN
:
A
ARPEGGIO
Syn Brass
Tin Perc
Nasty
Wood Perc
NNNNYyr-=NNNA2-ODNNN--=mn YF ed
W ra N ra NEP BR ra ba RB Re RB Ne Be RP PP eee
KEY SHIFT
* Number of Melody Notes is the number of notes that can be Played simultaneously on the upper
i octaves of the keyboard while the Auto Performance sequence is Playing. When an Auto Perform-
| ance sequence is playing, the available melody note(s) have no initial touch response.
| Pattern Change The pattern change sequences provide 13 different patterns (selected by pressing
keys C1 through C2) of between 1 and 4 measures in length that can be combined
to create entire compositions in a number of different musical styles. The C1 key,
i for example selects an introduction, the F1 key selects a subdominant pattern, the
G1 key selects a dominant pattern, the D#1 key selects an ending, etc. All you
need to do is to select and start the desired PATTERN CHANGE sequence, then
select the desired patterns by pressing the appropriate keys.
17
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18
The patterns selected by the low-octave keys generally conform to the diagram
below. the "OTHER VARIATIONS’ keys select patterns and 'turn-arounds' that vary
according to the selected Auto Performance Sequence.
ENDING
INTRO OR COUNT-IN OTHER VARIATIONS
BASIC TONIC PATTERN:
Im7 PATTERN Vim PATTERN
lim PATTERN DOMINANT (V) PATTERN
SUBDOMINANT (IV) PATTERN
A basic 3-chord progression can be constructed with any of these Auto Perform-
ance sequences using the C (BASIC TONIC PATTERN), F (SUBDOMINANT PAT-
TERN) and G (DOMINANT PATTERN) keys. Once you get the feel of using these
three basic patterns, try adding the other patterns and variations.
Key Shift The Key Shift sequences are all based on a single pattern that can be transposed
to any key by pressing the appropriate key (between C1 and C2) on the DS55
keyboard. This is ideal for simple '3-chord' type progressions. The KEY SHIFT
patterns are between 1 and 4 measures in length.
Arpeggio Arpeggio, as the name suggests, produces automatic arpeggios when two or more
notes are played on the lower octave of the DS55 keyboard. The DS55 automati-
cally creates appropriate arpeggios for the notes or chord played on the keyboard.
LISTEN TO THE To hear the type of sound that can be achieved using the DS55 Auto Performance
DEMONSTRATION function, try listening to the demonstration sequences provided.
SEQUENCES
1. While in the SINGLE PLAY mode, press the STORE and TUNE buttons simul-
taneously. The following display will appear:
Demo song select
Hit tenky 0-9
2. Press any of the number keys — 0 through 9 — to hear one of the 10 demon-
stration sequences. You can switch to another demonstration sequence at any
time by pressing a different number button. You can play along on the key-
board (one note at a time) while the demonstration sequence is playing.
3. Press the AUTO PERFORMANCE START/STOP button to stop the demo, then
any other mode button to exit from the demonstration mode.
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