Yamaha V50 User manual

YAMAHA
®
AUTHORIZED
PRODUCT MANUAL
DIGITAL SYNTHESIZER

DIGITAL SYNTHESIZER
Operating Manual
YAMAHA

SUPPLEMENTAL MARKING INFORMATION
This information on safety is provided to comply with U.S.A. laws, but should be observed by users in all countries.
Yamaha Digital Musical Instrument Products will have either a label similar to the graphic shown below or a molded/stamped
facsimile of the graphic on its enclosure. The explanation of these graphics appears on this page. Please observe all cautions
indicated.
FCC INFORMATION
While the following statements are provided to comply with FCC
Regulations in the United States, the corrective measures listed
below are applicable worldwide.
This series of Yamaha professional music equipment uses frequencies
that appear in the radio frequency range and if installed in the im-
mediate proximity of some types of audio or video devices (within
three meters), interference may occur. This series of Yamaha pro-
fessional music equipment has been type tested and found to comply
with the specifications set for a class B computing device in ac-
cordance 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 con-
tinues 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 following measures:
IMPORTANT NOTICE
FOR THE UNITED KINGDOM
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/or corrective measures.
If you cannot locate a franchised Yamaha professional products
dealer in your general area contact the Electronic Service Department,
Yamaha Corporation of America, 6600 Orangethorpe Ave., Buena
Park, CA 90620, U.S.A.
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 Commission helpful:
“How to Identify and Resolve Radio – TV Interference Problems”.
This booklet is available from the U.S. Government Printing Office,
Washington D.C. 20402 – Stock No. 004-000-00345-4.
The exclamation point within an equila-
teral triangle is intended to alert the user
to the presence of important operating
and maintenance (servicing) instructions
in the literature accompanying the pro-
duct.
The lightning flash with arrowhead sym-
bol, within an equilateral triangle, is in-
tended to alert the user to the presence
of uninsulated “dangerous voltage”
within the product’s enclosure that may
be of sufficient magnitude to constitute
a risk of electric shock to persons.
Connecting the Plug and Cord
IMPORTANT. The wires in this mains lead are
coloured in accordance with the following code:
BLUE
:
NEUTRAL
BROWN
:
LIVE
As the colours of the wires in the mains lead of
this apparatus may not correspond with the
coloured markings identifying the terminals in
your plug proceed as follows:
The wire which is coloured BLUE must be
connected to the terminal which is marked with
the letter N or coloured BLACK.

DIGITAL SYNTHESIZER

INTRODUCTION
Thank you for purchasing the Yamaha V50 Digital Synthesizer. The V50 is a MIDI-
equipped synthesizer utilizing FM tone generation.In addition to its synthesizer
functions, the V50 features a built-in sequencer and rhythm machine, and can act
as an all-in- one music production system.
In order to make full use of the V50’s capabilities and enjoy long and trouble-free
use, please read this manual carefully before use.
FEATURES
Some of the V50’s many features are:
FM tone generation
Sound is produced using Yamaha’s unique FM tone
generation technology (4 operator, 8 algorithm).
One of 8 waveforms can be selected for the output
of each operator, for a wide variety of sounds.
16-note/8-timbre simultaneous notes
In single play mode a single voice can be played
with up to 16 simultaneous notes, and in perform-
ance play mode the 16 notes can be distributed
among up to eight different voices. In addition, DVA
(dynamic voice allocation) mode will automatically
determine the maximum number of simultaneous
notes for each voice, allowing you to concentrate
on your playing.
100 preset voices and performances
100 voices and 100 performances are built into the
permanent memory of the V50 covering a wide
variety of sounds from piano to brass to special
effects.
100 voice and performance memories
100 voice memories and 100 performance memo-
ries are provided for you to store your own cre-
ations.
8-track 16000-note (approximate) sequencer
In addition to the rhythm tracks, an 8-track se-
quencer is built into the V50. By recording musical
parts track by track you can build up an ensemble
of up to 8 instruments using just a single V50. Up
to 8 songs (within a total of approximately 16000
notes) can occupy the V50’s memory and be played
back in succession.
Rhythm machine with PCM-recorded sounds
A rhythm machine with 61 PCM-recorded sounds
is built in. In addition to traditional drum kit in-
struments, the 61 sounds include ethnic instru-
ments and synthesized percussion. These sounds
can be used in synchronization with the sequencer
playback.
Card slot, disk drive
Voice and performance data, and data for the se-
quencer and rhythm machine can be stored on card
or floppy disk. (However, sequencer data cannot
be stored on card.) An MDR function is provided,.
allowing you to store system exclusive data from
external MIDI devices on a V50 disk.
Micro tuning
Tunings other than the conventional equal tem-
perament can be used. Tunings such as Werk-
meister and 1/4 tone are built in, and you can
program the pitch of each key to create your own
tunings.
Performance effects
Three performance effects are built in; delay, pan,
and chord. Four settings of each effect can be
memorized.
Digital effects
A digital effects unit is built in, providing effects such
as digital reverb and digital delay. An effect can be
specified for each voice or performance, allowing
you to use a digital effect as part of the voice or
performance data.
User-editable power-on character display
You can specify a greeting message to be displayed
whenever the power is turned on.

CONTENTS
Precautions
................................................................ 4
How to use this manual............................................
5
Chapter
1 lntroducing the
V50
.....................
6
Front and rear panels...............................................
6
Connections
.............................................................
10
Using a single amp
............................................
10
Using twoamps
.................................................
10
Connecting other equipment via MIDI
...........
10
Making sound
....................................................... 11
Turn the power on ........................................ 11
Any sound?. ........................................................
11
Try out the
sounds
............................................. 12
100 preset performances ................................ 12
100 preset voices ................................................
12
Demonstration playback.......................................... 14
Playing the internal demo
............................... 14
Playing the disk demo
..................................... 14
Basic concepts of the V50 ......................................
15
Internal structure of the V50
........................... 15
Four play modes ............................................
15
Basic operation of the V50
...................................
16
Switching modes .............................................
16
Using the function keys to select operations
......
16
Setting numerical values .................................
17
Inputting characters ....................................... 17
Voices and performances
..................................... 18
Voices ............................................................ 18
Single play mode and maximum
simultaneous notes
......................................... 18
Single play mode display .................................
18
Single play mode LEDs ................................... 18
Performances ................................................... 19
Performance play mode and maximum
simultaneous notes
..........................................
19
Performanceplaymodedisplay
......................
20
Performance play mode LEDs
........................
20
Switching instruments
on/off
........................... 20
When to use single play or performance
play mode
.................................................... 20
Effects
....................................................................
21
Changingthepower-ondisplay
.............................
22
Compatibility with other devices ........................... 22
Data
compatibility with other devices..
........... 22
Cartridges
........................................................ 22
Chapter2Performance
Edit .......................
23
About performance editing .................................... 23
Performance edit
.................................................... 24
Assign mode, performance name..
...................
24
Notes
................................................................
24
Voice number ..................................................
25
Receive channel
................................................
25
Note limit (low)
............................................... 25
Note limit
(high)
.............................................. 26
Detune .............................................................
26
Note shift ........................................................
27
Volume ............................................................
27
Output assign
.................................................. 27
LFO select ....................................................... 28
Micro tuning on/off
.........................................
28
Micro tuning select ........................................ 29
Performance effect select ................................. 30
Effect on/off ....................................................
30
Effect select, effect balance
.............................. 30
Effect output level, stereo mix
......................... 31
Effect parameters ............................................
32
Chapter 3 Voice Edit
.................................
36
The basics of FM tone generation
.........................
36
Operators ......................................................
36
Combinations of operators .............................
36
Carrier and modulator .....................................
36
Algorithm ........................................................
37
Factors determining the tone of a voice ..........
37
About voice
editing
................................................
38
Operator on/off......................................................
38
Voice editing
..........................................................
39
About quick edit
.............................................
39
Quick edit (attack)
...........................................
39
Quick edit (release)
...........................................
39
Quick edit (volume)
..........................................
39
Quick edit (brilliance)
.......................................
40
Algorithm, feedback
.........................................
40
LFO (wave, speed, delay, key sync, PMD,
AMD)
..............................................................
41
Sensitivity (PMS, AMS, AME, EBS, KVS)
..... 43
Oscillator (mode, coarse, fine, wave, detune,
shift, range)
.....................................................
44
Envelope generator (AR, D1R, D2L, D2R,
RR, shift)
........................................................
45
Pitch envelope generator (PR1, PL1, PR2,
PL2, PR3, PL3)
...............................................
47
Output level
.....................................................
48
Keyboard scaling (rate) ...................................
48
Keyboard scaling (level) ..................................
48
Transpose ........................................................
49
Poly/mono mode select, pitch bend wheel range,
foot
switch..
..................................................... 49
Portamento (mode, time)
................................
50
Foot controller (volume, pitch, amplitude)......
50
Modulation wheel (pitch,amplitude)
............... 51
Breath controller (pitch, amplitude, pitch bias,
EG bias)
.........................................................
52
1

Aftertouch (pitch, amplitude, pitch bias,
EG bias)
..........................................................
53
Reverb
............................................................
54
Voice name
......................................................
54
Effect select, effect balance
...............................
54
Effect output level, stereo
mix
.........................
55
Effect parameters
............................................
56
Chapter 4 Using the rhythm machine
......
57
About the rhythm machine
....................................
57
The rhythm machine tone generator
..............
57
Rhythmpatternsandrhythm
songs
...............
57
Rhythm patterns
..............................................
58
Rhythm songs
..................................................
58
Therhythm machineand
sequencer..
..............
58
Playing rhythm patterns
.........................................
58
Creating rhythm patterns
.......................................
60
Realtime recording and step recording
...........
60
Before you begin recording
.............................
60
Realtime recording
.................................................
61
Step recording
........................................................
62
Using the bar graph
...............................................
63
Pattern job functions
.............................................
66
Copy
...............................................................
66
Clear
................................................................
67
Setup
...............................................................
67
Inst settings
.....................................................
68
Rhythm assign
.................................................
69
Playing rhythm songs
.............................................
71
Creating rhythm songs
...........................................
72
Parts and patterns
..........................................
72
Special non-pattern functions
..........................
72
Creating a rhythm song
.........................................
74
Editing a rhythm song
...........................................
75
Jump
................................................................
75
Insert
..............................................................
75
Delete
.............................................................
75
Copy
...............................................................
75
Search
.............................................................
75
Song name
......................................................
76
Song job functions
.................................................
76
Song edit
.........................................................
76
Song copy
........................................................
76
Song clear
.......................................................
77
Setup
..............................................................
77
Inst settings
...................................................
77
Rhythm assign
.................................................
77
Search .............................................................
77
Chapter 5 Using the sequencer
................
78
About the sequencer
.............................................
78
What is a sequencer?
........................................
78
Tracks
.............................................................
78
Realtime recording and step recording
.......... 78
2
Songs
.........................................................
78
Sequencer Data..........................................................
79
The sequencer and the synthesizer
...............
79
Synthesizer preparations
.......................................
80
Rhythm machine preparations
...............................
81
Realtime recording procedure
................................
82
Select the sequencer function
...........................
82
Select a song to record
....................................
82
Select realtime recording
.................................
82
Set recording conditions
..................................
83
Start and Stop recording
..............................
83
Step recording procedure
......................................
84
Select the sequencer function
...........................
84
Select a song to record
...................................
84
Select step recording
........................................
84
Set recording conditions
..................................
84
Start and Stop recording
.................................
85
Playing a song,
........................................................
87
Punch-in recording
.................................................
88
Setup functions
......................................................
88
Setting transmit channels
.......................................
90
Song job functions
................................................
90
Edit functions
........................................................
91
Track mixdown
..............................................
91
Quantize
.........................................................
91
Delete
.............................................................
92
Insert
..............................................................
92
Copy
...............................................................
92
Erase
...............................................................
93
Remove
.........................................................
93
Setting recording conditions
.................................
94
Storing setup data
..................................................
94
Chapter 6 Utility functions
...........................
95
Card operations
....................................................
95
Type of memory card
......................................
95
About Card formatting
..................................
95
About Card banks
..........................................
95
Card format
.............................................
95
Data
saved and loadedfrom
card..
................ 96
Save
................................................................
97
Load................................................................
98
MIDI functions......................................................
99
Channel information (MIDI on/off, basic
receive channel, transmit channel, local on/off .
99
Switch (MIDI control change, MIDI
aftertouch, MIDI pitch bend)
..........................
100
Condition (note on/off, data entry assign)
......
101
Program change
..............................................
101
Program
changetable
initialize
......................
102
Program change tableedit
...............................
103
Exclusive
message
(device
number)
................
103
Exclusivemessage
(bulkdump)
.....................
103
Disk functions
........................................................
105

About the disk
................................................
105
Save
................................................................
105
Load
...............................................................
105
Delete
.......................................................
106
Rename
..........................................................
107
MDR..............................................................
107
Directory
........................................................
108
Format ...........................................................
108
Backup..............................................................
108
status
.............................................................
109
Memory protect
....................................................
109
Memoryprotect
(internal,
card)
......................
109
Setup functions
....................................................
110
Master tuning,synthesizervolume
.................
110
Combine
.........................................................
110
Controller reset
..............................................
110
Performance
effect(delay)
.............................
111
Performance effect (pan)
................................
112
Performance
effect(chord)
.............................
113
About microtuning
........................................
114
Microtuning (octave edit)
...............................
114
Microtuning (octave initialize)
.......................
114
Microtuning
(full
keyboardedit)
...................
115
Microtuning
(full
keyboard
initialize)
............
115
Velocity(fixed
velocity, velocity curve)
.........
115
Damp(EG forced damp,
volume damp)
........
116
Other functions
.....................................................
117
Voice initialize
................................................
117
Performance
initialize
...................................
117
Voice recall
.....................................................
117
Performance
recall
..........................................
117
Preset load
......................................................
118
Voice edit
......................................................
118
Store functions
......................................................
119
Voice store
.....................................................
119
Performance
store
.........................................
119
Voicestorewhenusingvoice
edit
................
119
Copy functions
...............................................
120
Effect copy
..................................................
120
Performanceeffect
copy
................................
120
Envelope generator copy
................................
120
Compare
functions
................................................
121
Voice compare
..............................................
121
Performance compare
.....................................
121
Appendix
...........................................................
122
Troubleshooting
..................................................
122
Preset voices
........................................................
124
Preset performances
.............................................
124
Initialized
performance
settings
...........................
125
Initialized voice settings
........................................
126
Specifications
........................................................
127
MIDI data format
..................................................
128
MIDI Implementation Chart
.................................
145
Performance data blank chart
................................
148
Voice data blank chart...........................................
149
IMPORTANT SAFETY AND INSTALLATION
INSTRUCTIONS
.................................................
150
SPECIAL MESSAGE SECTION
........................
151
Index
...............................................................
152
3

PRECAUTIONS
The V50 is a precision electronic instrument. To ensure long and trouble-free use,
please read the following precautions.
Location
Avoid placing the V50 in direct sunlight, or in locations
where it will be subjected to temperature extremes,
moisture, excessive dust, or heavy vibration.
Handling
Avoid applying excessive force to the switches,
dropping or rough handling of the unit. While the
circuitry is of reliable integrated circuit design, the V50
should be treated with care.
Power cable
Always grip the plug directly when removing it from
an AC outlet. Removing the plug from the AC outlet
by pulling the cable can result in damage to the cable,
and possibly a short circuit. It is also a good idea to
disconnect the V50 from the AC outlet if you don’t
plan to use it for an extended period of time.
Turning the power on
If one or more devices are connected to the V50 via
MIDI cable, turn on the power switches starting with
the transmitting devices (keyboards, sequencers, etc.)
Connections
To avoid damage to speakers, make all audio con-
nections with the power of the V50 and other units
turned off.
MIDI cables
Use cables specifically intended for MIDI. Using MIDI
cables longer than 15 meters (45 feet) can result in data
errors.
Cleaning
Use only a mild detergent on a cloth, and dry with a
soft cloth. Never use solvents (such as benzine or
thinner) since they can melt or discolor the finish.
Electrical storms (lightning)
Computer circuitry, including that in the V50, is sen-
sitive to voltage spikes. For this reason, the V50 should
be turned off and unplugged from the AC receptacle
in the event of an electrical storm. This precaution
will minimize the chance that a high voltage spike
caused by lightning will damage the unit.
4
Electromagnetic fields
Computer circuitry is also sensitive to electromagnetic
radiation. Television sets, radio receivers, transmitters
and transceivers, and wireless microphone or intercom
systems are all potential sources of such radiation. The
V50 should not be placed too close to such devices.
Backup battery
The V50 has a backup battery that allows it to retain
its voice and performance data even when discon-
nected from the AC outlet. The life of this battery is
approximately 5 years. When the backup battery runs
low, the first line of the LCD will show "Change int
battery!". When the backup battery runs completely
out, the voice and performance data will be lost, so
immediately save the data to an optional RAM card
or to disk. Contact the dealer where you purchased
your V50 or a Yamaha service center to have the
battery replaced. When the battery is replaced, the
voice and performance data will be lost, so be sure to
store the data to RAM card or disk.
Floppy disk drive
When moving the V50, be sure to insert the included
dummy disk or an ordinary floppy disk (only if the data
is not essential) into the disk drive to protect the floppy
disk drive heads.
Floppy disks
Use 3.5” 2DD (double sided double density) disks.
NEVER remove the disk while the drive is accessing
the disk (when the disk LED is on). Do not leave disks
where there is a strong magnetic field (near speakers
or video monitors), or in direct sunlight. Do not bend
or put pressure on disks. Do not open the disk shutter
and touch the disk surface. We recommend that you
copy (backup) important data on one or more disks.

HOW TO USE THIS MANUAL
This manual is divided into chapters 1—6 and an appendix.
If you are using the V50 for the first time, we suggest you read chapter 1. This
will give you a basic understanding of all operations. You can refer to the remaining
chapters as necessary, when you want to take full advantage of the V50’s functions.
Chapter
1. Introducing the
V50
2. Performance Edit
3. Voice Edit
4. Using the rhythm
machine
5. Using the
sequencer
6. Utility functions
Appendix
MIDI format
Subject
First-time users Experienced FM users
Experienced V50 users
Important points to know Please read this section Not absolutely nec-
when using the V50, and basic essary to read
operation
Explains how to edit a per-
formance Read when you want to edit a performance Read when necessary
Explains how to edit a voice Read when you want Skim through Read when necessary
to edit a voice
Explains how to use the
rhythm machine Read when you want to use the rhythm machine
Explains how to use the se-
quencer Read when you want to use
the sequencer
Explains how to store, use the Read when necessary
disk and card, and make MIDI
settings
Explains the preset voices
Explains the MIDI data for-
mat of the V50
Read when necessary
Read when necessary
5