Infrequent Sound [sex.tex] technology: Yamaha EOS YS-200 Digital Synthesizer 4-Operator FM Synthesizer (TX81Z), 1988, made in Japan

The Yamaha YS200 is a 4-operator, 8-algorithm, 8-waveform FM synthesizer. It has the same technology that powers the TX81Z and the DX11 but without the "complicated" terminology associated with FM digital sound creation, using instead variables that are easy for all musicians to understand. A cheaper YS100 is also available, lacking the sequencer and aftertouch.

The YS200 comes with an on-board, 8-track sequencer with full erase, copy, delete, insert edit features. Since the YS200 can sound up to eight different voices at once, it is possible to create very complex songs using the sequencer. An proper effect processor is also available, with 9 presets covering reverbs, delays and distortions.

Although the YS200 has the same FM engine of the TX81Z and DX11 and actually is compatible with voices coming from those synthesizers, it totally lacks the full editing abilities, allowing for a very few "easy edit" settings (EG, Tone, LFO, Name and Effect).

The YS100 and YS200 seemingly came at a time of uncertainty about what to do with the DX legacy. Yamaha was determined to solve the legendary "complexity" that plagued the DX7. An advertisement Introduced the YS family stating "The world's best-selling synthesizer had just a couple of rough edges. Now everything is smooth as silk.".

The design is "weird" to put it mildly. The controls should be "laid out in a logical fashion" but it looks more like a 1980s fever dream meets ancient stone inscriptions. The volume "disc" is probably the least used control on the panel but it's huge and doesn't even work as data entry. Frog (same designers of the TQ5 and Apple's Snow White design language) were probably tasked to make easy interfaces for the DX engine of the future but clearly failed since Yamaha quickly came back to the original layout for the SY line of synthesizers that would soon replace the DX7II.

The complexity of FM synthesis is somewhat relieved by the "Easy Edit" controls for basic editing operations, but this can also be limiting since not all parameters are accessible. Full editing of the patches requires a MIDI based patch editor, such as YSEditor, which is available for free but only for the Atari ST. Fortunately, it works on Atari ST emulators for the PC. It's worth the trouble because it allows you to load up your YS with original patches from the TX81Z and some of Yamaha's other classic 4-operator DX synths, making the YS a good way to get your hands on classic patches from several keyboards all in one box.

SPECIFICATIONS

Polyphony: 8 voices
Oscillators: 4-Operator Digital FM synthesizer
Instruments: 8 parts
Filter: None
Effects: reverb, delay and distortion
Keyboard: 61 keys with velocity and aftertouch
Memory: 100 Preset, 100 User, 100 more via External Card
Connection terminals and interfaces:
- Output L/MONO, Output R

- Output Phones (phone jack)
- Sustain, Foot volume
- Breath control
- MIDI IN, MIDI OUT, MIDI THRU
Sequencer: 8-Track, 8 songs (w/ quantization, cut, copy, paste, insert, punch, and more) [Sequencer Resolution: 30000]
Arpeggiator: None
Screen: 40 x 2 character LCD
Date Produced: 1988
Power Consumption: 15 watts
Dimensions: 990 mm x 320 mm x 105 mm
Weight: 6.9 kg

Initially sold for ¥120,000