Yamaha PortaSound

'''Yamaha PortaSound''' (and '''PortaTone''') were a series of consumer-grade electronic [[Keyboard instrument|musical keyboards]] were produced by the [[Yamaha Corporation]] thoroughout the 1980s, 1990s and the early 2000s. The name suggests the instruments' portability, with battery operation and integral speakers being a consistent feature across the line, and were generally aimed at hobbyists, home users and for educational use. The instruments almost always featured some sort of built-in [[drum machine]] with an auto accompaniment (arranger) function. The most prolific of both series have been the dynasty of '''PSS''' (mini/half-sized keys) and '''PSR''' (full-size keys) numbered models which continue to form the basis of Yamaha's home keyboard offering to the present day.

Yamaha's closest competition was from [[Casio]] was their corresponding [[Casiotone]] series of instruments, although other major rivals [[Roland Corporation|Roland]] and [[Korg]] later entered the market with similar products.

==PortaSound (PSS/VSS)==

[[File:Yamaha_PSS-780_(10090244096).jpg|thumb|alt=Yamaha PSS-780|Yamaha PSS-780 (1989)]]

The PortaSound models (which generally carried the PS or PSS model prefix, or VSS if the keyboard had sampling capability) were designed for children with half sized keys and simple preset functions suitable for educational use.<ref>{{Cite news|date=1982-03-07|title=Yamaha Portasound keyboard advertisement (1982)|pages=188|work=The Central New Jersey Home News|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/51221145/yamaha-portasound-keyboard/|access-date=2020-05-16}}</ref>. The cheapest models in the PSS line were quite toy-like in appearance and presentation, whilst the most expensive models had simplified versions of features found in professional synthesisers such as [[MIDI]] connectivity, primitive recording or [[Music sequencer|sequencer]] capability and even [[Sampler (musical instrument)|sampler]] functions. In 1982, the line introduced a card reader system which allowed players to learn and play along with sequenced songs.<ref>{{Cite news|date=1982-09-05|title=Yamaha Portasound advertisement (1982)|pages=98|work=Great Falls Tribune|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/51224453/yamaha-portasound-advertisement-1982/|access-date=2020-05-16}}</ref> Some PortaSound models from the late 1980s, such as the PSS-480/680 (1988); are valued for their lo-fi emulations of [[Yamaha DX7]] sounds which are of use to composers of [[synthwave]] music (see "Contemporary use" below).

==PortaTone (PSR/DSR)==

[[File:Yamaha PSR-28 (43411869984).jpg|thumb|right|PSR-28 (1990)]]

The concurrent PortaTone (PSR or DSR model prefix) line of keyboards featured full-size keys (therefore were aimed at older children and adults), but again the instruments were primarily aimed at hobbyists and home users. As with the PortaSound models, many of the more expensive variants in the series borrowed features from Yamaha's professional products; an example being the early flagship model PSR-70 (1985), which used a cut-down version of the company's famous [[Frequency modulation synthesis|FM Synthesis]] tone generation system as found in its DX series of synthesisers.

Following competition in the 1990s from [[Roland Corporation|Roland]] (with its E-Series and G-Series models), and [[Korg]] (with its i-Series) which moved auto accompaniment keyboards further into the professional realm, Yamaha was forced to respond with more advanced PSR keyboards (which often borrowed from its high end [[Electone]] home organs) which were aimed at a much higher price point, culminating in models such as the PSR-6700 (1991) and PSR-9000 (1999) - these flagship models were aimed squarely at professionals with full sound editing capability, sequencing, effects and programmable rhythm arrangements. Yamaha eventually split its flagship/professional auto accompaniment keyboard line into a separate brand - away from PortaSound/PSR - with the '''[[Yamaha Tyros2|Tyros]]''' series of instruments in the 2000s, and more recently the '''Genos''' line.

== Contemporary use == [[Electronic music]]ians and [[Audio engineer|sound engineers]] have used these instruments to achieve an authentic [[Lo-fi music|lo-fi]] sound<ref>{{Cite web|title=7 Cheap Ways to Add Unique Tones to Your Tracks|url=https://reverb.com/news/7-cheap-ways-to-add-unique-tones-and-noise-to-your-tracks|website=reverb.com|language=en|access-date=2019-12-21}}</ref> and some modify them with [[circuit bending]] to extend their sound palettes. As of 2015, musician Dan Friel continues to use a Portasound that he received as a gift in 1984.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Dan Friel Is a DIY Renegade Here to Save Us from Ourselves|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/dan-friel-interview-2015/|last=Cohan|first=Brad|date=2015-11-21|website=Vice|language=en|access-date=2019-12-21}}</ref> Circa 2017, Italian artist Modula released an EP called ''780's Chronicles'', recorded primarily using a Yamaha PSS780.<ref>{{Cite web|title=5 Excellent Electronic Albums Made With a Single Synthesizer|url=https://pitchfork.com/thepitch/5-excellent-electronic-albums-made-with-a-single-synthesizer/|website=Pitchfork|language=en|access-date=2019-12-21}}</ref> Cyril Hahn uses a Yamaha PSS380 in his original compositions, and notes its noise profile as an endearing characteristic.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Cyril Hahn talks production techniques, the influence of DIY culture and creating ambience|url=https://www.musicradar.com/news/dj/cyril-hahn-talks-production-techniques-the-influence-of-diy-culture-and-creating-ambience-588916|last=November 2013|first=Tony Ware 28|website=MusicRadar|language=en|access-date=2020-05-21}}</ref>

== Unofficial software and VST plug-ins == In the 21st century, several independent software developers have produced additional tools to modify and store patches for midi-capable PSS/PSR keyboards, such as PSS Edit,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Bobby's place|url=http://members.chello.at/~bobby100/|website=members.chello.at|access-date=2020-05-16}}</ref> PSS Wave Editor and CTRLR.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Ctrlr – Control your MIDI life (MIDI editor for all your hardware)|url=https://ctrlr.org/|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-16}}</ref> VST plug-in soft-synth versions of some of these keyboards have also been released by various developers, including the Yamaha PSS-170 and PSS-480 by Audio Animals,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Yamaha PSS-170|url=https://www.audioanimals.co.uk/shop/sample-shop/yamaha-pss-170|website=Audio Animals Ltd.|language=en-GB|access-date=2020-05-16}}{{Dead link|date=August 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Yamaha PSS-480 - Free VST Instrument Download|url=https://www.audioanimals.co.uk/news/audio-animals-samples/yamaha-pss-480-free-vst-instrument-download|date=2019-10-18|website=Audio Animals Ltd.|language=en-GB|access-date=2020-05-16|archive-date=2020-08-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200814202807/https://www.audioanimals.co.uk/news/audio-animals-samples/yamaha-pss-480-free-vst-instrument-download|url-status=dead}}</ref> GSS-370 (based on the PSS370 keyboard)<ref>{{Cite web|title=Download Free PSS-370 emulation plug-in: GSS-370 by SynthIV|url=http://www.vst4free.com/free_vst.php?plugin=GSS-370&id=2785|website=www.vst4free.com|access-date=2020-05-16}}</ref> and PortaFM.<ref>{{Cite web|title=PortaFM - Plogue Revives The Iconic Yamaha PSS Synthesizers In A New Plugin|url=https://www.synthanatomy.com/2018/05/portafm-plogue-revives-iconic-yamaha-pss-synthesizers-plugin.html|date=2018-05-15|website=SYNTH ANATOMY|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-16}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Get the sound of your ‘80s PortaSound home keyboard with Plogue’s PortaFM synth plugin|url=https://www.musicradar.com/news/get-the-sound-of-your-80s-portasound-home-keyboard-with-plogues-portafm-synth-plugin|last=May 2018|first=Ben Rogerson 16|website=MusicRadar|language=en|access-date=2020-05-16}}</ref>

== References == <references />

[[Category:Electronic musical instruments]] [[Category:Yamaha synthesizers|Portasound]] [[Category:Products introduced in the 1980s]]