Yamaha S03 Synthesizer

S03 Synthesizer (Click for a close-up)

Yamaha Corporation of America, Digital Musical Instruments, introduces the S03 Synthesizer at Winter NAMM 2001, a turnkey computer recording package for the beginning keyboardist.

The S03 is a small portable keyboard for inputting MIDI notes, coupled with a world-class tone generator featuring digital effects. However, the unit is not only a keyboard, but also an entry-level music studio that bridges the gap between professional sound quality and affordability. Complete with audio/MIDI recording software, a musical database of styles and phrases, plus sound editing and notation suites, the S03 is set to deliver in the first quarter of 2001.

The portable S03 features 61 keys with Initial Touch, full 64-note polyphony and the equivalent of 25 MB of wave ROM (at 16-bit linear conversion). Yamaha's AWM2 tone generation and over 700 incredible sounding voices, including full XG and GM compatibility, provide a complete palette of high-quality sounds: stereo grand pianos, funky basses, analog pads and pounding drum kits. A selection of onboard effects, including chorus and reverb and variations such as distortion and "wah," may also be applied. Users can create their own sounds (including analog-style synth sounds with the 64 resonant low pass filters) and store them in any of 128 user-voice memory locations. The S03 is also bundled with Yamaha XGWorks software for both the PC and Mac.

Panel switches, a large custom-designed LCD display and controllers that include pitch bend and mod wheels provide full control and access to all functions. Connections include MIDI IN/OUT/THRU, stereo headphone out, foot switch, foot controller and a TO HOST port.