New Yamaha Synth Plug-In Boards at NAMM

Yamaha Corporation of America, Pro Audio & Combo Division, Digital Musical Instruments, introduces three new plug-in boards for use with products supporting the company's Modular Synthesis Plug-in System. This expansion technology allows users to augment the capabilities of their Yamaha synthesizers, not only with additional voices or waveform ROM as in other systems, but with completely new synthesis engines.

"For an amazingly low price, a single Yamaha synthesizer can now be customized to provide the exact sounds and sound-generation techniques that any particular user may be looking for," notes Athan Billias, marketing manager, Digital Musical Instruments. "From intelligent vocal harmonizing to physical modeling and FM synthesis, these boards provide an inexpensive way for users to expand their musical toolsets."

Due to the drastically reduced manufacturing costs involved in the production of a plug-in board versus those of an entire external sound module, this expansion strategy allows users to equip many current Yamaha keyboards, sound modules and audio cards with advanced sound-generation technologies, such as physical modeling, at incredibly cost-effective price points. Depending on the host synthesizer, up to three plug-in boards may be installed simultaneously. This allows users to "mix and match" sounds from different boards, easily creating rich multi-timbral arrangements and layers.

Instruments compatible with the PLG line of plug-in boards include the new S80 and CS6X synthesizer keyboards and the CS6R tone generator, each of which can hold any two boards. The MU100, MU90 tone generators and the SW1000XG PCI-format audio-production card can each receive any one plug-in board. Yamaha's MU128 Tone Generator provides the ultimate in sound-expansion possibilities, allowing users to have up to three plug-in boards installed at a time.

New plug-in boards being introduced at this Summer NAMM include the PLG-150AN, which generates sound using a highly realistic physical model of a classic analog synthesizer. This five-voice polyphonic board features 512 analog-type voices that cover a wide range of musical styles and production needs. Capable of producing even the fattest in synthesizer sounds thanks to its two-oscillator voice structure, the PLG-150AN also includes multi-mode, resonant, analog-style filters, allowing for even deeper sound-creation possibilities. The PLG-150AN is scheduled to ship in July 1999.

For those looking to acquire the elusive sound of a concert-quality grand piano in a digital package, Yamaha introduces the PLG-150-PF Piano Plug-in Board. Featuring 136 high-quality, built-in voices, the PLG-150-PF delivers the acoustic and electric piano sounds that have made Yamaha keyboard instruments the first choice for musicians around the world.

Based on Yamaha's AWM2 (Advanced Wave Memory 2) sound-generation technology, the PLG-150-PF provides an additional 64 notes of polyphony to the unit in which its installed. Onboard effects are also included, allowing the effects of the host instrument to be dedicated to other tasks while the voices produced by the PLG-150-PF receive independent processing. The PLG-150-PF Piano Plug-in board is scheduled to ship in July 1999. The PLG-100XG provides a 32-note polyphonic XG-compatible synthesizer with effects on a single plug-in board. Featuring 16 multi-timbral parts, this high-quality synthesizer responds to all General MIDI and Yamaha XG-format messages. This makes it an ideal sound source for those looking to play back or create multimedia content.

The PLG-100XG is scheduled to ship in September, 1999. Currently available plug-in boards include the PLG-100-DX, which provides a 16-note polyphonic, DX7-compatible FM synthesizer on a card.

The PLG-100VL uses Yamaha's VL-synthesis physical-modeling technology to produce a highly expressive solo voice. Ideal for a wide range of musical applications, the PLG-100VL features acoustic instrument voices of startlingly realism along with cutting-edge electronic sounds.

The PLG-100VH generates three studio-quality harmony parts from any vocal part. Featuring algorithms designed specifically for processing the human voice, this new plug-in board provides features and quality surpassing units that retail for more than 10 time its price. Onboard formant correction provides natural-sounding harmonies, free of pitch shift distortion. Intelligent pitch tracking allows for harmonies to be created based on chords played on a MIDI keyboard. In addition, each voice of harmony has independent voice controls, allowing users to easily create natural sounding differences among voices.