Title link takes you to a couple of shots pulled via this auction. The auction states it's an FM synth, but my understanding is it is a Wavetable, vector synth like the Sequential Circuits Prophet VS and Korg Wavestation line of synths. I believe the people that worked on the Prophet VS spent a short time at Yamaha after SCI went under, followed by Korg. If you know more, feel free to comment. It's been a while since I read the full story. The Yamaha TG33 is fully digital.Update via the world of next tuesday in the comments:
"It's a vector synth but the twist is two of the four waves are ROM and the other two are 2 Operator FM, so while it's arguably one of Yamaha's most minimal FM implementations, it does contain FM sounds. It has preset envelopes going on the FM if I recall. There isn't even a digital filter (like the Wavestation), so the FM capability helps fill the void a bit in terms of controlling brightness in timbre. Anyway, as with most Yamaha gear you can download a PDF manual to see what it has in terms of features."
It's a vector synth but the twist is two of the four waves are ROM and the other two are 2 Operator FM, so while it's arguably one of Yamaha's most minimal FM implementations, it does contain FM sounds. It has preset envelopes going on the FM if I recall. There isn't even a digital filter (like the Wavestation), so the FM capability helps fill the void a bit in terms of controlling brightness in timbre. Anyway, as with most Yamaha gear you can download a PDF manual to see what it has in terms of features.
ReplyDeleteLove my lil' TG33 - still one of the best under $100 synth buys out there. Keep the overly late 80's-early 90's digital patches in check, and you're good to go.
ReplyDeleteAh, that's right. I forgot about the two FM waves. Interesting when you think about it.
ReplyDeleteBTW, has nothing to do with the TG55. Their only similar vector synth was the SY22 - which has less voices and a keyboard. The under $100 price probably stems from Yamaha's confusing numbering schemes and inability to publicize their more interesting stuff from the same old thing in a slightly different package & number. Though I guess the joystick ought to tip some people off it's not a straight ROMpler or DX.
ReplyDeleteThe sy35, sy22 and tg33 are all part of the same family. The sy22 and sy35 are supposedly pretty close. sy22 has 12bit waves and sy35 has 16bit waves. Some waveforms are not the same if i remember correctly. The tg33 is a bit different i think but i can't remember why...
ReplyDeleteQuite limited synth engine but tons of waveforms, 2fm and 2waves per patch and vector support makes the whole thing much more interesting.
i'm not sure the tg33 is a wavetable synth per-se. i don't think it interpolates between single cycle waveforms. i think it's just got some looped rom samples. i could be wrong but that's more what mine sounds like. also it has a 2 megs of sample rom (pretty sure) which would be A LOT for a wavetable synth (the fizmo only has 4 megs and it's almost 10 years newer).
ReplyDeletethat said it is a great bargain synth, especially considering how hard it is nowadays to pick up anything comperable in quality for a similar price (cz-101, i'm looking at you). pratically no patching or modulation options, but sweeping between sounds with the joystick is a blast, very hypnotic. it can also record some fairly long joystick movements so in that sense you can make some nice patches with it. it's also multimbral and has pretty solid midi implimentation. just be forewarned that if you pick one up, you're kind of buying a preset synth
Correct - you have rom waves, some of which are more than single sample. It's not a wavetable in the sense you can manipulate the order in any way other than vector mixing up to 4 waves. I kind of doubt the SY22 being 12 bit. The unit isn't that old that they would do an economic bit depth version. But I have no ino one way or the other. I do remember the SY22 had half the polyphony of the TG33. As or being like a preset actually there are hundreds of parameters that can be edited, but here and there there are things you'd think you could go deeper into (like the FM), so that might give certain areas a "preset" feel. It's by no means the final word on vector synthesis or some sort of wonder synth, but something anyone could do with ease is choose a nice preset and then try different waves in place of the ones in the patch. I often came up with winners .
ReplyDeletehold on, hundreds of parameters?
ReplyDeleteyou can select the waveform, tweak the addr amp enevelope (there's a PEG too) and each voice has a whopping 1 lfo. that's not even dozens of paramters, let alone hundreds. unless you're counting the fact that each parameter has a range of 0-99 as being hundreds of parameters
Does anyone know if the ROM cards actually add new PCM waves or are they just program data?
ReplyDelete