YAMAHA SY77 - Synth Demo | Sounds, Patches & Presets

video upload by synth4ever

"Yamaha SY77 FM and AWM synthesizer demo featuring various, sounds patches and presets. The SY77 was a flagship Yamaha FM & AWM2 synth released in 1989. In this Yamaha SY77 synth demo I showcase pads, plucks, ambient soundscapes, strings, motion loops and more.

The Yamaha SY77 has 32-voices of polyphony (16 FM, 16 AWM) and features 6-operator AFM synthesis. This provides 45 algorithms, 3 feedback loops and 16 waveforms, and 16-bit AWM2 sample ROM waveforms which can all be used in various ways to craft layered and complex sounds.

The Yamaha SY77 also has multi-stage Time Variant Filters (lowpass, highpass, multi-pole) with resonance, LFO (sine, saw, triangle and sample & hold), 16-track sequencer (16K note capacity), 61 drum sounds, 16-part multi-timbrality, 4 independent digital effects (2 reverb units w/ 40 effect types & 2 modulation units), as well as a 61-key velocity sensitive keyboard with aftertouch. The SY77 can store up to 128 preset & 64 user patches, 16 preset & 16 user multi-patches. There is also a rack-mount version released in 1990, the Yamaha TG77.

The Yamaha SY77 brings the best of 6-operator FM synthesis and blends it with AWM2 samples to provide new sound design possibilities beyond traditional FM. The combination of these two methods was marketed as Realtime Convolution and Modulation Synthesis (RCM) and enables sounds not possible on a DX7 or DX7 II.

Some advantages of the SY77 include: 5 additional waves besides the standard sine; 45 algorithms (vs 32 on DX7); flexible routing of up to three feedback sources within any algorithm, ability to design custom-routed algorithm via MIDI; routing of FM signal through a configurable filter; and of course layering and manipulation of AWM2 PCM samples with the FM synthesis.

The Yamaha SY77 is still an exceptionally powerful FM synthesizer and can be found for good prices on the 2nd hand market. Build quality is also quite substantial. If you have the opportunity to acquire one and want to go beyond traditional FM and DX7 sounds, the Yamaha SY77, TG77, or even the SY99 are great options. Hope you enjoy this Yamaha SY77 synth demo."