YAMAHA SY-2 Synthesizer

via this auction

"YAMAHA SY-2 was the company's second venture into the blossoming synth market (no prizes what the first one was, then....). Its major claim to fame was the movie useage in "Close Encounters of the Third Kind", when played by Francois Trufflemanger (or whatever his name was...) whilst waiting for the aliens to come out to play and give back the fighter planes etc they nicked (thieving gits...). He wasn't a great player.at all..only five notes in his portfolio. Its surprising that a Japanese synth was used at all. This was the era of synths when Moog & Sequential & ARP were champions of the the terrestial world....hey, thats the crazy world we and the aliens live in...........doo dee doo de doooooo"

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Yamaha SY-2 Analog Synthesizer

YouTube via stephenteller
"Some vintage tones from the Yamaha SY-2. This synth features the same filter as the legendary GX-1 which was the pre-cursor to the mighty CS-80. You'll hear the similarity instantly. This keyboard also features aftertouch."

Yamaha SY-2 Synthesizer SN 1202

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via this auction


"An original, vintage Yamaha SY-2 Synthesizer with attachable legs, in good condition. A bit scratched, one broken button, but otherwise great! A true collector's item."

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Yamaha SY-2 Synthesizer

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via this auction

"Vintage Yamaha SY-2 Synthesizer - monophonic single-VCO analog synthesizer with 28 preset sounds. Editing can be done using the 8 sliders to the right of the 37-note keyboard.

Monophonic, no midi, no sequencer,
- an aftertouch (for controlling filter, volume or vibrato)
- a "pulse width" and a "tone bend" which is perfect for funky aggressive bass lines
- envelope (ADSR) and filter (LP-HP)
- portamento, vibrato and a few other things
- 4 octave switch
- you can choose between preset and control for five parameters"

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Yamaha SY-2

via this auction
"The big star here is the filter; it is the same filter that was put in the mighty Yamaha GX-1 (One could debate as to it being Yamaha biggest, most wonderful synth ever; the only contender being the CS-80 but even then, the GX-1 was much more elaborate and expensive). Personally I'd describe this filter as sitting somewhere between the larger Yamaha CS units' filter and that of the MS-20 (But much more musical than the MS20's). It can get extremely resonate (it has both a low-pass AND high-pass filter, both featuring separate resonance controllers) making it great for squelchy basslines. There are lots of control options for this synth, it just takes a little time to wrap your head around what Yamaha thought was a good thing to name a control function and what it actually does. One could liken it to a 1 (maybe 2) VCO synth with 2 envelopes, a LFO, slide, VCF in, touch modulation, Pulsewidth control, etc. The unit also come with the original foot expression pedal for sweeping the filter, volune, etc, the metal stand legs (two poles are missing the plastic parts on the feet but I'm sure you can find those off an old desk or at Home Depot or something. I've never needed them), and the top of the case which latches on, protecting the synth for transport (as you can see the synth is built like a flight case). There is a section inside the top to store the legs as well."

Yamaha CSY-1 ( SY-1 ) Analog Synth / Organ GX1 Filter

via this auction

"In 1974 Yamaha released their first ever synth, the SY-1 which was also available in the rare form of the CSY-1 which we have here, a funky 2 manual organ with the SY-1 built-in and playable from either the upper keyboard or the 13 note bass pedals.

The sound is amazing, organic, unique and very expressive too thanks to Yamaha's excellent pressure sensitive keyboard (aftertouch) which can be assigned to various parameters. The presets are pants as you'd expect but get tweaking and it really comes to life. It's something a bit different. The sound is in my opinion very similar to the mighty Yamaha GX-1's monosynth section and I have been told that they even share the same filter circuitry, if not more. (The GX-1 was made in 1975). If you can't find a GX-1 for sale or just don't have £100,000 or so to pay for one but simply must have that bubbly warm early Yamaha sound then here's your solution.

From the CSY-1 operation manual, "Do not be alarmed if sound rattling (sympathetic vibration) occurs. All materials have critical resonance frequencies at which they vibrate. Since the CSY-1 produces continuous tones, it is only normal that some will cause windows, shelves etc. to rattle."

The CSY-1 has it's own amplification/speakers built in and even has a real built in Leslie type 2 speed rotary speaker, the synth sounds great through this and the spring reverb is very sweet too.

Have a listen to Royksopp, see if you can spot it, it's one of their favourite synths. You can get an idea of the sounds on Youtube. Search for Yamaha SY1 / SY2, there are a few demos, also search for a Youtube video called Synth Barocco, the soundtrack is exclusively CSY-1. You can also download the whole CSY-1 manual if you go to the Yamaha online manual library."

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1970's Yamaha SY-1 Monophonic Analog Synth

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via SYNTH CITY Reverb

Note auction links are affiliate links. See the site's privacy policy for more info.

"Super cool little analog preset synthesizer from Yamaha. It's a fun little machine, set it on top of your favorite organ or stage piano for a nostalgic ride into the 70s. Great working and cosmetic condition over all.

-Polyphony - Monophonic -Oscillators - 1 VCO -Filter - Low pass resonant analog filter (SY-2 adds a High pass resonant filter) -LFO - 1 LFO for Vibrato or Wah-Wah -VCA - Attack, Sustain (SY-2 adds Decay, Release) -Memory - 28 presets: Clarinet, Flute, Bassoon, French Horn, Bass Clarient, English Horn, Trombone, Trumpet, Saxophone, Oboe, Pizz Violin, Guitar, Hawaiian Guitar, Pizz Bass, Sousaphone, Wah Guitar, Bow Violin, Piano, Harpsichord, Contrabass, Tuba, Bass Guitar, Pulsar, Growlpet, Reed, Funny, Trumute, Double. -Keyboard - 37 keys with Aftertouch -Effects - Portamento, Attack Pitch/Tone Bend -Weight - 26 lbs. (12 kg)"

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Yamaha SY-2

via this auction: "This was yamaha's very first entry into the synthesizer world. This keyboard came out before the popular CS series. This monophonic VCO synthesizer has 28 presets all of which can be edited, but not saved. The SY-2 comes with its original stand legs, which are inside the case (see pics). These legs screw onto the bottom of the keyboard."

Interesting coincidence this showed up after this post. Title link takes you to more shots.

Korg Delta & Yamaha SY 2

video upload by noddyspuncture

"The Delta is running through a Yamaha SPX90 'Symphonic Chorus' patch and the SY-2 is running through a Roland DEP5 'Repeat Echo' patch - panned to one side. Both are also running through the reverb on the Alesis mixer."

Yamaha SY-2

Published on Jan 28, 2020 noddyspuncture

"The SY-2 is actually a little piece of the Yamaha GX-1.... 😎"

1976 Yamaha SY-2 Synthesizer - BROCHURE

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via this auction

"This is a 4 page, full-color brochure with excellent photography, graphics and charts on the Yamaha SY-2Synthesizer. Covers all front panel features. Also has specification charts. This is from 1976."

Yamaha Reface Is Coming - New CS/SY Series Influenced Synth in the Works?

Uploaded on Jun 16, 2015 Yamaha Corporation of America

New Yamaha CS series?

1. Note the ring mod throughout the audio in the video.
2. What is that at :03? Yamaha SY-1 style levers?
3. Main synthesizer in techno at :05?
4. Seems like a piano player made the keys at :07. CS80 keys?
5. What is that at :09 - :10? SY/CS style levers & different style rocker switches?
6. Take me down memory lane at :19?
7. Ends with a nod to Yamaha CS series pipe dream at :24.

Update: looks like we'll know in 15 days: https://yamahasynth.com The tagline states: "Get ready to create your sound any place, any time."

NYZ DRN4 DECLASSIFIED

Exclusive mix on SoundCloud:


And a track from the release on Bandcamp:


Tracklist:

1. NYZ_FMMGKSQ_43t
2. ISR_16x16_WCM
3. CSN [excerpt 2 mono]
4. SWI_r170_16x32x32_B
5. SWI_FM1#16
6. NYZ-1_1#08_A [finite downsized]
7.CSN1 [excerpt 1 mono]

Be sure to see the MATRIXSYNTH exclusive further below!

FM EXPLORATIONS AND MICROTONAL DRONES FROM NYZ (AKA DAVE NOYZE, DAVID BURRASTON, NOYZELAB, BRYEN TELKO)

This is the first release by NYZ and is a superb musical collection of research areas classified to internal Noyzelab operations. Not even .MEDS label were informed of the secret processes underlying its creation, excepting that we know it involved Frequency Modulation (FM) synthesis! We have not been given any information regarding when this work was recorded, but we suspect the material spans at least a decade of David's FM algorithm research on numerous synthesizers, as well his own custom built ear deceiving gear...

According to one reviewer of David's previous musical output he "gleefully disrupts just about every standard convention of musical form you could think of, including those of so-called experimental musics."

Other reviewers have written that :
"His music is a bizarre, yet compelling journey investigating the outer realms of music generated on ancient & contemporary machines." "It's strikingly original audio that doesn't really sound like anything else I can think of." "Utterly sublime. So there you go, a life-affirming slab of mind-altering sound to reawaken you to the terrifying possibilities of creation."

"absolutely wreaks havoc" wrote Keith Fullerton Whitman on reviewing David's last release T. H. Cycle cassette on Important Records/Cassauna .

Cassette releases April 1, 2016

All Audio by David Burraston
Design Tom Knapp

----

MATRIXSYNTH recently asked NYZ why he put together this new album of FM synthesis based explorations, and whether he would discuss some of the process behind it. The declassified information below has been put together by NYZ especially for a MATRIXSYNTH exclusive.

***BEGIN NYZ DRN4 DECLASSIFICATION REPORT***

DC REPORT STATUS: PARTIAL DECLASSIFICATION ONLY
PARTIAL DC STATUS: INCOMPLETE CELLULAR BINARY SPACETIME
PARTIAL DC LEVEL: SEMI-PICTORIAL_TEXTUAL_HIGHLIGHTS
FUTURE DC STATUS: _PENDING

The main reasons for making this album were an interest in FM synthesis in both analogue modular and MIDI/digital mediums. I had worked with digital FM synthesis since getting a Yamaha TX81Z when they came out back in 1987 (which I still have, along with another backup machine with a very hummy mains transformer which bleeds onto the outs). How me and another synth friend used to cry with drunken laughter at preset D11 Hole in 1... :) But after initially wondering whether I had just wasted about 350 UK pounds on an utter piece of shit... I quickly warmed to its better presets, and its very different approach to synthesis yielded enough interesting results early on for it not to get outed.

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Yamaha Electone "Synths"

Video of the Yamaha D-80 by Mattias. I always seem to forget that some of the Yamaha Electone home organs had synth sections and with the D-80, an arpeggiator as well.

Frank who is an Electone enthusiast posted the following on AH and gave me the ok to put it up here:

"I've got the 415: image

which is probably the last of their analogue spinet organs.

Very cool machine. The solo synth on mine sounds very SY-1 or SY-2'ish. You can have pitch and/or filter mod with left-to-right wiggling of the solo section keys too. It takes a little getting used to, but once you get the hang of it, it can be pretty expressive.

The strings, with soft attack and longer release, through the synphonic ensemble (BBD ensemble) or the rotary speaker (!) can be very pleasant.

Jeff Koepper tried mine a couple of weeks ago and got all sorts of cool un-home-organ-like things out of it.

Yamaha made a whole bunch of these kinds of miniature three manual organs with solo synths in them. Earliest is probably the DK-40, then at least there was the D-80, D-85 and 415. The D-85 and 415 seem to be nearly identical, feature wise.

The DK-40 is technologically not too distant from the earliest group of Yamaha analogue organs, and I suspect it shares similar circuitry to the YC series of organs.

Also, the DK-40 has a 'fourth' manual, in the form of a separate 'portamento' synth, which is played from a ribbon controller to the left of the solo synth keys. You can just barely see it in this image the green tabs control the portamento ribbon, which extends right in front of them.

I kid myself that the 415 is sorta like a cut down EX-1. It isn't really, but it's fun to pretend, and I don't anticipate ever owning an EX-1, for a number of reasons! :-)

Frank
Electone enthusiast"

Update via buckystoppz in the comments:
"I also have the 415 and use it to death! People are sleeping on these, I got it for $120 on eBay locally. They were about $8000 new in the early eighties."

Yamaha SY-2 SN 3081

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this auction

"Super organic, extremely expressive, warm sounding synthesizer.

It could basically be viewed as a sort of single-voice CS-80.

Those two filters are rather amazing !

In a very good condition.

Included are the original upper case lid, chrome legs, and chrome sheetmusic stand (which is often missing for some reason).

A few flaws:

- Due to age,the filter sliders exhibit some static while beeing moved

(I wonder if there are any SY-2's out there without it - this is my 4th one and the 3 before all had the same to various degrees).

Rherefore, some cleaning might be needed.

- At the bottom of the synth, the compartment holding the power cord is missing a small metal piece, which is used to open the door.

Now a small screwdriver or something similar is needed.

Just minor flaws, but should be mentioned anyway, of course.

220 VAC

Thanks for looking, have a great day ! :-)"

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Yamaha SY-2

via this auction

"The SY-2 was used by the BBC radiophonic workshop on Hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy, and more! It was also used in Close encounters of the third kind (last picture, played by none other than mr François Truffaut!)."

1975 Yamaha SY-2

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via this auction

"An underrated synthesizer, the SY-2 has a really fun vibe to it. Imagine a preset based monosynth with a CS series tone to it. In very good cosmetic condition, comes with lid and legs."

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Happy New Year From MATRIXSYNTH! - A Look Back at 2015

Happy New Year everyone!  I want to thank you all for a great 2015 and I wish you all the best in 2016!

The following is my yearly round up for the year.  Feel free to dig into this post as much you like, or skip it and leave a comment at the bottom of the post. I'd be curious to hear what stood out for you in 2015. Do you like the direction the synthesizer world is headed in, or would you rather see more or less of any type of product?

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Synth Ambient Album made with Minilogue XD, Microbrute, JX8P, Yamaha SY-1 & others

Published on Apr 9, 2020 Synth & Sundry

"This album is full of synthesizer sounds from the Korg Minilogue XD hardware analog synthesizer, Roland JX8P vintage polysynth keyboard, Yamaha SY-1 vintage analog synth, Arturia Microbrute hardware analog synth, Mellotron and Solina V plugin emulations, Krakli Arminator 2 32-bit VST plugin inspired by the CS80, PG8X VST emulation of the Roland JX8P, Samples From Mars, Ableton Live 10 Drums and Wavetable virtual instrument, TAL U-NO-LX plugin emulation of the Roland Juno 60, Deputy Mark II VST string ensemble emulation, OP-X Pro II plugin emulation of the Oberheim OB-X and reFX Nexus 2 plugin.

Available on Bandcamp: https://alpicat.bandcamp.com/album/mi...



If you like Tangerine Dream, Vangelis and eighties synth soundtracks then you'll enjoy this album

Alpicat - Midi Message (Full Album)
=============================
Album Track Listing and Time Stamps:

01 The first message - 00:00
02 Pic du Midi - 05:04
03 Approaching Cascadia - 11:58
04 At the tone - 16:21
05 The Maastricht Years - 20:22
06 South(eastern) quadrant - 24:38
07 Midi message - 26:58
08 127 possibilities - 32:08
09 Valley of the Oô - 34:35
10 Safe to drink (Agua potable) - 39:32
11 Midway to Midi - 45:02
12 Before the message - 48:58

Written and produced by Alpicat
Track 3 and 6 co-produced with Synth&Sundry
United Kingdom © 2020

Runtime: 51:44

If you'd like to support this channel with a one-off purchase, please check out our affordably priced music: https://synthandsundry.bandcamp.com"

Yamaha SY-2 with Legs and Lid.

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via this auction

"Sounds gorgeous, for me, it's the best 'preset' analog monophonic synthesizer, due to its versatility and multimode filter (missing in the older brother SY-1)."

Note the Happy Moog record/LP in the background.

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