Yamaha QY series: Difference between revisions

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* The [[Yamaha QY10]] was the first in the series, released in 1991. It is a portable battery-powered sequencer roughly the same size as a VHS tape, featuring a non-backlit 1×16 character LCD screen, MIDI in and out ports, and 3.5mm stereo line out. It has 8 parts, 32-voice polyphony, 31 melodic instrument sounds and 26 drum/percussion sounds.<ref name=mt-qy10 />
* The [[Yamaha QY10]] was the first in the series, released in 1991. It is a portable battery-powered sequencer roughly the same size as a VHS tape, featuring a non-backlit 1×16 character LCD screen, MIDI in and out ports, and 3.5mm stereo line out. It has 8 parts, 32-voice polyphony, 31 melodic instrument sounds and 26 drum/percussion sounds.<ref name=mt-qy10 />
* The [[Yamaha QY20]], released in 1993,<ref name=sos-qy22></ref> improved upon the QY10 by introducing a large 128×64 graphic display with an interface similar to the [[Yamaha TG series]], 16-part multitimbrality, 100 preset melodic instrument sounds, and 100 preset drum sounds (across 8 drumkits).<ref>[https://usa.yamaha.com/files/download/other_assets/5/320975/QY20E1.pdf Yamaha QY20 Owner's Manual], page 185.</ref> It is also partially General MIDI-compatible.
* The [[Yamaha QY20]], released in 1992,<ref>[https://www.yamaha.com/en/about/experience/innovation-road/collection/detail/2062/ QY20 - Display Collection - INNOVATION ROAD - Yamaha Corporation]</ref><ref name=sos-qy22></ref> improved upon the QY10 by introducing a large 128×64 graphic display with an interface similar to the [[Yamaha TG series]], 16-part multitimbrality, 100 preset melodic instrument sounds, and 100 preset drum sounds (across 8 drumkits).<ref>[https://usa.yamaha.com/files/download/other_assets/5/320975/QY20E1.pdf Yamaha QY20 Owner's Manual], page 185.</ref> It is also partially General MIDI-compatible.
* The [[Yamaha QY8]], released in 1994, is a smaller, cheaper, simplified model with a custom (not graphic or character) LCD and no micro-keyboard. Like the QY20 it features partial GM compatibility.<ref>[https://www.soundonsound.com/reviews/yamaha-qy8 Yamaha QY8], Martin Russ, ''Sound on Sound'', September 1994.</ref>
* The [[Yamaha QY8]], released in 1994, is a smaller, cheaper, simplified model with a custom (not graphic or character) LCD and no micro-keyboard. Like the QY20 it features partial GM compatibility.<ref>[https://www.soundonsound.com/reviews/yamaha-qy8 Yamaha QY8], Martin Russ, ''Sound on Sound'', September 1994.</ref>
* The [[Yamaha QY22]] was the first to be fully [[General MIDI]]-compatible, released in 1995, but is otherwise only a minor upgrade over the QY20.<ref name=sos-qy22>[https://www.soundonsound.com/reviews/yamaha-qy22 Yamaha QY22], Derek Johnson, ''Sound on Sound'', November 1995.</ref>
* The [[Yamaha QY22]] was the first to be fully [[General MIDI]]-compatible, released in 1995, but is otherwise only a minor upgrade over the QY20.<ref name=sos-qy22>[https://www.soundonsound.com/reviews/yamaha-qy22 Yamaha QY22], Derek Johnson, ''Sound on Sound'', November 1995.</ref>

Revision as of 20:26, 15 September 2024

The Yamaha QY series is a line of MIDI sequencers with integrated tone generators, or MIDI workstations, made by Yamaha. Most of them are highly portable devices, dubbed "walkstations" in some Yamaha marketing.[1][2]

The QY series' sequencing generally has a heavy emphasis on "styles" and "patterns" similar to those used for auto-accompaniment on arranger keyboards.

Notable models

Portable sequencers

  • The Yamaha QY10 was the first in the series, released in 1991. It is a portable battery-powered sequencer roughly the same size as a VHS tape, featuring a non-backlit 1×16 character LCD screen, MIDI in and out ports, and 3.5mm stereo line out. It has 8 parts, 32-voice polyphony, 31 melodic instrument sounds and 26 drum/percussion sounds.[1]
  • The Yamaha QY20, released in 1992,[3][4] improved upon the QY10 by introducing a large 128×64 graphic display with an interface similar to the Yamaha TG series, 16-part multitimbrality, 100 preset melodic instrument sounds, and 100 preset drum sounds (across 8 drumkits).[5] It is also partially General MIDI-compatible.
  • The Yamaha QY8, released in 1994, is a smaller, cheaper, simplified model with a custom (not graphic or character) LCD and no micro-keyboard. Like the QY20 it features partial GM compatibility.[6]
  • The Yamaha QY22 was the first to be fully General MIDI-compatible, released in 1995, but is otherwise only a minor upgrade over the QY20.[4]
  • The Yamaha QY70 is the first to feature Yamaha XG support, released in 1997. It has 24-part multitimbrality (8 parts reserved for the pattern track), 519 preset melodic instrument sounds, 20 drumkits, and can be connected to a computer via a TO HOST port.[7]
  • The Yamaha QY100, released in 2001, adds further sounds and effects, plus an audio input for guitar amp simulation and microphone effects.[8]

Desktop sequencers

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Yamaha QY10, Simon Trask, Music Technology, April 1991.]
  2. ↑ Yamaha QY70, Martin Russ, Sound on Sound, September 1997.
  3. ↑ QY20 - Display Collection - INNOVATION ROAD - Yamaha Corporation
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Yamaha QY22, Derek Johnson, Sound on Sound, November 1995.
  5. ↑ Yamaha QY20 Owner's Manual, page 185.
  6. ↑ Yamaha QY8, Martin Russ, Sound on Sound, September 1994.
  7. ↑ Yamaha QY70, Martin Russ, Sound on Sound, September 1996.
  8. ↑ SMALL IS BEAUTIFUL, Nicholas Rowland, Sound on Sound, October 2001.
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