Yamaha PortaSound PCS-500

• Fabricant : Yamaha
• Modèle : PortaSound PCS-500
• Catégorie : Claviers arrangeurs
• Fiche créée le : 25/06/2019

This Playcard System keyboard from 1984 was the successor of the legendary Yamaha PC-100. The sound engine of both instruments is very similar, but quite unique with the PCS-500 is the suitcase- style case with the foldable keyboard lid mechanism.

The main improvement to the PC-100 is the stereo chorus effect and the larger speakers; the sound is warmer and makes more bass. Nice is that a simple fingered accompaniment was added, which also accepts non- standard chord, but unfortunately it lacks the lovely arpeggio of the PC-100. Also some preset sounds are different, but due to the many similarities I only describe here the differences to the latter.
different main features:

49 midsize keys
2 built-in speakers (reasonable quality with some bass, mono sound is routed through a stereo chorus)
main voice polyphony only 7 notes (only 3 with accompaniment, 2 in duet mode)
10 semi- OBS preset sound {organ, trumpet, saxophone, piano, guitar | piccolo, violin, oboe, harpsichord, music box} selected by 5 locking buttons + bank a switch button.
changed preset rhythm order (10 semi- OBS preset rhythms {disco, jazz rock, rhumba, swing, march | 16 beat, bossanova, samba, slow rock, waltz} )
duet mode button switch
fill-in & stereo symphonic buttons
single finger & fingered accompaniment (manual organ chord with rhythm off)
partly more complex accompaniment behaviour, but only 1 chord timbre
slide switches for rhythm & accompaniment volume (each 5 steps including mute)
no arpeggio
sound generator resembles Yamaha PC-100, but has less aliasing noise and sounds warmer.
simple sequencer (monophonic record/ playback with rhythm & accompaniment, no edit)
tuning trimmer
built-in handle & keyboard lid
jacks for AC adapter, line out, headphone, microphone & analogue volume pedal

Distribué par Yamaha Music Europe