Yamaha Portasound PSS-680 FM keyboard

Music: "Splendid Larryo" (C) Copyright 2019 Alfonse
As heard on BBC 6 Music (Tom Robinson Show) and BBC Radio Bristol (BBC Introducing in the West and BBC Upload)

Yamaha Portasound PSS-680 MusicStation FM keyboard (1988)

All sounds you hear in the track were made using the PSS-680 and recorded to a DAW, where compression, EQ, reverb, delay and chorus were added as required. Individual drum hits were sampled from the drum pads and processed (the 680's kick drum is horrible, so that needed some attention for a start), to allow fresh beats to be built, rather than using the rhythms found on the PSS-680 itself.

The aim of these videos is to see what you can create using sounds from retro classic keyboards together with current production tools. The 680 has a 2 operator FM synth on board, which can be edited via the Digital Synthesizer parameters on the front panel; there are limited editing options, but enough to get a cool range of sounds. It also has Midi In, Out and Thru, allowing for plenty of cool connectivity with controllers, computers and other hardware. It's almost identical to the PSS-780 (aside from some different coloured pads, a few different rhythm patterns and a pointless re-numbering of all the voices) and has the same sounds as the PSS-480 and 580, which were the next rung down in the product line.

For those who have a keyboard from that range, here are the parameters for some of the main patches:
First bass: banjo: 0.63 1.63 2.10 3.15 4.01 5.00 6.06 7.69
Second bass: mandolin: 0.30 1.63 2.22 3.21 4.02 5.01 6.07 7.73
Main lead: steel drum 2: 0.26 1.47 2.16 3.25 4.04 5.02 6.06 7.73
Bridge lead: samba whistle: 6.04 7.99
End lead: pipe organ 1: 0.41 1.63 2.02 3.01 4.01 5.01 6.06 7.91 + portamento 05

ALONSE

[alfonsemusic]

New video on the sibling to this keyboard, the PSS-780, coming soon...

[garywatsonjr.]

😲REAL TALK:

This is the 1st video that I've watched of this instrument, where the individual ACTUALLY demonstrated just how SICK this keyboard 🎹 is 💯% FACTS!..dude is an absolute BEAST using a home keyboard 🎹 from the 1980's 🤯!!..

[jackispax]

It may fall into the toy category but this is, without exaggerating, the best 2-Op FM synth ever made! Sysex editors can take it to the next level too.

[freeagentbeats]

My very first keyboard, I absolutely loved my PSS-680

[delscoville]

I've had several FM keyboards since selling my PSS 680, but strangely enough, I miss it. Definitely the best "toy" keyboard ever made. It's odd, that tiny keys was once the definition of a toy keyboard, but now we see a lot of pro controllers and synths with tiny keys.

[coolwhiphimself]

Never heard anything from a small time producer that I liked, this is good shit

[LittleRichard]

I recently bought a PSS-680 around May 2021. These toy keyboards are
so underrated. At least this is easier to program than a DX7.

[izzzzzz]

Another keyboard i'm on the lookout for. Seems like a nice combo setup. Got the 480 and the 580 already.

[retrotechnical]

Wow! That's an impressive showcase for the old Yamaha.

[bestrickie]

Excellent performance on an awesome old vintage classic keyboard. I proudly owned one of these years ago. I’ve owned loads since though I wouldn’t mind getting my hands on another and adding EFX including reverb, chorus and other via an EFX processor.

[deichgrafnordsee]

i used this incredible maschine in 1992 with my Amiga500. I added a Böhm 4x9 Expander with 4 Chips thru

[MaaikeSiegerist]

Amazing track! Didn't think those keyboards can sound that good ❤

[pianokeyjoe]

YAMAHA! The future is NOW! I had this one but sadly sold it. I still have my beloved PSS480 though, and most of my best early compositions were done JUST on the PSS480 with the built in sequencer. 5 tracks looping with manual punch in/out live remixing.

[stevespeake]

Wish I could get mine to sound that great. I've a key not working but have used it to layer voices and arraige styles to play over the top for singing over. But not to the extent of recoding everything like this and using midi. Brilliant.

[RaptureMusicOfficial]

Whoa, great tune! What a keyboard! I wished I had the PSS680! (I own the PSS140, PSS390, VSS30 and PSR500 :)

[Thunder_Owl]

To feed my childhood urges and to put "in use for fun" my rudimentar learned music knowledge, i just ordered exactly such thing from eBay :) Thank You for your impressive demo !

[TayWoode]

Love this tune! I’ve got one of these I still use, it’s great with some effects added and it’s surprising how the FM synthesiser can almost reproduce the DX7 patches so closely with a bit of experimentation

[rtrnic]

Always love these FM Yama chips. Just always can recognise the sound. Same reason why Sega Mega Drive > NES. I still have my PSR-36 (YM3420 & YM3419)

[Viewbob_True]

Bought one of these recently for an absolute bargain, I probably watched this video 20 times before collecting it

[blocWarner]

This is so good, I want this played at my funeral!