YAMAHA's toy went berzerk! The PSS-680 MUSICSTATION

What better way to begin my break than a session on a workstation that I had as one of my very first keyboards in the late 80's: The truly classic Yamaha PSS-680. It's the speediest synth synth engine I've ever used, even though I don't think Yamaha intended for it to be seriously used for synthesizing.
It's solid, bold, and an open door for creativity. Enjoy!

[@andresfumero8939]

I am a proud owner of a unit, it was my first keyboard in 1988, I sold it after a few years, and after 33 years, out of pure nostalgia, I bought another unit again

[@gearfacts]

Similar story for me. I've used lots of F/m synths but I honestly think this one is the "most" FM ever :)

[@bestrickie2]

It’s an awesome piece of kit. I owned one of these years ago and sometimes, I regret selling it. I’d love to salvage another one of these and hooked up to my modern keyboards which have arpeggios and see if I can get it going that way. I don’t know if they are predators on my modern models are audio recorded, or if they are MIDI.

[@SuperMickyChow]

Still have mine, bought for my brother and i when we were kids. It's still in perfect working order and regularly gets used by me when producing music. I have a lot of affection for its quirky, lo-fi sounds!

[@cosmicdrone5270]

The keyboard of my childhood! Along with a Brother Midi Recorder, I recorded remakes of Depeche Mode's Behind the Wheel and Just Can't Get Enough on this multitracking FM gem! Thanks for the most awesome video on the PSS-680!

[@gearfacts]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@TayWoode]

I still use mine that I got for xmas as a kid. It actually has a decent synth that can almost do DX7 sounds when you play about enough and drums are good & crunchy, mini sequencer, it sounds even better with added effects and has midi. I have with my EX7, RX7 and Roland FA06 as a top up when they’re all playing together 😂

[@gearfacts]

Sounds like a good team. And yep, I've never heard another synth that sounds quite like the PSS680.

[@pianokeyjoe]

My favorite of the Yamaha Music station keyboards. I own 2 of the 49 note version the PSS480. I used these to compose all my music before I could finally afford real gear lol!

[@gearfacts]

haha me too, my first 'real' compositions

[@twoontime]

This beast needs a D-Beam for those high-pitched notes. It would be the perfect Yamaha Roland lovechild.

[@vandergleal]

Thanks a lot for your videos, mate. Really nice to have such a vast library of reviews such the ones you do. Truly appreciated and enjoy your break

[@gearfacts]

Cheers Vander

[@torbenanschau6641]

It was my most desired instrument when it came out and I had to save up about. a year until I could buy it for 750 DM. It was a professional instrument with mini keys. And that was the Intension.Hence the name "Musicstation" which was a hint for the new trend of Workstation just introduced with the Korg M1. Remember, by that time Yamaha didn't have a professional workstation, the V50 was about to come. So this was the first PSS with 61 keys and a pitch bend. No other before had that and only 780, 790, 795 and 51 had it as well. The FM Synth was the most advanced of the PSS-Line, beating also most of the PSRs actually. Especially since you could store 5 user voices.Then the rhythm section with 32 PCM-Drumsounds. They had RX21 quality so pretty pro. Plus a sequencer with 5 melody and 5 chord tracks. Also the accompaniment was next level, the styles had more complex arrangements. And then 100 of them, the whole PSR line didn't have that at the time. And let's not forget the midi implementation which put some pro synths to shame. Depending on the mode, that thing 16 times multitimbral. Did Program Change, Sysex and even reacted to velocity. The first PSR to match it was the 4500 which came about 2 years later.

[@nickfbatombrew1436]

What a great reminder of what’s in this little box. I have the PSS 780 it was my first venture in to FM synthesis I must get it back out of the box and have another blast with it thanks for the reminder and keep up the great vids 👍☢️

[@gearfacts]

Thanks so much Nick :)

[@apislapis]

I bought the PSS-780 new from the supermarket in out town. I had lots of fun with it until last year when I gave it away to a child to discover synthesis. The 780 had an annoying high pitched whine that used to drive me nuts. This was replaced by another whine about having to many keyboards and to keep the peace I gave it away. The whine has gone for now but you never know when it could return...

[@Palooka37]

I only just discovered you so I'll just spend the time going through your back catalog! Enjoy your break!

[@gearfacts]

Thanks Allan and welcome to Gearfacts :)

[@drsynthpattern]

This keyboard also has an amazing house music baseline which can also be found on the DX7. Love FM Synthesis!

[@delscoville]

I fondly remember my PSS-680. It was a fun keyboard.

[@bestrickie2]

I owned one of these years ago. It will be easy to eradicate the problem with the drum pads even if it means improvising somehow. It could be the rubber contacts underneath or worn or maybe badly needing cleaned in order for all the pads to work. It is an amazing little sense and I’d love to get one of these again and put it through my Yamaha genius to hopefully activate a paediatrician unless I need the same device as you are using. I wouldn’t mind salvaging another PSS-680.

[@stevewebb7126]

One of my first keyboards. Back when they were experimenting with sound , we need new versions of these old classics .

[@gearfacts]

Absolutely! I can't believe that Yamaha, Casio and Zoom (in particular) have all this great tech but they just abandon it, never re-inventing anything :/

[@kimthompson5871]

This is another one I want lol . Great demo !

[@gearfacts]

Such a childhood favorite. This time I WON'T sell it off :)

[@johnearthheart4614]

I had the PSS-780 back in 1990, which was more or less the same keyboard. I had a lot of fun and made a lot of music using this!

[@gearfacts]

Yeah me too, it's forever connected to my youth :)

[@matiasgrimoure4533]

Nice review ❤

[@all_4_diy]

0:00 Intro 0:20 Demo And Review 2:30 Digital Synthesizer 4:00 MIDI controller 6:30 Style Section 7:50 Ending

[@fostexfan160]

I'm a guitarist but use one of these for some sustained chords through a HH 100 watt amp. I could wake up the entire cul de sac if the volume went to number 3. Two pieces of incredible gear that I would never get rid of.

[@peterb7435]

Man I need one of these!

[@gearfacts]

Highly recommended!!

[@chrisjunosmusic]

Nice work !! Interesting video !! !!

[@gearfacts]

Thanks for the visit :)

[@twoontime]

OK, you convinced me. Just got my Yamaha PSS-780 (apparently similar to the PSS-680) delivered.

[@gearfacts]

Good choice!

[@pianokeyjoe]

We will miss you Glynn.. for the 2 weeks that is :-P

[@glenesis]

Enjoy your break bro!

[@gearfacts]

Cheers! Been a long time coming :)

[@danieklerr]

Nice demo! I used to take the speakers out of these, and install multi-effects modules in the speaker enclosures. I have videos featuring this on my channel. Cheers!

[@gearfacts]

Very cool indeed!

[@Gluttonite]

Definitely a little gem there. I owned three had to sell two to continue the pursuit.

[@gearfacts]

100% gem, a keeper for me :)

[@Gluttonite]

@@gearfacts yes the one I kept will be staying.

[@gibson2546]

Cool 👍👍👍

[@Simon-ui6db]

These are great when paired up with the pss-51 via midi. As tone map and drum maps are the same. (as is the psr-400/500/600/83/84)

[@bestrickie2]

Hello. Is setting midi easy to synchronise/mapping?

[@Alinktome]

If ever yamaha sells it back again, adding a dynamic touch, I swear I buy it

[@gearfacts]

And some onboard effects! Another design that has immense untapped potential.

[@bestrickie2]

Excellent stuff and yes again, I gladly owned one of these many years ago. I noticed you were mentioning the drum pads don’t work on it, but you may well be able to improvise and get them going again with some kind of contacts under the rubber pads.I love the AppRadio effects you manage to get on it but I assume this is through an external midi device.

[@gearfacts]

No midi required, the radio effects happen when you turn on portamento and move between very high notes. I love it too

[@thedonal]

Maaan- I loved my 680. My final mini keys before my first full sized synth (Kawai K1-II). Had loads of fun with the synthesizer bit, used it on a school project AND a performance (playing drums with the pads!!). Tempted to find one in decent nick, but my money needs to go elsewhere..

[@gearfacts]

Yeah it'll always have a place in my heart, it's the one that really got me interested in creating new sounds.

[@themidimachine]

I had one as my first synth/keyboard in the 1980's. It's probably still in my dad's attic, unless he gave it away.

[@gearfacts]

There is SO much good music gear in America's attics.

[@bestrickie2]

I’m just listening to more and more of this video and it is absolutely amazing the results you’re getting via that arpeggio device and the effects you have got on including reverb and other I seem to be hearing. What is the name of that midi device you’re using for the creation of the arpeggios? I’ve got modern keyboards including the Yamaha Genos which has its own arpeggios built-in but I’m not sure if I could send the arpeggios from the Genos via a midI signal to Yamaha PSS 680 whereupon, the 680s sounds could then be arpeggiated like yours is. I’d certainly love to get my hands on another PSS 680 as I gladly owned one of them years ago.I very recently managed to salvage a stunning Roland E 30 linear arithmetic music keyboard synthesiser and I will not be parting with it. I gladly owned one of those years ago but seriously regret selling it hence the reason I’ve managed to salvage one from eBay and I am ever so pleased.

[@gearfacts]

I'm pretty sure the arpeggios from your Genos would travel to the 680 with no problems. I've always found the PSS680 to be very easy to connect to anything via midi, no arguments no issues :) The device I connected was a Roland PMA5 midi sequencer with some arps that I'd plundered from a Korg Triton. Thanks for watching and for the big comment!

[@ilovekeyboards7830]

Hi gearfacts can you please make a video about the gem ws2 keyboard

[@Alinktome]

Fabulous keyboard I regret so much i had sold it

[@gearfacts]

Yep this was great 👍

[@rosebebek6882]

Id like to learn how to use mine. It’s been sitting around for soooo long!

[@gearfacts]

It’s almost at “classic” status now :)

[@bestrickie2]

PS, Is it easy to set midi to run arpeggio and is it possible to have the drums going simultaneously during arpeggio function? The contacts below the drum pads wore out on mine. However, I had replacements.you might be able to improvise by adding make shift contacts to the drum pads perhaps using rubber contacts or other from old remote controls. Yes it’s an excellent old synth especially enhanced with EFX.

[@gearfacts]

Yep it’ll transmit arpeggios via midi, and the vets you play will be synchronized to the arps.

[@cam-inf-4w5]

Hey i got a psr-36 after watching your videos and weighing my options and i absolutely adore it. The tones were not muddy at ALL if anything piercing tones out of those old speakers. But i was wondering if you had to pair this keyboard with only ONE other old yamaha, what would it be? To me the only downside is that this doesnt have a wee woo diddly wah thingy and its begging for it. I want a pss really bad but the keys they use (not the size) the firmness of the keys i hate and even hurt my fingertips in a way thats hard to describe(and i can play guitar for hours) but maybe these old ones arent as bad as new stiff crap? Should i just get a dx7 2? Then replace this one with a different one? I want one to be very manual tone shaping like psr36/dx7(maybe too much manual) and i want the other to be synthy funky with an ocean of tones and maybe versatile rhythms and i want to really challenge myself and the technology to see how good i can get on them and take them seriously. Love your channel! Sorry for the long post theres just too many good keyboards! 💫😖 it makes my head spin trying to remember all the yamaha models and compare and contrast them in my head! Especially without playing them myself! 🤣 if only they made the psss'? Pss line with full keys it would be a NO BRAINER. Also when are you gunna release a cheesy spacey expirmental album as a joke that is going to ironically be taken seriously? 🤣 If youre waiting on permission to do it. This is your sign 💪

[@gearfacts]

Thanks for your post! Hmmm, good question. To be honest, I think you've mentioned my two favorite Yamaha FM synths right there. The PSR-36 and the PSS790 (or 690, exactly the same). If the small keys proved to be uncomfortable to play, you could always use a MIDI cable to make the 36 a master controller. Might work? As for the DX series - and ppl won't like to read this - I was frankly never all that inspired :/ I have indeed been thinking about doing some original music lately. It takes time and a lot of commitment (both resources I'm not loaded up with) but yeah I think it'd be fun and a good demo of some of the great gear I've been privileged to try out over the years. Stay tuned! Thanks again :) :) :)

[@nikhilna3294]

Can you upload a comparison between casio ctx 800 and yamaha's psr e373 please 🥺

[@bestrickie2]

Hello, I gladly owned one of these years ago,liked it very much and I wouldn’t mind getting one again. The digital synthesiser on board is excellent. Put through an EFX processor will totally enhance and beef it dramatically. Gee I love the arpeggio. Other than that device you are using creating the arpeggio, what other can be used?

[@gearfacts]

Anything we other the old midi sockets will work with the pss680. Arpeggios are always exciting with old gear like this :)

[@andresfumero8939]

in fact, one of my artist names is; 680tone

[@davidm3569]

Bought one off a friend back in the nineties because it was fun and had MIDI !!! Been sitting in it's box for years, so guess I'm going to check it out again............🤔😬 Hope you can get the other touch pads working.

[@gearfacts]

Cool - be sure to keep that box, I have a feeling these will have semi-classic status eventually :)

[@davidm3569]

@@gearfacts eBay UK prices 59-75 £ at moment so I think I'll hold on to it a while. Have you seen/heard of the higher? model PSS 780? Looking forward to your next review. 😁

[@gearfacts]

@@davidm3569 yes I reviewed it about two years ago. It’s the same really, just a few cosmetic differences

[@industrial_records]

Hello, I have a question. I'm considering buying a PSS-680 today, but I have a problem I can't find an answer to, can I use this MIDI-enabled keyboard in programs like "FL Studio", "Mixcraft" - to play instruments in the program?

[@gearfacts]

You'll need a MIDI to USB adapter ($10 on ebay), but yes it is possible

[@tripujo9103]

Itu sound ayal d banding ato emang ada prset nya

[@bestrickie2]

Hello again, what are you putting this keyboard through to achieve the arpeggio effects? I’d love to be able to do this with my home keyboards I’m wondering what I need and if it is easy enough to set up as my MIDI skills are quite illiterate ha ha.

[@gearfacts]

Yep you’ll need midi to do it I’m afraid! It’s easy on this keyboard though. Just find any instrument that does arpeggios (I used a Roland PMA-5 in this video) and plug a midi cable from the OUT socket to the IN socket on your keyboard. Then go ahead and play arpeggios. Change the settings on your keyboard as the arpeggio plays. Fun!

[@bestrickie2]

@@gearfacts thanks, I’ve got arpeggios on a couple of my modern keyboards but I’m not sure if they are midi recorded or if it is audio. I suspect if they are recorded in audio, I wouldn’t be able to play them via midi. However, if on the other hand, they are recorded in midi when programmed into these keyboards, then I assume it will be easy to do. I’ve got a modern Yamaha PSRSX900 and also Genos and each of them have arpeggio features found in the harmony section, but again, I’m not sure if they’d work with an external keyboard meaning, allowing the external keyboard to playback the arpeggios from these modern instruments.

[@gearfacts]

@bestrickie2 Yamaha arpeggios usually transmit via midi - I think you might be on a winner here 👍

[@bestrickie2]

@@gearfacts it would be fantastic though, do I not have to go into midi channels? Sorry, my midi skills are not any good and I’m a bit of a slow coach ha ha.

[@gearfacts]

@bestrickie2 I didn’t have to change any midi settngs, nope

[@irradix213]

So like a somewhat Nerfed SY/ TG? I've heard the split quality/demographic in Roland at least was to hazard tech ideas in the Toy Dept, and if something works well enough for kids and fam they send it to HiFi Dept to run with and fill out, looks like Yamaha is similar

[@gearfacts]

Exactly, it's all symbiotic :)

[@dawnr8511]

Market is flooded with Yamaha keyboards, but there are some gems available sometimes. It is the right time of year, so ya going into the Outback detecting for gold for a few weeks? Good luck if you are and be careful too. :)

[@gearfacts]

Ah Australia is nowhere near as harsh as most Australians would like everyone to believe. I'd lie to see bit more of the outback though, especially along the south where it's colder and rockier. I like high places (literally, not figuratively!)

[@Palooka37]

@@gearfacts there's not much in the way of Synth to be found in outback either sadly... I miss op should shops being good!

[@dankro279]

Excellent Demo!! Could use a bit of a dusting, eh ? ;-)

[@gearfacts]

haha it does look dusty, but the plastic just has a cloudy finish and the buttons have weak, washed-out color. Over 30 years old now, wow :)

[@dankro279]

Because if your demo I just hat to purchase one on eBay. getting it a couple of days. The discription said mint condition. ;-) very excited about it

[@Hwral]

I think it lacks bassy sounds, it’s mostly good for bell, flute and R2-D2 sounds, but nevertheless I see asking prices for the PSS 680 rising steadily. Could do with some external effects for more oompf.

[@gearfacts]

Oh I don't know, I think there are some pretty hefty bass sounds like the one 7:47. Link: kzbin.info/www/bejne/opPQfp99os-lgdE

[@dalxenon4198]

Wot is the device u are using to generate the arps

[@gearfacts]

At different times I use a Korg electribe 2 and a Roland PMA5.

[@MuzaffarKamalov0308]

88 s 90 s elektronkeybort)))👍pss680

[@andresgranado6514]

Is it sensitive? Thanks!

[@gearfacts]

no

[@bigbrothertv3073]

It’s amazing how you somehow used the worst sounds good you could potentially find inside of the whole Device

[@gearfacts]

Not sure I understand your sentence there, but I was pretty happy with the sounds :)