The rock solid Yamaha PSR-540 keyboard. Now THIS is 90's!

[@nazfan01]

This is the same model keyboard that was used for the 1997 Titanic movie soundtracks. We all remember those songs so well. Now my 8 year old grandson is learning to play this keyboard.

[@gearfacts]

Excellent keyboard to start on!

[@hvxcolors396]

Im really surprised how good this keyboard sounds. Looking forward to know more, especially the sequencer.

[@gearfacts]

Yep, it sounds every bit as good as the newer keyboards and in some ways its more versatile. Good fun, too :)

[@neilbevan3959]

Got this when it came out intending to learn music and playing it,never got round to it but still have it,look forward to hearing what i might of been able to get out of it in your next video 😊

[@gearfacts]

Yep should be fun!

[@AA-MusicVideos-zs1nu]

Great video! Yes, PLEASE do make a video covering the other features! I've had this keyboard for about 20 years, and still haven't got the hang of some of its features!

[@gearfacts]

This video is going back awhile - the keyboard is actually long gone from my home, and I don’t recall if I ever did end up making that additional video… All I can suggest is having a search on KZbin. It’s so hard to remember what I’ve covered after doing so many Vids :/

[@billymartijames272]

I've had this keyboard for many many years and have had a lot of fun with it. I'm trying now to set it up MIDI but I'm not well versed at all. It's really a great keyboard. Thanks for this video!

[@gearfacts]

Go for it!

[@ivanl.8201]

Bought it back in 2000 when I was in my late 20's and was so creatively inspired by it. I was getting all these song ideas out of nowhere. Just recently, I dug out a recording I made with it in 2003 and am working on adding a few things. I'll put it on KZbin within the next several months. It has surprisingly good pad/ambient sounds for a late 90's keyboard. It still works great, other than the keybed being very rattly and jangly after all these years of playing it. Thinking of running its sounds through Arturia's FX Collection 5 effects. Should be fun!

[@gearfacts]

I think it still competes today. Really nice keyboard with good aesthetics too.

[@korolchukpp]

My first keyboard in life.

[@gearfacts]

Wow that was a good start. :-)

[@davefa1432]

Still got this keyboard! It's a gem. Used to try make dance music on it, saved to floppy disk, now I'm keeping it for my daughters to use :) Piano still sounds amazing

[@vincemillion]

Here because my parents caved and bought me this keyboard at a garage sale over 10years ago. I love this keyboard

[@gearfacts]

Me too, I should have kept it :/

[@junglejon74]

This is a cool keyboard. I have the 500 which is older and has slightly wobbly timing. I also fancy a 510 which is like a 500 with stable timing

[@discatte]

that floppy drive logo design is off the charts.

[@faraazsinghsandhu7178]

Old is gold

[@lisselinde]

On a whim, I decided to search for Yamaha PSR 540, and your video came up first. Wow! Yep, I’m hearing the sound of my friend. I still have the keyboard, though I don’t play it much anymore. I have to confess, I rely on the left-hand cords and rhythms. One wolf rhythm in particular is absolutely beautiful! Does Yamaha make an equivalent to this keyboard nowadays? I’ve been thinking that it is probably time I get a new keyboard, and I don’t want anything fancy, I want something as equivalent to the PSR 540 as I can get. And if it’s not Yamaha, I could handle that. Can’t wait to dive into your other videos!

[@gearfacts]

Thanks so much, I'm glad the video was so meaningful for you :)

[@aldeanblair9727]

Very nice and warm

[@gearfacts]

Many thanks for watching :)

[@squeakD]

I had this model and even owned the upgraded PSR-550. Both were great budget arrangers and got the job done, even with their limitations. My issue with some of the older PSR’s was the floppy drive based sequencers. Even the PSR-740 had the old floppy drive sequencer.

[@gearfacts]

True.

[@mikecalver1]

Heck, I've got one of these. I'd love to see how to build a backing song from its array of track buttons then solo along with it.

[@gearfacts]

Oh, you’ll have to check the online manual for that I’m afraid, this keyboard recently departed my studio :(

[@Alex-kk5yh]

I used this Keyboard in the Past... Pretty good sounds and features... I loved it back then, but I wouldn't buy it today... Thank You Bro for sharing!

[@gearfacts]

Fair enough, a lot has changed :)

[@Alex-kk5yh]

@@gearfacts Yes... And I forgot to mention... This one made me smile 😁

[@YannisAggelakos]

These probably have (most of) the same sampled instruments with the "Pro" 740 model-which is exceptional too!

[@gearfacts]

True :)

[@supunanushka9122]

What is the different between psr540 and psr550..

[@gearfacts]

I don't know sorry. Probably not much. Full specs would be available n the net.

[@SordidAshes]

Inhereted this keyboard from my great grandmother a long time ago and Ive been using it for over the last ten years (only one Ive owned actually lmao). Ive never been sure how to transfer data though. I definitely dont have a computer that can read floppy disks lol, but I heard that a MIDI cable doesnt work either despite having a port (something about USB ports?). Any info on this? Id love to transfer recordings that she made on some of the disks, but I have no idea where to start 😅

[@gearfacts]

You can get USB to midi adapter cables, I think they start at about $20 on ebay. Then you should be able to easily play files from your computer on the keyboard without the need for disks.

[@paulis7319]

I was about to ask if anyone even still has a 3.5" floppy disk, but found out Amazon still sells them...for WAYYYY more than they used to cost!

[@gearfacts]

I'd suggest just going into a second hand shop and finding a gutted old PC box or something else obsolete with a Floppy drive. Re-use, recycle, pay less :)

[@paulis7319]

@@gearfacts It's not the drive I would need, it's the disk.

[@audiocoffee]

as of writing this, anyone in the uk who wants this keyboard *right now* needs to look up cash converters in Hyde - they've got one for £149. (todays date being 19th Jan '24)

[@RecordingStudio9]

Pads are not only synced to tempo but also follow the chord progressions. I owned the PSR 640 which was more popular.

[@gearfacts]

Cool, I didn't know that

[@demonhunter05]

is the this one need something download from online to put work or must be connected with pc ? like hammer 88 pro ?

[@gearfacts]

I think you can just use a midi to USB adapter I’m not aware of any functional problems. But you never know…

[@jdxijames]

I went from a PSR 320 to PSR 640 and missed this one. This sounds similar to the 640, probably the same chip.

[@gearfacts]

XG chip, yes.

[@BuickGeek24]

@@gearfacts It's actually the SWX00B for the sound generation. And otherwise, it's an H8 CPU

[@richardsmith4992]

Isn't there a cruise ship somewhere missing it's keyboard? I bought a Technics SK2000 repairs job recently - definitely cruise ship worthy until you dig under the hood and playwith it's settings, looking forward to the next episode on this one!

[@junglejon74]

Sorry should say great video thanks :-)

[@gearfacts]

No worries, glad you liked it :)