The Yamaha PSS-460: A Vintage, Cheap, And Awesome Synthesizer!

[@synthgal1090]

Minor point: it doesn't have a SoundBlaster chip, it has the same chip that some SoundBlaster PC sound cards had which was the Yamaha YM3812 aka OPL2. The OPL2 was in quite a few PC sound cards back in the day, including Ad-Lib, SoundBlasters, and clones. It was in arcade machines and some consoles, too. RE: the digital synthesizer, not all the sliders are controlling values that go "up" or "down" but rather are changing your FM carrier and modulator waveforms. FM synthesis is.... fun, but once you wrap your head around it it's amazing. If you want to know more let me know I love infodumping this shit lmao

[@JoshIsMakingMusic]

Thank you for the info! I really appreciate both the corrections and the additional information. I pinned your comment, so I'd you'd like to add more in the replies, go for it!

[@synthgal1090]

@@JoshIsMakingMusic I just saw that you have experience with LSDJ, you may like Ad-Lib Tracker 2, which is designed around the OPL3 (basically an OPL2 with more waveforms and output channels) and lays the features of the chip pretty bare.

[@zsebestien7050]

Do you know of any keyboards where they used the yamaha OPL1?

[@synthgal1090]

@@zsebestien7050 Unfortunately I don't. There was an MSX expansion cartridge that had one, and you may be able to use an OPL2 and self-limit to OPL1 features, I'm not sure. The OPL1 is a bit of a blind spot in my knowledge.

[@northlanedarko771]

Can i pick ypur brain then

[@Am71919]

7:30-8:30 the most I've seen them go for is 100 bucks, if they sell for any less than that there's usually something wrong with it, locally or on reverb or eBay, I just got a PSS 570 from reverb the other day, fully functional, paid a hundred bucks for it, that's probably a little more than some people think they should sell for some 35 years after they were made but I didn't mind it one bit, they don't have MIDI, so if they're fully functional, $100 SHOULD be the price, they were around $100 when they were new and they were worth every penny of it then because of the hidden groundbreaking features just like they're worth every penny of it now for the desire of that nostalgic sound and those same no longer groundbreaking but still awesome features, they may be considered toys, but they're actually extremely reliable, fun to play and explore around with and they have features that are only typically found in pro level boards, I had one of these in high school back in the late '80s when they first came out and I played it at least three times a week for 12 years before I sold it and it still worked just as good as the day I got it, I was astonished by the amount of sounds and beats that you could create, they still sound cool, they still look cool and in 2022, they definitely still turn heads when you play them in public, I just did a few videos on mine and the keys feel great to me, nice and responsive, I can play this board just as easily as I can play a regular size board

[@unisonproto]

I just bought a 570 for £30 here in the UK, fun thing to have around for that price, and my first hardware synth (if you can call it that)

[@Am71919]

@@unisonproto 30 bucks?? Wow, UK has excellent prices on stuff, the lowest I've seen them go for here in the he US is a hundred bucks

[@unisonproto]

@@Am71919 it was from a shop called cash converters (dankpods regularly gets items from there), and 30 pounds is nearer 40 dollars. But yes, a lot cheaper either way.

[@tylenolpringle2040]

Love the way this board sounds

[@jjlacey1970]

my brother and I made our first ambient music with one of these way back in the late 80s/early 90s. we used it with a four track and a digital delay pedal. fun times

[@karlhaese7183]

Was my first ever keyboard. Moved up to PSS-560 for PCM drums abd then onto Yamaha DX100/21&11 series. Still have my PSS-560 which I adore

[@SimpleHold]

I also had this keyboard in the 80s. It was really fun then to be able to customize the sounds (that was a new concept to me as a kid). I’ve been enjoying the channel for quite a while, and after seeing this I have just subscribed. I enjoy the presentation style and the music, and I look forward to more. Thanks for sharing stuff like this.

[@glojean94]

I bought this keyboard when it first came out. Played it for awhile then gave it to my mom. Years later she gave it back to me. LOL. I still have it. It's a fun keyboard. Love your song. It made me feel happy. 💓

[@JoshIsMakingMusic]

Thank you! And yeah, it's such a fun little keyboard.

[@WulfBoi]

The sounds on this synth make me nostalgic for a time I wasn't even alive

[@JoshIsMakingMusic]

Samesies

[@thehellezell]

thumbs up on this. just picked up the cousin of this one (the 560) which is the same but with an added drum and rhythm synth chip for $20 at an estate sale. having fun figuring it out now :). absolutely agree with you, you can find pcm synths from the 80s at yard and estate sales for cheap if you’re patient

[@MicroBanshee]

Loved your song at the end, your music style reminds me a little of the track 'Pure' by the Lightning Seeds, nice one.

[@JoshIsMakingMusic]

Thank you so much!

[@Ambientnauts]

I enjoy your lyrics and vocal cadence as much as I enjoy your review niche. Good feels man.

[@_dominoline]

Really cool! Thanks for the review

[@fareedmidnite]

Bought it today for only a tenner. So happy with it. So cool toy and pleasure to play with. The song you have made is sooo happy and positive. Thank you for the video mate!

[@left2dye990]

Found this keyboard at value village today, instantly went to this video

[@BruceHarms]

Just bought an MT-45, MT-100, MT-205 & Yamaha PSS-460 and a Tascam Porta 5... FX will be my Digitech RP-500, Dawless production here we come!

[@phat-kid]

dude i really like your song. i paid 30 bucks for mine at goodwill but that was pre-covid. i got 3 yamaha portasounds for 20 or 30 bucks each. prices on everything are insane nowadays. people need to get vaccinated just so prices can be normal again.

[@phat-kid]

also i think it's cute you only know about the term soundblaster because of this keyboard, but i'm also almost 40 years old lol.

[@erinzimmerman7953]

I love the song at the end! :D Another great video :)

[@FairchlldMusic1]

Great video! Love my 460 and 380

[@izzzzzz6]

The 580 has custom drummer which is pretty cool. There are around 4vs of this keyboard i think.

[@revevague6256]

I have one and love it!

[@brianprince4983]

Nailed it matey !!

[@peachysick4212]

Great video tranks!

[@markbucher50]

Heck yea Jurassic park and obscure digital synths 2 of my fav things

[@JoshIsMakingMusic]

Yo, I'd go nuts for a synthwave Jurassic Park album.

[@markbucher50]

@@JoshIsMakingMusic well damn I was supposed to get a song recorded tonight and research what sampler to buy next but you sent me on this cursed rabbit hole! music.kzbin.info/www/bejne/bHalYqiGrLmShsU&feature=share

[@soulflower8687]

nice song

[@JoshIsMakingMusic]

Thank you!

[@sinistar99]

You have the Millenium Falcon thing! Haha I love my 460! I wanted one when I was a kid and would play with it for the whole time when my parents shopped at K-Mart in the 80s. It's cool realizing that I was on to something... it wasn't just because I was a kid! There's something kinda special about this SoundBlaster-1 keyboard. Also I like your song, and it's good to see someone taking the Portlandia "Put a bird on it" skit to heart.

[@phat-kid]

it's funny i know the guy who helped design the millenium falcon thing. i'm glad it's getting some love just out of kitsch factor.

[@lecliche8849]

Cool. You made me just buy one!! lol.

[@JoshIsMakingMusic]

Haha, have fun! They're great.

[@johnb9507]

That was a great keyboard. I had one in the late 80s and wrote some songs using it. The bass sounded pretty good so that was my bass back in those days. The synth section was before its time. I used to write down the settings I created on paper because there was no other way to save them. But it was so much fun. Not bad at all for a keyboard under $100.00.

[@foxholeartist]

Great song! Really good and pure vibes in there. You really fit in this retro synth genres perfectly: both visually and audially. Great stuff As for sound blaster chip, Yamaha's sound chips where used in gaming consoles and sound cards if that era almost as a standard. So all the old sound blaster cards is based on that chip. That's why you can get retro PC games stuff out of it.

[@masterlegend1]

i have this keyboard and it does much more than other more expensive kinds. I don't want to sell it but if i did it would not go cheap.

[@chickenchoppers]

how has no one commented on his shirt? so dope

[@JoshIsMakingMusic]

Thank you for recognizing. Bionicle rules.

[@ivanl.8201]

This is such a lovely composition you made towards the end. I am a huge sucker for this type of indie pop music, and I think this synth works so wonderfully for it. Although this works just fine with the PSS-460 alone, I think there's something to be said for mixing cheap, mid-grade and expensive gear in a single song. I feel like each of these instruments has its own distinct character and personality, and sometimes, they're all meant to coexist together in a single song. I think a few Roland Juno-type bells in your tune placed in a few strategic places would make it really special, not that it already isn't :). But I'm adding this tune to my indie pop faves, along the lines of The Field Mice "Emma's House" and Rocketship's "Hey Hey Girl", The Velocity Girl's "My Forgotten Favorite" and The Fairways' "Winter Song". If you could make another video with just the song, that'd be so amazing. Thank you.

[@MattGreerMusic]

Nice video. My cousin had this keyboard. I got the slightly later PSS-480 which takes most of these concepts here and expands on them quite a bit. P.S. FWIW, the sound chip was used IN the Sound Blaster sound cards from the 90's but the chip is not a Sound Blaster itself.

[@fangsu9376]

I have one of these, it was given to me as a gift. What cords do I need to record music with it?

[@JoshIsMakingMusic]

Nice! It would need the audio cables, and you'd need something to plug them into, like an audio interface.

[@johnb9507]

Pretty kitty!!

[@rachelar]

🎹 🤓 Own it!

[@NPrescott]

Your vocals would sound pretty cool if you added some reverb or chorus on it. I really like your video! I have this same keyboard and it's great. Also....YAY a cat! 😁👍

[@R4venV]

That’s amazing I have one too! Also how do you make that sound in the beginning?

[@tigerboy4516]

i remeber have one of these. Help. what was that yamaha keyboard with the dial screen thingy?. 49 keys pss like keyboard.

[@UnitedPebbles]

I think it was my first piano. I think.

[@SlotXTv]

Hello sir can I play a modern music like maroon 5 songs with this old piano? Thank you

[@Scarylucas8]

Yo what type of cables do i need to connect this into my interface??

[@jedrictorres9153]

how to turn off rhythm? like they have the same sound as the orchestra

[@ajcloribel9975]

How does this compare to the 480? I know Phoenix uses the 480

[@HOLLASOUNDS]

In UK I payed £10 for it, bit of a bargain thrift shop. By the way the value and average resale price is now £100. Pandemics made them go up in value for some reason.

[@gamermasta525]

How do you think it compares to the 470?

[@keymbord]

Exactly the same, just a different color scheme

[@pollywogs]

Put a bird on it: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fX_TeoKiec2cndk

[@mireyamendoza4412]

My sons keyboard not working no sound only light that turns on the power button

[@Jptr8]

Not so cheap after videos like this.

[@somusmusica3723]

Hello All ..... Good wishes from India ! Request if anyone can help me procure one PSS 480 and be imported to India INDIA . PLEASE !!!!!!

[@cillitbanggang470]

What Ghibli movie is the first song from again?

[@JoshIsMakingMusic]

It's "One Summer's Say" from Spirited Away. Only Ghibli song I currently know how to play, haha.

[@foxholeartist]

Great song! Really good and pure vibes in there. You really fit in this retro synth genres perfectly: both visually and audially. Great stuff As for sound blaster chip, Yamaha's sound chips where used in gaming consoles and sound cards if that era almost as a standard. So all the old sound blaster cards is based on that chip. That's why you can get retro PC games stuff out of it.