Yamaha PSR-S500. Better, stronger, faster ...but is it FUNNER?

The Yamaha PSR-S series is the next step up from the PSR-E series, and the 500 is the lowest of this superior line. It has a better display, higher-resolution sounds and a good effects processor - but does that make it more fun?

[@justinrichards9625]

Yep, I have this keyboard also MM6 and original DJX plus a Roland D110. Piano and strings are lovely on the S500. Let's not forget the DSP.

[@gearfacts]

Yes I should have talked more about the DSP but anyway. That's a great line-up of synths you've mentioned there :)

[@justinrichards9625]

@@gearfacts my s500 is suffering from a iffy screen, so due a repair soon lol Plus may be adding a pad a50 to the clan, gonna need a bigger mixer 😃

[@gregoryosullivan]

That glass of water is freaking me out!

[@gearfacts]

Yeah it's a bad habit :/

[@glenesis]

Wow, it sounds like a record!

[@kurikokaleidoscope]

Excellent episode.

[@gearfacts]

A bit late today, Gearfacts friends - up very late creating this longer-than-usual video!

[@heroknaderi]

I really enjoyed this one. If i ever buy another arranger keyboard a used one, Ill look into this one as i can use it as a secondary Psr S. Although i have the psr s770 i can at one of these to my collection along with a psr e473 someday. Nice superior sound.

[@gearfacts]

Yeah it has a certain straightforward elegance, I think :)

[@korolchukpp]

Была у меня такая машина! Весьма интересный синтезатор с автоаккомпанементом. Звуки и стили звучат современней PSR-3000, но по функционалу слишком урезана. translate: I had this machine! Very interesting synthesizer with autoaccompaniment. Sounds ande styles better than PSR-3000, but by function is too small.

[@gearfacts]

I completely agree

[@thepianocoverman1800]

Nice demo 👍.

[@HOLLASOUNDS]

I would never put a glass of water ontop of a Electric keyboard. I agree this keyboard definitely does have great piano sounds.

[@gearfacts]

It was wine ;) ...even worse really!

[@lo-firobotboy7112]

I hate that they all still come in the early-2000s silver plastic housing. Regardless of sounds and features I can never get past the CHEAP look and feel of the contemporary PSR series. Like their fellow Casio keyboards, the PSRs from the 80s and 90s were built like tanks and looked right at home in the studio next to more professional synthesizers. Now they look like they should be in the corner of a kids' playroom covered with stickers. And to your point, nope, definitely not as much fun as many of the early boards. Nice review and demo though. I always enjoy your videos. Cheers!

[@gearfacts]

Glad you liked the video :) I laughed when I read your "in the corner of a kid's room covered in stickers" comment! It's so true.

[@kevinr.3542]

I have the same reaction to a lot of this eras keyboards, but this one isn't as bad as some. the worst to me are the ones with lots of bright childish colors, like the yellows and the weird greens. If they're mostly grey or black I'm happy

[@gearfacts]

@@kevinr.3542 I like the deep blue of some old of the old Rolands like the Em-20, that was nice too

[@stevewallis661]

I've broken many synths from drinks in the studio. Now my rule is no drinks or food allowed.

[@qwertyuiopasdgjklzxcvbnm]

my advice, put more water in there and move the keyboard

[@PocketOperatorGuy]

I have the exact same Machine! The LCD screen is dead though and the on board speakers are dead. It's a nice keyboard. The onboard 8 track recorder is nice. The ability to save your recording onto a USB stick is a handy feature. The DSP and effects were decent too. I gotta fix mine some day.

[@gearfacts]

Were you able to find the ADSR controls? I’ve got a bad feeling it doesn’t have any

[@PocketOperatorGuy]

@@gearfacts you can edit the onboard sounds in the menu, there is some "User" sound banks you can create. It is very basic... You can Layer, split, add the onboard DSP effects, change the parameters (in a minimalist fashion) it's basic. It's not bad if you want to have some custom voices readily available. But it's not serious ADSR in some of the other "Work stations" I've played with. This is a consumer or amateur grade piece of hardware.

[@gearfacts]

@@PocketOperatorGuy Hmm yeah that's all I was able to discover in the menu too. I was just a bit surprised as the many of the PSR and PSR-E keyboards have attack and decay settings. Not to worry though, the sounds are clearly on a higher level and overall it's a more 'serious' keyboard', no doubt about that :)

[@timpsarokrok2946]

I have a problem too..for PSR- E 500... LCD- somedays its work fine- ..and somedays LCD full on dead pixels ? What is this probelem? Can anybody know ?? :O

[@isaackalunga5811]

I need the motherboard for the same

[@meekrodriguez6438]

Dope piano keyboards

[@eugenecanady5452]

if you gutted those speakers, you could mount a couple Roland Boutique synths in the cavities. Too bad there isn't a normal MIDI jack on the rear.

[@gearfacts]

Man wouldn't that be cool!

[@bandungbusdriver5256]

this might be mm6 older brother.. because it has the same display and kenny g sound... and right now i'm craving for mm6... that promoted as the affordable MOTIF

[@gearfacts]

Yep it seems to be the exact same screen and similar body, but I think the MM6 is much more fun :)

[@Simon-ui6db]

Decent boards the psr-s series but they do hold their money more than the psr-e.

[@gearfacts]

True

[@dawnr8511]

The layout looks almost like my old Korg M3 Expanded which I sold a while ago.

[@gearfacts]

I don't think I've tried an M3 (or have I?)

[@dawnr8511]

@@gearfacts I don't think you have so far.

[@anelkonikolic6708]

how to import voice in this keyboard . How to save registration only voice without style ? does this keyboard have a freezing function when using registrations ? sorry for bad english

[@gearfacts]

Your English is clear - I can't speak any other languages at all :( Answers: I think you can buy collections of sounds from the Yamaha website, and they provide instructions about loading. 2. Registration will always save the style as well. Sorry that's all the help I have!

[@gumerkin3005]

сколько стилей можно в нее закачать?

[@gearfacts]

я не знаю. Но вы можете загружать бесконечное количество MIDI-файлов, так что это хороший способ получить все нужные биты.

[@alasislatip1741]

Hi..hello may i now if that model can creat a own style

[@gearfacts]

Not an entirely new one, you can only use parts of existing styles

[@kingmena1]

Hi were you able to find the answer? .. I have the same question

[@kingmena1]

@@gearfacts with all these percussion drums .. we can’t create a style? … is that because there is no storage panel for them

[@Tokpet.alraalwirahman8525]

Coba kita nonton