Introduced in 1980, this beast predates the DX7 by three years as Yamaha's first commercial FM synthesizer, pioneering digital sounds in a grand piano shell that weighs a hefty 90kg.
Its dual 4-operator FM engine delivers 16-note polyphony across two multi-timbral parts, with eight envelope generators per voice and a low-frequency oscillator for vibrato and tremolo. The 88-note wooden keyboard offers velocity sensitivity and polyphonic aftertouch for expressive play, paired with three piano-style pedals: sustain, pressure-sensitive vibrato, and tremolo. Controls hide along the fallboard for preset selection, 3-band EQ, chorus, and detune—letting you mix "A" and "B" sides from 16 magnetic strip-loaded presets into fresh composites. Stereo balanced outputs and a headphone jack round out the studio-ready setup, all pre-MIDI.
Players still chase it for those grainy, organic electric pianos, metallic hits, DX-style brass, and lush pads that shaped FM history, though the limited editing and noise floor keep it a collector's curiosity rather than a daily driver.
