Back in 1990, this rackmount module brought Yamaha's innovative vector synthesis from the SY22 keyboard into a compact, sequencer-friendly format, letting you dynamically blend waveforms with a signature joystick ball for sounds that twist and evolve in real time.
At its core, it fuses 128 low-fi 12-bit AWM waveforms—like pianos to watery textures—with 256 FM waveforms drawn from DX-series classics, building voices from 2 or 4 elements assigned to the joystick's north, south, east, and west positions. You get 32-voice polyphony, 16-part multitimbrality for layering up to 16 sounds across MIDI channels, and hands-on editing via a 16x2 display, 35 buttons, 3 knobs, plus parameters for frequency shift, pan, velocity/aftertouch sensitivity, and LFO modulation with five shapes. Effects include 16 digital options like reverb halls, delays, distortion, and gated reverb, with balance and level controls; output is stereo with assignable voice routing, and memory holds 128 presets plus 64 user voices, expandable via card. Physically, it's a sturdy 1U unit at 439x230x80mm and 2.8kg, perfect for racks.
Over the years, players appreciate its raw, characterful tones for electronica and experimental work, especially the joystick's expressive motion that rivals Korg's Wavestation. Some note the presets start thin and the interface demands patience to unlock deeper sounds, but those who dig in praise its unique hybrid grit and sequencing prowess.
