TG500

Back in 1992, this 1U rackmount module made waves as the rack version of the SY85, packing double the polyphony at 64 voices—split across dual AWM2 tone generators for smoother, richer performances that were a big deal when 32 voices felt luxurious.

It draws from an 8MB waveform ROM with 294 multisampled waves, from realistic acoustic pianos and brass to synth pads, basses, and exotic effects like kalimbas or orchestra hits, fueling 384 editable presets: 252 voices, drum kits, and 128 performances that layer up to four voices with key splits or velocity zones. Controls are streamlined via a backlit 2-line LCD, 12 buttons for play/edit/store/utility modes, and nested pages that keep deep edits—like 5-stage amp/pitch envelopes, 7-stage filter EG, LFO with multiple waveforms, and assignable MIDI controllers for mod wheel or aftertouch—intuitive without clutter. Dual FX units deliver 90 effects each, from chorus and reverb to ring mod and distortion, routable in parallel or serial, while outputs include stereo main plus four individuals, all in a compact 440x350x45mm chassis weighing just 4.4kg.

Players have long praised its versatile, high-fidelity sounds that hold up in modern mixes, though some note the button-only interface demands menu diving for tweaks—perfect for rack enthusiasts who value that classic Yamaha depth.