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SK50D

Yamaha SK50D

SK50D
(image courtesy of Yamaha)

Released: 1980

MSRP: Y619,500 ($3875US)

Synopsis:

Adds lower (preset only) and bass organ sections and dual manuals Architecture Class: Conventional (subtractive).

Ebay Description:

The Yamaha SK50D is a 61 key, 7 voice analog ensemble synthesizer, featuring organ, string, and poly-synth sections, dedicated organ and string/synth brilliance, tremolo, vibrato, string and mix volume pedal inputs, and dedicated Monosynth, Polysynth, Organ, and tone cabinet outputs. The Polysynth section features a slow attack button, release, and a resonant low pass filter with dedicated ADSR envelope. The Monosynth section features a resonant low pass filter, ADSR envelope, LFO, portamento. The organ section features 9 stops and an (AR) envelope.

Physical

Form Factor Dimensions Weight Audio Input Audio Output Communication Port Control Input Control Output Switch Input Power
2x 61 keys W:1128mm(44.375in) H:237mm(9.375in) D:642mm(25.25in) ? no mix Bass Polysynth Organ Monosynth tone-cabinet(11pin) no (Monosynth) CV/gate bass-pedal(BP2) keycode Monosynth:CV/gate portamento sustain AC (60W)

Interface

Compatibility Multitimbral Memory Program Memory External Storage External Programming UI Input UI Output
- N/A lower-organ:2 upper-organ:3 polysynth:3 string:2 (preset) no no dedicated sliders/knobs LED

Architecture

Multitimbral Polyphony Unison Architecture
3 (monosynth, organ and polysynth can be split) 7 split:7+7+1+1 no VCO->VCF->VCA+ VCO->VCF->VCA+ VCO->VCF->VCA+ VCO->VCF->VCA

Output

Effects Pan Modulator Volume Modulator Headphone
"Ensemble" chorus no EG Tremolo pedal yes

Control

Arpeggiator Arpeggiator External Sequencer Sequencer Memory Sequencer External Continuous Program Change
no N/A no N/A N/A pedal no

Keyboard

Key Pressure Chord Memory External Control External Sustain Key Scaling Velocity Curves
no no no pedal no no

Source

Name Signal Class Waveform Octave Range Amplitude Modulator Harmonics Modulator Pitch Modulator Wave Assign Modulator
Organ analog square? click:3 1' 1.3' 1.6' 2' 2.6' 4' 5.3' 8' 16' (mix) no no Vibrato no
Polysynth analog variable saw/square synth:8-16' string(mix):8'16' no no Vibrato no
Monosynth analog pulse saw 4-64' no PWM:MonoVCFEG|LFO portamento auto-bend Vibrato no
Bass analog square? pluk 8' 16' no no no no

Filter

Name Signal Class IC Resonant Shape Frequency Modulator Resonance Modulator Shape Modulator
Organ-Brilliance analog ? no band pass (+-7dB at 5kHz) no no no
Polysynth-Brilliance analog ? no band pass (+-12dB at 5kHz) no no no
PolysynthVCF analog ? yes 12dB low pass saw8':6dB band pass PolyVCF-EG no no
MonosynthVCF analog ? yes low pass Aftertouch MonoEG LFO no no

Envelope

Name Level Rate Loop Polarity Trigger Level Modulator Rate Modulator
OrganEG - DR no no key no no
PolysynthEG - switch:A R no no key no no
PolyVCF-EG sustain attack decay release no no key no no
MonoEG sustain attack decay release no no key no no
BassEG - R no no key no no

LFO

Name Waveform Delay Polarity Sync Delay Modulator Level Modulator Rate Modulator
Vibrato triangle? yes no no no no no
Tremolo triangle? no no no no no no
LFO triangle? no no no no Aftertouch no
Conventional Models
SY-1 SY-2 CS-10 CS-30 CS-30L CS-50 CS-60 CS-80
CS-5 CS-15 CS-15D CS-20M CS-40M CS-70M CS-01 SK10
SK15 SK20 SK30 SK50D SY-20 AN1x