March 31, 2024
Yamaha TG500 & SY85
I have spoken about the Yamaha SY85 a couple of times. A little while ago, I had the opportunity to buy its rack-mount relative; the Yamaha TG500. A few words;
Though the TG500 uses the same synth engine as its keyboard relative – the SY85 – it includes a total of 8MB of waveform ROM (50 additional waveforms) whereas the SY85 has 6MB. To state the obvious; it lacks a key-bed and also unlike the SY85, there is no sequencer & floppy drive. It does add additional outputs and an extra data and waveform card slot (four slots in total instead of two). Because of its bigger size and greater surface, the SY85 makes it easier to make instant changes by using things such as its matrix section, the eight sliders to control parameters as well as a section where you can easily switch to your preferred patch. It will take a bit more menu diving and pressing buttons when using the TG500 which has a 24 character x 2 line LCD display (The SY85 has a 40 character x 2 line LCD display), but as far as making not too many drastic changes, it is certainly feasible and once you understand its architecture, you’ll do just fine.
Here are five of my favourite patches; try them out if you can!
- AP Dance > early 90s house piano, a great alternative to the famous Korg M1 Piano 16′.
- OR Sine (Performance) > punchy, gritty house organ made out of 4 layers from the waveform “244: sin(e)”
- ST power > One of my favourite string patches of all time. Grandiose and very moving.
- KY Roady (Performance) > Excellent Rhodes EP. Beautiful for chords in the lower register and for soloing in the higher register
- ME Mello > A shimmering bliss of classic Yamaha AWM2
Here are some of the other articles that I have written so far regarding the SY85/TG500 (there might be more in the future, so scroll around if you’re interested)
I could’ve added far more patches and some of my favourite things you can do with the SY85/TG500, but I can always add another article later. I hope you liked it and have a pleasant April.
Devin Gademan
