Overview
The Yamaha PortaTone keyboards combine the most advanced AWM tone generation technology with state-of-the-art digital electronics and features to give us stunning sound quality with maximum musical enjoyment.
Voice Types
GM Voices
GM System Level 1 is a standard specification that defines the arrangement of voices in a tone generator and its MIDI functionality, ensuring that data can be played back with substantially the same sounds on any GM-compatible tone generator, regardless of its manufacturer or model.
Tone Generators and song data that meet the “GM System Level 1”
Basically YAMAHA Portatone Keyboards are based on 128 General Midi Voices. PSR-2700, PSR-1700 and PSR-510 (©1993) carry only 128 GM Voices and 8 GM DrumKits. Program Change Numbers for GM Voices are 000-127/001-128. (Note: Program Change Number for Piano is given as 000 up to the year 2003 (PSR-2100). Since 2004 (PSR-3000), the program change number for Piano is given as 001. This applies to all other voices as well.) The table below provides some examples of GM voices and Program Change Numbers.
| Voice | P.C Number | GM Drums | P.C Number |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acoustic Grand Piano | 000/001 | Standard | 000/001 |
| Synth Brass 2 | 063/064 | Room | 008/009 |
| Gunshot | 127/128 | Rock | 016/017 |
| Electronic | 024/025 | ||
| Analog | 025/026 | ||
| Jazz | 032/033 | ||
| Brush | 040/041 | ||
| Classic | 048/049 |
Model after model new voices were added in each category based on GM.
PSR-7000 (©1995) Voice List is given as complex manner, Panel Voices along with GM Voices.
PSR-620 (©1995) Panel Voices are given in unique P.C. Numbers (Not as GM Order.)
01Basic GM Voice List.xlsx is an Excel file of the GM Voice List with 128 Voices (16 Categoties, 8 Voices each) and 8 Drums, which is commom for many MIDI Divices. Click here to view this file in your browser.
XG Voices
Expanded GM (XG) is a tone generator format that expands the voice arrangement of the “GM System Level 1” specification to meet the ever-increasing demands of today’s computer peripheral environment, providing richer expressive power while maintaining upward compatibility of data. “XG” greatly expands “GM System Level 1” by defining the ways in which voices are expanded or edited and the structure and type of effects. We will enjoy a full musical experience that includes unlimited expansion voices and effect functions. Yamaha’s XG format is a major new enhancement to the GM (General MIDI) System Level 1 format. It provides a larger number of voices (480 Voices). The PSR-730 was the first Yamaha keyboard that supported XG voices. Some examples of the Parametres of XG Voices are provided in the table below.
| Voice | Parameters | SFX | Parameters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Piano | 000-000-000/001 | CuttingNoise | 064-000-000/001 |
| GrndPianoKSP | 000-001-000/001 | CuttingNoiz2 | 064-000-001/002 |
| MellowGrPno | 000-018-000/001 | Bird Tweet 2 | 064-000-050/051 |
| SynthBrass2 | 000-000-063/064 | Heartbeat | 064-000-099/100 |
| Soft Brass | 000-018-063/064 | FootSteps | 064-000-100/101 |
02Yamaha XG Voice List.xlsx is an Excel file of the Yamaha XG Voice List with 480 Voices (17 Categoties). Click here to view this file in your browser.
GM2 Voices
GM System Level 2 is a standard specification that enhances the original “GM System Level 1” and improves song data compatibility. It provides for increased polyphony, greater voice selection, expanded voice parameters, and integrated effect processing. Tone generators and song data that meet the “GM System Level 2” (256 GM2 Voices and 9 GM2 Drums) are included seperately in TYROS (©2002) and next in PSR-3000 (©2004). The MSB Value of GM2 for Voice is 121 and Drum is 120. The table below provides some examples of Parameters of GM2 Voices.
| Voice | Parameters | SFX Voices | Parameters | Drums | Parameters |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Piano | 121-000-000/001 | GtrFretNoise | 121-000-120/121 | StandardSet | 120-000-000/001 |
| Grand PianoW | 121-001-000/001 | GtrCutNoise | 121-001-120/121 | RoomSet | 120-000-008/009 |
| Grand PianoD | 121-002-000/001 | StringSlap | 121-002-120/121 | PowerSet | 120-000-016/017 |
| SynthBrass2 | 121-000-063/064 | Gunshot | 121-000-127/128 | ElectroSet | 120-000-024/025 |
| SynthBrass4 | 121-001-063/064 | MachineGun | 121-001-127/128 | AnalogSet | 120-000-025/026 |
| AnaSynBrass2 | 121-002-063/064 | Lasergun | 121-002-127/128 | JazzSet | 120-000-032/033 |
| Explosion | 121-003-127/128 | BrushSet | 120-000-040/041 | ||
| OrchestraSet | 120-000-048/049 | ||||
| SFXSet | 120-000-056/057 |
03GM2 Voice List.xlsx is an Excel file of the GM2 Voice List which includes 256 GM2 Voices and 9 GM2 Drums. Click here to view this file in your browser.
GS Voices
GM Standard (GS) was developed by the Roland Corporation. In the same way as Yamaha XG, GS is a major enhancement of the GM specifically to provide more Voices and Drum kits and their variations, as well as greater expressive control over Voices and effects. GS Voices (Only for Song Playback) included first in PSR-3000, PSR-1500 (©2004) and continued in later Models. 226 GS Voices and 9 GS Drums can be found in One Folder next to GM2 Folder only during Revoicing Song Tracks. The MSB Value of GM2 for Voice is 119 and Drum is 118. The table below provides some examples of parameters of GS Voices.
| Voice | Parameters | SFX Voices | Parameters | Drums | Parameters |
| Piano1 | 119-000-000/001 | GtrFretNoise | 119-000-120/121 | StandardSet | 118-000-000/001 |
| Piano1W | 119-008-000/001 | GtrCutNoise | 119-001-120/121 | RoomSet | 118-000-008/009 |
| Piano1D | 119-016-000/001 | StringSlap | 119-002-120/121 | PowerSet | 118-000-016/017 |
| SynthBrass2 | 119-000-063/064 | Gunshot | 119-000-127/128 | ElectroSet | 118-000-024/025 |
| SynthBrass4 | 119-008-063/064 | MachineGun | 119-001-127/128 | AnalogSet | 118-000-025/026 |
| AnalogBrass2 | 119-016-063/064 | Lasergun | 119-002-127/128 | JazzSet | 118-000-032/033 |
| Explosion | 119-003-127/128 | BrushSet | 118-000-040/041 | ||
| OrchestraSet | 118-000-048/049 | ||||
| SFXSet | 118-000-056/057 |
04GS Compatible Voice List.xlsx is an Excel file of the GS Voice List, which includes 235 GS Voices (226 Voices + 9 Drums) in one folder. Click here to view this file in your browser.
Panel Voices
These are more Pitched Voices than XG/GM resembling the actual sounds. DSP effects add more colour to the voices. As PSR Tutorial starts with PSR-730 as basic model, I like to start with PSR-730 panel voices (listed separately.) The parameter values of panel voices in 7K, some given same as PSR-730 and many as different values and different names.
In PSR-730 and later models the panel voices are given separately in Perfect Order. The parameters for each voice are given as MSB-LSB-PCN. For example, in GrandPiano the MSB value is 000, the LSB value is 112 and the PCN (Program Change Number) is 000/001. In panel voices the basic LSB value is given as 112. Some examples of panel voices and parameters for PSR-730 are given in the table below.
| Voice | Parameters | DrumKits | Parameters |
| GrandPiano | 000-112-000/001 | StandardKit1 | 127-000-000/001 |
| BrightPiano | 000-112-001/002 | StandardKit2 | 127-000-001/002 |
| MidiGrand | 000-112-002/003 | Room Kit | 127-000-008/009 |
| CP 80 | 000-113-002/003 | Rock Kit | 127-000-016/017 |
| Rock Piano | 000-114-002/003 | Electro Kit | 127-000-024/025 |
| Synth Brass | 000-112-062/063 | Analog Kit | 127-000-025/026 |
| Jump Brass | 000-113-062/063 | Dance Kit | 127-000-027/028 |
| TechnoBrass | 000-114-062/063 | Jazz Kit | 127-000-032/033 |
| Analog Brs | 000-112-063/064 | Brush Kit | 127-000-040/041 |
| Square Lead | 000-112-080/081 | Classic Kit | 127-000-048/049 |
| Vintage Ld | 000-113-080/081 | SFX Kit1 | 126-000-000/001 |
Year after year, new voices were added model by model.
Featured Voices - (Detailed explanations are given in first introduced models.) YAMAHA improved the panel voices using sophisticated technology and added Featured Voices.
- Sweet!Voices - First introduced in PSR-730 (© 1997) with one voice. Next in PSR-8000 (©1999) and PSR-740 (©1999) with 4 more voices. Continued with more and more in future models.
- Cool!Voices, Live!Voices, and also Live!Drums first introduced in PSR-9000 (©1999) and Live!SFX Kits were included in PSR-9000PRO (©2000). Continued with more and more in future models.
- OrganFlutes! - First in top-level keyboards (from PSR-7000). The very first in midrange was the PSR-740 (©1999) with one sample. 10 samples in PSR-9000 (©1999) and next PSR-2000 onwards (©2001). 20 new samples in TYROS3 (©2008). 10 more in TYROS4(©2010). Continued with more and more in later models.
- Mega!Voices - First in TYROS (©2002), next in PSR-3000 (2004). Continued with more and more in future models.
- SuperAriculation! - First in TYROS2 (©2005), next in PSR-S900 (©2007). Continued with more and more in future models.
- SuperAriculation2! - First in TYROS3 (©2008), continued in top models only. S.Art2! Style Voices are included in TYROS4 onwards (©2010).
- Revo!DrumKits - Newly introduced in GENOS (©2017).
Legacy Folder - As the number of available panel voices grew model after model, new voices were placed in the panel section. Old panel voices were shifted to a Legacy folder. This started with the TYROS3 (©2008), and the mid-range PSR-S910 (©2009) and was continued in later models.
Ensemble Voices - Ensemble Voices were included first in the TYROS5 (©2017) and continued in the GENOS keyboard.
Panel Voice History
Separate Excel spreadsheets illustrate the history of Yamaha PSR Panel voices. Links to download the Excel files or view the data online are provided for all the keyboards listed below.
PSR-730 Panel Voices (Complete)
The PSR730 (@ 1997) panel voices include 215 "Pitched" voices, 10 Drum Kits (8GM + 2 Additional) and 2 SFX Kits. One extraordinary voice, called a Sweet!Voice, is included.
Sweet!Voice - This acoustic instrument sounds also benefit from Yamaha's sophisticated technology and feature a sound so finely detailed and natural, with Delayed Vibrato. We can swear that we are playing the real thing!
The PSR-730 has only one Sweet!Voice, Sweet!Trumpet.
This Excel file -- YPPV01Preset Panel Voices of PSR-730 (Complete Voices).xlsx -- lists all Panel Voices of the PSR-730 in GM Order with additional details provided. Click here to view the contents of that Excel file in your browser. Be aware that there are multiple pages included. Click on the links at the bottom to move from page to page.
New Panel Voices in PSR-8000 and PSR-740
PSR-8000 (@ 1998) is the top level keyboard released next after the PSR-730 with more stunning panel voices including more Sweet! voices. The PSR-740 (@ 1999) is the following midrange model. It carries all 8K panel voices and more additional voices.
Note: The panel voices of PSR-8000, 740 and later are different from PSR-*30 panel voices. The *30 voices are sampled by decreasing or incresing the Octave. For example, Guitars are sampled by decreasing 1 octave; Basses are sampled by decreasing 2 octaves; Piccolo, Glocken are sampled by increasing 1 octave. We cannot use these panel voices in PSR-730 for revoicing to styles and MIDI songs. But after 8K and 740, all the panel voices are sampled in constant. The Octave values are adjusted in Panel Settings. For Guitars [-1], For Basses [-2], For Piccolo & Glocken [+1], For Piano, E. Piano [0]. Octaves are adjusted according to the nature of voices. In PSR-8000, 740 and later models, most of the styles use Panel and XG Voices. Whereas up to PSR-730, styles use only GM Voice.
The list of additional PSR-8000 voices is available in this Excel file: YPPV02New Panel Voices in PSR-8000 & PSR-740(Not in PSR-730).xlsx. To view this Excel file in your browser click here.
New Panel Voices in PSR-9000 & PSR-9000PRO
PSR-9000 (©1999) is the next top level keyboard after the PSR-8000. It holds many more panel voices in each category including more Sweet! Voices also new Cool! Voices, Live! Voices and Live! Drums.
- Live!Voices - These acoustic instrument sounds were sampled in stereo to produce a truly authentic, rich sound — full of atmosphere and ambience.
- Cool!Voices - These Voices use sophisticated programming to capture the dynamic textures and subtle nuances of electric instruments.
- Live!Drums - These are high-quality drum sounds that take full advantage of stereo sampling and dynamic sampling.
- Live!SFX - These are various high-quality special effect sounds and percussion sounds that take full advantage of stereo sampling and dynamic sampling.
- Organ Flutes! (PSR-2000 onwards) This authentic organ voice gives us a full set of rich and luscious organ sounds, it also lets to create our own original organ voices, just as on a traditional organ, by increasing and decreasing the flute footages, and adding percussive sounds.
Extraordinary voices are added more and more in the upcoming models. Most of these new Voices are continued in TYROS and later PSR models. Additional voices of PSR-9000PRO (©2000) and unique voices of PSR-2000 (©2001) are also listed at end.
The list of additional PSR-9000 voices is available in this Excel file: YPPV03New Panel Voices in PSR-9000 & PSR-9000PRO (Not in PSR-8000).xlsx. To view contents of the Excel file in your browser Click here.
New Panel Voices in TYROS
TYROS (©2002) introduced a new generation of Yamaha keyboard with more and more panel voices. This was the top-level keyboard (following the PSR-9000PRO) with ultimate realism of voices. In addition to XG/GM voices, 256 GM2 voices were introduced in TYROS and next in the PSR-3000 (©2004). The MSB value of GM2 for voice is 121 and drum is 120. MegaVoice! technology was first introduced in the TYROS and next in the PSR-3000 for realism of Guitars and Basses. In Mega Voices MSB is 008, LSB starts from 000 in each category.
Mega!Voice - These voices make special use of velocity switching. Each velocity range (the measure of the playing strength) has a completely different sound. For example, a guitar MegaVoice includes the sounds of various performance techniques. In conventional instruments, different voices having those sounds would be called up via MIDI and played in combination to achieve the desired effect. However, now with MegaVoices, a convincing guitar part can be played with just a single Voice, using specific velocity values to play the desired sounds. Because of the complex nature of these voices and the precise velocities need to play the sounds, they’re not intended for playing from the keyboard. They are, however, very useful and convenient when creating MIDI data — especially when you want to avoid using several different voices just for a single instrument part.
This type of voices were added more and more in following models. Most of the older voices are continued, some of them are with new sounds. Some voices are omitted and many new voices are added. Most of these voices are continued in PSR-3000 (©2004) and later models. Additional and alternative voices of PSR-2100 (©2003) and PSR-3000 (©2004) are listed at the end.
A list of the New TYROS Voices is available in this Excel file: YPPV04New Panel Voices in TYROS.xlsx. To view the contents of this Excel file in your browser click here.
New Panel Voices in TYROS2
TYROS2 (©2005) was the next top-level keyboard after the TYROS, It included many more Extraordinary Voices. TYROS offered Mega Voice only for Guitars and Basses. But TYROS2 offers Mega!Voice for Strings, Trumpet, Brass and Sax. SuperArticulation! (S.Art) was also first introduced with the TYROS2 and followed by PSR-S900 (©2007). In S.Art Voices MSB is also 008, LSB Starts from 032 in each category.
SuperArticulation! - The Super Articulation Voices provide many of the same benefits as the MegaVoices, but with greater playability and expressive control in real time. For example, with the Saxophone voice, if we play a C and then a D in a very legato way, we will hear the note change seamlessly, as though a saxophone player played it in a single breath. Similarly with the Concert Guitar voice, the D note would sound as a “hammer on,” without the string being plucked again. Depending on how we play, other effects such as shake (for Trumpet, Brass) or breath noises (for Trumpet, Sax), or finger noises (for the Guitar Voice) will be produced. This type of Voices are added more and more in the upcoming models in various catrgoties.
A list of the New TYROS2 Voices is available in this Excel file: YPPV05New Panel Voices in TYROS2.xlsx. To view the contents of this Excel file in your browser click here.
New Panel Voices in TYROS3
TYROS3 (©2008) was the next top-level keyboard following the TYROS2 with many more Extraordinary Voices. SuperArticulation2! was first introduced in the TYROS3 and followed only in TYROS models. In S.Art2 voices, MSB is also 008, LSB Starts from 064 in each category.
SuperArticulation2! - For wind instrument voices, a special technology called AEM has been used. AEM features detailed samples of special expressive techniques used on specific instruments — to bend or slide into notes, to “join” different notes together, or to add expressive nuances at the end of a note, etc. You can add these articulations by playing legato or non-legato, or by jumping in pitch by around an octave. For example, using the Clarinet voice, if we hold a C note and play the Bb above, you’ll hear a glissando up to the Bb. Some “note off” effects are also produced automatically when you hold a note for over a certain time. Each SA2 voice has its own default vibrato setting, so that when you select a SA2 voice, the appropriate vibrato is applied regardless of the Modulation wheel position. You can adjust the vibrato by moving the Modulation wheel.
S.Art2 voices were added more and more in the upcoming models for various catergories. A list of the New TYROS3 voices is available in this Excel file: YPPV06New Panel Voices in TYROS3.xlsx. To view the contents of this Excel file in your browser click here. (Updated 8/7/19.)
New Panel Voices in TYROS4
TYROS4 (©2010) was the mext top-level keyboard following the TYROS3 with many more Featured Voices in each category including Choir Voices. S.Art2! Style Voices are introduced in this model. In S.Art2 Style Voices, MSB is also 008, LSB Starts from 080 in each category. From this model onwards, S.Art! Voices are allowed to Revoice for Styles also.
A list of the New TYROS4 voices is available in this Excel file: YPPV07New Panel Voices in TYROS4.xlsx. To view the contents of this Excel file in your browser click here. (Updated 8/7/19.)
New Panel Voices in TYROS5
TYROS5 (©2013) was the next top-level keyboard after the TYROS4 with a huge number of Featured Voices.
Ensemble Voices - These are special voice settings that feature multiple voices, used in realistic ensemble combinations, such as brass section and string quartet. Up to four special parts or instruments are provided within a single voice. But rather than just being a combination, the parts are dynamically assigned to the notes,and are distributed among the intervals you play in exceptionally natural, musical ways — as if four different players were actually playing the parts live. Moreover, the discrepancy between each instrument — the pitch, timing, etc. — can be controlled and “humanized,” making the overall sound amazingly authentic and expressive.
In Standard Voices the MSB Value is 109. In S.Art1&2 Voices MSB is 009.
A list of the New TYROS5 voices is available in this Excel file: YPPV08New Panel Voices in TYROS5.xlsx. New unique and additional voices of the PSR-S970 (©2015) are listed as well at the end of the spreadsheet.To view the contents of this Excel file in your browser click here. (Updated 8/7/19.)
New Panel Voices in GENOS
GENOS (©2017) is the new Generation and Genius top-level keyboard that followed the TYROS5 with a huge number of more and more new Featured Voices. RevoDrum!, RevoSFX! are introduced in the GENOS. In RevoDrums the LSB Value is 008. Many old and TYROS5 voices are given as different names in GENOS
RevoDrum!, RevoSFX! Voices - The Drum and SFX Voices make to play various drums and percussion instruments or SFX (sound effects) sounds on the keyboard. Especially, Revo DrumVoices recreate the natural sound of drums, even when playing the same key multiple times.
A list of the New GENOS voices is available in this Excel file: YPPV09New Panel Voices in GENOS.xlsx. New Unique and Additional Voices of PSR-SX900 (©2019) are also listed at end of this file. To view the contents of this Excel file in your browser click here. (Updated 8/16/19.)
Complete Tyros5 Voices with Details
All of the TYROS5 voices and parameters are provided in one Excel file. This includes 757 Panel voices, 40 Organ World, 93 Ensemble Voices, 413 Legacy voices, and 54 MegaVoices for a total of 1,357 voices. Voices are color coded to distinguish Sweet!Voices, Cool!Voices, Live!Voices, OrganFlute!Voices, Mega!Voices, SuperArticulation!Voices and SuperArticulation2!Voices. Details indicate the original model in which the voice first appeared and if the voice is continued in the GENOS.
Download Complete Tyros5 Panel Voices With Details.xlsx for the Excel file. Click here to view the contents of this file in your browser. (Updated 8/7/19.)
Details for the Style Voices, which are only for playback, are in Other TYROS5 Voices With Details.xlsx and can be viewed in your browser here. (Updated 8/7/19.)
This page updated on May 20, 2021 .