Owner’s Manual EN
SPECIAL MESSAGE SECTION This product utilizes batteries or an external power supply (adapter). DO NOT connect this product to any power supply or adapter other than one described in the manual, on the name plate, or specifically recommended by Yamaha. This product may also use “household” type batteries. Some of these may be rechargeable. Make sure that the battery being charged is a rechargeable type and that the charger is intended for the battery being charged.
FCC INFORMATION (U.S.A.) 1. IMPORTANT NOTICE: DO NOT MODIFY THIS UNIT! This product, when installed as indicated in the instructions contained in this manual, meets FCC requirements. Modifications not expressly approved by Yamaha may void your authority, granted by the FCC, to use the product. 2. IMPORTANT: When connecting this product to accessories and/ or another product use only high quality shielded cables. Cable/s supplied with this product MUST be used. Follow all installation instructions.
PRECAUTIONS PLEASE READ CAREFULLY BEFORE PROCEEDING * Please keep this manual in a safe place for future reference. WARNING Always follow the basic precautions listed below to avoid the possibility of serious injury or even death from electrical shock, short-circuiting, damages, fire or other hazards. These precautions include, but are not limited to, the following: Power supply/AC power adaptor Water warning • Only use the voltage specified as correct for the instrument.
Connections • Before connecting the instrument to other electronic components, turn off the power for all components. Before turning the power on or off for all components, set all volume levels to minimum. Also, be sure to set the volumes of all components at their minimum levels and gradually raise the volume controls while playing the instrument to set the desired listening level. Maintenance • When cleaning the instrument, use a soft, dry cloth.
This product incorporates and bundles computer programs and contents in which Yamaha owns copyrights or with respect to which it has license to use others’ copyrights. Such copyrighted materials include, without limitation, all computer software, style files, MIDI files, WAVE data, musical scores and sound recordings. Any unauthorized use of such programs and contents outside of personal use is not permitted under relevant laws. Any violation of copyright has legal consequences.
Congratulations and thank you for purchasing the Yamaha PSR-S500 PortaTone! Please read this owner’s manual carefully before using the instrument in order to take full advantage of its various features. Make sure to keep this manual in a safe and handy place even after you finish reading, and refer to it often when you need to better understand an operation or function. Accessories The instrument package includes the following items. Please check that you have them all.
Special Features of the PSR-S500 ■ Play a Variety of Instrument Voices Page 17 The instrument voice that sounds when you play the keyboard can be changed to violin, flute, harp, or any of an extensive range of voices. You can change the mood of a song written for piano, for example, by using violin to play it instead. Experience a whole new world of musical variety.
Contents Logos........................................................................................ 6 Accessories .............................................................................. 7 Special Features of the PSR-S500 .......................................... 8 Setting Up 10 Power Requirements .............................................................. 10 Connecting Headphones (PHONES/OUTPUT Jack) ............. 10 Connecting a Footswitch (SUSTAIN Jack).............................
Setting Up Be sure to do the following operations BEFORE turning on the power. Power Requirements Make all necessary connections below BEFORE turning the power on. Connecting Headphones (PHONES/OUTPUT Jack) Make sure that the [STANDBY/ON] switch of the instrument is set to STANDBY. • Use ONLY a Yamaha PA-300 or PA-301 AC Power Adaptor (or other adaptor specifically recommended by Yamaha) to power your instrument from the AC mains.
Setting Up Connecting to a Computer (USB Terminal) Turning the Power On Turn down the volume by turning the [MASTER VOLUME] control to the left and press the [STANDBY/ON] switch to turn on the power. Press the [STANDBY/ON] switch again to turn the power OFF. Connect the instrument’s USB terminal to the USB terminal of a computer, and you can transfer performance data and song files between the two (page 85).
Setting Up Changing the Display language Adjusting the LCD CONTRAST control This instrument allows you to select English or Japanese as the display language. The default display language is English, but if you switch to Japanese the lyrics, file names and some messages will be displayed in Japanese where appropriate. Adjust the LCD CONTRAST control on the rear panel of the instrument for optimum display legibility. Press the [FUNCTION] button.
Setting Up ● Music Rest Insert the music rest into the slots as shown.
Panel Controls and Terminals e r t o y q !0 !2 u w i !3 !4 !1 !5 @9 Front Panel q [STANDBY/ON] switch .................... page 16 w [MASTER VOLUME] control.... pages 16, 40 e [DEMO] button ................................. page 16 r [SONG MODE] button ..................... page 27 t SONG [PRESET], [USER], [USB] buttons ..................................................... page 27 [SCORE] button ............................ page 30 [LYRICS] button ............................
Panel Controls and Terminals !7 @2 @3 !8 @0 !9 @6 @4 @5 @7 @8 @1 !6 Rear Panel #0 #1 #2 #3 #4 Rear Panel !9 Dial.................................................... page 41 #0 SUSTAIN jack................................... page 10 @0 [+/YES] and [-/NO] buttons ............. page 41 #1 USB TO HOST and TO DEVICE terminals .......................................... page 80 r f @1 CATEGORY [ ] and [ ] buttons ... page 41 @2 [FUNCTION] button .........................
e d ck Gui ui Q Playing Songs Quick Guide This instrument include a Demonstration Song. Let’s start by playing the Demonstration Song. 1 Press the [STANDBY/ON] button until it locks in the ON position. The Main display appears in the LCD. VOICE name STYLE name SONG name Music Database name 2 Press the [DEMO] button to start the Demo. 3 >/■] button to stop Demo. Press the [> 16 The Demo display appears in the LCD.
e d ck Gui ui Q Try playing a variety of Instrument Voices In addition to piano, organ, and other “standard” keyboard instruments, this instrument has a large range of realistic Voices—including guitar, bass, strings, sax, trumpet, drums and percussion, sound effects, and a wide variety of other musical sounds. Select and Play a Voice In this operation, you’ll select a Main Voice and play it on the keyboard. 1 Select and press the desired Voice category button in the Voice section.
Try playing a variety of Instrument Voices Playing Two Voices Simultaneously—DUAL This lets you select a second Voice which you can play in addition to the Main Voice. The second Voice is known as the “Dual” Voice. Two Voices will sound at the same time. 1 Press the [DUAL] button. The [DUAL] button turns the Dual Voice on or off. When Dual Voice is turned on, the [DUAL] button is lit. The currently selected Dual Voice will sound in addition to the Main Voice when you play the keyboard.
Try playing a variety of Instrument Voices 4 Select the Voice you want to play. 5 Play the keyboard. Look at the highlighted Voice name and rotate the dial. The available Voices will be selected and displayed in sequence. The Voice selected here becomes the Dual Voice. For this example, select the “003 Marimba” Voice. Try selecting and playing a range of Dual Voices. Press the [EXIT] button to return to the MAIN display.
Try playing a variety of Instrument Voices 2 Press and hold the [LEFT] button for longer than a second. The LEFT Voice selection display will appear. The currently selected category name, Voice number and name will be highlighted. Left Voice selection display The currently selected category The currently selected Left Voice Hold for longer than a second 3 Select and press the desired Voice category button in the VOICE section. For this example, select the “GUITAR” category.
Try playing a variety of Instrument Voices Playing Drum Kits Drum Kits are collections of drum and percussion instruments. When you select a violin or other normal instrument—as a Main Voice, for example—all keys produce the sound of the same violin, only at different pitches. If you select a Drum Kit as the Main Voice, however, each key produces the sound of a different drum or percussion instrument. 1 Press the [PERC./DRUM KIT] button.
e d ck Gui ui Q Playing Styles This instrument includes an auto-accompaniment feature that plays appropriate “Styles” (rhythm + bass + chord accompaniment) when you play left-hand chords. You can select from 150 different Styles covering a range of musical genres and time signatures (see page 107 for a complete list of the available Styles). Here’s how you can use the auto-accompaniment feature. Select a Styles Rhythm Most Styles include a rhythm part.
Playing Styles Playing Along with a Style You learned how to select a Style rhythm on the preceding page. Here we’ll see how to add bass and chord accompaniment to the basic rhythm to produce a full, rich accompaniment that you can play along with. 1 Select and press the desired Style category button in the Style section. Press the [EXIT] button to return to the Main display. 2 Turn automatic accompaniment on. Press the [ACMP] button.
Playing Styles 4 Play a left-hand chord to start the Style. You can still “play” chords even if you don’t actually know any chords. This instrument will recognize even a single note as a chord. Try playing from one to three notes at the same time to the left of the split point. The chord will change according to the left-hand notes you play. Split point 5 Play a variety of left-hand chords while playing a melody with your right hand.
Playing Styles Playing Auto-accompaniment Chords There are two ways of playing auto-accompaniment chords: ● Easy Chords ● Standard Chords The instrument will automatically recognize the different chord types. The keyboard to the left of the split point (default: 54/F#2) becomes the “accompaniment range.” Play the accompaniment chords in this area of the keyboard.
e d ck Gui ui Q Playing with the Music Database You want to play music in your favorite Style, but you’re not sure how to select the best Voice and Style for the type of music you want to play, simply select the appropriate Style from the Music Database. The panel settings will automatically be adjusted for the ideal combination of sounds and Style! 1 Press the [MDB] button. 2 Select the desired Music Database which matches the music style or type you want to play.
e d ck Gui ui Q Using Songs With this instrument the term “Song” refers the data that makes up a piece of music. In this section we’ll learn how to select and play Songs. Song (Score) Listen (Lyrics) See Record Selecting and Listening to a Song 1 Select and press one of the Song category buttons, which corresponds to the type of Song you want to listen to. [PRESET] : Five preset Songs are available here. [USER] : This contains your recorded Songs and Songs loaded from computer.
Using Songs PRESET 3 Built-in Songs 1 Annie Laurie (Traditional) 2 Oh, Susanna (Sunny Skylar, S. Foster) 3 Little Brown Jug (Traditional) 4 Waltz Op.18 (F. Chopin) 5 Piano Concerto No.21 2nd Mov. (W.A. Mozart) USER User Songs (Songs you record yourself) or Songs transferred from a computer (pages 85–87) USB Songs in a USB flash memory connected to the instrument (page 74) Listen to the Song. Press the [>/■] button to begin playback of the selected Song.
Using Songs Types of Songs The following four types of Songs can be used by this instrument. ● ● ● ● Preset Songs (the five Songs built into the instrument)............... Preset Song numbers 001–005. User Songs (recordings of your own performances) ................... USER Song numbers 001–005. Loaded Songs (Song data loaded from computer) ...................... USER Song numbers 006– USB Songs (Song data in the USB flash memory) ...................... Song numbers 001–.
Using Songs Displaying the Song Score This instrument is capable of display the scores (notation) of Songs. Scores are displayed for the preset Songs. Scores can also be displayed for Songs loaded from computer as well as Songs played back from USB flash memory. Although User Songs you record yourself cannot display a score as is, they can be converted to SMF (Standard MIDI File) format and stored to USB flash memory, from where they can be played with score display.
Using Songs Displaying the Lyrics If a Song contains lyric data, the lyrics can be made to appear on the display. No lyrics will be displayed for a Song that contains no lyric data, even if the [LYRICS] button is pressed. 1 Select a Song. 2 Press the [LYRICS] button. Follow steps 1 and 2 of the procedure described on page 27. Try to select the Preset SONG 001–002. NOTE The title, lyricist, and composer of the Song will appear on the display.
e d ck Gui ui Q Recording Your Own Performance You can record up to five of your own performances and save them as user Songs 001 through 005. These Songs can be played in the same manner as the preset Songs. Once your performances have been saved as user Songs, they can be converted to SMF (Standard MID File) format files and saved to USB flash memory (page 77) and used with the score display function.
Recording Your Own Performance Chord parts Melody or other parts Specify track(s) and record Track 1 Track 2 Track 3 Main Voice part Dual Voice part Left Voice part Track 4 Track 5 Track 6 Track 7 Track 8 Other parts Track ACMP Style Example: Part settings in Multi Recording Quick Recording Procedure You can easily start recording your performance by simply pressing the [REC] button. In this case, the track number and part number of tracks are set automatically.
Recording Your Own Performance 2 Recording will start when you play the keyboard. Current measure number Start recording 3 >/■] or [REC] button. Stop recording by pressing the [> Track numbers containing recorded data are indicated with framed rectangles. or 4 >/■] button to play back the recording. Press the [> Multi-track Recording Procedure You can set the recorded user Song number and the parts for tracks individually.
Recording Your Own Performance 2 Select the recording part for each track (Part Assign). ◆ Selecting the part for the Melody track (tracks 1–8) While holding down the [REC] button, press one of the track buttons [1]–[8] until the desired part is shown at the track button. Each time you press the button, the part is changed in order (such as MAIN, DUAL, LEFT) in the Main display.
Recording Your Own Performance 3 Recording will start when you play the keyboard. You can also start recording by pressing the [ >/■] button. Press the [EXIT] button, and the measure number is shown in the Main display. When recording is started, the display automatically returns to the Main display. Current measure number NOTE • When Song memory is full, a corresponding message is shown in the display and recording will be stopped.
Recording Your Own Performance ● Not recorded data The following data is recorded before the beginning of the Song. Even if you change the data while recording is in progress, the data is not recorded. Reverb type, Chorus type, DSP type, DSP send level, Dry level, Style number, Style volume, Time signature Song Clear—Deleting User Songs This function clears an entire user Song (all tracks). 1 2 3 NOTE From the MAIN display, select the user Song (001 to 005) you want to clear.
Recording Your Own Performance Track Clear—Deleting a Specified Track From a User Song This function lets you delete a specified track from a User Song. 1 2 From the MAIN display select the User Song (001 to 005) you want to clear. Press the [REGIST/TRACK] button a number of times until the item you want to clear appears. The item changes in order from “REGIST.” to “TR 1–8” to “ACMP. TR”. Select the desired track: “TR 1–8” or “ACMP. TR”.
Backup and Initialization Backup The following data items are automatically saved as backup data in the internal memory even if you turn the power off. To recall the default settings and data, use the Initialization operation.
Basic Operation and Displays Basic Operation Overall PSR-S500 control is based on the following simple operations. 1 Use the category buttons to select a CATEGORY. 2 Use the dial to select an item or value. 3 Starting/stopping a Song or Style. 1 Song category 1 Style category ● Volume Adjustment Adjusts the volume of the sound heard via the instrument’s speakers or a pair of headphones plugged into the PHONES jack. Rotate counterclockwise to lower the volume.
Basic Operation and Displays r f ● Category buttons [ ], [ ] You can change the category after you’ve selected a Song, Style or Voice category. Pressing these buttons allow you to step in sequence through the categories. Example: Voice selection display Previous category Next category 2 Use the dial to select an item or value. When you select the category such as Song, Style or Voice, the selected category name and item is shown on the display.
Basic Operation and Displays The Displays ● Display names The display provides important, easy-to-understand indications for performing all operations. The name of the current display appears at the top of the display. You can see the “MAIN” indication at the top on the display. ● MAIN Display Title Call up the Main display Most basic operations are carried out from the instrument’s MAIN display.
Basic Operation and Displays MAIN Display Items The MAIN display shows all of the current basic settings: Song, Style, Voice. It also includes a range of indicators that show the on/off status of a range of functions. Transpose (page 53) Measure number (page 36) OCTAVE (page 54) REGISTRATION memory / Song track indication Shows currently selected item: REGIST., TR 1–8, TR 9–16 or ACMP (page 66) Tempo (page 49, 51) A-B Repeat Appears when the Repeat function is on for Song playback.
Reference e erenc ef R Playing with the Effects Adding Harmony This feature adds Harmony, Tremolo or Echo effects to the Main Voice. 1 Press the [HARMONY] button to turn the Harmony function on. The [HARMONY] button lights indicating that Harmony is on. To turn Harmony off, press the [HARMONY] button again. 3 Use the dial to select a Harmony type. Refer to the Effect Type List on page 110 for information about the available Harmony types. Try playing the keyboard with the Harmony function.
Playing with the Effects Changing the Reverb Type Reverb enhances the sound of the Voices with the rich ambience of a concert hall. When you select a Style or Song the optimum reverb type for the Voice used is automatically selected. If you want to select a different reverb type, use the operation described below. 1 Press the [FUNCTION] button to call up the FUNCTION display. 2 Press the CATEGORY [ 3 Use the dial to select a Reverb Type.
Playing with the Effects Changing the Chorus Type The Chorus effect creates a thick sound that is similar to many of the same Voices being played in unison. When you select a Style or Song the optimum chorus type for the Voice used is automatically selected. If you want to select a different Chorus Type, use the procedure described below. 1 Press the [FUNCTION] button to call up the FUNCTION display. 2 Press the CATEGORY [ 3 Use the dial to select a Chorus Type.
Playing with the Effects Panel Sustain This function adds sustain to the keyboard Voices. Use it when you want to add sustain to the Voices at all times, regardless of footswitch operation. The sustain function does not affect the Left Voice. Press the [SUSTAIN] button to turn the sustain function on. The [SUSTAIN] button lights indicating that Sustain is on. NOTE • For certain Voices, the sustain effect may not be obvious or audible, even when the panel sustain function is turned on.
Playing with the Effects Pitch Bend The pitch bend wheel can be used to add smooth pitch variations to notes you play on the keyboard. Roll the wheel upward to raise the pitch, or downward to lower the pitch. If you use this feature with a Voice such as the “042 Overdriven” guitar Voice (page 17), you can produce remarkably realistic string-bending effects. You can change the amount of pitch bend produced by the wheel, as described on page 71.
e erenc ef R Using Various Functions Playing with the metronome This instrument includes a metronome with adjustable tempo and time signature. Play and set the tempo that is most comfortable for you. ■Turn the metronome on● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Press the [METRONOME] button to start the metronome. To stop the metronome, press the [METRONOME] button again.
Using Various Functions ■Changing the Time Signature ● ● ● In this example we’ll set up a 3/8 time signature. 1 Press and hold the [METRONOME] button for longer than a second. The currently selected time signature is displayed. 4 Use the dial to select a beat length. Select the required length for each beat: 2, 4, 8, or 16 (half note, quarter note, eighth note, or 16th note). For this example, select 8. The time signature should now be set to 3/8.
Using Various Functions Using Tap Start You can also set the tempo by simply tapping the [TAP TEMPO] button at the required tempo—four times for time signatures in 4, and three times for time signatures in 3. You can change the tempo during Song or Style playback by pressing the button just twice. Touch Response Keyboard Touch Response can be turned on by pressing the [TOUCH] button. When Touch Response is on you can control the volume of notes according to how hard you play the keys.
Using Various Functions EQ settings Five pre-programmed EQ settings are available. Settings 1 and 2 are best for listening via the instrument’s built-in speakers, setting 3 is for headphones, and settings 4 and 5 are ideal for listening via external speakers or when connecting to an external mixer. 1 Press the [FUNCTION] button. The currently selected function will appear in the display. 2 Press the CATEGORY [ r f ] and [ ] buttons as many times as necessary to call up Master EQ Type.
Using Various Functions Pitch Controls 1 Press one of the TRANSPOSE [+]/[-] buttons. The value is shown in the display, indicating the amount of transposition over or below the normal value. ◆ Small Pitch Changes (Tuning) The overall tuning of the instrument can be shifted up or down by a maximum of 1 semitone in approximately 0.2-Hz steps. The default setting is 440 Hz. 1 Press the [FUNCTION] button. 2 Press the CATEGORY [ f ] and [ ] buttons as many times as necessary to call up Tuning.
Using Various Functions Changing the pitch of the instrument in octaves You can change the playing pitch of the Main and Dual Voices in octave intervals. 1 Press the UPPER OCTAVE [+] button to raise the pitch by one octave. The newly changed value is shown in the LCD. Press the [EXIT] button to return to the Main display. ● In the case of UPPER OCTAVE +1 2 Press the UPPER OCTAVE [-] button to lower the pitch by one octave. The newly changed value—now one octave lower—is shown in the LCD.
e erenc ef R Style (Auto Accompaniment) Functions Basic operation of the Style (Auto Accompaniment) feature is described on page 22 of the Quick Guide. Included here is information on how you can play the Styles in various ways, how to adjust the Style volume, how you can play chords using the Styles, and more. Pattern Variation (sections) The instrument features a wide variety of Style “sections” that allow you to vary the arrangement of the accompaniment to match the Song you are playing.
Style (Auto Accompaniment) Functions 1 Select the desired Style. (See page 22.) 2 Press the [ACMP] button to turn Auto 5 Press one of the MAIN VARIATION [A]– [D] buttons. The selected Main Variation button flashes. Accompaniment on. The [ACMP] button lights when ACMP is turned on. 3 Press the [AUTO FILL IN] button to turn the Auto Fill In function on. The initial default setting for Auto Fill In is “on.” 4 Press the [SYNC START] button to turn Synchro Start on.
Style (Auto Accompaniment) Functions 8 Press one of the MAIN VARIATION [A]– [D] buttons. ● Synchro Stop When this function is selected, the accompaniment Style will only play while you are playing chords in the accompaniment range of the keyboard. Style playback will stop when you release the keys. To turn the function on, press the [SYNC STOP] button. When the fill-in is finished, it leads smoothly into the selected Main section A–D. 9 Press one of the ENDING/rit. [I]–[III] buttons.
Style (Auto Accompaniment) Functions One Touch Setting Sometimes selecting the ideal Voice to play with a Song or Style can be confusing. The One Touch Setting feature automatically selects four ideally matched Voices for the Style you’ve selected. 1 Select the desired Style. (See page 22.) 2 Press one of the ONE TOUCH SETTING [1]–[4] buttons. 3 Play the chord in the accompaniment range and start the Style. Try selecting other ONE TOUCH SETTING [1]–[4] buttons and listen to the results.
Style (Auto Accompaniment) Functions Setting the Split Point The initial default Split Point is key number 54 (the F#2 key), but you can change it to another key using the procedure described below. 1 Press the [FUNCTION] button. 3 Use the dial to set the Split Point to any key from 000 (C-2) through 127 (G8). Split Point (54: F#2) Left Voice Main Voice NOTE • Changing the Split Point here also changes the Auto Accompaniment Split Point.
Style (Auto Accompaniment) Functions Playing a Style with Chords but without Rhythm (Stop Accompaniment) When Auto Accompaniment is on (ACMP button lights) and Synchro Start is off, you can play chords in the left-hand accompaniment range of the keyboard while the Style is stopped and still hear the accompaniment chords. This is called “Stop Accompaniment,” and any of the chord fingerings recognized by the instrument can be used (page 25).
Style (Auto Accompaniment) Functions Chord Basics Two or more notes played together constitute a “chord”. The most basic chord type is the “triad” consisting of three notes: the root, third, and fifth degrees of the corresponding scale. A C major triad, for example, is made up of the notes C (the root), E (the third note of the C major scale), and G (the fifth note of the C major scale).
