Yamaha V50

50 Performances - 100 Programs

Only $25

Mac/PC Sysex or Midi File

Yamaha produced several 4 Operator synths throughout the 80's, but the V50 turned out to be their best. Released in 1989, it was to compete with the groundbreaking Korg M1 - the first music workstation. While it did not have the same great sounds that were in the M1, it did however have many workstation features - including a 16,000 note sequencer, onboard effects, floppy drive and even a performance mode where you could combine up to eight programs together. This turned out to be Yamaha's first music workstation.

The V50 has a 61 key, 5 octave keyboard that supports velocity sensitivity and aftertouch. The dual effects section includes 31 different effects with a good choice of reverbs and delays. The 4 OP, FM synth has 16-note polyphony and 8-instrument multitimbral capability - doubling what you could do with the DX11 and TX81Z. The V50 contained 100 preset instruments stored on ROM and a additional 100 that you could store in RAM. You could easily save all your sounds or sequences on it's 3.5" floppy drive or memory card slot.

Also included in the V50 was a cool rhythm machine feature. The rhythm machine had 61 PCM samples, with polyphony of 8 samples. The rhythm machine contained 100 preset short rhythm patterns and allowed user to create 100 additional patterns. The patterns could be assembled into larger rhythm songs.

Since the V50 had to compete with the Korg M1, it did not sell very well and Yamaha quickly discontinued them to move on to their SY series - which had more of the type of sounds heard in the M1. However, the V50 has turned out to be a great little keyboard if your looking to explore FM synth technology. Too bad Yamaha abandoned FM after the V50 and never got to make a 6 OP DX7 style version. That would have been really cool!

Our V50 patches are available in system exclusive (.syx) or standard midi files (.mid) for Mac or PC computers. Sorry, but we do not offer the sounds on RAM or PCM sound cards. The cards have not been made in many years and we no longer support that format. If your computer has a midi interface connected to the USB port, you can use your midi interface to load in the sysex or midi file. We provide the software along with your order that will load in the sounds for you. Midi interfaces are an inexpensive alternative to purchasing RAM or PCM cards.

Our sounds will also get you back in business if your V50 battery has died and you lost all the sounds in the memory.