I became a proud and lucky owner of the amazing and wonderful dream synth as of 04.14.2021 in mint condition. It was kept for many years by a local musician in pristine condition with the original carrying case. Your review was very helpful and glad I discovered this unique and powerful 80's wonder before it was lost forever. Best Wishes from Taiwan. 😎
EXCELLENT! I just nabbed a mint Yamaha PSR-36 today AND a PSS-560 from Goodwill online auctions. Can’t wait to play and record with the digital synthesizer settings plus the rhythms and accompaniments!. That lush Yamaha 4 operator FM sound is gorgeous. I’m titling my new homebound-pandemic ambient album ‘Music For Lockdowns’. Great videos of these vintage classics as always - keep it up!
when I graduated from high school back in 1992 my dad gave me as a gift . played this keyboard for ten years . Awesome video man . brings up lots of memories .
Found my PSR-36 in a trash can with a shattered key and covered in gunk. Detailed it and fixed the key; Best sounding keyboard Ive ever been lucky enough to experience!
Not a bad piece of kit, so sophisticated for its time and would sound absolutely brilliant put through on effects processor including reverb, chorus and other fantastic effects would sure beef this up no end.
@@gearfacts I’ve owned loads of different models of keyboards over the years though I still say the old ones are very good including the Roland keyboards with their linear arithmetic sounds.
Great video review. I was lucky enough to pick up one of these beauties for £10 from EBay a few years ago and I agree it is the best of the Yamaha PSR series and it is so easy to come up with lush sparkly FM textures.
Thanks for this amazing video! I just scored one for $55 CAD, with the original manual, music holder, and a soft keyboard case. Tons of sweet sounds to be had!!!
Gearfacts yeah on the custom drummer you can loop a beat with up to six percussion sounds there abouts. I'm not sure how that chord sequencer works though
Really? Cool. I'm not surprised I guess, they're great-sounding and very upwards-compatible. I'm going to so videos with high-speed arpeggios and its best sounds digitally recorded. Stay tuned.
For anyone who has picked one of the series of Yamaha keyboards with the 5x 5 position sliders for the synth section. Start with all sliders in the middle position when wanting to alter a programmed sound, as this is the default setting as programmed. Knowing this makes this synth section so much easier and productive to work with.
I forgot I had one like this as a kid.....Wow.....I used to write and record whole songs on the keyboard, then play live with it, on guitar, into a tape recorder, then I would play that tape on another deck while singing and recording on another....Man, that was FUN! Nobody dicked around with plugins or G.A.S back then, either you wrote a song or you STFU...Good times!
At 4:56 you involuntarily nailed the sound of the Gibson G-101 transistor combo organ as heard in The Doors' live concerts :-D So glad I found this little gem for 15 euro about a week ago. Now I'll have to absolutely try that sound on mine.
Noticed that, too. Which then became one of the leading factors why I got one a few years ago. The G-101 will still solidly be my favorite organ of all time, however a PSR-36 is a heck of a lot cheaper than a $3000 G-101!
My grandpa bought it a BIG while ago and never played it, we put it in my sister's bedroom and nobody used it, i got interested by it and it is really good
I own the psr-36! Extremely underrated keyboard, a budget DX-7! Hey, to use the custom drummer, hit program and a drum beat should start. Clear it with the clear button, and then be sure to push the “keyboard percussion” button (the green one next to the “intro/ending” button) and then you’ll notice that on the right half of the key board is has a bunch of drum symbols above them. Those are your drum sounds. You can program your own beat and adjust the tempo accordingly. It’s a bit rudimentary, but I’ve discovered filtering them through effects can get you some pretty punchy results. Great video!
Ah so that's how it works - Thanks for that! I think my very first keyboard back in '89 had a similar feature, it was a PSS580 if I remember correctly. Thanks for your excellent comment :) Gearfacts
Gearfacts bro, I actually really love this keyboard. Its midi works surprisingly well with my 2017 Korg Monologue. If I do midi out from the PSR to Midi in on the monologue, the monologue’s sequencer and the PSR’s drum machine will sync up, with the PSR controlling the tempo. If we switch the midi’s, the monologue can give its sequencer to the psr, so you can sequence sounds from the PSR. However, you can’t sync up the drum machine, which I find weird. I plan on getting another Midi cable tomorrow and seeing if that allows me to use the full midi connection between the keyboards. I find this keyboard to be a lost gem.
I totally agree. I've had a few FM synths come my way lately and this one sounds the best even though it only has a few basic waveforms to play with from the get-go. And yes, sequencing sluggish old gear with turbo-charged new gear is always fun :) Gearfacts
@@Kuzo53 hi ! just bought one yesterday, I want to record the keyboard through Ableton live via an m audio sound cards do. you know what type of cable and jack I need to do it please ? Thanks
Another great video, KUDOS! Do you know of any other synth, perhaps another from Yamaha, which just features that Digital Synthesizer section and a few presets that you can modify - I don’t need the rhythm section AND also, perhaps with fewer keys [half the size would be ideal]? Please let me know. Thank you kindly
Glad you liked the video :) I don't know of any Yamaha that fits those specifications, but you might want to look at something like Novation's XIOsynth which comes in 25 keys and just does a great range of sounds. There's also Arturia's Microbrute and Minibrute analog synths. What else.... The Korg Monologue is good too
@@gearfacts Yes, I saw your video for Novation’s XIO synth and I did like it but I then saw, your video for the M-Audio Venom and thought it had crazier sounds [which I’m into]… a lot of options. Thank you for replying, I appreciate it - I’ve acquired more music gear, with your videos than anybody else’s. Cheers!
@@gearfacts I just got one for 39$ but no ac plug,so to test it,I put in 6 "D" sized batteries and everything worked! The ac to DC plug is only 10$. Cheers👍
I suppose the clicky detents in the sliders could be considered a bad thing as it prevents fine adjustment. But this is a very intersting keyboard! thanks for the video
Thanks for the video! What makes this one superior to others is the detune option, I think. If it wasn't for that, it would really be similar to PSS-470/570/PSR-22/etc (although those are actually better at getting deep, "howling" FM bass sounds, IMO - but the PSR-36 makes up for it with its melodic, lush sounds). You gotta love all those colors in the logo and buttons, haha! It's beautiful. By the way, the PSR-70 is another interesting PSR model that you may want to check out someday. It doesn't have any synth parameters, as it was more oriented towards composition, but it has a not well known FM chip with interesting souds. It was used by Kawaguchi Hiroshi to compose the Out Run soundtrack. Also, check out PS-6100 and PSR-6300. :) The 6300 has velocity sensitive keys and can layer up to three sounds. It's a beautiful instrument.
Ah ok, all very good comments, thanks for that. I remember the Outrun Soundtrack from the late 80's, it was ultra cool and advanced at the time. I'll definitely watch out for a PSR-70... Gearfacts
Hej, i got the PSR-36 because i had the PSS-460 (the same as 470 but in a more boring color style) and i love the brasses from it. When i got the PSR-36 i was thinking i was going to get more or less the same sounds with the same or even more control flexibility over them but i actually have less control as here i have only "envelope" instead of "atack" and "decay". Also the drumbox is programable only on the drums but not on the bass or harmony (like on the DSR-2000, which i also have and like very much). Do you think i'm crazy because i don't feel satisfied with the 36 or do you think i may be doing something wrong with it?
hello hello!! I have the same model and I want to connect it to my audio interface, but I don´t know wich cable do I need to use... Should I use RCA to XLR cable, or Midi? Hope you can help me!! Thanks!
I personally love RCA because they are so solid and dependable. If your interface has mid then that's good too, but only for controlling synth sounds, not for recording audio :) #gearfacts
That family of a keyboards was an amazing portatone . i know the PSR 70 and 3600 you could do a one man show with them the last one i had was the psr 90 it was a blast i enjoyed your video thank you brother
The Duet function adds an extra voice when you play along with an accompaniment. I think it only works when the chord function is on, but it might work with the beat on its own. Anyway, that's what it does,and it can sound fairly interesting sometimes :) Gearfacts
As seen on a Reddit forum: “Duet plays in harmony with the note you're playing if you're using a specific chord mode. If the keyboard knows you're playing a C major chord with the left hand and you're playing a G with the right, it knows that it can either play an E or a C to harmonize along. If you change the chord, you get another note; if you keep the chord but change from a G to an A, you might get another note. This is ultimately very simple arithmetic in software terms but back then it was really cool and a feature on more high-end units. Chord modes can be single-finger (i.e. press any key by itself to get a major chord, press any key and the nearest lower black key to get a minor chord, press any key and a nearby semitone to get a major seventh chord) or fingered (you have to play C-E-G with your left hand to get a minor chord).” Hope this helps!
Which would you pick, the Yamaha PSR-36 or the Casio CT-670? You made a video of each. I see a CT-670 on sale for $40 near me and a PSR-36 on sale for $60. I don't really care about the price difference, I just want the better / higher-end product but I have no idea which is better. Thanks!
I have both, and I don’t think they’re in the same ball park. The PSR-36 is sexy in a primitive kind of way with more options to edit the presets. The CT-670 only has 4 parameters to edit, but way more presets (100 vs 16), of which several sound more advanced and 90s. There’s a few nice strings and fantasy sounds, but very silly guitar and bass sounds. Also, the rhythm presets are uniformly cheesy and bad, all 100 of them, and you can’t customize those. You can customize rhythms on the PSR-36. But it’s primitive and rudimentary. Hence, the Casio is more elaborate and advanced in its presets, but it’s also less versatile. I think the PSR-36 has more resell value.
Had a pss470 as a kid in the 80's always was bummed about trading it off.... I did however come across one of these gems recently and scored it for $20 in presitine condition! Everything is nice and tight and no key fade or squeak, almost like it was just pulled from the box! Unfortunately it didn't come with the original box but hey, that's OK lol..... it's neat to mess with here and there, just basically keep it hanging on the wall for nostalgia 🤘😎🤘
hI @Gearfacts, was wondering if you knew how to use the chord sequencer on this PSR? I have been trying to figure it out but cant seem to record a chord sequence. LMK, thank you!
There are 32 default patches and 100,000 custom patches can be made with the digital synthesizer controls. Some are the same as the 32. You can get a few extra sounds by changing the synth controls whilst holding down a note; not terribly useful though.
Gearfacts thanks for posting this video. The PSR-36 and PSR-41 are the two most underrated keyboards on the market. They are regarded as toys by many, but really they are a great DX-7 alternative for someone who doesn't want the extra complexity (and price) of a DX-7.
Bro your channel is a godsend. I really want to buy this keyboard for its quirky sounds. Could probably get some aphex Twin ambient works sounds out of this. Might I suggest you invest in some effects units so that you can really get the most out of your keyboards. This particular keyboard would sound amazing with some reverb and delay. Also, may don't slide the slider up and down repeatedly whilst holding a note. It would be nice to hear the variations in tone played over several notes.
@@gearfacts yo I don't know what to do man. Im in NZ. I bought one of these on our version of ebay. Got it for $17. But its in the south island and I'm in the north. Just got a quote today. $240 to get it shipped to my city. I don't know what to do man..... Feels fucked to pay $240 shipping on a keyboard I paid $17 for. On the flip side one of these just sold in my city for $310....Im not sure I want to spend $240 on shipping... Any thoughts man? Do you think it's worth it or should I just forget about it....
@@nvoid2597 ah this old problem! Maybe see what services are available- I mean there’s the general postage, but there’s also Sendle and maybe some courier companies you could try. There’s also Airtasker - offer to pay someone to bring it to you. Someone might be traveling your way and might be able to do your pickup for you. Hmm, I think that’s all the ideas I have :/
First of all this is a hell of a review you realIy explained everything that i was wondering.I am absolutely a beginner on keyboard and i just want to have something very versatile and pretty bargain. I am considering this keyboard but i don't want to regret buying this after 2 months for its lack of keys. Are there any 88 76 key keyboards as versatile as this psr36 for a few bucks more. Or should i just buy this and get along?
I think it's a good balance of enjoyable sounds and easy playing. If you are just starting out I don't think you'll find the 61 keys too restrictive :) GF
That’s ironic - I just returned a DX27 to the seller because they sent me the wrong synth (with dead keys too). I ordered a PSS-560 with the same digital synth sliders. So I’m swapping a DX27 for that 560 synth beast PLUS a PSR-36 for the price of the DX27. These late 80s Yamaha PSR/PSS FM synths RULE!
Thnx for the vid! Looks fun to use such a ‘limited’ start of sound creation then process; I’m hooking it up to my new Eventide H9 soon. I have a question i hope someone can help me with: I scored a PSR 36 for €24 (!!!) yesterday in a thrift store; super lucky find i guess! The original adapter is missing. they delivered it with a ‘5V 2A’ one. I looked up all information and the PSR 36 is supposed to have a Yamaha PA 4 or PA 40, which is ’10A 1A’. and also mentions 22W for the input side. On the back of the synth/KB itself it says ‘DC 9-12V in’ So, knowing the adapter i was given is no good i went back and now have a ’12V DC 1000mA’ one (Jutai Electronic JT-DC12V1000). It it save to use this adapter? it does not mention any Watts like the original PA does. It’s not easy to find a replacement adapter and it seems to me all the ones i find that promise to be compatible are also 12V and 1,5A or 2A, so that makes no difference to the one i now have? Many thanks
Yes. Keyboards are very forgiving when it comes to power and there’s no chance of causing damage. I can’t guarantee it’ll work though - there’s always the question of polarity (whether + and - power are in the correct wires) and if it has a plug that fits (80% chance it’ll be fine). So try it out, and if it doesn’t work I suggest just going to an electronics store and getting a multi adapter. They’re not expensive and are just a really useful thing to own as you can set them up to power almost any appliance. Good bargain you got there!
@@gearfacts Hi, ok many thanks! yes, the unit works with the adapter i have now and the specs of it are close to the original, and within the 9-12 range. +1 on the multi adapter anyway. my parents used to have one. I don't currently ;-) . Thanks again and have a nice weekend
I dare to disagree: the PSS 480,680 & 780 are true (and possibly the cheapest) FM synthesizers. Creating a sound is in theory exactly the same as with the DX7, but with only one (and cut-down) algorhythm and thus thinner sound. In that department the PSR 36 is king with its 4 operators compared to only 2 on the 480,680 & 780. But the synth capabilities are down to a few "steps", just like with the 580 (which is not part of the 480,680 & 780 synth family). The 480,680,&780 on the other hand offer 16 steps of frequency for both, carrier & modulator (thus changing the c/m ratio), plus modulator self-oscillation in several steps,64 steps of individual attack & decay (again: for both, carrier & modulator) and 100 steps of modulation strength - all that with 99 different instruments, including a pure sine-wave. * The PSR-36 sounds better (4 operators), but has limited sound-creating capabilities. * The PSS 480,680 & 780 (2 operators) are true synthesizers with rather complex sound-creating capabilities. * The PSS 580 lacks the 4 operators of the PSR-36 AND the true synth capabilities of the PSS480,680 & 780. jm2c
Check the auctions that have finished on ebay, this will indicate its value. Aim your price high (not crazy) and be patient, you should be able to get a good price for it I think. It's a classic and there are ppl out there who really want it :) Gearfacts
I have a PPS-390 which is the same. The only thing that's better than the PSR36 is that the sliders have more notches and more parameters on the fm synth and you have 100 presets from which to edit, so you can get WAY crazier sounds. however, it doesn't have midi and has quite frustrating mini-keys. it doesn't have a custom drummer, it only has a headphone output, ecc. ecc essentially everything else is better on the PSR36
By the way , custom drummer on my pss 480 only just lets you add to the patterns already on the keyboard like an edit feature . This may be the same here .
It's on this keyboard too if you never figured it out ... just turn custom drummer on clear pattern and then play the drums the highest keys become the drum sounds
I'm afraid that's way beyond what my memory can hold. I suggest you download the pdf manual online from Yamaha and check the midi implementation chart. Best of luck!
Sounds great! Definitely one of those Yamaha gems. Wait till you check out the PSS series though, especially the PSS-680 and the like. You get even more parameters, especially if you control the synth through MIDI.
@@lukeimontv7086 My pleasure, we've gotta keep the retro dream alive. There's so much good gear out there just heading to the scrapyard! And hey if you especially wanna help me out, feel free to share Gearfacts on social media ;)
There is a 'piano' button at the top of the instrument selection area, but you are right, it' doesn't really sound like a real piano. I think this is because all of the sounds are synthesised rather than sampled. So you're hearing an electronic imitation of a piano, not a recoded sample of a piano. It's great that you got it for free though, a lot of people really want this keyboard :) Gearfacts
I became a proud and lucky owner of the amazing and wonderful dream synth as of 04.14.2021 in mint condition. It was kept for many years by a local musician in pristine condition with the original carrying case. Your review was very helpful and glad I discovered this unique and powerful 80's wonder before it was lost forever. Best Wishes from Taiwan. 😎
Thanks for sharing and I'm glad you enjoyed the video!
I got this for Christmas way back in 1988. Still have it somewhere in my garage.
So many people message me with AMAZING things in their attics and garages! Dig it up, man, you won't regret it :)
This was the video I needed for convincing to buy it: letting go of the ‘keyboard’ features and emphasizing the synth features. 🙏
Glad it was helpful, Wijnand :)
I could see that thing diving into all kinds of songs I’ll keep a eye out for this one
I've heard enough! I'm buying one! 😍 this is exactly what I want. Thank you for the video.
Glad I could help!
EXCELLENT!
I just nabbed a mint Yamaha PSR-36 today AND a PSS-560 from Goodwill online auctions. Can’t wait to play and record with the digital synthesizer settings plus the rhythms and accompaniments!. That lush Yamaha 4 operator FM sound is gorgeous. I’m titling my new homebound-pandemic ambient album ‘Music For Lockdowns’.
Great videos of these vintage classics as always - keep it up!
The PSR-36 works well with MIDI, i used to play MIDI files from my laptop into the PSR and it sounded great
when I graduated from high school back in 1992 my dad gave me as a gift . played this keyboard for ten years . Awesome video man . brings up lots of memories .
Glad you liked the video sir! Gearfacts
Found my PSR-36 in a trash can with a shattered key and covered in gunk. Detailed it and fixed the key; Best sounding keyboard Ive ever been lucky enough to experience!
That is a cool story man! Great find, too :) GF
lucky find man.
Not a bad piece of kit, so sophisticated for its time and would sound absolutely brilliant put through on effects processor including reverb, chorus and other fantastic effects would sure beef this up no end.
Yep especially for those who like a bit of rough FM (like me!)
@@gearfacts I’ve owned loads of different models of keyboards over the years though I still say the old ones are very good including the Roland keyboards with their linear arithmetic sounds.
Great video review. I was lucky enough to pick up one of these beauties for £10 from EBay a few years ago and I agree it is the best of the Yamaha PSR series and it is so easy to come up with lush sparkly FM textures.
Wow a tenner? Bargain for sure. I agree with your other comments too. Gearfacts
Thanks for this amazing video! I just scored one for $55 CAD, with the original manual, music holder, and a soft keyboard case. Tons of sweet sounds to be had!!!
Wow you got a great deal there, LG :) GF
I want one! What an incredible retro instrument.
Agreed! Thanks for watching Gearfacts :)
I found one of these in a second hand shop last week for £35, snapped it up straight away and I love it
Yep, how could one not be charmed by its playful retro style. Thanks for watching Gearfacts :)
So glad you made this video probably my favourite keyboard ever made such a unique sound use it in the band I'm in all the time
With the custom drummer you play the notes on the higher octaves there are marks to indicate
Yeah I think you can do loops too, right?
Gearfacts yeah on the custom drummer you can loop a beat with up to six percussion sounds there abouts. I'm not sure how that chord sequencer works though
What an amazing piece of kit
Nice vid! 👏 Shared on Sonicstate today
Cheers! Much appreciated :) Love your work also
Some believe it to be the best of the old fm style keyboards and you are pretty lucky to have found one !
Really? Cool. I'm not surprised I guess, they're great-sounding and very upwards-compatible. I'm going to so videos with high-speed arpeggios and its best sounds digitally recorded. Stay tuned.
Gearfacts that will be cool . That will be my next one if I can find one !
Kim Thompson I picked up mine for £30 best investment I ever made
Ethan Bennett nice I’m looking for one ‘ enjoy brother !
Kim Thompson keep your eyes peeled on eBay you never know
For anyone who has picked one of the series of Yamaha keyboards with the 5x 5 position sliders for the synth section.
Start with all sliders in the middle position when wanting to alter a programmed sound, as this is the default setting as programmed. Knowing this makes this synth section so much easier and productive to work with.
I forgot I had one like this as a kid.....Wow.....I used to write and record whole songs on the keyboard, then play live with it, on guitar, into a tape recorder, then I would play that tape on another deck while singing and recording on another....Man, that was FUN! Nobody dicked around with plugins or G.A.S back then, either you wrote a song or you STFU...Good times!
haha sooooo true! I've still got a crusty old tape with a terrible instrumental I wrote when I was 14. It was done on a Yamaha PSS-480 :/ Gearfacts
At 4:56 you involuntarily nailed the sound of the Gibson G-101 transistor combo organ as heard in The Doors' live concerts :-D
So glad I found this little gem for 15 euro about a week ago. Now I'll have to absolutely try that sound on mine.
Wow, that was lucky and totally unintentional :)
C’mon Baby light my fire!
Noticed that, too. Which then became one of the leading factors why I got one a few years ago. The G-101 will still solidly be my favorite organ of all time, however a PSR-36 is a heck of a lot cheaper than a $3000 G-101!
My grandpa bought it a BIG while ago and never played it, we put it in my sister's bedroom and nobody used it, i got interested by it and it is really good
cool! It's funny how these things happen sometimes.
Once again you did it. I just ordered that synth. I love underrated cheap synths!
Nice one, H'bert! Gearfacts
Run this through one of the modern DSP reverb monsters and be in awe.
going to run the output into my eventide H9 and just record 30 min changing settings & see what comes out
@@hettovennik2887 waiting for it!
@@ebasswah :-)
A modern dsp device makes the difference doesn't it. I got a cheap line mixer off Amazon. £70 with a 16bit dsp processor.
I own the psr-36! Extremely underrated keyboard, a budget DX-7! Hey, to use the custom drummer, hit program and a drum beat should start. Clear it with the clear button, and then be sure to push the “keyboard percussion” button (the green one next to the “intro/ending” button) and then you’ll notice that on the right half of the key board is has a bunch of drum symbols above them. Those are your drum sounds. You can program your own beat and adjust the tempo accordingly. It’s a bit rudimentary, but I’ve discovered filtering them through effects can get you some pretty punchy results. Great video!
Ah so that's how it works - Thanks for that! I think my very first keyboard back in '89 had a similar feature, it was a PSS580 if I remember correctly. Thanks for your excellent comment :) Gearfacts
Gearfacts bro, I actually really love this keyboard. Its midi works surprisingly well with my 2017 Korg Monologue. If I do midi out from the PSR to Midi in on the monologue, the monologue’s sequencer and the PSR’s drum machine will sync up, with the PSR controlling the tempo. If we switch the midi’s, the monologue can give its sequencer to the psr, so you can sequence sounds from the PSR. However, you can’t sync up the drum machine, which I find weird. I plan on getting another Midi cable tomorrow and seeing if that allows me to use the full midi connection between the keyboards. I find this keyboard to be a lost gem.
I totally agree. I've had a few FM synths come my way lately and this one sounds the best even though it only has a few basic waveforms to play with from the get-go. And yes, sequencing sluggish old gear with turbo-charged new gear is always fun :) Gearfacts
@@Kuzo53 hi ! just bought one yesterday, I want to record the keyboard through Ableton live via an m audio sound cards do. you know what type of cable and jack I need to do it please ? Thanks
Another great video, KUDOS! Do you know of any other synth, perhaps another from Yamaha, which just features that Digital Synthesizer section and a few presets that you can modify - I don’t need the rhythm section AND also, perhaps with fewer keys [half the size would be ideal]? Please let me know. Thank you kindly
Glad you liked the video :) I don't know of any Yamaha that fits those specifications, but you might want to look at something like Novation's XIOsynth which comes in 25 keys and just does a great range of sounds. There's also Arturia's Microbrute and Minibrute analog synths. What else.... The Korg Monologue is good too
@@gearfacts Yes, I saw your video for Novation’s XIO synth and I did like it but I then saw, your video for the M-Audio Venom and thought it had crazier sounds [which I’m into]… a lot of options. Thank you for replying, I appreciate it - I’ve acquired more music gear, with your videos than anybody else’s. Cheers!
@@maxwarfield6699 Thanks for the nice feedback - and yep the Venom is probably my all-time favorite :)
I love this unit
It’s a little-known marvel :)
Got a mint one with original chrome stand for $40 a year ago, a true gem. They don’t pop up often though.
Total bargain there :) #gearfacts
@@gearfacts I just got one for 39$ but no ac plug,so to test it,I put in 6 "D" sized batteries and everything worked!
The ac to DC plug is only 10$.
Cheers👍
I suppose the clicky detents in the sliders could be considered a bad thing as it prevents fine adjustment. But this is a very intersting keyboard! thanks for the video
Thanks for the video!
What makes this one superior to others is the detune option, I think. If it wasn't for that, it would really be similar to PSS-470/570/PSR-22/etc (although those are actually better at getting deep, "howling" FM bass sounds, IMO - but the PSR-36 makes up for it with its melodic, lush sounds). You gotta love all those colors in the logo and buttons, haha! It's beautiful.
By the way, the PSR-70 is another interesting PSR model that you may want to check out someday. It doesn't have any synth parameters, as it was more oriented towards composition, but it has a not well known FM chip with interesting souds. It was used by Kawaguchi Hiroshi to compose the Out Run soundtrack. Also, check out PS-6100 and PSR-6300. :) The 6300 has velocity sensitive keys and can layer up to three sounds. It's a beautiful instrument.
Ah ok, all very good comments, thanks for that. I remember the Outrun Soundtrack from the late 80's, it was ultra cool and advanced at the time. I'll definitely watch out for a PSR-70... Gearfacts
what is detune option?
Hej, i got the PSR-36 because i had the PSS-460 (the same as 470 but in a more boring color style) and i love the brasses from it. When i got the PSR-36 i was thinking i was going to get more or less the same sounds with the same or even more control flexibility over them but i actually have less control as here i have only "envelope" instead of "atack" and "decay". Also the drumbox is programable only on the drums but not on the bass or harmony (like on the DSR-2000, which i also have and like very much). Do you think i'm crazy because i don't feel satisfied with the 36 or do you think i may be doing something wrong with it?
Hi. If U put this keyboard through an FX unit wow U'd be AMAZED at how U can enhance the sounds with reverb, chorus ans other.
Wonder if you could replace the hardware sliders for ones without hard stops to get more dynamic control?
Question ? What would you say is a reasonable price to buy a used one. Is $120 canadian ( aprox $100 us ) be to much ?
Nope I would pay that amount if it was in my neighborhood :-)
hello hello!!
I have the same model and I want to connect it to my audio interface, but I don´t know wich cable do I need to use... Should I use RCA to XLR cable, or Midi?
Hope you can help me!!
Thanks!
I personally love RCA because they are so solid and dependable. If your interface has mid then that's good too, but only for controlling synth sounds, not for recording audio :) #gearfacts
I have the PSS 570, the miniature version of this board
Rare!
Hello Geafact, when the PSR 36 is release ? :)
Mid 90s I think
1988 says the internet
That family of a keyboards was an amazing portatone . i know the PSR 70 and 3600 you could do a one man show with them the last one i had was the psr 90 it was a blast i enjoyed your video thank you brother
Thanks for watching Gearfacts, man :)
The parts at 3:22 and 7:55 I recognize so well, I just can’t figure out what songs they are from. Does anyone know?
That was just me improvising ...I must have got lucky and hit the right notes :) GF
Nice I have one but what does the duet slider do ?
The Duet function adds an extra voice when you play along with an accompaniment. I think it only works when the chord function is on, but it might work with the beat on its own. Anyway, that's what it does,and it can sound fairly interesting sometimes :) Gearfacts
As seen on a Reddit forum:
“Duet plays in harmony with the note you're playing if you're using a specific chord mode.
If the keyboard knows you're playing a C major chord with the left hand and you're playing a G with the right, it knows that it can either play an E or a C to harmonize along. If you change the chord, you get another note; if you keep the chord but change from a G to an A, you might get another note. This is ultimately very simple arithmetic in software terms but back then it was really cool and a feature on more high-end units.
Chord modes can be single-finger (i.e. press any key by itself to get a major chord, press any key and the nearest lower black key to get a minor chord, press any key and a nearby semitone to get a major seventh chord) or fingered (you have to play C-E-G with your left hand to get a minor chord).”
Hope this helps!
Which would you pick, the Yamaha PSR-36 or the Casio CT-670? You made a video of each. I see a CT-670 on sale for $40 near me and a PSR-36 on sale for $60. I don't really care about the price difference, I just want the better / higher-end product but I have no idea which is better. Thanks!
I have both, and I don’t think they’re in the same ball park. The PSR-36 is sexy in a primitive kind of way with more options to edit the presets. The CT-670 only has 4 parameters to edit, but way more presets (100 vs 16), of which several sound more advanced and 90s. There’s a few nice strings and fantasy sounds, but very silly guitar and bass sounds. Also, the rhythm presets are uniformly cheesy and bad, all 100 of them, and you can’t customize those. You can customize rhythms on the PSR-36. But it’s primitive and rudimentary. Hence, the Casio is more elaborate and advanced in its presets, but it’s also less versatile. I think the PSR-36 has more resell value.
Agreed ↑
Go with the Yamaha PSR-36.
More options, more versatility, better rhythms & synthesis all round.
Just won such one on eBay for 60 pounds. There was a hot fight for it.
Nice! I've just copped one for 75 quid, bit more than 60 but still definitely worth it
Nathan Furman , lol what a piece of junk
Had a pss470 as a kid in the 80's always was bummed about trading it off.... I did however come across one of these gems recently and scored it for $20 in presitine condition! Everything is nice and tight and no key fade or squeak, almost like it was just pulled from the box! Unfortunately it didn't come with the original box but hey, that's OK lol..... it's neat to mess with here and there, just basically keep it hanging on the wall for nostalgia 🤘😎🤘
$20! Bargain of the week right there
I don't know how to record, the red light just flashes when I want to playback...Please help, thanks
it records only the rhythms.
Ah okay. Thanks
So is this like the best of the Portatone/Portasounds?
It's not a simple comparison but yep I'd say it's right up there :) #gearfacts
hI @Gearfacts, was wondering if you knew how to use the chord sequencer on this PSR? I have been trying to figure it out but cant seem to record a chord sequence. LMK, thank you!
I don't, sorry, but I'm sure you can get the manual by googling "Yamaha PSR-36 pdf". Gearfacts
How do you use the chord sequencer? I'm confused... :/
Ohh It's been so long since I had this one. You can still get the manual by searching up "Yamaha PSR-36 PDF"
Aos 14:14 Qual a função do símbolo > ?
Bought one for 20€ a few days ago, fun synth!
Love those bargain messages! Cheers from Gearfacts
MickGyver Lucky you!
There are 32 default patches and 100,000 custom patches can be made with the digital synthesizer controls. Some are the same as the 32. You can get a few extra sounds by changing the synth controls whilst holding down a note; not terribly useful though.
Agree with both comments. Thanks for watching Gearfacts :)
Gearfacts thanks for posting this video. The PSR-36 and PSR-41 are the two most underrated keyboards on the market. They are regarded as toys by many, but really they are a great DX-7 alternative for someone who doesn't want the extra complexity (and price) of a DX-7.
I run through some of the synth possibilities in this (boring) video th-cam.com/video/cdCgR0X2_VY/w-d-xo.html
Is 50 USD good price for this?
Totally! /Gearfacts
Bro your channel is a godsend. I really want to buy this keyboard for its quirky sounds. Could probably get some aphex Twin ambient works sounds out of this. Might I suggest you invest in some effects units so that you can really get the most out of your keyboards. This particular keyboard would sound amazing with some reverb and delay. Also, may don't slide the slider up and down repeatedly whilst holding a note. It would be nice to hear the variations in tone played over several notes.
Oh dude have I got a TREAT for you! th-cam.com/video/BlfqxhqQkcc/w-d-xo.html
@@gearfacts yo I don't know what to do man. Im in NZ. I bought one of these on our version of ebay. Got it for $17. But its in the south island and I'm in the north. Just got a quote today. $240 to get it shipped to my city. I don't know what to do man..... Feels fucked to pay $240 shipping on a keyboard I paid $17 for. On the flip side one of these just sold in my city for $310....Im not sure I want to spend $240 on shipping... Any thoughts man? Do you think it's worth it or should I just forget about it....
@@nvoid2597 ah this old problem! Maybe see what services are available- I mean there’s the general postage, but there’s also Sendle and maybe some courier companies you could try. There’s also Airtasker - offer to pay someone to bring it to you. Someone might be traveling your way and might be able to do your pickup for you. Hmm, I think that’s all the ideas I have :/
Updated ! I found one in great shape for around $100 bucks US . It indeed is one awesome. Keyboard . Worth every penny !
Good price, nice work!
Gearfacts thanks it truly is a keeper .
First of all this is a hell of a review you realIy explained everything that i was wondering.I am absolutely a beginner on keyboard and i just want to have something very versatile and pretty bargain. I am considering this keyboard but i don't want to regret buying this after 2 months for its lack of keys. Are there any 88 76 key keyboards as versatile as this psr36 for a few bucks more. Or should i just buy this and get along?
I think it's a good balance of enjoyable sounds and easy playing. If you are just starting out I don't think you'll find the 61 keys too restrictive :) GF
@@gearfacts Thx for the reply. I agree. At least i can use this as a MIDI keyboard through my computer etc. for different sounds i think.
Is there any way to save own patches?
Not that I'm aware of mate. I just had a quick search for the manual online and had no luck, but it might be out there somewhere...
Is there headphone jack in it
Yep
@@gearfacts i have it now but it didnt match with normal headphones
i replaced one of these with a DX27 and there really isnt much difference. just the DX is much harder to edit patches. wish i kept the PSR-36
This is a useful thing to know, thanks Willeh :) Gearfacts
That’s ironic - I just returned a DX27 to the seller because they sent me the wrong synth (with dead keys too). I ordered a PSS-560 with the same digital synth sliders. So I’m swapping a DX27 for that 560 synth beast PLUS a PSR-36 for the price of the DX27. These late 80s Yamaha PSR/PSS FM synths RULE!
Thnx for the vid! Looks fun to use such a ‘limited’ start of sound creation then process; I’m hooking it up to my new Eventide H9 soon.
I have a question i hope someone can help me with: I scored a PSR 36 for €24 (!!!) yesterday in a thrift store; super lucky find i guess! The original adapter is missing. they delivered it with a ‘5V 2A’ one. I looked up all information and the PSR 36 is supposed to have a Yamaha PA 4 or PA 40, which is ’10A 1A’. and also mentions 22W for the input side. On the back of the synth/KB itself it says ‘DC 9-12V in’ So, knowing the adapter i was given is no good i went back and now have a ’12V DC 1000mA’ one (Jutai Electronic JT-DC12V1000). It it save to use this adapter? it does not mention any Watts like the original PA does. It’s not easy to find a replacement adapter and it seems to me all the ones i find that promise to be compatible are also 12V and 1,5A or 2A, so that makes no difference to the one i now have? Many thanks
Yes. Keyboards are very forgiving when it comes to power and there’s no chance of causing damage. I can’t guarantee it’ll work though - there’s always the question of polarity (whether + and - power are in the correct wires) and if it has a plug that fits (80% chance it’ll be fine). So try it out, and if it doesn’t work I suggest just going to an electronics store and getting a multi adapter. They’re not expensive and are just a really useful thing to own as you can set them up to power almost any appliance. Good bargain you got there!
@@gearfacts Hi, ok many thanks! yes, the unit works with the adapter i have now and the specs of it are close to the original, and within the 9-12 range. +1 on the multi adapter anyway. my parents used to have one. I don't currently ;-) . Thanks again and have a nice weekend
I have one of these. £20 off eBay, absolute bargain. Love the sound of this thing.
Bargain definitely! Gearfacts
can this be connected to the pc?
Not easily
Yamaha, very early on, with it's FM synesthis made headway in very affordable synthesizers.
Yeah they really led the way in this era.
Hey! Which one has better FM capabilities, PSR-36 or PSS-480?
The 36 is slightly ahead. There is also a PSS580 which is a serious contender, though. It's reviewed on my channel. Gearfacts
I dare to disagree: the PSS 480,680 & 780 are true (and possibly the cheapest) FM synthesizers.
Creating a sound is in theory exactly the same as with the DX7, but with only one (and cut-down) algorhythm and thus thinner sound. In that department the PSR 36 is king with its 4 operators compared to only 2 on the 480,680 & 780. But the synth capabilities are down to a few "steps", just like with the 580 (which is not part of the 480,680 & 780 synth family).
The 480,680,&780 on the other hand offer 16 steps of frequency for both, carrier & modulator (thus changing the c/m ratio), plus modulator self-oscillation in several steps,64 steps of individual attack & decay (again: for both, carrier & modulator) and 100 steps of modulation strength - all that with 99 different instruments, including a pure sine-wave.
* The PSR-36 sounds better (4 operators), but has limited sound-creating capabilities.
* The PSS 480,680 & 780 (2 operators) are true synthesizers with rather complex sound-creating capabilities.
* The PSS 580 lacks the 4 operators of the PSR-36 AND the true synth capabilities of the PSS480,680 & 780.
jm2c
@@gearfacts what does FM mean?
Congratulation for the video.
I have a keyboard of this well maintained, I am willing to sell how much I could sell?
Check the auctions that have finished on ebay, this will indicate its value. Aim your price high (not crazy) and be patient, you should be able to get a good price for it I think. It's a classic and there are ppl out there who really want it :) Gearfacts
Year fact pls reply can you show how to a make a piano voice on it it seems to not make one plz show me how to
Sorry, i don't own this keyboard anymore
@@gearfacts oh its OK:-)
I’m considering this keyboard or the Yamaha pss 380, help! Haha
Hi Chris, nothing against the PSS380 but I'd definitely go for the PSR-36, it's in a completely different and much higher class :) Gearfacts
I have a PPS-390 which is the same. The only thing that's better than the PSR36 is that the sliders have more notches and more parameters on the fm synth and you have 100 presets from which to edit, so you can get WAY crazier sounds. however, it doesn't have midi and has quite frustrating mini-keys. it doesn't have a custom drummer, it only has a headphone output, ecc. ecc essentially everything else is better on the PSR36
TheSactoSmile thank you very much!
By the way , custom drummer on my pss 480 only just lets you add to the patterns already on the keyboard like an edit feature . This may be the same here .
I think so. But didn't the PSS480 have a kind of one-bar looper for user drum patterns?
Gearfacts yes but unfortunately mine doesn’t work lol so I can’t speak to it’s usefulness lol
oh ok, I remember that looper being one of the best bits. Loved those long evolving FM screams, too
It's on this keyboard too if you never figured it out ... just turn custom drummer on clear pattern and then play the drums the highest keys become the drum sounds
Im looking at Marketplace everyday to see if somebody Put one for sale 😊
what if PSR 36 had a 6 operator version with extra slider inputs for FM editing.. would have given a fight to DX series
Yep, and the speakers would be been a handy bonus. I live having speakers around, even if they just provide the absolute basics.
would someone recommend this or the Yamaha DSR2000?
I think the DSR-2000 has a lot more sounds to start from :) #Gearfacts
Does it have velocity via MIDI?
I don't think so, but Thanks for watching Gearfacts :)
Thanks for answering! Also, do you happen to know to what synth parameter the exp pedal in is mapped?
I'm afraid that's way beyond what my memory can hold. I suggest you download the pdf manual online from Yamaha and check the midi implementation chart. Best of luck!
R de R it only controls overall volume.
Is this model better than a PSR-400 or PSR-500?
Different sound engine altogether, but personally I'd say yes, it's way better :) GF
Oh. Mah. Gah. 😩💗 I'd like to know if this has MIDI compatibility, I'd be bummed if it hasn't. 😩
OMGGGGG IT HAAAAAS 😩😩 super praying I find one, as well! Huhuhu
13:24 dude, midi in and out :)
The PSR-41 is mostly the same but adds some functionality.
Cool, hopefully I can find one and review it one day. Thanks for watching Gearfacts :)
I also noticed that they look really the same but i actually don't know the difference. Could you tell how the 41 and 36 are diferent please?
Anybody here can answer,is this good for church accompaniment? Any help will be appreciated!
Not at all. It has a hard, gritty sound that is definitely not suitable for most churches :)
Thank you for your honest idea!
I have this and want to use it to make beats on fl studio someone help
Sounds great! Definitely one of those Yamaha gems.
Wait till you check out the PSS series though, especially the PSS-680 and the like. You get even more parameters, especially if you control the synth through MIDI.
Yeah I've reviewed most of the PSS series, they're great. Check out my videos :) Gearfacts
I just picked one uit for € 65 euro in Great condition😁
Awesome deal!
Just scored one today for $20! 🤓👍
I love hearing about bargains!
Thanks for all of your videos! They help provide a lot of great info about some of these sometimes overlooked keyboards from the past.
@@lukeimontv7086 My pleasure, we've gotta keep the retro dream alive. There's so much good gear out there just heading to the scrapyard! And hey if you especially wanna help me out, feel free to share Gearfacts on social media ;)
Nice review though !
i have this but its kinda broken
Hmm could be worth fixing, it's quite collectible now.
Anyone knows how to just set it up to the regular piano sound?. I just got one for free and can't figure out some stuff
There is a 'piano' button at the top of the instrument selection area, but you are right, it' doesn't really sound like a real piano. I think this is because all of the sounds are synthesised rather than sampled. So you're hearing an electronic imitation of a piano, not a recoded sample of a piano. It's great that you got it for free though, a lot of people really want this keyboard :) Gearfacts
Damn! My Yamaha psr e353
Doesn’t have any of the synthesizer controls I feel so downgraded :/
Have you see the Yamaha DJX? It's nearly as old as this one but it has oodles of controls.
Yea only I’m only goin for fm programming not mixing
I’ll probably get a reface dx
Retrowave Synth anyone?
how to make it sound like a piano though? lol
haha, a wish far beyond the capabilities of the PSR-36 I'm afraid! :) # Gearfacts
I have one of these for sale. Anyone interested?
I'm interested, but I have a feeling I'm in the wrong country :(
@@gearfacts yeah, you're a little far away. I have no idea how much it would cost to mail the synth to Australia.
real time sliders rule.
Totally agree. Much more ergonomic than knobs
I bought one for 20 bucks.
That's a total bargain, LL. I love bargain stories from viewers :) Gearfacts
Yeah I found it at a garage sale and had no idea what I could do with it lol
Paris in Pakistani ropies
"Amazing" lol
The first 4 minutes are annoying
Well, a demo is a demo :)