The SY77 is like having a super-sized sample-memory workstation with the added synthesis and sounds of a DX7mkII. For its synthesizer section it employs a 6 operator AFM synth engine similar to, if not better than, the original DX's. The AFM section offers 45 algorithms, 3 feedback loops and 16 waveforms for creating some of those unique FM sounds. Sampled sounds (AWM2) which are in memory (or on external ROM cards) can then be mixed with the AFM sounds to create entirely wild new sounds! And these sounds are quite shapeable thanks to the resonant multi stage Time Variant Filters which offer the chance to recreate the warm analog sounds of classic synths, or create something entirely new.

There's an on-board sequencer section for creating your songs right on the SY77. It's got 16 tracks, channel 16 belongs to the SY77's built-in drum synthesizer which holds up to 61 sounds. The sequencer can hold up to 16,000 notes, 99 patterns and 1 song. And since the SY77 features 16 voices of polyphony for the AFM section, and another 16 voices for the sampled sounds, there are (32) plenty of voices to go around to build your song. Add the fact that there are 4 independent digital multi-effects which include reverb, delay, chorus, panning and more and you have yourself a classic music production workhorse.

The SY77 was also marketed in a rack-mount module called the TG77. All the same features as the SY77, except the keyboard, sequencer and 3.5" disk drive are gone. Following the SY77 came the upgraded SY99. Its main features and guts were the same however it had increased memory, waveforms and a bigger keyboard. The SY77 (or TG77) is great for really controlling and creating sounds for use in various electronic forms of music and has been used by 808 State, Skinny Puppy, Brian Eno, Europe, Toto, Vangelis, Chick Corea, and Front 242.

kyle

May 23, 2012 @ 5:34 pm

hello please contact me concerning replacement sy77 and sy99 floppy drives. rush74@gmail.com

Arik S.

May 1, 2012 @ 8:28 pm

Resoldering is the fix that works most of the time. At the factory electronic components are inserted by machine into printed board and then the whole board gets run through heat oven (above the solder melting point). Obviously some joints get more heat than others, hence the "cold solder" problem. If you don't know what's happening, just apply flux all over and resolder every joint, no matter how they look. Sometimes a thin oxide film develops and what part don't make a contact anymore. Manual resoldering is a universal cure for this.

simon gurden

January 15, 2012 @ 6:59 pm

the diskdrives in my sy77 and v50 both appear to be broken. is it worth replacing them or is their a computer dump method that does the same thing?

Gandalf

December 30, 2011 @ 2:39 pm

Did anyone else try the floppy drive exchange to a regular pc drive? I have downloaded fm-alive's zip, and it says the power connector has to be connected seperately by using pins 1/3/5 from the original cable. However, PC drives seem to require 12V and 5V supply whereas the SY's interface seems to provide 5V only. Has anyone tried this out? Maybe it does run on 5V only?

Clancy Howard

December 18, 2011 @ 4:55 pm

The power transformer on my SY77 died, I don't suppose anyone has an idea for a replacement as it's probably a custom job. Anyone know if Yamaha still carries any?

Thanks-

Clance

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