Imagine the excellent sonic characteristics of the DX11 synthesizer or TX-81Z sound module. The V50 is the ultimate 4-Operator FM synth workstation comprising 16-note polyphony, a dual effects processor (with distortion), a large dual line, backlit LCD display, a drum machine, a 16,000 note sequencer and a 3.5in floppy drive to save your songs and voices!

The DVA function and built in voice-based pitch delay are two interesting features in this synth. It's great for percussive sounds such as short bass sounds, marimbas, clavinets, etc and should one pitch an operator really high and work with the pitch bender, one gets very cool ambient effects. It's very rare yet cheap in today's 2nd-hand market and coupled with an outboard (analog) filter it makes an unbeatable digital FM synth!

The V50 has been used by Sin.

Knarf

October 15, 2010 @ 7:02 am

@jb : the CZ5000 is a great synth but its sequencer is only an 8 tracks one with far less notes of capacity, its polyphony is only 8 voices and there's no floppy disk. The V50 is a good synth but it uses 4 op's FM - a less interesting way of making FM than using 6 operators. So, if you want a "pure" synth, do prefer te CZ. On the opposite, if you want to have a stand alone kind of workstation, buy the V50. Of course, the best solution should be to have both...

jb

September 10, 2010 @ 8:50 pm

what should a buy a yamaha v50 or a casio cz 5000?? in not sure both same price

KRM

June 29, 2010 @ 8:02 pm

Just grabbed a V50 off eBay. I remember really wanting one back in 1989 (14 at the time). I had even sent off to Yamaha for all their marketing material.

My first impression is "damn, this is a very nice board." I was really surprised by the build quality (excellent). Nice solid buttons with a real clicky tactile feel. The key action feels better than my D50, M1 or SY99. Of course either of the aforementioned three synths can blow the V50 out of the water when it comes down to realistic instrument sounds, but for some nice FM "digital" stuff, this machine is great. A very clear, bright, noise free sound. Highly underrated.

Alekx V

May 21, 2010 @ 9:07 pm

This is an amazing synth, really. Nothing comes close for a 4 operator synth. Buyed in early 90's and used for years, still is the main keyboard in my stack. Love it so much that i've decided to inmortalize it by creating an exact copy of this synth in software (softsynth) and in the run create another one, code named "andromeda" which will have what i consider would be the synth Yamaha had builded if 4 op were still a business for them.
The softsynth is still in its design stage but i'am pretty confident that will be a delight for all of those who loved and learned to appreciate the power and versatility of this beast.

Izera Stephen

March 21, 2010 @ 8:23 am

My first Yamaha synth.
I wasnt really sure what to make of it when I got it home but I figured for $80 I could learn to love it.
At first I was a bit underwhelmed aside from 3 samazing sounds.
I then stumbled across a site on the net where a guy had made a few experimental songs on one.
I quickly had a new found respect for this thing!
They are a beast in the right hands and can hold there own against a DX7 albeit in a slightly different way.
Not sure wher FM is sitting in 2010 but its a fun machine to play with.
Very heavy and solid!!!

<987654321>

 

Post Comment!

Your Name: (Required.)

Email Address: (Required, not published.)

Image verification: (required)

Message:

 

Posting Rules:
Please keep your comments relevant! Do not post requests for help, do not use for sales, do not post unless you have something interesting to say about this instrument, or we may delete your post.

I have read and understand the posting rules.