EX5

The Yamaha EX5 and EX7 Music Synthesizers, and the EX5R Tone Generator, offer more music performance and production power than ever before available in a single keyboard or tone generator unit. All three models feature a unique Extended Synthesis system which incorporates a number of the most advanced tone generator technologies currently available ... plus a full-featured sampling system. There's also a top-quality internal effect system so no extra sound-processing equipment is required. 16-track song and 8-track pattern sequencers provide sophisticated on-board sequence programming and editing capability, while a unique 4-track arpeggiator function adds extended performance and accompaniment capability. The EX-series keyboards and tone generator also offer one of the most versatile and intuitive real-time control systems available, and they're expandable to suit a wide range of professional systems and requirements. The EX5, EX5R, and EX7 give the serious musician everything he or she needs to perform, compose, arrange, or handle full-blown music production in one extraordinarily versatile instrument.

All tone generation systems have their strengths and weaknesses. One system may excel at creating certain types of voices, but none covers the full sonic vocabulary required by modern music production. The Extended Synthesis system employed in the EX synthesizers puts the full spectrum of electronic sound at your fingertips by combining multiple state-of-the-art Yamaha tone generation technologies in one incredibly versatile instrument. There's the outstanding sample-based sound and programmability of AWM synthesis. For incredibly realistic and expressive wind and string instrument simulations there's VL synthesis. When you want a beefy analog synthesizer voice, AN synthesis can give it to you. And all-new FDSP technology offers the most responsive effects and simulated resonant systems available. All of these tone generator systems are brought together in a four-element voice structure which allows up to four different "waves" - the basic building blocks of the EX voices - to be combined as required. This is simply the most powerful array of tone generation technologies ever provided in a single keyboard or tone generator unit.

The same tone generator technology used in the ground-breaking VL1, and the currently popular VL70-m tone generator. Yamaha Virtual Acoustic (VL) Synthesis tone generation system applies sophisticated computer-based "physical modeling" technology to musical sound synthesis, accurately simulating the very complex vibrations, resonances, reflections and other acoustic phenomena that occur in a real wind or string instrument. VL Voice Structure VL voices can have 1 VL element and from 1 to 3 AWM elements. The VL element can be used alone to emphasize the full realism and expressive power of the VL tone generator, or with added AWM elements for thicker textures.

FDSP, or "Formulated Digital Sound Processing" adds a sophisticated note-dependent effect processor to the basic AWM synthesis system. In contrast to a standard effect stage, the FDSP synthesis stage uses individual note and velocity data to control effect parameters, thus making it possible to simulate the characteristics of a number of real-world musical components, as well as produce totally new effects. For example, FDSP can effectively model the frequency and velocity dependent characteristics of electromagnetic guitar or piano pickups, thus adding more realistic response to these types of voices, or adding a whole new dimension to other sounds. It can also alter the delay time of flange or chorus type effects according to the note played, thus producing totally new sounds that are responsive and "alive". FDSP Voice Structure FDSP voices have from 1 to 4 AWM elements with an FDSP stage between the elements and the main effect stage. The FDSP stage can be applied to any or all of the AWM elements used, as required. AN + FDSP Voice Structure The EX5 and EX5R allow the AN and FDSP tone generator systems to be combined in "AN + FDSP" voices which can have 1 AN element and from 1 to 3 FDSP elements. The FDSP stage can be applied to any or all of the AWM elements used, as required.

AWM, or "Advanced Wave Memory", is Yamaha's original system for effectively using sampled waveforms in synthesizers and tone generators. The strength of AWM synthesis lies not only in its outstanding sound quality, but also in its extraordinary ability to shape and control the sound of the samples with a comprehensive system of envelope generators, filters, key scaling parameters, modulation, and more. AWM Voice Structure AWM voices can have from 1 to 4 AWM elements. Each AWM element can use a preset wave or a sampled waveform. The ability to combine AWM elements means that you can, for example, combine separate samples for the attack and sustain portions of an instrument's sound, with independent control over each.

Yamaha AN Synthesis (Analog Physical Modeling) offers all the benefits of traditional analog synthesis with the stability, reproducibility, and precise control of digital technology. It is capable of accurately reproducing the sound of classic analog synthesizers without patch cables, setting charts, or the frustrating instability that was the bane of the analog age. AN(Poly) Voice Structure A standard (Poly) AN voice can have 1 AN element and from 1 to 3 AWM elements. Classic analog synth type sounds can be created with the single AN element alone. AWM elements can be added as necessary to "modernize" the sound. AN(Layer) Voice Structure The EX5 and EX5R additionally allow "AN layer" voices which can have 1 or 2 AN elements and 1 or 2 AWM elements. The combination of two AN elements in this voice type can result in really thick, powerful, punchy analog type voices. Once again, the AWM elements can be used to add realistic samples or other textures.