More detailed comparison of the PSR-S970 and PSR-975 plus a full specification comparison sheet for the latest five models are further down this article page.
This is the first part of basic operation tutorial & introduction with Yamha PSR Series S670 S750 and S950. YAMAHA PSR 670 explain HD 720P - Duration: 46:48. Darkage master sounds 30,620 views.
Yamaha introduced its first S Series arranger workstation keyboard in July 2006, meaning the range is well on its way to its twelfth birthday.
Although we don’t know what the “S” stands for, it’s clear this range was targeted at the more advanced and professional musician.
The first model launched four years after the Tyros, and the S series borrows some features from the Tyros including sound generation and performance features such as Super Articulation Voices and Organ flutes.
The PSR-S500 launched in 2006, followed by the more feature-laden PSR-S700 and PSR-S900 models in 2007.
2008 saw the introduction of the PSR-S550, while the PSR-S710 and PSR-S910 upgraded their S700 and S900 siblings in 2009.
In 2010 came the PSR-S650, with the PSR-S750 and PSR-S950 arriving in 2012.
2015 saw the launch of the PSR-S670, PSR-S770 and PSR-S970.
In 2018 Yamaha launched the PSR-S775 and PSR-S975.
The table below shows the main differences between the 14 models. Scroll/drag left-right to see the whole table.
We’ve only shown the RRP for models currently available, as historic data is proving difficult to find and, in any case, becomes rather meaningless after several years have passed and models are superseded.
Interesting to note the numbering Yamaha has used. The higher the first number after the S, the more feature-laden the keyboard is. The two following numbers show the succession of instruments in that particular class.
For example, the S700 has a greater feature set than the S500. The S710 supersedes the S700.
All fourteen keyboards feature the same 61-key full-size organ/synth style key layout – no other keyboard sizes or weights have been introduced.
They all have roughly the same form factors, though vary in weight somewhat, and use Yamaha’s AWM sound generation technology.
Polyphony started out at just 32 notes, rising to 128 on the later models.
All but the first keyboard (PSR-S500) have a 16-track sequencer on board.
They all have some type of LCD (non touchscreen) with later models having colour instead of monochrome, and widescreen on the 2018 models.
As you’d expect, the number of voices and accompaniments has also increased over time.
The flagship PSR-S975 (and its predecessor the PSR-S970) has a host of ways of controlling music performance, including two live controllers which can be assigned to a whole host of parameters, vocal harmony and vocoder functions, microphone/guitar audio input, arpeggiator, and USB audio playback with time stretch, pitch shift, and vocal cancel functions.
The PSR-S975/PSR-S970 has Yamaha’s Virtual Circuitry Modeling (VCM) technology that simulates the effects of phaser, Wah, compressors, and phasers at circuit level.
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The other models feature a subset of these features but are still highly capable instruments.
Currently the latest five models are still officially in production by Yamaha. That’s the PSR-S670, PSR-S770, PSR-S775, PSR-S970 and PSR-S975.
The S Series of keyboards are significantly cheaper than the Genos, with even the top-of-line PSR-S975 being around half the price of the 61-key Tyros5.
Although you don’t get all the features of the Genos, which is Yamaha’s flagship arranger workstation, the S Series of instruments are still worthy music keyboards for both studio and live work.
I’d suggest any of the models post-2010 would also be worth picking up second-hand, so long as they are in good condition. Though they have fewer features, they’re still laden with enough to keep many musicians happy, and can be expanded if desired.
As of February 2018, we’re in a transition period, where the two new Yamaha models (S775, S975) are listed with the same RRP as the models they supersede. However, we’d expect the S770 and S970 to be reduced in price somewhat, and gradually phased out, over time.
That said, it’s unusual to have to pay the full RRP for these instruments anyway, and you could expect some music dealerships to want to sell off “old” stock to make way for the latest PSR-S keyboards.
Yamaha PSR-S975 vs PSR-S970
The PSR-S975 is Yamaha’s 2018 flagship S Series model and builds on the PSR-S970, which was released in 2015.
The PSR-S970 is still available new from Yamaha and dealers, so let’s take a look at whether the PSR-S975 is a significant upgrade, and hence whether you should go for the newer model or buy the older S970.
Aesthetics and Dimensions
How an instrument looks may not be the determining factor in a purchase decision, but it’s not unimportant.
The PSR-S970 has a metallic dark grey body, while the PSR-S975 is suited in black.
Size-wise, the instruments are identical, at 39.45″W x 5.93″H x 17.2″D (100.2cm x 14.8cm x 43.7cm) and weighing 25.57lbs (11.6kg).
Keyboard
Both instruments feature the regular 61 keys (5 octaves) in the organ style (unweighted).
There’s no aftertouch on either keyboard. The touch response can be set to five different modes: Hard1, Hard2, Medium, Soft1, Soft2.
Controllers
Both models come with a pitch bend and modulation wheel, plus two assignable control knobs.
Sound & Polyphony
Both keyboards use Yamaha’s AWM Stereo Sampling tone generation technology, with a maximum 128 notes of polyphony.
Both models are XG, GS, GM and GM2 compatible.
Accompaniments
Effects
Expansion
The PSR-S970 has 512MB of expansion memory for voices. The PSR-S975 has 768MB.
Both instruments have 128MB expansion for audio styles.
Other
Both instruments have a number of other features which don’t vary between the two.
This includes:
Concluding, we can see the two instruments are very similar. Look, feel and sound technology are the same. What you’re getting in the new model is more sounds, styles and effects.
The question is whether you need that additional content. Of course, sounds and accompaniments make or break an arranger workstation, so yup could argue it’s worth getting the latest model to benefit from those.
Then again, do you really use all the sounds provided on a keyboard? The basic instruments most composers require are in both instruments, and if you want more it’s possible to use the keyboard to control additional hardware or DAW software.
Current five PSR-S models compared
We’ve created a comparison table for the latest, current five PSR-S models, using all the specification data provided by Yamaha.
This includes the PSR-S670, PSR-S770, PSR-S775, PSR-S970 and PSR-S975.
408 Preset Styles
The PSR-S950 includes 350 Pro (prs), 32 Session (sst), 1 FreePlay, and 25 new 'Audio' styles for a total of 408 styles in 11 style categories. The more junior PSR-S750 has 295 Pro and 30 Session styles (and none of the new audio styles) for a total of 325 styles, 83 styles fewer than the S950.
Here's what Yamaha says about the S950 styles:
Playing a Style is like being the conductor of a band that always plays the chord and arrangement you tell them to play. The new PSR-S950 has a huge set of 408 built-in dynamic Styles. Yamaha Styles are created by the world's best programmers and mixed by professional studio engineers to ensure unparalleled quality.
Audio Styles Audio Styles take one step further by adding an audio recording of studio drummers, percussionists and percussion ensembles playing in various recording studios from around the world. This adds the natural feel, ambience and warmth to the drum and percussion parts of the Style, giving your performance greater expressive potential. Yamaha Time Stretch Technology allows the audio to follow your tempo changes without changing pitch, so everything stays in perfect sync. Guitar-Enhanced Styles with Mega Voices Guitar-Enhanced Styles not only reproduce the sound of guitar playing, they reproduce the actual chord voicings used by guitar players. This adds to the overall realism of the Style.
The table below lists all of the styles in the PSR-S950 and PSR-S750 (the number in parentheses by each style category is the number of S750 styles). Styles highlighted by a blue font are not available in the S750. A bold blue font indicates one of the new 'audio' styles. There are a total of 98 styles in the S950 that are not available in the S750. Styles highlighted by a red font are in the S750, but not included in the S950. There are 15 such S750-unique styles. The numbers following the style name are the default tempo and the time signature.
Hammer's Styles/Regs for the PSR-950/S750Gig Disk Styles
(Nov 2012) Here are five sets of gig disks for the PSR-S950: (1) 20s and 30s song styles; (2) 50's song styles; (3) All country song styles; (4) All upbeat song styles; (5) PSR3000 setups for the S950 (I used these for years with my PSR3000 gigs). All these have OTS settings and should be playable on the S950 as is. There will be several more of these. There are duplications between the folders because these are the lists I use for gigs and some songs are in several folders.
Tyros 4 Styles
(Jan 2013) Here are some Tyros 4 styles setup to play on the S950. Not all Tyros 4 styles will play on the S950 due to voices on the T4 not found on the S950. I eliminated those styles and added or changed the OTS voices to fit the S950. I will do more as time allows.
S950 Registrations
(Feb 2013) Here is a set of 3 registrations for the S950. Each bank contains 8 'song specific' setups. There are 24 songs total in the set.
Note: you will find these and other style sets from Deane Peters on Hammer's Gig Disk Page.
Onacimus' S950 StylesS950 Christmas Styles Collection
This Christmas style collection for PSR S970 is drawn from the Standard, Super Mega, Super Mega Plus and Special collections for S970, which are available below. These styles may also be compatible with the T4, T5, C6, & C7 keyboards. There are 89 styles available in this Christmas-S950.zip file. Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
- Onacimus
S950 Standard Styles Collection
The Standard Styles collection for the PSR-S950 includes almost 1,300 styles. 'Standard' Collection means styles having many extraordinary voices (Sweet, Cool & Live) except Mega voices in tracks and OTS. The collection includes styles from ten keyboards: PSR-9000 and 9000Pro, PSR-740, PSR-2000, PSR-2100, PSR-1500, PSR-550, and CVP-109, CVP-209 and CVP210. It also includes Oriental Styles from the PSR-A1000. For this Collection, I picked styles from PSR-S910 Standard collection, added some more styles, and did slight voice editing.
S950 SuperMega Styles Collection
The nearly 1,300 styles in the 'Super Mega Styles collection' includes all SFF1 Mega styles from Tyros1, Tyros2, CVP-309, CVP-409, PSR-3000, PSR-S900 and PSR-S700. I also included Oriental Styles from PSR-OR700. The term 'Super Mega' means Super Articulation voices in OTS and Mega Voices in tracks. For this collection, I picked all Tyros1 styles as basic and added other styles if they were new and slightly different. I also did some slight revoicing. I put different icons for each style, mostly matching the original.
S950 SuperMegaPlus Styles Collection
'Super Mega Plus' has Sweet, Live, and Cool voices (like Standard) as well as Super Articulation voices and Mega voices in tracks (like SuperMega) but SFF2 styles. Source keyboards include PSR-S650/S710/S910/S950/S975, TYROS3/4/5, CVP-509/609/709, Genos. I have also included Oriental Styles from PSR-A2000 and A3000.
Genos Styles for PSR-S950
(Jun 2018) 219 Genos styles have been converted for use with the S970. While converting GENOS styles, I played and checked all the styles one by one. I found many new styles in old names. For example Bluegrass, Country 8Beat1, ChaChaCha, etc. Many old styles are given in new names 9-8Waltz as FinalWaltz, 70'sChartCountry as TopChartCountry etc. Many new styles are given in new names (MoonWaltz, 80'sChristmas, AmbientChristmas, etc). I picked the new and slightly different styles and converted those styles. All the converted Genos styles are in the Super Mega Plus table above.
S950 Special Style Collection
This style collection includes various Styles from Internet and Expansion Packs. I have updated all the styles and added many new styles in 11 categories. I have converted many Expansion styles. I have remaped the new kits by using the drumkits available in S970. These styles also can be used in TYROS3, 4, 5, CVP-509, 609, 709, S950 and S770. Some styles of Entertainer section need drum remaping in T3, C5 and S950. Because they have no 'HouseKit'. The voice selections are up to the standared of S770.
S950 YEP Indian Style Collection
I made a separate YEP Indian style style collection for PSR-S950. The zip file includes the methodology iin a text file and the Program Change details in a Microsoft XL file. These 70 styles work properly in the Yamaha PSR-S950 only if the 'PSR-S950 Indian Pack.yep' is installed (the pack is available for purchase at the link provided).
I have additional YEP Indian styles for the S950. This Collection includes the YEP 'Indian2' Pack and Bonus styles of PSR-S650, PSR-S750 and PSR-S950. Also new 'Indian Devotional' and 'Indian Entertainer' packs of PSR-S950. These styles will work properly in PSR-S950 only while any one of the three packs (S950-Indian2 / IndianDevotional / IndianEntertainer) is installed.
Other Styles for the PSR-S950/S750
All of the styles that are available for the earlier Yamaha arranger keyboards can be played in the PSR-S950 and PSR-S750. These keyboards use the style format (SFF2) introduced with the Tyros3 and used in the S910 and the Tyros4 so styles from these keyboards can also be played in the S950. Of course, Tyros styles have three right-hand voices and the Right3 voice is ignored by the S950. Tyros4 styles may also use OTS voices that are unique to that keyboard and these voices would have to be replaced with suitable alternatives when used in the S950 and S750. All of the earlier SFF1 format styles should play just fine on the S950 and S750.
PSR-S950/S750/S650 DemosPSR-S950/S750 Demos
PSR-S650
PSR-S550
Expansion Pacs
Yamaha PSR-S750 AND PSR-S950 Arranger Keyboards Offer Higher-End Features And Advanced Connectivity
Sep 24, 2012 – BUENA PARK, Calif. —Yamaha Keyboard Division announces the upcoming release of the PSR-S950 and PSR-S750 arranger keyboards. Available at authorized Yamaha dealers nationwide in September 2012, the instruments will also be featured in a special showcase event at Winter NAMM 2013. Featuring Super Articulation Voices, Styles and a number ofadvanced connectivity options, these arrangers now offer possibilities previously only found on higher-end Yamaha instruments, like the acclaimed Tyros4 arranger keyboard.
The PSR-S950 arranger keyboard debuts Audio Style technology, bringing the realism, nuance and character of live drums and percussion to Styles. Each Audio Style adds a track of tempo-synch'ed audio from drummers and percussionists around the world. It also features Vocal Harmony 2, a tool that augments singers' vocals with 3-part harmonies and effects using the newly added Mic/Line In capability. Additionally, the upgraded color screen on the S950 makes the interface clearer and easier to read, while a brushed metal data entry wheel allows for simpler programming.
'The PSR-S950 represents an evolutionary leap forward for the PSR line, offering sound innovation, vocal harmony features, pro-quality accompaniment features and comprehensive recording capabilities,' says Mark Anderson, Director of Marketing, Yamaha Keyboard Division. 'Audio Styles, just one of many remarkable new tools, give performances greater expressive potential by adding real audio drum and percussion parts to Yamaha's Guitar Enhanced Style engine, producing a natural feel, ambience and warmth. The PSR-S950 is a truly powerful addition to any musician's arsenal - whether they are playing live, writing a song or producing music.'
Both the PSR-S950 and PSR-S750 models feature highly expressive Super Articulation Voices and offer 'Real Distortion' DSP, which adds high-quality distortion and overdrive effects to instrument Voices like guitar and electric piano. The keyboards allow for the addition of Voices and Styles by loading Yamaha's ever-growing library of Voice and Style Expansions into the 64MB FlashROM. Players can also assign and trigger WAV audio with Yamaha's new Audio Link Multi-Pads, and a re-designed speaker box has extended lows along with a highly efficient digital amplifier and digital EQ to perfectly tailor the overall sound.
'The PSR-S750 provides Yamaha's outstanding Super Articulation Voice technology at a never before seen price,' says Nate Tschetter, Electronic Keyboard Product Manager, Yamaha Keyboard Division. 'With the built-in FlashROM for loading-in new Voice and Style Expansions, it truly is a world-class keyboard that grows with you.'
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Originally introduced on the Tyros arranger keyboard, Super Articulation Voices enhance the sound of performances by adding instrument-specific nuances as you play the keyboard. Convenient connectivity options like USB TO HOST, USB TO DEVICE and audio line inputs and outputs allow players to use the PSR-S750 in a variety of exciting ways. The PSR-S950 features 1281 Voices, while the PSR-S750 has 1186 Voices.
The PSR-S750 (MSRP: $1,499) and the PSR-S950 (MSRP: $2,499) are now shipping.
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