All user reviews of 4/5 for the Yamaha SY22

The SY22 synthesizer is a 5 octave velocity sensitive and aftertouch. It has a wheel pitch bend and modulation. Moreover it is equipped with a joystick called "VECTOR CONTROL" to play and recorded movements vector.
16 voice polyphony and multi-timbralité 8.
The synth is fairly small and light but very well built. The touch is not so unpleasant that mid-range. The keybed is made of metal and easily accessible.
It will be perfect as a small master keyboard.

UTILIZATION

The synthesis is not very advanced (except for the vector part), the use is quite simple and intuitive.
It is impossible to edit the sounds FM programming but this is by choosing a more basic sound of the 256 FM sounds or AWM 128 samples.
RANDOM an editing function is available and very convenient to create new sounds on the fly!
In all cases it is very enjoyable to play and we quickly took the stick to handle vectors!

SOUNDS

The sounds are mostly scalable and can be a good idea of ​​the synthesis. The AWM samples are a bit "hard" but the next 4 op FM is very pretty. Many sounds become more interesting just by pushing the joystick slightly to D or B (thus increasing the volume of hand FM).
The effects are a bit tight, not editable and very typical. By cutting and sending the raw output of SY in H8000 is immediately more war ^ ^!
There is a beautiful flute like I think ...

OVERALL OPINION

I use it for a few days and knowing the brand and the synths of the time, I must say it is a big deal right now than to pick up a SY22!
The sounds and the game is inspiring and well-built machine (switches, keyboard and joystick solid).
The only downside is with the external power supply ... :/
Very fun and good for learning the synthesis!

Beautiful 5 octave synth with all the usual classic elements and a small LCD display 2 lines of 16 characters. "Simple and effective."
64 presets available (Voices 8 * 8) + 16 in Multi (2 * 8) that are actually combinations or rather split the keyboard.
16 voice polyphony. 16 effects.
128 sampled sounds 16-bit (2 MB ROM).

UTILIZATION

I already have a sampler Ensoniq ASR-10 so it's clear that when it comes to pianos, orchestral sounds, drums or other I do not count on it. However it is a perfect complement. The ASR I did not really sound "synthetic" or tablecloths or sounding so they take up space. I can not turn on the computer to access the virtual and plugins without having to load the OS and the samples on my ASR-10 to give free rein to my imagination immediately (start time: 3-4s). Just something boring, I find that the sounds are sometimes at very different levels of volume. Ditto for the octaves used, it must now transpose the preset in the acute, sometimes in the bass. It is subjective but I agree with myself.

SOUNDS

Sounds, far from being to die for 2005 are already bluffing and correspond to my expectations. Must be said that 150 euros used here is still very reasonable. So I think for the price sounds more than satisfactory in piano, strings, flutes, bass, ... and synthesizers. Must be said that in addition to each preset is a combination of two or four different sounds. And we can play with a wheel: the "vector control" which is neither more nor less than a joystick that can move in all directions to bring out more or less as sound, do not or, conversely appear only remove one. The result is very interesting.
I'm not a fan of the creation / modification of sounds, therefore not dwell on the possibilities. I'll just say that you can save 64 presets in internal memory in addition to fully customized default 64 in the device. It is also a look at its possible to save data on external cards extra.

OVERALL OPINION

While not a complete revolution (except perhaps its release in 1990), this synth has real assets. The keyboard is nice and fairly light. Sounds useful for any occasion and compliments very well my "studio" with if I need my things and my VST sampler. On the Internet you can easily find software that transmits SysEx the PC to the SY-22 a range of new sounds (recordable then internal or card). I even have to get my hands dirty. Sounds cont compatible TG-33 and SY-35. I go back the P65 Sympa "Syn Str!"

Plenty of features. I wish it had knobs. The Vector Control Joystick is very useful for creating ambient sounds.

Price paid

900

UTILIZATION

Easy to use, manual is good.

Very robust, never had a problem and I"ve used it for thousands of hours over many years, moved many times with it. Nothing breaks ever.

SOUNDS

A bit metallic, but that's what happens to early 90s synths. Moby uses it. Effects are good for its time, but not easily programmable. WOuld give it a 6, but I really like its drumkit and some sounds (only 1 kit)

OVERALL OPINION

Loved it for years, now it's in the closet. So for 10 years, it was a 9, now it's a 5. Average = 7.

Originally posted on FutureProducers.com
Posted by: Unknown ( 3-, 2003)