The Yamaha PSS-140 - a vintage keyboard that sounds like a Sound Blaster card

In this video I take a look at the Yamaha PSS-140, a toy keyboard from 1988 that uses a variant of the YM3812 synth chip used in the Sound Blaster card.
I demonstrate some of the melody sounds, and play two versions of the folk song "Danny Boy" - one using the keyboard's auto-accompaniment feature, and once as a multi-track recording with several different sounds.
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[@uzimonkey]

This is the keyboard I had when I was a kid. I can still see the book it came with in my head, and I used to play through the songs (probably very badly). Also, even though you didn't play it, that demonstration song is still stuck in my head almost 40 years later.

[@emiwebber]

How lovely! I completely forgot about this keyboard and owning it, until I saw the thumbnail thought 'I know you!'. Watching this has unlocked a whole bunch of childhood memories. I used to play Oh Danny Boy on mine, too - haha! Thanks for posting this.

[@preecemusic]

Thanks for your kind words. Glad you enjoyed!

[@ringsystemmusic]

Oh I got one of these! Love the sounds on it- 87 Transistor Organ and 25 Fantastic Piano are some of my favorites. Use it in the production of ambient music all the time for when I simply want something with the vague resemblance of a flute/organ/e-piano/other things FM synthesis is somewhat good at.

[@gortium85]

Very cool demo I just picked one up

[@preecemusic]

Thanks - enjoy!

[@MrPartzz]

Very interesting. Good little break down 👍🏻

[@preecemusic]

Thanks - glad you enjoyed it!

[@splintercast8092]

I got one of these for my 12th birthday in 1988.

[@giospage]

what a lovely channel this is

[@preecemusic]

Thank you!

[@Fl4ppers]

I had one of these as a kid. I still miss it. I tend to wonder what I could create with it in Ableton with Valhalla and other tools.

[@Hoptronics]

Super cheap these days. I bought an Casio MT-240 with midi for $40 on Facebook.. look around.

[@hyperbolicsuperlative5184]

ive got a circuit bent one of these thats quite fun

[@dexx2233]

the OPLL is cool :) i have a MSX2+ with the YM2413 FM chip, someone converted the demo tune from the PSS-140 to play it with VGM playing programs.. i use VGMplay for MSX :D

[@timothyverbist5795]

If i were Yamaha i would re-release the PSS-140, the PSS-270 & the PSR-18.

[@Mediocre00Rebel]

Even as simple as this thing was, how much do you bet they make "new" toy keyboards with that quality? When I was a kid I had one and man I remember I abused that thing. Lol.. I don't even think it was tossed because it was broken. I don't remember what happened to it.

[@ericg2666]

I've had mine for 35 years. I just dug it out of my daughter's closet yesterday -- still looks and works like new.

[@w.kempert1858]

Klasse Grüße aus Berlin als größter Berliner

[@Buzyyybee_blindbags]

Hello, Can you please let me know the adapter suitable for this model.

[@preecemusic]

Mine came with a Yamaha KPA3 adapter, but you'll probably have more luck finding a suitable aftermarket adapter than an original Yamaha one. The case says 9 - 12 V DC, centre positive - but be sure to check that your one is the same before plugging anything into it!

[@ephraimwarrior6766]

sample the sounds f0r fl studio and lmms l0l