[sdiy] VSS 200

[Scott Nordlund]

I have one and have partly analyzed it. It's a weird design. The sample based part is the same as the VSS-30. It's mostly one chip to scan the keys and play the sounds, with an external DRAM. But it's got some kludge stuff to add an FM chip and disable some of the VSS-30's features that are superseded by the FM part (auto-accompaniment, presets, demo). It scans the button panel and keys and then "translates" that to the VSS-30 part by simulating key presses.

If you add some switches you can restore all the VSS-30's hidden features, and even play two simultaneous accompaniment patterns or demo songs. If you added MIDI, you could effectively use it as a double manual keyboard. 

The Highly Liquid MIDI kit is listed as not compatible with the VSS-200. I inquired: apparently it scans the keys too rapidly. But it is listed as compatible with the VSS-30.

----------------------------------------
> From: jerryge at cableone.net
> To: synth-diy at dropmix.xs4all.nl
> Date: Tue, 12 Apr 2011 09:36:27 -0500
> Subject: [sdiy] VSS 200
>
> Hi everyone,
>
> I picked up a Yamaha VSS-200 at a flea market, it is an 1988 era sampler.
>
> It caught my eye because of the sampling and it has some voice controls that
> looked interesting including ADSR envelope controls and some other stuff. I
> have the owner's manual but could not turn up a service manual or schematic
> for it.
>
> I was thinking about adding MIDI to it but without a schematic I am not sure
> if I could do more than just play the keys, it looks like some of the signal
> path might be analog, but I did not open the case up. It may be pure
> digital.
>
> In any case I would like to find a copy of the schematic and then decide if
> I want to get side tracked with yet another project...
>
> Thanks,
> Jerry
>
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