Yamaha PSS-570 - 'Soundblaster' FM in a Portasound keyboard

Music: "Reflector" (C) Copyright 2021 Alfonse
Download here: https://alfonse.bandcamp.com/album/re...

Yamaha Portasound PSS-570 keyboard (1987)

The 570 was one of a few of Yamaha's PSS range to use the same YM3812 sound-generating chip used in the Soundblaster soundcards of the late 80s/90s. Unlike the PSS-460, which I've demoed elsewhere, it also has a separate chip for the drums.

All sounds you hear in the track were made using the PSS-570. All parts were recorded to a DAW, where compression, EQ, and reverb were added as required. I added stereo multi-tap delay to the main chords using the Audiority Deleight plugin. I double-tracked the lead synth part (each part tuned fractionally differently) to give it a fatter sound, and in places added another layer an octave up. Individual drum hits were sampled from slowed-down rhythms and processed to allow fresh beats to be built, rather than using the rhythms found on the PSS-570 itself.

Synth settings are editable via the sliders on the top right of the control panel. If you have one of these keyboards and want to recreate the sounds, here are the parameters:
Main chords = Trumpet 333255
Main Bass = Jazz Guitar 435455 (layered with Jazz Guitar 313455)
Extra bass layer in middle = Jazz Guitar 415455
Lead = Cosmic 334245 (3 layers with differences in pitch)
Extra lead layers in chorus = Popsynth 322343 and Slapsynth 525335
Rhythmic low notes = Synth 225555
Repeated note in middle = Horn 435253
Lead in middle = Flute 5x5333
FX = Vibes 153543
FX = Clarinet 555555

ALFONSE
Store: http://alfonse.bandcamp.com
Twitter:   / alfonsemusic  
Instagram:   / alfonsemusic  
Soundcloud:   / alfonsemusic