Yamaha R100

My first 'studio' effect unit and a very simple and straigth forward one indeed. With all parameters printed on top, you can't really go wrong. Manual has been long lost, but I never needed one.

In the mid-eighties, this was the cheapest digital multi effect to be found. As Yamaha's then bottom of the line contender, it's probably best avoided if you're looking for pristine sound quality. Also definitely not the widest selection of effects: the R100 only has reverbs and delays. No modulation effects, pitch shifters or like.

However, the grainy lo-bit quality of the unit definitely has its charme, gives a ruff edge to processed sounds and gives a very distinct colouring. And its a great little reverb therefore, just remember it has a limited box of tricks. It can't do a Lexicon, but a Lexicon can't do this either.

I've used it in a electronic music studio setup and it's still a favourite for it's gated reverbs, ping pong delays and live room settings, which are of great use mixing synths, drum machines and other electronic stuff. For recording bands or using as multi effects in a guitar rig, I'd question its capabilities. I remember engineers in 'real' studio's always cautiously avoiding this when I brought it along. Oh well, their loss...

Never had any problems with it and I had it for 20 years or so.

Never needed it but Yamaha has a fairly good reputation over here (Netherlands).

I make electronic music only and have been doing so for a long time. I used this unit in my early home recordings setup (four track recordings for bands) but is have stayed with me when I upgraded to the electronic studio. I have a few more digital effect units (Zoom 1204, Digitech studio twin) which are all more versatile and more lush sounding. I also have an old Korg SDD1200 stereo delay and a Yamaha REX50, who are good for messing up the sound, just like the R100. Within my setup it has its own niche and I keep coming back to it. SO yeah: it's great, I would miss it if it gets stolen. But it can be bought for next to nothing these days.

This unit is very straight forward to use. I have used it both in live performances and in my home studio, and it is very easy to adjust each parameter.

Although this unit has rather limited editing (4 paramters for each preset), it produces quite a good overall sound, especially when using just the pure reverb presets. It can beef up a sound from a mono-source (old keyboard with only mono etc). I have used it mostly to add stereo presence to my old Hammond, routing the sound from the organs mono out and through the R100. It really does magic to the sound from my organ.

I have used my 2 R100's for 10+ years, without any problems. Both while gigging with bands and in domestic situations, this unit has always worked, and I wouldn't hesitate to use it in live situations.

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These days I mostly sit at home and compose and record, using my keyboards and my good old Hammond M162, and although I have bought additional effect units over the years, I still prefer the R100, when recording from the organ. It would have been nice if this unit had a stereo input, but otherwise I have no complaints.

Fairly easy to use. Please bear in mind that video recorders, push button microwaves and mobile 'phones are an anathema to me. If -I- can use it, it must be simple. Patch editing is not too tricky, but I tend to find a preset I like and stick with it anyway. The manual is OK, connectivity is OK and the fact that all the presets are clearly labelled on the top of the unit is a bit of a bonus.

Grainy, digital artefacts type noises constantly in the background at a low but audible level. Some masking of subtlety. Not, in my opinion the type of unit to use to make hiss free recordings, but for dinking about with a drum machine and electric guitar?, pretty good. Some of the reverbs are over the top, some are spot on and very useful. Some great toys in there, some useful sounds in there. I use it to create an illusion of space and breathing room, and for that, it works.

Don't know when it was made, guessing early 90's. Still works perfectly. Thus far has proven to be utterly dependable, and I have no reason to doubt it now.

Not really apllicable

Playing heavy rock/punk/classic rock. It fulfils a need. Playing long enough to know what I like. I have callouses on my fingers :o)
Purchased because I wanted a reverb unit that had some flexibility to play with sounds, oh, and because it was cheap. Definitely helps rather than hinders. If you see one, buy it and try it. You can always resell for as little as you paid for it.

There are 60 editable presets with 4 parameters each. Easy to program, you only need to keep in mind that patches are certain types, eg Reverb, Stereo Echo etc. and that parameters and even value ranges vary accordingly.
Manual is OK, german translation sucks. If anyone needs it email me.
Overall extremely easy to use, I wished it had knobs, though, 'cause I like knobs!

It does all types of reverbs and delays you could think of. The comlete list is:
reverb, delay & reverb, delay + reverb, early reflections, feedback e.r., stereo echo and delay.
The sound is okay, nothing special. As someone stated before you propably shouldn't process expensive acoustic instruments through it but for electro, it's fine. A little vintage-y maybe.

There's not much that can break on this solid half-rack unit.
The unit is not essential to my live performances, so I don't need a backup.
Also mine was an great bargain, and wouldn't have been if I got 2... ;)

Nerver dealt with 'em.

I use this mainly for the vocals that are previously mangled by a Marshall Guv'nor, sometimes for string sounds from the Kawai K1.
It does it all nicely, even heavily distorted vocals. and it sounds just as old as th K1, a nice combination.

I got the R100 because it was so inexpensive and doesn't need much space (half-rack). I just wanted some reverb.

If it were lost or stolen, I'd look for something similar or buy the same thing again.

Be sure not to pay too much for this one, though.

Very easy to use. My second-hand model didn't come with a manual, but since all the parameters are printed on the top surface it was easy to get to know the unit. Editing patches is simple as there are only four parameters per effect. The mono 1/4" input and mono/stereo outs are flexible - the stereo delays can sound pretty big, especially with guitar parts.

I've used the R100 as an in-line guitar effects and also via effect-send on a mixing desk. The delays are a bit noisy, but the variety of effects for a unit of this age is pretty good. The multi-tap delays are nice, and it's handy to be able to separately change the delay for left and right channels independently. The reverbs are grainy but have a great lo-fi sound, especially on snares. It's nice to be able to changes patches via MIDI, although there's a bit of a 'jump' when changing between patches. The 60 preset effects can be altered and over-written with your own effect parameters (but no solely user patches, I'm afraid).

Over the past ten or so years the only thing that's gone a bit wrong is the bypass switch, which occasionally sticks. But then again, I did drop it from a great height...

Although I've bought a couple of other efects units over the years as 'replacements' I always keep the R100 on its own aux send from the mixing desk for drum reverb or for delay on synths. The delays sound good on arpeggiated synth parts. Personally, I think there's something about the R100 that sounds right, just slap a gate on it to cut back on the hiss (or just live with it). The variety of effects (for the price) on a unit of this age can't be sniffed at. R100s going cheap second hand, and well worth checking out - whatever music you're into.

I find the R100 really easy to use. I'm an amateur sound engineer, doing PA and sound reinforcement for village hall events like variety nights and pantomimes, and the thing just plain works the way I expect it to.

I use it with live mics, usually as the only effects processor, in conjuction with a Yamaha 8:2 powered mixer and some mediocre speakers.

I'd rate the sound quality as 'great-on-a-budget' - I wouldn't want to use it in a studio because it's a little noisy but for live work, when the noicse can be masked by the backnig, it's OK.

I bought mine secondhand from a pawnbroker. It looks like it's seen a fair amount of life (read: scratched to hell and dented, too!) but the insides are clean as a whistle. The output sockets can be a little iffy, probably due to it having a hard life, but my gear never moves in use so that's OK.

Properly treated from new, I would rate the R100 as reasonably bombproof.

Used as a sweetner for really bad village talent, the R100 can't turn a sow's ear into a silk purse but it does add some nice simple reverb to thicken up vocals. I have never had occasion to use it with anything other than vocals.

If it got lost, stolen or I backed my car over it, I'm not sure I'd buy the same again - hopefully my insurance would pay for somthing a little glitzier. That said, I've never regretted buying it. It sure as hell knocks my steam-powered spring line reverb unit into a cocked hat!

As for improvements, well I'd really like a 'do everything' effects box that'll do a bit more than reverb, but I expect that would be asking too much. I'll just have to save up for a better mixer with a few more effects channels first, then look at other units. I'm definitely not throwing the R100 away.

Very easy to use. Even has parameters printed on its top cover. Just scroll and select.

Not REALLY fabulous, but a great sound for the money.

Used mine every week doing gigs without a backup for 10 years and never had a problem.

Never had any problems with it.

If it were stolen, I'd hunt the thief down and kill him with it.
If it were lost I would probably replace it with another one OR something of similar quality and cost.

Piece of cake. Two reasons I keep the unit are: (1) it's small and I
can put it close to my keyboards so I can tweak the parameters
as I play (2) it's easy. MIDI implementation is an old one, but
at least you switch the programs automatically. MIDI only has the
OMNI mode, which is a minus.

I don't recommend processing expensive acoustic instruments through it, but for electronic music it is often quite alright... It gives
the sound a slightly metallic flavor which can be a useful effect
in itself. Bouncing delays are nice.

The unit I own has reportedly been through a number of gigs,
but after cleaning it looks fairly new and robust. I have an impression that it's quite reliable. Never failed.

Yamaha US service center was super nice on the phone and sent me
a fresh copy of the manual for free. Top marks, A+++.

Basic inexpensive MIDI-capable unit, useful in a studio. The sound
quality may not be the top notch, but still very useful.