Product: Yamaha DSR-1000
Price Paid: N/A
Submitted
11/03/2005
at
03:21pm
by
X-dsr
Ease of Use
:
6
This is an old keyboard, so compared to newer versions it is kind of complicated. I still find it easy to use, but I have to check the users guide from time to time. The manual is pretty complete so it will really help you.
Features
:
6
Expressiveness/Sounds
:
7
The expresiveness of the keyboard is not very good since it is missing touch sensibility; this feature is very important. some sounds are not very realistic and newer keyboards have better sounds but they are easy to use. it has pitch bend and modulation which saves it for being worthless.
Reliability
:
10
You can depend on it, its not light but very resistant. my dsr-1000 is 11 years old and it looks like new
Customer Support
:
10
The customer support is excellent, they still sell parts of the keyboard in Japan.
Overall Rating
:
7
My overall rating is 7. if you look back when it was first realesed i would give it a 9, but now it is missing a lot of good features that help you a lot with music nowadays.
Product: Yamaha DSR-1000
Price Paid: N/A
Submitted
05/10/2004
at
06:14pm
by
ThunderBolt
Ease of Use
:
6
Released in 1987 (Yamaha's 100th Anniversary)
Where the DSR-2000 was the King of the PortaTones of 1987,
The DSR-1000 was its 'Queen'.
There were only 3 models of DSR made; this is the middle one.
Original 1987 Retail: $1,795.00 (CDN)
Fewer features than DSR-2000 and harder to control.
Owners Manual for DSR-1000/2000 is available free, here:
http://www2.yamaha.co.jp/manual/pdf/emi/english/port/DSR2000E_1.PDF
http://www2.yamaha.co.jp/manual/pdf/emi/english/port/DSR2000E_2.PDF
Thank Yamaha for being sensitive enough to provide those!
You'll absolutely NEED the manual to operate this machine.
Most of the DSR-2000 features are peresent here with the 1000,
but harder to access.
More on this below....
Features
:
7
Number of keys: 61
Operators: 4
Tone Generation: FM synthesis
100 FM Preset Voices
32 PCM Preset Rhythmns
Polyphony: 8 (or 4 in DUAL Mode)
Touch Sensitivity: NO ..notice? NO
After-Touch: NO
Multi-Timbral: NO
Pitch Bend Wheel: YES (but fixed)
Modulation Wheel: YES (but fixed)
Keyboard Split: YES (ON/OFF)(assignable -3 positions)
Portamento: YES (Assignable & Intelligent-sounding)
Pitch Tuning: YES
Transposer: YES
Onboard Sequencer: YES (2 track;chord-rhytmn only; Easy to Use)
Editing Screen: YES (LED Lighted)
Voice Editing: YES
Rhythm Editing: YES
MIDI Ports: YES (In/Out/Thru)
Registration Memory: NO
Weight: ~18 lbs (without batteries)
Other Fittings:
-A/C 12Volt/1.5 Amp/Center Positive Adapter Req'd (Yamaha PA-5)
-Headphones Out
-Aux Out (L+R)
-Optional IN/OUT (L+R) (for external tone generator/keyboard/etc)
-Onboard Speakers On/Off Switch
-Music Rest
OPTIONAL ACCESORIES:
-FC-5 Sustain Pedal
-EP-01 Expression Pedal (controls overall volume)
-L-4 Stand
-MIDI Cables
-RP-5 32Kb RAM Cartridges
Expressiveness/Sounds
:
7
I compare this only to the DSR-2000.
The DSR-1000 was originally $600 (CDN) LESS than the DSR-2000.
Extremely useful features on the 2000, are missing here.
It almost makes this instrument worthless today.
But not quite.
The DSR-1000 is missing a critical feature; Touch Sensitivity.
Without that one feature, this instrument damn-near dies for
expressiveness.
The saving grace, is the fitting for the optional pedals.
The EP-1 Expression Pedal is vital now to control volume,
and the FC-5 for Sustain.
If you ever buy a DSR-1000, make sure you get the pedals AND
the RAM packs to store your panel settings/customized voices.
Any MIDI Data Filer will also backup your panel settings as well.
I cannot give this model top marks against the DSR-2000 because
of the lack of TouchSensitive keys.
The Seqeuncer onboard is for Rhythmns & Chords ONLY...sad.
The pedal options save this keyboard for expressiveness.
The sound quality is almost identical to the DSR-2000.
For that, I give it a 7 out of 10.
Reliability
:
10
Totally SOLID.
Very reliable & sturdy.
I would rather gig with this old keyboard, than some flimsy newer one.
Battery life is about 5 hours (6x 'D' size 1.5Volt)
Customer Support
:
10
For Yamaha to make the Owners Manuals available online,
they get top marks for that.
Yamaha Canada support is excellent.
Overall Rating
:
7
Read my review on the DSR-2000.
Pretty much the same applies here.
The DSR-1000 comes up on Ebay from time to time, and seems
to sell at very low prices..probably because few people seem
to understand what it can do.
If you are into FM...AND an easy approach to creating your
own sounds...try one of these out.
You'll be amazed at what it can do & sound like.
