Product: Yamaha DSR-2000
Price Paid: USD 1000
Submitted
07/04/2008
at
06:15pm
by
Lee De Cola
Email: ldecola at comcast<dot>net
Ease of Use
:
9
I'm a clarinet player who's been using this machine for 20 years to make solid looped backups for my practicing. I've tried replacing it with a Juno-G (too complicated) and a Yamaha MM-6 (can you believe, the thing doesn't loop!). If anyone has any idea about a keyboard that I can replace this trusty DSR-2000 with for about $1000 I'd love to know about it.
Features
:
No Opinion
Expressiveness/Sounds
:
No Opinion
Reliability
:
No Opinion
No problem (except the on/off switch broke about 10 years ago).
Customer Support
:
No Opinion
Overall Rating
:
No Opinion
Product: Yamaha DSR-2000
Price Paid: US $1500
Submitted
09/30/2005
at
08:38am
by
Febeau
Ease of Use
:
10
Features
:
10
Expressiveness/Sounds
:
10
Reliability
:
10
Customer Support
:
1
Overall Rating
:
10
I've been playing it for 16 years. New sounds, effects, and Cakewalk Sonar have made made it's sequencer and sounds obsolete.
The sequencer never send midi drum notes, this was my only big disappointment. The limited drum sounds also got boring after a while.
In 1991 top studios was separating and steeling(sampling) some of the sounds and effects I used it to create.
People who critize it never realy got into varying the sounds, using the sequencer to save studio time, which was normally $60 to $100 per hour, and saving the newly create patch and sequencing to cartridge or tape. I would have bought a DSR 3000 if one came out before 1993. This instument made my first album sell a lot more than my songs with regular instrument at the time.
Product: Yamaha DSR-2000
Price Paid: US $1500
Submitted
06/29/2005
at
12:34pm
by
Jean-Pierre Sammut
Ease of Use
:
9
The DRS 2000 is unique! Which other synth has a sequencer recorder which is as good as a real multi-tracker? And which other synth gives you the "spectrum" "brillance" "vibrato depth" "vibrato speed" by which you can change the sound of a guitar (64) into the noise of a helicopter? Or the sound of strings (58 & 59) into a sci-fi sound?
If you are an 18th century pianist who is after a top quality piano sound only then this thing is no good for you! But if you are an ultra-modern musician with lots of creative and innovative ideas, the DSR 2000 will absorb your life!
If any Japanese engineer happens to be reading this message: PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE stop manufacturing complicated (and funny) synths! Go back to the good old 80s epoch! The DSR 2000 would need some modern sounds and more features - therefore it might be baptised by the name DSR 3000 perhaps - and I'm sure it would make the music scene run amok!
ALL HAIL YAMAHA CORP !!
YAMAHA RULES !
Features
:
8
Sequencer: perhaps it needs a SKIP funtion
Expressiveness/Sounds
:
10
Forget the "listen to the violin!" kind of mentality!
The DSR 2000 has the "spectrum" "brillance" "vibrato speeed + Depth" which are unique! All Hail Mr. Takesuru Yamaha!
Reliability
:
10
My DSR 2000 has been working for 12 years non-stop! Damage: never!
Customer Support
:
No Opinion
No Comment
Overall Rating
:
10
It is a masterpiece for modern-minded music creators.
It is ordinary for the church children who want to play some "lovely" tunes.
Product: Yamaha DSR-2000
Price Paid: 200 (CDN) used
Submitted
04/19/2004
at
01:45am
by
ThunderBolt
Ease of Use
:
9
Released in 1987 for Yamaha's 100th Anniversary, the DSR-2000
was the King of the PortaTone Series.
Along with the PSR-6100 & PSR-6300, The DSR-2000 was the forerunner to Yamaha's more modern single keyboard WorkStations.
In 1987, it retailed for $2,399.00 (CDN)
It, sadly, did not catch on, making it a rarity today.
Better than a DX-21 synth though!
The DSR-2000 Preset voice patches are fine, and any of them can be customized to your liking.
40 Custom patches you create, can be stored for fast retrieval.
32 PCM Rhythmns sound pretty good even today!
There is room to store 16 custom rhythmns of your own.
The Owners Manual is easy to understand, and, once accustomed to Yamaha's thinking, you'll catch on pretty quick.
Without the manual however, you will miss out on the 'Multi-function' properties of many of the buttons.
The owner's Manual is currently available for free download 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
Voice Editing is easy to understand.
Rhythmn Editing is a bit more challenging.
Features
:
10
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: YES
After-Touch: NO
Multi-Timbral: YES
Pitch Bend Wheel: YES (assignable)
Modulation Wheel: YES (assignable)
Keyboard Split: YES (ON/OFF)(assignable -3 positions)
Portamento: YES (Assignable & Intelligent-sounding)
Pitch Tuning: YES
Transposer: YES
Onboard Sequencer: YES (5 track; Easy to Use)
Editing Screen: YES (LCD Non-Lighted)
Voice Editing: YES
Rhythm Editing: YES
MIDI Ports: YES (In/Out/Thru)
Registration Memory: YES (4 'Panel Settings' programmable memories)
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
-TO/FROM Tape (For storing data to/from cassette tape or PC)
-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 (original 1987 retail $65 (CDN) each.
Expressiveness/Sounds
:
10
It would be unfair to rate this keyboard compared to modern ones.
This instrument was released in 1987, and at that time, the
mighty DX-7 Synthesizer ruled the music world.
For home use, the Yamaha DSR-2000 was quite a unique machine.
It is a full-blown 4 Operator FM Polyphonic Synthesizer,and then some.
The Electric Piano patches, along with some spacey sounds are cool.
Strings can sound excellent, and the pipe organ sound is astonishing, especially for only having 4 operators generating it!
Where this instrument REALLY shines...is the ability to LAYER voices.
You can layer up to 2 different preset OR custom voices together.
In the DUAL Mode, the polyphony drops to 4, however, the overall sound can become rather lush & thick.
Velocity-sensitive keys make it quite expressive.
Considering what it is, I give this instrument top marks.
For 1980's sound to even today, this is a tight package,
and should be very affordable (if you can find one)
Reliability
:
10
What can I say?
Yamaha made things to last!
I would have to say YES, very dependable.
It can even run on batteries! (for 4 hours, reliably)
What more can you ask for?
Customer Support
:
10
My experience with Yamaha Canada Ltd has & is always a joy.
Professional people who don't guess...they KNOW.
The technicians are walking encyclopedias and quick to help.
My DSR-200 so far, has not required servicing.
Overall Rating
:
10
Worth replacing if you are FM sentimental.
I like it as a cross-over between a DX synth & home keyboard WorkStation. Great to do instant composing on.
A GREAT way to learn & understand FM synth programming.
I only wish it had more polyphony in DUAL mode.
You really NEED to use a cassette recorder to backup digital data.
Or use your PC.
Back in 1987, RAM cost a fortune, and this really is where major breakthroughs in sound synthesis were made.
More memory/faster processors/ higher bit sampling would really explode in the 1990's, but for 1987, DSR-2000 was an achievement unto itself.
Yamaha created a unique & powerful instrument at that time, and crammed everything they could into it.
A tradition they continue today, in more modern WorkStations such as PSR-9000 or TYROS.
Sure the DSR-2000 helps make music.
This instrument had character for its time ;)
