Yamaha FS1R

Well, yes, the manual is terrible, the user interface convoluted... its all been said below.

There is no machine on the planet that sounds like this. That is why each and every FS1R goes through about 3 owners until it finds its spiritual home. Do you see a lot of these on the second-hand market?. No way!. I drove two hundred miles to buy mine second-hand, and I would do that again if necessary.

What is unique about this piece of kit is

(a) the tremendous power and flexibility of the synth engine
(b) it is sample-free and each sound can be made beautifully responsive in ways no sample playback machine can ever match.

It is particularly wonderful for guitar sounds - acoustic, electric, you name it, just about any stringed instrument you can imagine can be created. And they respond beautifully, every note is different, not a plastic replica like a sample.

The three onboard effects processors are superb and incredibly flexible, the amp sims, overdrive and compression are very useful and the pitch shifter creates beautiful shimmering sounds far more delicate than a mere chorus effect could ever produce.

The formant stuff is pretty much just a gimmick; think of this unit as a modular synth with 32 voiced oscillators, a further 32 unvoices oscillators, a bunch of filters and incredibly flexible control routing, with enormous realtime control potential, and with essentially zero latency.

I don't know why Yamaha didn't market this thing properly, or why they didn't produce more decent patches for it. But as a completely unique musical instrument, the FS1R is without equal.... I can sit and jam for hours with a growing selection of patches that are utterly mine, not some sample I downloaded - and tailor them precisely the way I want.

Built like a tank.

Hmm.. I suspect Yamaha aren't the best. Roland set a standard for customer service and support that is really hard to match.... Yamaha seem to want to forget anything that they no longer make.

oh god, if it were lost/stolen I would be scouring eBay etc. for another one. Hopefully that will never happen

From Presets to deep programming, I can handle this beast. There was a steep curve but it was worth it and it is not really that bad. Understanding the concept is the hard part.

Others covered it and the synth will never get outmoded like the more modern synths that is being released nowadays.

This unit can sound like an angel to beast. Impossible to describe.

Built like a tank! I can smash this at Sadam's face and this will still run. Solid plate at all four sides, top and bottom.

Never dealth with them using this unit.

Best bang for the buck. I bought 2 without hesitation right after this was discontinued. I should have bought 8. What else can I say. This is the best you can ever find into a synth. I am not selling this so please do not contact me. Someone who steals this will be hunted and chopped to pieces.

As far as programming goes, this thing gets a 1. A bazillion poorly documented parameters, 15 buttons, cryptic naming. There is some 3rd-party editors that make the job easier, but they're still not very clear. Using the presets is quite easy, unless you change the MIDI channel you want to use from one. Then it takes squirreling around in those menus (and manual), you just about have to guess to figure out what's going to make it play. This is really the weakest feature and is probably what killed this unit from being wildly popular (which it now has cult status!)

Really good, 32 voices, each with 8 voiced and 8 unvoiced operators. Good effects. Strange 360 degree knobs that are assignable, but default to fun things.

Prepare to be blown away. This thing is unbelievable in it's range, it's clarity, it's abilities. I think this area due to the interface is still wide open uncharted territory and what's available on the web has just scratched the surface.

So far it's not glitched. I've argued with it about MIDI controllers, but once you get that worked out-- it stays on course. Really Yamaha has never let me down in the reliability department.

Since it's discontinued, I'd give it a zero

I'd go nutz if this thing were lost. I'd definately be scouring the ethernet for a replacement. As far as programming, I've not really gotten very far, but I've turned my 3-year old loose on it and if I could just get the controls long enough to save her work...

Now if it just had a decent editor.....

I am not sure what software version this synth is on, but since Yamaha is not supporting it with os updates I dont think that will matter much. The presets on this synth are mostly cheese, however you can import dx patches and have lots of options with those. Programming this synth from its front panel is a menu laden chore, it gives me a headache to be honest. However, I have found emagics sound driver works well for me when programming this machine. A neat shortcut to take is to find a dx patch, or just one of the preset ones on the fs1r and program it by reverse enghineering that patch,perhaps messing with the envelopes, filtering, and algorithms. Doing this can get you the results you need and save a lot of time. Since this was my first FM synth, this has been the easiest way for me to get good results. Also, there are fs1r tutorials on the web:
http://www.geocities.com/rcstrange2000/FS1R.htm
I give this baby a 6 because there are so many parameters, its humbling.

As stated this synth has 32 voices, 16 when the filter is used. Its effects are good. It has 8 operators, and 8 unvoiced operators. 4 parts multi timbral. It has fseq's which can sort of mimmick vocalesque phrases. This synth packs quite a punch when you dig into it. Oh yes, it also has 88 algorithms.

This is where the fs1r stands out. This synths sounds are pure and forceful. It can sound very smooth and warm, almost analogish, and it can sound really cold and crystally, or straight up harsh and noisy. It can do a lot of pads, bass's, leads etc. I think the range of sounds this machine has the potential to produce far exceeds the range of sounds which are actually cool to listen too. Without a tasteful programmer you'll have enough glassy cheese happening to provide for the arrangements of a Lionel Ritchie comback album(make that a double album).
Compared to a dx7 this baby is pristine, sophisticated, and rich in flavors. Its a 10. This is about the future, not the past and not about the dx7.

It is a little 1 rack unit tank. I would deploy this in any war on ____. This is the heavy artillery. I have even played football(both american and european styles) with the fs1r, and while I walked away with a few scars the fs1r worked superbly afterwards.

Ummm??? Yamaha's free fseq editor was nice(for mac). This synth was made in limited quantities, so I am just thankful it exists. Its manual is horrible though, one of the worst I have encountered. I havent contacted their support beyond that, there are no yamaha run support sites for this synth since its really a niche product. So, what you see at yamaha's site, and whatever their service staff can help you with is what you get.

If this were lost or stolen, first I would take a deep breath. You see, this synth can suck you in. Successful programming of this synth will render you a peaceful state of zenlike bliss. I would say that going from this synth to most other synths will give more instant gratification, yet lack the deep fulfillment of this baby's powerful oscillator section, its 8 operators could even lead one to a feeling of synth megalomania.
I also own a micro Q, Roland mks 80, emu esi 2000, doepfer ms 404, kawai sx 240, and yamaha rm1x. This little puppy has those special sounds which stand out from the rest and I value it dearly. It compliments my other synths superbly.
I have considered selling it though, so as to fund the purchase of a synth such as the nord modular. But, I have kept it, and it has been rewarding. I dig the fs1r.

Not the easiest, but then again not too bad unless you want to go deep into programming...then you need sound diver for sure.

UNBELIEVABLE!! Almost too much in one rack-space. I wont go into details cuz others have covered it well.

Oh my God!! This this is to DIE FOR!! I did not know such magic devices were available to my hands. AWESOME sound!!!

Rock solid Yamaha style.

ok, here's where we have a problem........but hey, its typical

The FS1R is very hard to find. Most owners will not part with it ever......and for avery good reason. This may be the most powerful monster I have ever touched and I own a ton of gear. ;}

"Ease of use" is an expression that doesn't seem to have existed in the vocabulary of the guys who cunstructed this Synthesizer. Without a dedicated software editor like Souddiver this box is degraded to a preset synth because you simple won't edit the sounds! Believe me, you CAN dive into the subsubsubmenues, but YOU WON'T!!!
The manual is a big freaking joke! This synth deserves a 1000 page dissertation!

Read elsewhere for the Specs!

Most of the non-DX7 presets are pretty useless to me. They make you go "ohhh, ahhhh! What a strange sound!" but you won't use them because they're silly and MUCH TOO strange! The synth engine is without one of the most versatile out there. I bought my FS1R mainly to do vocal sounds, but they're horribly implemented! No macros that allow you to quickly create a vowel or consonant sound, you got to have data about human formant frequencies ready to do anything reasonable! Didn't have the time or patience to do this.
Some preset choirs are nice, basses might be interesting for house and techno.
I found the dynamics of the sound very difficult to tame, hade to make extensive use of the onboard compressor.
About the filter: it's quite nice but not nearly analog to my ears.
The effects are pretty decent.
Dynamic playing via aftertouch etc. and maybe breath controller is extensive.

Had it for 2 months without any problem.

It's nonexistent. Yamaha have abandoned this product!

I used my FS1R on 5 or 6 tracks before I sold it. It was no fun to use and totally destroying my intuitive workflow. With this box it's impossible to create a sound you have in your mind from scratch without ending up in a totally different area.
For people who have enough time and determination to spend hours in front of their PC tweaking the hundreds of parameters to create unusable weirdness, go buy this box!

All I can say is: No wonder this box was a flop!

Ay-yi-yaih!! This thing is impossible!! Not made for anyone who is not a very serious programmer (like me). Major headache!!
You gotta be a computer wizard for this one.

Features are in there, but deeply hidden in navigating nightmare.
Couldnt find most of em at all.

Sounds pretty good if you can get the damn thing to work right, but a little wierd and spacey for me....not my thang at all.

Looks pretty solid, and handsome too, most yamaha stuff is ok

Yamaha.....doesnt really give a hoot.....hey they are #1!! That's what they told me....after wanting to charge me for assistance with this beast.....very disappointing indeed.....they could care less. SELL SELL SELL $$$$$$!!!!!

Well, I got it on blowout for $349, and kept it for a year. Has to be the most convoluded un-user friendly device I have ever touched.
Been a musician for 40 years. This thing was worthless to me.
Sold it to a guy, who used it for like 3 days and then he sold it too.
That about sums it up. For a computer geek, it might be a whole different story, I dont know and I dont care!!! Good riddance!!!!!!!

The FS1R is a pain in the rear to navigate and program from front panel, but do-able with a little patience. Presets sound fantastic although I could have done without most of the silly spoken word phrases and wierdo sound effects. Patch editor definitly recommended if you seriously want to unleash the power of the synth engine in the module. Manual is a nuisance at best.

32-note polyphony (cut in half if you use the filters). Sophisticated effects engine with a ton of digital effects modulation and filters although I don't particulary care for the reverb tails that much (too grainy). The parameter knobs are handy, and MIDI implementation is flexible - realtime MIDI control is pretty decent.

Outside of very silky and punchy FM sounds, the pads that can be generated in this machine are absolutely fantastic, and very Korg Wavestation-ish in the way they can evolve over a long period of time. The acoustic sounds and voices on the other hand are generally are mediocre at best from a realistic standpoint, but on the other hand, they are really cool from a synthetic point since the synth is very responsive to realtime velocity and pressure changes (and realtime controllers assigned to levers, mod wheels, etc.) and affords them a uniqueness of thier own. In general the FS1R has a very powerful and expressive sound in every way.

Works fine. Typical Yamaha build.

Online support is pretty decent - dunno about human support.

The FS1R is a very deep synth, and a programmer's dream once you get past the unwieldly front panel access (software editor/librarian is a must). This thing is irreplaceable. I would definitly get another one if I lost it. I won't get into comparisons with other Yammie synths as plenty have been made already, but I will say that the FS1R by itself holds its own and then some. My FS1R coupled with my Wavestation SR is absolutely deadly for making stellar pads and other breathtaking background/effect type of sounds - needless to say I'm glad I have both of these synths at my disposal. I really wish this thing had a play single mode, as it would make it a little easier to audition/edit individual sounds on the fly, plus a bigger display for the endless parameters this machine has for editing. It's too bad Yamaha gave up so quickly on it - they really had a winner if they had just further improved the user interface and the polyphony in a next generation model, and come up with a better way to access the FSEQ's. It's also ironic that the Wavestation suffered the same fate as the FS1R in earlier days. Who knows, maybe the next time someone comes out with a killer synth they'll market it a little more wisely.

my opinion is you should use with sounddiver etc.toget that unbelieveable power out of that sytnh

more than enough presets,good effects,32 voices

the sound this thing is able to is so amazing. i own a virus b,nord 2,prophecy too,but believe me this thing can sound like non off them
can.bass, fx, ep,pads killer drum n bass subbasses,any sound you can make with synths above,is no problem for the fs1r and much,much more.

N/A

its one of the best synths,i ever heard.

listen on: http://www.mp3.com/djjb

I don't know what software version i have, but if it is the very first it's really really great. The presets are simply wonderful, covers all from analogue pads to hammer pianos. Editing patches is easy if you use knobs and you know what you are doing, but it is very long... The manual is good, but the one from my Roland Jx-305 is much more detailed. There is some webs helping in this way.

I have never used more than 12 or 14 voices at the same time so having 32 voices is really good for me, but i think i will never use them all. The FX section is the very best i have heard anywhere, magnificient (bravo Yamaha!). No expansions but there's no need for that. Full midi implementation. The sounds cover every style and with more than 1,100 presets i don't think you won't find the sound you're looking for. 512 user programs.

Sounds are the best i have ever heard anywhere. This guy has the most super-powerful synth engine ever made. There is more than 3,000 parameters in a program and more than 12,000 in the performance mode. 16 operators and 16 lfo's with 88 algorythms make every sound possible. When you hear pianos from this Yamaha you won't ever want to buy a real piano. They are incredible good. Brasses that beats every analog synth, superpunch basses, clear drums, heaven pads... It responds to velocity and aftertouch like nothing i have taken my hands on (and i have played Snova2, K2500 and Waldorf Q). Expressiveness is simply heaven in your hands.

Hej, it's a Yamaha! Iron case, no plastic anywhere except the knobs. Very reliable.

Never tried to call Yamaha.

I have had it just three days. It's simply incredible. I don't know that i will buy any other synth ever, and if it happens it will be another fs1r, to have 8 part FM multitimbrality. So very powerful... so very expressive... sounds from Heaven in my hands...