This page about Yamaha SK30 is a stub. You can help improve it:

Pricing and availability

* Product prices and availability are updated by Equipboard every 24hrs and are subject to change. Equipboard may receive compensation for purchases made at participating retailers linked on this site. This compensation does not affect what products or prices are displayed, or the order of prices listed. For more information, please refer to our affiliate disclosure.

Description

The Yamaha SK30 Symphonic Ensemble is an analog synthesizer that combines organ, strings, monophonic synthesizer, and polyphonic synthesizer in the same unit.

Specifications Year Released: 1980

MSRP: $3195

Keyboard: 61 keys with velocity

Polyphony: 15 notes

Envelope: 3 ADSR envelopes

Number of Oscillators: 4

Oscillator: pulse, square, saw down, white noise

Number of Filters: 2

Filter: 2-pole low-pass (12dB)

Number of LFOs: 1

LFO: triangle

Dimensions: 1089 mm x 474 mm x 178 mm

Weight: 22kg

This synth has control voltage (CV) support.

https://soundprogramming.net/synthesizers/yamaha/yamaha-sk30/

AnalogAudio1

AnalogAudio1

YAMAHA SK30 String Machine 1979 | HD DEMO

Video thumbnail for YAMAHA SK30 String Machine 1979 | HD DEMO by AnalogAudio1

YAMAHA SK30 String Machine 1979 | HD DEMO

AnalogAudio1

AnalogAudio1

Video thumbnail for Yamaha SK30 by Nader Sharif

Yamaha SK30

Nader Sharif

Nader Sharif

Video thumbnail for The Synths That Time Forgot: Yamaha SK30 - The DCO Divide Down Synth Mystery Solved by Alamo Music Sound Lab

The Synths That Time Forgot: Yamaha SK30 - The DCO Divide Down Synth Mystery Solved

Alamo Music Sound Lab

Alamo Music Sound Lab

Video thumbnail for Yamaha SK-30 symphonic keyboard film soundtrack demo by MIDERA

Yamaha SK-30 symphonic keyboard film soundtrack demo

MIDERA

MIDERA

Video thumbnail for Yamaha SK-30 | The Ambient Organ by MIDERA

Yamaha SK-30 | The Ambient Organ

MIDERA

MIDERA

Video thumbnail for Yamaha SK-30 | Once upon a life by MIDERA

Yamaha SK-30 | Once upon a life

MIDERA

MIDERA

Video thumbnail for 1979 Yamaha SK-30 Vintage Analog Mono Poly String & Organ Synthesizer SK30 by keyboard resource

1979 Yamaha SK-30 Vintage Analog Mono Poly String & Organ Synthesizer SK30

keyboard resource

keyboard resource

Video thumbnail for Yamaha SK-30 | Dreams in Prague by MIDERA

Yamaha SK-30 | Dreams in Prague

MIDERA

MIDERA

Reviews

Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Yamaha SK30.

Setup and maintenance

  • Key responsiveness issues may be resolved by cleaning or using carbon paint on the conductive pads under the keys.

    Source
  • Owners express concern about high repair costs due to potential maintenance needs, especially as components age.

    Source
  • Owners report that buttons on the SK-30 may stick in cooler temperatures, requiring a studio temperature above 65°F for optimal performance.

    Source

Use cases and applications

  • Adding reverb is recommended to enhance the SK-30's sound, particularly for richer musical compositions.

    Source
  • The SK-30's expressive capabilities make it a strong alternative to the Korg Trident, especially for users seeking a paraphonic sound.

    Source
  • Users appreciate the SK-30's unique sound and aesthetic, but often question its practicality in small studio spaces due to its size.

    Source

Value and pricing

  • The market price for the SK-30 has increased, with recent sales often doubling from earlier averages around $500.

    Source
  • SK-30 pricing varies significantly, with some units seen as low as $400, but prices fluctuate based on availability and condition.

    Source

User experience

  • The keys are described as particularly enjoyable to play, contributing to a satisfying tactile experience.

    Source
  • Some users find the solo synth section notably louder than other sections, often requiring mixer adjustments to balance sound levels.

    Source
  • The SK-30's weight and size are commonly cited as drawbacks, with its 40-pound build being cumbersome for some studio and stage settings.

    Source

Features and functionality

  • The Leslie speed up/down feature and the ability to layer poly, mono, organ, and strings sections create complex and unique soundscapes.

    Source
  • The Yamaha SK-30's paraphonic design uses a single envelope, affecting the trigger response for all notes played simultaneously.

    Source
  • The SK-30 includes a highly expressive VCO monosynth with aftertouch, offering a distinct character compared to its paraphonic sections.

    Source

Comparisons

  • The SK-30 is preferred over the SK-20 for its inclusion of a monosynth, while the SK-50 is viewed as excessively large with an additional bass part.

    Source
  • The Roland VR-730 is noted as a viable stage replacement for the Yamaha SK series, with solid Hammond and Farfisa emulations.

    Source

Mods and upgrades

  • A new mod replaces the SK series key assigner chip with a microcontroller, enabling MIDI I/O, altering the instrument's character significantly.

    Source

4.0 out of 5

Based on 0 Reviews and 3 Ratings

5 star
4 star
3 star
2 star
1 star

Artist usage

Add artist
See how Michael Angelakos uses Yamaha SK30

Michael Angelakos

Music Producer

Passion Pit

...
Verified via Uaudio

Michael says he uses a Yamaha SK30 in this interview

See how Simon Carcamo S uses Yamaha SK30

Simon Carcamo S

Guitarist, Music Producer

...
Verified via Photo

This sintetizer is a vintage tool for the main studio of Simon.

Genre Usage

Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.

Used With

Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Yamaha SK30, it is most commonly used with the following gear.

More Yamaha Synthesizers

Yamaha Reface DX

$279.00 - $449.99

# 18

Rank

Mac DeMarco Aphex Twin Taylor Swift
34 artists using
Yamaha Reface CS

$79.99 - $495.44

# 22

Rank

Mac DeMarco Fred again.. Justin Vernon
48 artists using
Yamaha Montage 8

$3,999.99 - $5,624.99

# 77

Rank

Bruno Mars Minoru Mukaiya Steve Porcaro
22 artists using
Yamaha MX49

$563.50 - $649.99

 
Dragos Chiriac Stuart Pot (2D) Andrius Mamontovas
10 artists using
Yamaha Montage 6

$2,999.99 - $3,749.99

 
The Weeknd Zaytoven Richard Devine
9 artists using
Yamaha CP88

$9.90 - $2,799.99

 
Fred again.. Aurora Aksnes Natalia Lafourcade
8 artists using
Yamaha MX61

$635.00 - $899.99

 
Dean Ween Danny Peyronel Dylan Reavey
5 artists using
Yamaha SY77

$49.99 - $50.00

 
Dr. Dre Ryuichi Sakamoto cEvin Key
30 artists using
Yamaha Montage 7

$3,032.52 - $4,999.99

 
Rick Wakeman Minoru Mukaiya A.R. Rahman
6 artists using
Yamaha MODX6

$821.97 - $1,799.99

 
Richard Devine Kenan Loui Ray Angry
3 artists using
Yamaha MO8

$27.95 - $488.88

 
Gary Corbett Anthony Rodriguez Jeffrey Steele
3 artists using
Yamaha MX88

$925.00 - $1,299.99

 
Christine McVie Haywyre
2 artists using
Yamaha Montage M8x

$3,097.66 - $4,499.99

 
Minoru Mukaiya Scott Storch Matt Johnson
4 artists using

Community setups

Similar

Gear Guides

  • Added to Equipboard on by

    luftkraft
    luftkraft

    Gear IQ 123