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Description
The Yamaha TG500 is a versatile sound module that has become a staple for musicians seeking high-quality and diverse soundscapes. An evolution of Yamaha's renowned synthesis technology, the TG500 packs a punch with its Advanced Wave Memory 2 (AWM2) engine, providing rich and dynamic sounds. This synth module is perfect for both studio and live performances, offering a palette of voices that range from lush pads to punchy basses. The TG500 features 64-note polyphony, ensuring that complex compositions are rendered with clarity and depth.
With a library of 384 preset voices and 128 user voices, the TG500 provides a vast array of sounds at your fingertips. The module also includes a built-in effects processor, allowing users to add reverb, chorus, and more to their sounds directly from the unit. Its multi-timbral capabilities enable up to 16 parts to be played simultaneously, making it an excellent choice for multi-layered arrangements. Musicians will appreciate the intuitive interface, which simplifies sound shaping and editing.
Compatible with both MIDI and audio setups, the Yamaha TG500 seamlessly integrates into any rig, whether you're crafting new tracks or performing live. The combination of robust features and Yamaha's trusted reliability makes the TG500 a valuable addition to any musician's toolkit.
Key Features:
- Advanced Wave Memory 2 (AWM2) synthesis engine
- 64-note polyphony
- 384 preset voices and 128 user voices
- Built-in effects processor
- Multi-timbral capabilities (16 parts)
- MIDI and audio integration
- Intuitive interface for easy sound editing
Videos
SynthMania
Yamaha TG500 demo
Reviews
PROS
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Can produce beautiful pads and soundscapes
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64-note polyphony enhances musical complexity
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Features classic Yamaha FM samples
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Offers a vast array of high-quality effects
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Includes 4 separate outputs for versatile connectivity
CONS
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Complex programming interface
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Lacks a high-quality acoustic piano sound
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Interface relies on cumbersome button-based operation without a data knob
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Not user-friendly for those averse to menu diving
Owner Insights
We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Yamaha TG500.
Critic Reviews
4.0 out of 5
Based on 3 Reviews and 11 Ratings
132
Best pad machine I've ever heard, horrible interface though.
This machine can produce some of the most beautiful pads you will ever hear come out of your speakers, headphones, or any other audio source for that matter, but for the life of me I can't figure out how to program it, and I have no idea if I ever will. The interface is mainly button-based, there is no data knob, instead you have two buttons labeled "yes" and "no" along with various buttons meant to open up editing menus and cycle through preset banks. But either way, even if you don't enjoy menu diving and you just want a good rompler that can produce some of the most amazing New-Age landscapes on the planet, the Yamaha TG500 is for you.
900
A box-of-sound that offers great Strings, Pads, Leads and EPs a bit lousy on Organs and Acoustic instruments...
Pros:
64-Note Polyphony Classical Yamaha FM Samples A huge number of good-quality Effects 4 Separated Outputs Cons: Difficoult to program (as every expander is) Lack of a good Acoustic Piano
Artist usage
Add artistNeil Tennant utilized a Yamaha TG500 to input guitar parts into Logic, which were then used to create a score for a live guitarist to replicate. This process is detailed in an interview on Petshopboys-online by Chris Dahl.
List of equipment in George Michael's studio, from the July 1996 issue of Sound on Sound:
RECORDING
AKG LSM50 cube monitors Aphex Expressor compressor Denon tape deck * Dynaudio Acoustics M1 monitors Lexicon PCM80 effects Lexicon LXP15 effects Mackie 32*8 32:8:2 8‑buss console Otari RADAR 24‑track hard disk recorders (x2) Tascam DA20 DAT * Yamaha NS10 monitors
SOUNDS
Akai S3000i samplers (x2) Akai S3200 sampler * Emu Procussion percussion module Emu Vintage Keys Plus module Emu Ultra Proteus synth module Korg Prophecy keyboard synth Korg Trinity Plus keyboard synth Kurzweil K2000 sampler/synth Roland JV1080 synth module Roland Juno 106 analogue keyboard synth Roland Vintage Synth MVS1 sound module Studio Electronics SE1 synth module * Yamaha SY77 keyboard synth Yamaha TG500 synth module
MISCELLANEOUS
DAC hard drive * Opcode Studio 4 MIDI interface (x2) Powermaster drive *
According to this article on the making of Goldie's Timeless album from the June 1998 issue of Sound on Sound magazine, Playford's studio gear includes a TG500 synth.
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 TG500, it is most commonly used with the following gear.
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