YAMAHA PORTATONE PSR-185 (01) PDF Document

The YAMAHA PORTATONE PSR-185 is a sophisticated musical instrument with the following features and functions:

• Exceptionally realistic sounds with 100 AWM (Advanced Wave Memory) Voices, utilizing digital recordings of actual instruments.

• Dynamic, versatile rhythms and accompaniment with 100 music Styles.

• 20 Songs, for listening enjoyment or for playing along with when using the Minus One function.

• 20 Jam Track patterns, providing specially programmed rhythms and chord progressions for playing along with.

• A set of four Pads that allow you to play drum and percussion sounds as well as special sound effects.

• One Touch Setting, for automatically calling up an appropriate Voice for playing with the Style, Song or Jam Track you select.

• High-quality amplifier/speaker system (stereo).

Your YAMAHA PORTATONE PSR-185 is a fine musical instrument and should be treated with care and common sense to ensure years of enjoyment. Follow these precautions:

Location

• Avoid exposure to direct sunlight or other sources of heat. Never leave it inside a car where it can get very hot. Also avoid highly humid or dusty places.

Interference From Electromagnetic Fields

• Do not use your PortaTone close to television sets, radios or similar equipment since this may cause interference noise in the other appliance.

Handling

• Protect your PortaTone from strong impact. Be careful not to drop it or place heavy objects on it. Avoid applying excessive force to the controls and keys.

When Not Using the PortaTone

• After use, always turn off the POWER switch. When not using your PortaTone for long periods, be sure to remove the batteries to avoid damage through battery leakage.

Cleaning

• Clean the exterior with a soft, dry cloth. To remove stubborn stains, use a slightly moistened cloth.

• Never use alcohol, thinner, or other chemical solvents, since they will damage the finish. Also, do not leave vinyl chloride material on the PortaTone for a long time, since it may adhere to the exterior.

Your YAMAHA PORTATONE PSR-185 can run on either batteries (sold separately) or on normal household current using an optional Yamaha PA-3/4/40 Power Adaptor.

Using an AC Power Adaptor

To connect your PortaTone to a wall socket, you will need the optionally available Yamaha PA-3/4/40 Power Adaptor. Use of other AC adaptors could result in damage. Plug the adaptor into a convenient wall outlet and its connector into the DC 10-12V IN jack on the back of your PortaTone.

Using Batteries (Inserting Batteries)

Turn the instrument upside-down and remove the battery compartment lid. Insert six 1.5-volt size “D” batteries as shown in the illustration, making sure that the positive and negative terminals are properly aligned. Replace the lid.

When the batteries run low and the battery voltage drops below a certain level, the YAMAHA PORTATONE PSR-185 may not sound or function properly. As soon as this happens, replace them with a complete set of six new batteries. Never mix old and new or different types of batteries (e.g., alkaline and manganese).

The YAMAHA PORTATONE PSR-185 features an Auto Power OFF function that automatically turns the power OFF if the instrument is not used for approximately 30 minutes. This functions whether batteries or the AC power adaptor is used.

Using Headphones

For private practicing and playing without disturbing others, connect a set of stereo headphones to the rear panel HEADPHONES/AUX OUT jack. Sound from the built-in speaker system is automatically cut off when you insert a headphone plug into this jack.

Connecting a Keyboard Amplifier or Stereo System

After making sure the YAMAHA PORTATONE PSR-185 and any external devices are turned off, connect one end of a stereo audio cable to the LINE IN or AUX IN jack(s) of the other device and the other end to the HEADPHONES/AUX OUT jack of the PortaTone.

Insert the bottom edge of the music stand into the slot located at the top rear of the control panel of the YAMAHA PORTATONE PSR-185.

Turning on the Power

Press the POWER ON/OFF button to turn on the power of the YAMAHA PORTATONE PSR-185. Whenever the power is turned on, Voice 01 (PIANO) is automatically selected.

Selecting a Mode

Your YAMAHA PORTATONE PSR-185 has three different operating modes: Voice, Style and Song, each selected from the corresponding panel buttons.

• VOICE lets you select and play a Voice.

• STYLE lets you select and play a setting that includes a rhythm/accompaniment pattern.

• SONG lets you select and play either a Song or a Jam Track pattern.

To select one of the modes, press the button corresponding to the desired mode.

To select and play one of the Songs:

1. With the Song mode selected, use the Numeric Keypad to enter the desired Song or Jam Track number. Be sure to enter a two-digit number, as is printed next to each song on the panel. For example, to select Song 09, first press ‘0’ on the Numeric Keypad, then ‘9’. You can also use the +/- buttons on the Numeric Keypad to step up or down through the preset numbers; holding down the appropriate button continuously changes the number. (Song 01 is also automatically selected when you turn the power on.)

2. To play the selected Song, press the START/STOP button.

3. Adjust the volume of the Song by using the VOLUME control.

4. Although the Song is automatically set to play at a default tempo, you can change the speed of the Song by using the TEMPO buttons. Press TEMPO + to increase the speed and TEMPO – to decrease it. If you want to set the tempo back to its original default setting, press both TEMPO buttons simultaneously.

5. To stop the Song, press the START/STOP button again.

The dots in the MULTI DISPLAY flash in time with the rhythm when a Song or Style plays back. This provides a visual indication of both the tempo and the time signature of the rhythm.

• For Songs and Styles in 4/4 time: The left dot flashes at the first beat of every measure, and the right dot flashes at the other beats.

• For Songs and Styles in 3/4 time: The left dot flashes on the first beat, the right dot on the second beat, and both dots are off for the third beat.

Tempo Values

The tempo value is shown briefly in the MULTI DISPLAY when one of the TEMPO buttons is pressed. The displayed tempo range is from 10 to 60; in actual tempo values, the range is from 40 to 240 beats per minute. Each step in the tempo adjustment corresponds to 4 beats per minute.

Default Tempos

Each Song and Style has a default or standard tempo. If you change the tempo, you can set it back to the original default setting by pressing both TEMPO buttons simultaneously. The tempo also returns to the default setting when selecting a different Song or Style.

1. Press the VOICE button to select the Voice mode.

2. Use the Numeric Keypad to select the desired Voice number.

3. Play the newly selected Voice. To change to another Voice, repeat step 2.

You can also play rhythm Styles in the Voice mode by simply pressing the START/STOP button. The Style last selected from the Style mode will be played.

The Voice mode features 100 authentic Voices with various characteristics:

• Dual Voices (#41 – #56): Feature two Voices mixed together in a layer for rich ensemble sounds.

• Split Voices (#57 – #67): Also have two Voices, but each is played from a different range of the keyboard.

• Sustain Voices (#68 – #72): Extend the sound by adding a natural, slow release.

• Harmony Voices (#73 – #85): Have an additional one-, two- or three-note harmony added to the original monophonic Voice.

• Echo Voices (#86 – #00): Have an echo effect that adds delayed repeats to the original Voice.

• PERCUSSION Voices (#40 and #00): Let you play various drum and percussion sounds from the keyboard.

1. Press the STYLE button to select the Style mode.

2. Use the Numeric Keypad to select the desired Style number.

3. You can start the selected rhythm by pressing the START/STOP button. Alternatively, use the Synchro Start function by pressing the SYNC-START/FILL IN button, then pressing a key in the AUTO ACCOMP. SECTION.

4. With the rhythm running, play single notes with your left hand in the AUTO ACCOMP. SECTION to control the Auto Accompaniment feature.

5. Use the TEMPO buttons to change the tempo of the Style as it’s playing.

6. While the Style is playing, add variation by pressing the SYNC-START/FILL IN button to play a Fill In pattern.

7. To stop the rhythm, press the START/STOP button again. This will produce a simple ending phrase.

The Auto Accompaniment function automatically generates bass and chord accompaniment for you to play along with, using Multi Fingering operation. You can change the chords of the accompaniment by playing keys in the AUTO ACCOMP. SECTION of the keyboard using either the “Single Finger” or “Fingered” method.

• Single Finger: Play a one-, two-, or three-finger chord indication.

• Fingered: Conventionally play all the notes of the chord.

The YAMAHA PORTATONE PSR-185 “understands” what chord you indicate and then automatically generates the accompaniment. Chords played in the AUTO ACCOMP. SECTION are also detected and played when the accompaniment is stopped (Stopped Accompaniment function).

Chords that can be produced in Single Finger operation are major, minor, seventh, and minor seventh. Here is how to produce the four chord types:

• Major Chord (e.g., C): Press the root of the chord.

• Seventh Chord (e.g., C7): Press the root note together with any white key to the left of it.

• Minor Chord (e.g., Cm): Press the root note together with any black key to the left of it.

• Minor Seventh Chord (e.g., Cm7): Press the root note together with any white and black key to the left of it (three keys altogether).

While the detection of Single Finger and Fingered methods is automatic, you can set Auto Accompaniment to function exclusively in one mode.

• To set Auto Accompaniment to Single Finger: Turn the power off, then hold down the “-” button on the Numeric Keypad and simultaneously turn the power on. “SF” (Single Finger) briefly appears in the MULTI DISPLAY.

• To set Auto Accompaniment to Fingered: Turn the power off, then hold down the “+” button on the Numeric Keypad and simultaneously turn the power on. “F” (Fingered) briefly appears in the MULTI DISPLAY.

To switch back to Multi Fingering operation, simply turn the power off and on again.

The One Touch Setting function automatically selects an appropriate Voice for playing with the Style you select. When One Touch Setting is on, the Voice automatically changes when you change the Style.

To turn on the One Touch Setting function, press the ONE TOUCH SETTING button (The LED next to the button lights). To turn the function off, press the button again.

The Minus One function takes away the melody part of a Song, allowing you to play that part yourself. You can turn Minus One on before starting a Song, or do it even while a Song is playing.

To use the Minus One function with the selected Song, press the MINUS ONE button (either before starting the Song or while it is playing). The LED next to the button lights.

The Sound Effect and Drum Pads let you play selected drum, percussion, and special sound effects from the four Pads directly above the right side of the keyboard. They can be played in any mode.

1. The pads have eight banks of sounds (four in each bank), with 16 Sound Effects and 16 Drum sounds total.

2. To change the bank, press the button corresponding to the desired set of sounds (SOUND EFFECT or DRUM) repeatedly to step through the banks. The selected bank number briefly appears in the MULTI DISPLAY.

3. Play the pads to trigger the sounds. Up to two Pads can be played simultaneously.

When the power is turned on, bank 1 of the Sound Effect sounds is automatically selected.

Problem: When the YAMAHA PORTATONE PSR-185 is turned on or off, a buzzing sound is temporarily produced.

Possible Cause and Solution: This is normal and indicates that power is flowing into the PortaTone.

Problem: The sound of the voices or rhythms seems unusual or strange.

Possible Cause and Solution: The battery power is too low. Replace the batteries.

Problem: Not all notes are heard when playing a number of notes simultaneously.

Possible Cause and Solution: Too many keys are pressed at the same time. The YAMAHA PORTATONE PSR-185 is polyphonic up to a maximum of 12 notes.

Problem: The sound of the Voice changes from note to note.

Possible Cause and Solution: The AWM tone generation method uses multiple recordings (samples) of an instrument across the range of the keyboard; thus, the actual sound of the Voice may be slightly different from note to note.

Problem: The power cannot be turned on.

Possible Cause and Solution: Quick, successive pressing of the POWER ON/OFF button may fail to turn the power on. When using the POWER ON/OFF button, wait a short time between successive presses.

When using Percussion Voices 40 and 00, different drum and percussion sounds are assigned to specific keys on the keyboard. The assignments for the YAMAHA PORTATONE PSR-185 are as follows (from left to right):

• Bass Drum 1

• Bass Drum 2

• Snare Drum 2

• Snare Drum 3

• Tom Bass

• Tom Low

• Tom Mid

• Tom High

• Splash Cymbal

• Synth Bass Drum

• Synth Snare Drum

• Synth Tom Low

• Synth Tom Mid

• Synth Tom High

• Splash Cymbal Mute

• Synth Tom Bass

• Snare Drum 1

• Rim Shot

• Hi-hat Pedal

• Hi-hat Close

• Hi-hat Open

• Crash Cymbal

• Synth Rim Shot

• Crash Cymbal Mute

• Synth Hi-hat Close

• Synth Hi-hat Open