Yamaha Black Boxes
online archive

These are the second most powerful tools for making music. The first is your ear. That’s the catchphrase of a Yamaha advertisement for their comprehensive line of synthesizers, sequencers and drum machines as seen on Keyboard Magazine in 1985.

More than 30 years have passed since that day, and while the legacy of FM synthesis still lives inside contemporary soft synths, boutique synthesizers and full blown workstations, the design language that Yamaha adopted with the first DX7 slowly faded away during the 1990s.

This website attempts to give credit to the extraordinary work of consistency the Design Laboratory kept back then: black boxes, DX green, small LCDs and outstanding build quality.

This collection grows gradually. Last update: 26Feb2021.
An Instagram page collects more pictures and videos.

The collection

Synthesizers

Keyboards

CSDX1982Prototype—
DS551988 (Dec.)Digital synthesizer¥79,000
DX11983 (Dec.)Digital programmable algorithm synthesizer¥1,810,000
DX51985 (May)Digital programmable algorithm synthesizer¥555,000
DX71983 (May)Digital programmable algorithm synthesizer¥230,000
DX7 II-C1986 (July)Digital programmable algorithm synthesizer¥464,000
DX7 II-D1986 (Dec.)Digital programmable algorithm synthesizer¥239,000
DX7 II-FD1986 (Dec.)Digital programmable algorithm synthesizer¥277,000
DX7s1987 (Jun.)Digital programmable algorithm synthesizer¥156,000
DX91983 (May)Digital programmable algorithm synthesizer¥175,000
DX211985 (May)Digital programmable algorithm synthesizer¥123,000
DX271985 (Dec.)Digital programmable algorithm synthesizer¥91,000
DX27s1986 (July)Digital programmable algorithm synthesizer¥110,000
DX1001985 (Dec.)Digital programmable algorithm synthesizer¥65,000
V2 (DX11)1988 (Nov.)Digital programmable algorithm synthesizer¥110,000
YS1001988 (July)Digital synthesizer¥102,000
YS2001988 (July)Digital synthesizer¥120,000

Racks

TX1P1987 (Dec.)Piano tone generator1U¥91,000
TX16W1987 (Dec.)Digital wave filtering sampler2U¥260,000
TX81Z1986 (Dec.)FM tone generator1U¥56,000
TX2161984 (Dec.)MIDI rack4U¥278,000
TX8021987 (Jun.)FM tone generator2U¥184,000
TX8161984 (Dec.)MIDI rack4U¥826,000

Expansions

TF11984 (Dec.)FM tone generator module¥90,000

Wind

WT111988 (Dec.)Wind tone generator¥50,000

Others

DOM30—Disk orchestra module—
FB011986 (Mar.)FM sound generator¥49,800
TQ51988 (Dec.)Tone generator¥60,000
TX71985 (Jan.)Tone generator¥135,000

Keytars

KX11983 (July)Remote keyboard¥186,000
KX51984 (May)Remote keyboard¥65,000
SHS101987 (Oct.)FM digital keyboard with MIDI¥22,100
SHS2001988 (May)FM digital keyboard with MIDI¥31,400

Controllers

Keyboards

KX761985 (Dec.)MIDI master keyboard¥144,000
KX881985 (Jan.)MIDI master keyboard¥250,000

Guitars

G101988 (May)Guitar MIDI controller¥110,000
G10C1988 (May)Guitar MIDI converter2U¥90,000

Foot

MFC11986 (Nov.)MIDI foot controller¥28,000
MFC2—MIDI foot controller—
MFC051987 (Dec.)MIDI foot controller¥11,800
MFC061989 (Sep.)MIDI foot controller¥6,500

Wind

WX71987 (Oct.)Wind MIDI controller¥93,000
WX111988 (Dec.)Wind MIDI controller¥42,000

Electone

Racks

AVX1—AWM voice expander2U—
FVX11987 (Sep.)FM voice expander2U—
MDX1—MIDI digital recorder2U—

Series F

FX11983 (May)Electone¥4,500,000
FX101983 (Aug.)Electone¥1,900,000
FX201983 (Aug.)Electone¥2,200,000

Series H

HX11987 (May)Electone¥928,000
HX31987 (May)Electone¥743,000
HX51987 (May)Electone¥557,000

Plugins

AVS10—AWM voice expander—
CVS10—Combination voice expander—
MBS10—Memory bank—
MDR11984 (Feb.)Music disk recorder¥230,000
MDR21987 (May)Music disk recorder¥120,000
MDR31989 (Apr.)Music disk recorder¥48,000
VEX11989 (Nov.)HX voice expander¥70,000

Portatone

DSR

DSR5001988 (May)¥46,200
DSR10001987 (Oct.)¥110,000
DSR20001987 (Oct.)¥162,000

PSR

PS61001984 (July)Electronic keyboard¥220,000
PSR61988 (Apr.)Electronic keyboard¥31,400
PSR111986 (Apr.)Electronic keyboard¥39,800
PSR121987 (Apr.)Electronic keyboard¥36,900
PSR151984 (Dec.)Electronic keyboard¥48,000
PSR161988 (Apr.)Electronic keyboard¥36,900
PSR211986 (Apr.)Electronic keyboard¥54,800
PSR221987 (Mar.)Electronic keyboard¥54,800
PSR271989 (Jun.)Electronic keyboard¥44,800
PSR311986 (Mar.)Electronic keyboard¥64,800
PSR321987 (Mar.)Electronic keyboard¥60,100
PSR361988 (Apr.)Electronic keyboard¥60,100
PSR401985 (Apr.)Electronic keyboard¥59,800
PSR501985 (Aug.)Electronic keyboard¥88,000
PSR601985 (Aug.)Electronic keyboard¥108,000
PSR701985 (Sep.)Electronic keyboard¥128,000
PSR801987 (Sep.)Electronic keyboard¥91,000
PSR25001989 (Oct.)Electronic keyboard¥95,000
PSR35001989 (Oct.)Electronic keyboard¥125,000
PSR45001989 (Oct.)Electronic keyboard¥165,000
PSR63001986 (Oct.)Electronic keyboard¥218,000

PCR

PCR8001985 (Sep.)Electronic keyboard¥98,000

Portasound

PCS5001984 (Sep.)Electronic keyboard¥78,000
PS2001984 (Sep.)Electronic keyboard¥24,800
PSS201989 (May)Electronic keyboard¥5,600
PSS301987 (Jun.)Electronic keyboard¥6,500
PSS401985 (Apr.)Electronic keyboard¥59,800
PSS801989 (Oct.)Electronic keyboard¥9,800
PSS1001989 (Oct.)Digital recording keyboard¥11,800
PSS1021991 (Nov.)Card operating system¥13,000
PSS1101985 (Apr.)Electronic keyboard¥9,800
PSS1201986 (Apr.)Electronic keyboard¥11,800
PSS1301987 (Feb.)Electronic keyboard¥11,800
PSS1401988 (May)Electronic keyboard¥13,800
VSS301987 (Aug.)Digital voice sampler¥13,800
VSS1001985 (Dec.)Digital voice sampler¥45,000
VSS2001988 (May)Digital voice sampler¥27,700

Series 50

PSS1501985 (Mar.)Electronic keyboard¥15,800
PSS4501985 (Mar.)Electronic keyboard¥34,800

Series 60

PSS1601986 (Mar.)Electronic keyboard¥19,800
PSS2601985 (Dec.)Electronic keyboard¥26,800
PSS3601987 (Apr.)Electronic keyboard¥33,800
PSS4601986 (Apr.)Electronic keyboard¥43,800
PSS5601986 (Mar.)Electronic keyboard¥53,800

Series 70

PSS1701986 (Dec.)Electronic keyboard¥18,400
PSS2701986 (Dec.)Electronic keyboard¥24,900
PSS3701987 (Apr.)Electronic keyboard¥29,800
PSS4701987 (Feb.)Electronic keyboard¥39,800
PSS5701987 (Feb.)Electronic keyboard¥49,800

Series 80

PSS2801989 (May)Electronic keyboard¥23,800
PSS3801989 (May)Electronic keyboard¥28,800
PSS4801988 (Jun.)Electronic keyboard¥36,900
PSS5801989 (Jun.)Electronic keyboard¥36,900
PSS6801988 (Jun.)Electronic keyboard¥50,900
PSS7801989 (Jun.)Electronic keyboard¥50,900

Series 90

PSS1901990 (Jun.)Electronic keyboard¥14,000
PSS2901990 (Jun.)Electronic keyboard¥23,800
PSS3901990 (Jun.)Electronic keyboard¥28,800
PSS5901990 (Sep.)Electronic keyboard¥36,000
PSS7901990 (Sep.)Electronic keyboard¥48,000

Pianos

PF101983 (Mar.)Electronic piano¥149,000
PF121985 (May)Electronic piano¥189,000
PF151983 (Dec.)Electronic piano¥220,000
PF501986 (Dec.)Electronic piano¥150,000
PF601986 (Dec.)Electronic piano¥180,000
PF701985 (Dec.)Electronic piano¥168,000
PF801985 (Dec.)Electronic piano¥198,000
PF851987 (Dec.)Electronic piano¥184,000
PF12001988 (Dec.)Electronic piano¥213,000
PF15001988 (Dec.)Electronic piano¥231,000
PF20001988 (Mar.)Electronic piano¥209,000
YPR61985 (Apr.)Electric piano¥49,800
YPR71986 (Sep.)Electric piano¥50,900
YPR81985 (Apr.)Electric piano¥69,800
YPR91986 (Sep.)Electric piano¥69,400

Accessories

PC11982 (Jan.)Piano player control unit¥180,000
PL11982 (Jan.)Piano player drive unit¥150,000
PL21982 (Apr.)Piano player drive unit¥150,000
PPC101986 (Apr.)Piano player control unit¥250,000

Drums

Drum machines

RX51986 (Dec.)Digital rhythm programmer¥147,000
RX71987 (Nov.)Digital rhythm programmer¥83,000
RX81988 (Dec.)Digital rhythm programmer¥51,000
RX111984 (July)Digital rhythm programmer¥137,000
RX151984 (May)Digital rhythm programmer¥74,000
RX171987 (Mar.)Digital rhythm programmer¥46,000
RX211985 (July)Digital rhythm programmer¥42,000
RX21L1985 (Dec.)Digital rhythm programmer¥42,000
RX1201988 (Jan.)Digital rhythm programmer¥37,000

Electronic drums

DD51988 (May)Digital drums¥16,300
DD101988 (April)Digital drums¥27,700
ED101987 (Jun.)Electronic drum¥13,000
ED201989 (Dec.)Electronic drum¥24,000
LM101987 (Jun.)Line mixer¥11,800
PBD11986 (Dec.)Percussion pad¥40,000
PBD81987 (Jun.)Percussion pad¥16,000
PMC11986 (Dec.)Percussion MIDI controller2U¥78,000
PSD81987 (Jun.)Percussion pad¥16,000
PTT11986 (Dec.)Percussion pad¥25,000
PTT81987 (Jun.)Percussion pad¥12,000
PTT201989 (Dec.)Electronic tom pad¥9,500
PTX81986 (Jun.)Percussion tone generator2U¥111,000

Others

DTS701991 (Sep.)Drum trigger system2U¥100,000
TMX1993 (Nov.)Drum trigger module1U¥58,000

Sequencers

QX11984 (Oct.)Digital sequence recorder¥480,000
QX31987 (Sep.)Digital sequence recorder¥158,000
QX51986 (Aug.)Digital sequence recorder¥69,800
QX5-FD1988 (July)Digital sequence recorder¥89,800
QX71985 (Jan.)Digital sequence recorder¥78,000
QX211985 (Dec.)Digital sequence recorder¥45,000

Computers

Integrated keyboards

CX51983 (Nov.)Music computer¥59,800
CX5F1984Music computer¥64,800
CX5M1984Music computer¥59,800
CX5M II/1281985Music computer¥128,000
CX7/128—Music computer¥70,000
CX111985Music computer¥54,800
SX100—Home personal computer—
YIS3031983 (Nov.)Home personal computer¥49,800
YIS5031983 (Dec.)Home personal computer¥64,800
YIS503 II1985 (Jun.)Home personal computer¥59,800
YIS503 III1985Home personal computer¥59,800
YIS503 IIIR1985Home personal computer—
YIS503 IIR1985Home personal computer—
YIS6031985Home personal computer—
YIS604/1281985 (July)Home personal computer¥99,800

Desktop computers

PU1-101982 (Jan.)Central processing unit¥527,000
PU1-201982 (Apr.)Central processing unit¥810,000
PU10-D1982 (Nov.)Central processing unit¥409,000
PU10-S1982 (Nov)Central processing unit¥319,000
PU501982 (Mar.)—¥42,100
YIS805/1281986 (Jun.)Home personal computer¥148,000
YIS805/2561986 (Jun.)Home personal computer¥198,000

Others

YGT1001983 (Oct.)Graphic terminal¥1,280,000

Computer Accessories

Drives

FD01—Micro floppydisk drive—
FD031986 (July)3.5 inch floppydisk drive¥49,800
FD051985 (Jun.)Micro floppydisk drive¥64,800

Peripherals

CR011983 (Nov.)Card reader—
GM11982 (Jan.)CRT monitor¥330,000
GM21982 (Jan.)CRT monitor¥286,000
KB11982 (Apr.)Keyboard¥39,000
KB21982 (Apr.)Keyboard¥49,000
KB101982 (Nov.)Keyboard¥39,000
KB10001986 (Apr.)Keyboard¥26,000
MD011985 (Nov.)Captain modem unit¥98,000
MK11982 (Apr.)Music keyboard¥49,000
MMP011986Music pad¥19,800
MU011985 (Apr.)Mouse¥12,800
PN011984 (May)Thermal transfer printer¥89,800
PN11982 (Apr.)Dot impact printer¥150,000
PN1011984Dot impact printer¥89,900
YK011983 (Nov.)Music keyboard¥17,800
YK101984 (Apr.)Music keyboard¥29,800
YK201985 (Jun.)Music keyboard¥29,800
ZGA011984 (Nov.)Graphic card set¥19,800
ZPA011983 (Nov.)Play card set¥12,800

Adapters

CA011983 (Nov.)Single cartridge adapter¥3,800
RF011986 (May)RF modulator¥7,800
SX1011985 (Dec.)Expansion box¥26,800
UCN011984 (Jun.)Unit connector¥7,800

Cables

CB01—Printer cable¥5,000
RC011983 (Nov.)RGB cable¥5,500
VC011983 (Nov.)Video cable¥1,100

Software

Expansions

PU1-BB1982 (Jun.)¥118,000
PU1-BG1982 (Jun.)¥165,000
PU1-BM1982 (Sep.)Music board¥155,000
PU1-BP1982 (Jun.)Piano interface board¥60,000
SCA011986 (Apr.)Captain adapter unit¥40,000
SFG011983 (Nov.)FM sound synthesizer unit¥19,800
SFG051985 (Jun.)FM sound synthesizer unit II¥29,800
SFK01—FM sound synthesizer unit—
SKW011984 (May)Kanji word processor unit¥49,800
SKW051985 (Aug.)Japanese word processor unit¥49,800
SMD011983 (Dec.)MIDI unit¥12,800
SRG011983 (Dec.)RGB unit¥15,800
SRM011984 (Nov.)32K RAM RGB unit¥12,800

Cartridges

CMP011985FM auto arranger¥9,800
CMP021986PS editor¥9,800
CMP031986FM auto arranger utility¥9,800
CMW321985Computer music workshop—
CMW331985Computer music workshop¥6,500
GAR011985Graphic artist¥7,800
GAR021986Graphic artist utility¥7,800
LDR02—CX5M demonstration program—
UDC011985 (Apr.)Data memory¥9,800
UGA021984Graphic card—
UPA011985Playcard program¥12,800
URM011985 (July)32K exp. RAM¥9,800
YRG011986 (May)The painter¥15,800
YRG01M1986 (May)The painter¥25,800
YRK011986 (May)Kanji framework cartridge¥9,800
YRK021986 (May)Kanji cassette labeler¥7,800
YRK501986 (May)Phrase conversion cartridge¥25,800
YRM11 (104)1983 (Nov.)FM music macro¥7,800
YRM12 (102)1983 (Nov.)FM voicing program¥7,800
YRM13 (103)1984DX7 voicing program¥7,800
YRM14 (105)1984DX9 voicing program¥7,800
YRM15 (101)1983 (Nov.)FM voicing¥7,800
YRM161984 (Nov.)Kanji address book¥7,800
YRM31 (301)1985MIDI recorder¥9,800
YRM32 (302)1985RX rhythm editor¥12,800
YRM33 (303)1986MIDI macro & monitor¥12,800
YRM34 (304)1986DX7 voicing program II¥9,800
YRM35 (305)1985DX21 voicing program¥9,800
YRM36 (306)1988DX7-II-D/FD voicing program—
YRM51 (504)1986 (May)FM music macro II¥9,800
YRM52 (502)1985FM voicing program II¥9,800
YRM55 (501)1986 (May)FM music composer II¥9,800
YRM56 (506)1986FB01 voicing program¥9,800

Producer series

CS011982 (Mar.)Micro monophonic synthesizer¥32,000
CS01 II1984Micro monophonic synthesizer—
MA101982 (Mar.)Headphone amplifier¥16,800
MH101982 (Mar.)Stereo headphones¥5,500
MM101982 (Mar.)Portable mixer¥15,800
MM301982 (Dec.)Portable mixer¥48,000
MR101982 (Dec.)Drum machine¥19,800
MS101982 (Dec.)Monitor speaker¥22,000
MT441983 (Mar.)Multi track cassette recorder¥96,000
PB441983 (Mar.)Patch bay unit—
RB301983 (Mar.)System rack & patch bay unit¥25,000

Effects

Racks

D15001984 (July)Digital delay1U¥140,000
DEQ71987 (Nov.)Digital equalizer1U¥150,000
GC20201984 (Dec.)Comp/Limiter1U¥49,800
GEP501988Guitar effect processor1U—
GQ10311984 (Dec.)Graphic equalizer1U¥39,800
Q20311984 (Dec.)Graphic equalizer2U¥90,000
R10001983 (May)Digital reverberation1U¥120,000
REV11984 (Mar.)Digital reverberator3U¥1,950,000
REV51987 (Jun.)Digital reverberator2U¥230,000
REV71985 (Jun.)Digital reverberator2U¥220,000
SPX50D1988 (May)Digital sound processor1U¥59,800
SPX901986 (Mar.)Digital multi-effect processor1U¥98,000
SPX90 II1987 (Apr.)Digital multi-effect processor1U¥89,900
YDD26001984 (Mar.)Professional digital delay3U¥1,500,000

Others

REX501987 (Jun.)Digital multi effector¥49,800

Remotes

RC71986 (Apr.)Remote control unit¥4,800
RCR11984 (Mar.)Remote control unit¥450,000

Mixers

Tabletops

AM6021989 (Apr.)Mixer¥27,000
AM8021989 (Apr.)Mixer¥50,000
DMP71987 (May)Digital mixing processor¥448,000
DMP7D1988 (Aug.)Digital mixing processor¥500,000
KM6021986 (Nov.)Mixer¥27,200
KM8021986 (Nov.)Mixer¥45,400
MJ1001988 (July)Mixer¥36,300
RM6021984 (Dec.)Recording mixer¥59,000

Racks

DMP111988 (Aug.)Digital mixing processor4U¥198,000
MV4221987 (Nov.)Mixer3U¥110,000
MV8021986 (Dec.)Mixer2U¥51,100
MV16021989 (Jun.)Mixer6U¥135,000

Others

PLS11988 (May)Programmable line selector2U¥58,000

Remotes

RTC11989 (Mar.)Mixer remote control¥115,000

Converters

AD2X1990 (Apr.)2ch AD converter1U¥150,000
AD8X1990 (Apr.)8ch AD converter2U¥400,000
AD8081988 (Aug.)AD converter2U¥400,000
DA2X1992 (Dec.)2ch DA converter1U¥220,000
DA8X1990 (Oct.)8ch DA converter2U¥350,000
DA2021988 (Aug.)DA converter1U¥100,000
FMC11988 (Jun.)Format converter1U¥35,000
IFU11988 (Aug.)Interface unit2U¥85,000
IFU21988 (Aug.)Interface unit1U¥48,000
IFU31988 (Aug.)Interface unit1U¥48,000
IFU41988 (Aug.)Interface unit1U¥54,000

Recorders

CMX1 (MT1X)1985 (Dec.)Multitrack cassette recorder¥94,500
CMX100 (MT100)1988 (May)Multitrack cassette recorder¥52,000
CMXII (MT2X)1987 (Mar.)Multitrack cassette recorder¥99,800
CMXIII (MT3X)1989 (Mar.)Multitrack cassette recorder¥91,600
MT44D1984 (Dec.)Multitrack cassette recorder¥80,000
YPDR6011991 (Apr.)Professional disc recorder¥2,200,000

Accessories

FS11984 (Dec.)Footswitch¥1,500
PA111985 (Dec.)Battery pack¥3,500
YMC21987 (July)MIDI converter¥9,800

Remotes

RC6011991 (Mar.)Remote controller¥400,000

Amplifiers

MLA71987 (May)Mic line amplifier1U¥47,500
P1150—Power amplifier—
P1500—Power amplifier—
P2040—Power amplifier—
P2150—Power amplifier3U—
PD25001986 (Dec.)Power amplifier¥205,000

Speakers

KS101985 (Dec.)Keyboard speaker¥11,000
MS20S1990 (Apr.)Monitor speaker¥24,500
MS1011988 (July)Monitor speaker¥11,500
MS2021988 (Jun.)Monitor speaker¥24,500
S10X1984 (Dec.)Monitor speaker¥18,400
S20X1984 (Dec.)Monitor speaker¥26,000

Misc. MIDI

Racks

MB011988 (June)MIDI box1U¥75,000
MEP41986 (Mar.)MIDI event processor1U¥48,000
MJC4—MIDI junction controller1U—
MJC81986 (May)MIDI junction controller1U¥38,000

Others

MCS21986 (Mar.)MIDI control station¥40,000
MDF11986 (Nov.)MIDI data filer¥39,800
MPC11988 (May)MIDI program controller¥15,000
MSS11987 (Aug.)MIDI synchronizer¥118,000
YMC101984 (Dec.)MIDI converter¥15,000
YME81984 (July)MIDI expander¥9,800
YMM21986 (Sep.)MIDI merge box¥15,000

Cables

MIDI01—MIDI cable—
MIDI03—MIDI cable¥1,400
MIDI05—MIDI cable—
MIDI15—MIDI cable¥3,800

Accessories

Foot

FC4—Foot switch¥3,000
FC5—Foot switch¥1,500
FC7—Foot controller—
FC9—Foot controller—

Breath

BC1—Breath controller¥3,000
BC2—Breath controller—

Cartridges

RAM1—Data cartridge¥15,000
RAM4—Data cartridge¥7,000
WDB01—WX7 voice data bank¥2,800
WDB02—WX7 voice data bank¥12,800
WRC01—Waveform ROM cartridge¥11,800
WRC02—Waveform ROM cartridge¥11,800
WRC03—Waveform ROM cartridge¥11,800
WRC04—Waveform ROM cartridge¥11,800

Others

ADP1—Cartridge adaptor¥2,800
ARM1—Rack-mount adaptor¥18,000
EMM15—1.5MB RAM memory upgrade¥60,000
MCD32—Memory card—
MF2 DD—Micro floppy disk—
RB35B—System rack¥22,000
RFB011986 (Mar.)Rack-mount adaptor2U—
YFD2 DD—Micro floppy disk—

Manuals



Due to the rareness of some of the original manuals and the poor quality of the PDFs found online, in 2020 I started redrawing and reprinting some of them.

The manuals sold here aren't photocopies but full 1:1 remakes: everything has been copied and redrawn by hand: same paper sizes, stocks, same quality of the originals at a lower price.

If you'd like to request a particular reprint don't hesitate to ask by sending me an email.

Available manuals

Yamaha DX7 Owner's Manual + Performance Notes€ 24.99
Yamaha DX9 Owner's Manual + Performance Notes€ 24.99


Patches



Voice data for major Yamaha's synthesizers, including factory patches, commercial cartridges and user-created sounds in sysex format.



Articles &
Brochures



Random printed staff printed by Yamaha or related to Yamaha synthesizers. Excerpts from books and magazines have been translated to HTML so that Google can find them.