1985 (Dec.)
Initially sold for ¥45,000
The Yamaha VSS100 is a small Portasound keyboard with both a voice sampling function and an FM voice generator. The sampler can record up to eight seconds of audio, and its pitch can be changed manually. The FM section has 21 different voices and 12 rhythm patterns. The VSS100 also features the Auto Bass Chrod function whereby you can activate automatic bass, chord and rhythm accompaniment with a single finger, as well as a "fingered" mode which allows you to play the chords yourself. Samples can be used for the auto bass as well.
It was Yamaha's first toy-like sampler, answer to Casio's SK1 (although they both came out in 1985). For sampling, there's a line in jack but also a detachable microphone (Casio's one was built into the keyboard). It was updated in 1987 as the VSS30 with more sampling features.
