Page 2 - Contents
Congratulations! Thank you for purchasing a Yamaha PortaTone PSR-36. This PortaTone is an ultra-modern keyboard with a design based on the latest digital electronics technology. To be sure you get maximum satis- faction, we suggest you follow the steps in this manual carefully while actually playing...
Page 3 - Before playing
Before playing Inserting Batteries insert six 1.5V SUM-1 "D" size, R-20, Remove the battery compartment cover on the bottom of the instrument and or equivalent alkaline batteries (sold separately), making sure that the polarities are placed as directed inside the compartment. Replace the cov...
Page 4 - Nomenclature
Nomenclature Power Switch Master Volume Control Auto Bass Chord Volume Control Bass & Chord Variation Selectors Bass & Chord Voice Selectors Auto Bass Chord Mode Selector Auto Bass Chord Key Section Rhythm Volume Control Rhythm Variation Selector Custom Drummer Function Selectors Custom Drum...
Page 6 - Starting to play; Orchestra section; Choose an instrument voice
button again. To stop the music, press the STOP button or the DEMONSTRATION You can change the programmedvoice, rhythm and tempo as you like.However, you shouldn’t select a 3-Beatrhythm, since it would not match thedemonstration piece. Starting to play Orchestra section First, try the sounds in the ...
Page 7 - Pitch control
Notes: 1. Vibrato is automatically applied to voices which benefit from application of this effect. 2. Be sure to set the Auto Bass Chord MODE selector to the OFF position. When the selector is set to the SINGLE FINGER or FINGERED position. the keys in the Auto Bass Chord key section cannot be used ...
Page 8 - Voice Editing; DIGITAL SYNTHESIZER; Let’s create various voices using
Voice Editing DIGITAL SYNTHESIZER As one of the PSR-36’s special features, the Digital Synthesizer function allows you to expand the 32 orchestra voices to total of 100,000 different voices. Let’s create various voices using DIGITAL SYNTHESIZER. 1. Select the desired voice by pressing one of the 32 ...
Page 9 - DETUNE; drummer; PCM/Stereo rhythm section
DETUNE Increasing the DETUNE setting produces a “thicker” multi-instrument type sound. 5. Now, let’s play some notes. By comparing the same voice in both theON and OFF settings of the Digital Synthesizer Selector you can distinguish the difference in timbre. l The degree to which a voice changes var...
Page 10 - Synchro Start; Volume; Tempo
2. Start the rhythm After selecting a rhythm, press the START selector Synchro Start Use the SYNCHRO START button If you want the rhythm to begin from the moment you first press a key. Any of the 19 keys (up to F # 2 ) beginning at the left of the keyboard (Auto Bass Chord key section will activate ...
Page 13 - ing the key indicated by the figure.
4. Input the bass drum pattern by tapp- 5. The same procedure is required for inputting snare drum, closed hi-hat, and open hi-hat. You can add an accent (slightly higher volume level)to the timing you want by tapping the > key (B 5 ). 6. If you make an error, cancel it by pressing the relevant p...
Page 14 - Auto Bass Chord section
Adding accompaniment Auto Bass Chord section The Auto Bass Chord section is an automatic accompaniment feature. if the MODE selector is set to OFF, the Auto Bass Chord system does not function. With the SINGLE FINGER position selected, you can play chords plus bass notes with just one finger when yo...
Page 17 - Manual Bass accompaniment; Chord Sequence
Advanced course 1: Manual Bass accompaniment 1. Siide the MODE selector to the MANUAL BASS position. 2. Play your own bass line using the keys in the Auto Bass Chord key section Note: You can play only one note at a time in the Auto Bass Chord key section when using this function. Advanced course 2:...
Page 19 - Capacity of Chord Sequencer; External jacks
1. Press the PLAY button of the CHORD SEQUENCER. 2. Start playback by pressing the START button or any key on the keyboard. 3. Try playing the melody of “Green- sleeves” to the accompaniment playback (see below). 4. Playback can be stopped at an time by pressing the STOP button Melody Capacity of Ch...
Page 22 - MIDI Functions
(Example) MIDI OUT PSR-36 When the power is turned on, the mode is: LOCAL ON, OMNI ON, POLY. Data to be sent/received in normal MIDI Functions The PSR-36 is equipped with 6 MIDI functions. These functions are selected by pressing the Orchestra Voice Selector shown in the table below while pressing t...
Page 23 - Program Change Off
1&2. Selecting MIDI Channels While holding the MIDI button press BRASS 1/BRASS 2 (send channel) or SAX/HORN (receive channel) and then press one of the black or white keys on the left of the keyboard to designate the channel (CH1 through CH16 from left). Note: The OMNI ON Mode is selected by pre...
Page 25 - Specifications
Specifications Keyboard 61 keys (C 1 —C 6 ) Orchestra Voices (Upper Bank/Lower Bank) Brass 1/Brass 2, Sax/Horn, Wah Brass/ Flute, Oboe/Clarinet, Cello/Strings, Synth Organ/Jazz Organ, Pipe Organ 1/Pipe Organ 2, Fantasy/Cosmic, Bluessynth/ Popsynth, Slapsynth/Funksynth, Percus 1/ Percus 2, Elec. Pian...
Page 28 - YAMAHA
YAMAHA YAMAHA CORPORATION The serial number of this product may be found on the bottom of the unit. You should note this serial number in the space provided below and retain thismanual as a permanent record of your purchase to aid identification in the event of theft. Model No. PSR-36 Serial No. Con...