Yamaha SHS-10

Yamaha SHS-10
Yamaha SHS-10
Manufacturer	Yamaha
Dates	1987
Technical specifications
Polyphony	6 voices
Timbrality	4
Oscillator	2 operators
LFO	none
Synthesis type	Digital Frequency modulation
Filter	none
Attenuator	1
Aftertouch expression	none
Velocity expression	none
Storage memory	25 patches
Input/output
Keyboard	32 mini-keys
External control	MIDI 1-16 (out only)

The Yamaha SHS-10, known in Yamaha's native country, Japan, as the Yamaha Sholky, Sholky being derived from "Shoulder Keyboard", is a keytar (a musical keyboard that can be held like a guitar) manufactured by Yamaha and released in 1987.

It has a small-sized keyboard with 32 minikeys and a pitch-bend wheel, vibrato and sustain buttons, an internal Frequency modulation (usually referred to as FM) synthesizer offering 25 different voices with 6-note polyphony, two operators, and a very basic chord sequencer. It also has a loudspeaker.

It supports MIDI, having a MIDI Out connector which allows the keyboard to control external MIDI equipment. It does not have a MIDI In connector. Although originally made for the consumer market, this keytar's MIDI out features are very powerful. Its drum rhythms and accompaniment are transmitted on separate MIDI channels, so that an external drum machine, sampler, or other MIDI equipment can be programmed to play the backing parts. Drums are transmitted on channel 16; Bass on 15; and three chord harmonies on channels 12-14. MIDI start/stop and tempo sync are also transmitted so an external sequencer may be utilized as well.

It was manufactured in three colors: grey, red, and black.

Its demo is an arrangement of Wham!'s hit "Last Christmas."

The Voices are the following:

00	Synthesizer	20	Violin	40	Flute
01	Jazz Organ	21	Cello	41	Oboe
02	Pipe Organ	22	Jazz Guitar	42	Harmonica
03	Piano	23	Rock Guitar	43	Whistle
04	Harpsichord	24	Wood Bass	44	Music Box
10	Electric Piano	30	Trumpet
11	Celesta	31	Trombone
12	Vibraphone	32	Horn
13	Marimba	33	Saxophone
14	Steel Drum	34	Clarinet

The numbering scheme reflects the fact that the selection is done with buttons numbered 0-4.

A larger model, the Yamaha SHS-200, was released the following year, and came with 49 keys and dual stereo speakers.

External links

• Yamaha SHS-10 at SynthMania (featuring MP3 samples of the demo, instruments, and styles available)
• Yamaha SHS-10 reviews at Harmony Central