Multi-processors come with significant benefits over separate or “discrete” systems. These include programmability, centralised control, optimised connections for maximum dynamic range, and reduced rack space and system costs. Despite these advantages, none have matched the flexibility of discrete processors—until now. Yamaha is proud to introduce the Yamaha FX900 Simul-Effect Processor.
The Yamaha FX900 merges Yamaha’s superior digital signal processing with advanced signal-routing, allowing for up to seven simultaneous effects. You can configure these effects in series, parallel, or any combination of both. This gives you full freedom over your effects chains. The Yamaha FX900 offers a broad range of programmable effects, making it a cutting-edge system in a compact unit. There are 100 preset effect programs ready for immediate use, alongside 100 RAM memory locations for saving your custom programs.
To enhance stage performance, both preset and user programs can be controlled and modified in real-time via onboard features, the optional FC900 Foot Controller, or external MIDI controllers.
The Yamaha FX900 also incorporates cutting-edge digital conversion with “delta-sigma” A/D conversion and 18-bit, 8x oversampled D/A conversion for the smoothest, most refined sound quality.
Whether you’re working with guitar, bass, keyboard, percussion, vocals, recording, A/V production, or other applications, the Yamaha FX900 offers unmatched versatility and sophistication. With total freedom in configuring your effect chain, it’s the perfect processor for any situation.
A Wide Range of Fully Programmable Effects
Whatever the effect you need, the Yamaha FX900 most probably has it. There are four effect “groups” – DYN (dynamic), REV1 (reverb 1), MOD (modulation), and REV2 (reverb 2), each containing a number of related effects. Some of these are actually a combination of several effects. The CDE effect in the DYN group, for example, actually combines independently programmable compressor, distortion, and equalizer effects.
* “Dual” programs have separate parameters for the left and right channels, while “Stereo” programs have a single set of parameters for both channels.
Each effect has a number of parameters which can be adjusted to tailor its sound. These are not just “general” controls, but detailed parameters that allow fine in-depth tuning of each effect to most ideally support and enhance your music. The real power of the Yamaha FX900, however, is in the way the effects can be configured.
Algorithms Provide Total System Freedom
If you’ve ever worked with a system of independent effect units, you know that the final sound depends to a degree on how they are configured. The order in which the effects are connected, and whether they are connected in series or in parallel, are as vital to the overall sound as the independent effects themselves. The Yamaha FX900 gives you total freedom in how you connect effects from the four effect groups with an innovative system of “algorithms.”
The Yamaha FX900 has five basic algorithm types that we’ll call the Chain, the Tee, the Square, the Tall Tee, and the Stack. These are represented by the symbols accompanying the Algorithm Type Indicators on the Yamaha FX900 panel. The Tee and Tall Tee types offer a number of variations, as shown in the algorithm diagrams below.
Thus, we have a total of 11 algorithms that give us all possible combinations of series and parallel connections for the Yamaha FX900’s four effect groups. Since one effect from each of the four effect groups can be assigned to each algorithm block – in any order, all possible system configurations are available.
An Example: How Algorithms Can Refine Your Sound
The difference in sound between different effect arrangements can be subtle or dramatic, depending on the effects involved. Let’s consider a simple example:
COMPRESSOR → CHORUS → PITCH CHANGE → REVERB
Compression will nearly always be the first effect in a chain because the following effects often benefit from a “smoother” input signal. Chorus follows the compressor in this example, and this stage is followed by a Pitch Change effect. Reverb comes last simply because we usually want to apply reverb to the entire sound to simulate the effect of natural ambience.
Now let’s see what happens if we modify this arrangement slightly:
COMPRESSOR → CHORUS → PITCH CHANGE ↘ REVERB
In this case the reverb stage is connected in parallel with the pitch change stage. Reverb is applied to the compressed and chorused signal, but not to the pitch change effect. The output will be a combination of relatively “dry” compressor/chorus/pitch change, and compressor/chorus with reverb.
Obviously, things can get quite complex, but this example highlights the incredible versatility provided by the Yamaha FX900 algorithm system.
100 Preset & 100 User Memory Locations
The Yamaha FX900 has a total of 200 memory locations. “PRESET” memory locations 0 through 99 are ROM (Read Only Memory) containing 100 pre-programmed effects that you can select and use. “USER” memory locations 0 through 99 are RAM (Random Access Memory) and can be used to store original effect programs that you create by editing the presets.
The first memory location – memory location number 0 — contains “initial data” that can be used as a basis for creating your own original effects programs. Original programs may be titled and stored in any USER memory location.
External Control Provides Extra Performance Power
For further versatility and smooth integration with MIDI-based music systems, the Yamaha FX900 offers broad range of external control capabilities. Any of its 100 memory locations may be directly selected from a remote MIDI device such as a keyboard or MIDI foot controller.
It is also possible to directly control up to four different effect parameters simultaneously in real time, either via MIDI controllers, foot controllers connected to two rear-panel jacks, or a combination of MIDI and foot controllers.
You could, for example, control the modulation depth of a flanger effect and the reverb time of a reverb effect in real time as you play! Comprehensive remote control is possible with the Yamaha FC900 Foot Controller – designed specifically for use with the FX900 (see the box below for more details).
FC900 Foot Controller
The FC900 Foot Controller has been designed specifically to add sophisticated remote foot control capabilities of the Yamaha FX900 Simul-effect Processor. In the PROGRAM mode the FC900 allows direct selection of 99 program numbers via its 10 footswitches.
In the EFFECT mode it can directly access 36 program numbers and switch any of the FX900’s four effect groups ON or OFF. A BYPASS footswitch operates in both modes. Remote PRESET and USER indicators as well as a MEMORY number display are also provided, so you’ll always know the status of the FX900.
The FC900 rear panel features connectors for two foot controllers that can be used for real-time parameter control — in addition to two foot controllers connected to the Yamaha FX900 itself. There’s also a MIDI MERGE IN connector that allows MIDI program change or control change message from a separate MIDI controller to be “mixed” with the FC900 output for program selection or parameter control of the Yamaha FX900.
