SFG-01 unit

1 Description
2 Firmware
- 2.1 Blocks
3 Useful keys
4 Links

Description

SFG-01 Screen

The SFG-01 FM Sound Synthesizer Unit is a FM music expansion with MIDI interfaces. The FM ton generator used is called OPM (YM2151). The cartridge contains also a stereo DAC (YM3012) and a MKS (YM2148). It is the first version of the SFG sound modules developed by Yamaha for their CX series.

It requires a proprietary keyboard (YK-01, YK-10 or YK-20) and it uses its MIDI ports only as an output to send data to a digital synthesizer, for example the Yamaha DX7, because its 16K ROM (MBIOS 1.0) does not have support for MIDI input.

It was released in 1983. Official launch price: ¥19,800

A SFK-01 module was also available, it's actually a SFG-01 without MIDI connectors. It means that MIDI features of the Yamaha software are not usable with this alternative module.

Abbreviations:

OPM = FM Operator Type-M
DAC = Digital to Analog Converter
MKS = MIDI Interface & Key Scanner
MBIOS = Music BIOS (same name as the BIOS from MSX-AUDIO but totally different)

Firmware

From BASIC, the music firmware can be launched with CALL MUSIC or _MUSIC. If the module is used on a machine with MSX-MUSIC in a lower slot, you have to make the distinction between both extensions: to start the SFG firmware in this case, enter CALL MUSIC plus any additional letter or number (eg _MUSICA)

Note that on the MSX2+ Sanyo and Sony machines with built-in MSX-MUSIC, this ROM is in slot 3-3. The SFG-01 module can only be added into a lower numbered slot, therefore CALL MUSIC will always run the SFG firmware when this module is present (even with additional letter or number).

By default, the BRASS 1 voice is selected for both the polyphonic and monophonic modes and the music keyboard is split around the C3 center key: keys to the right play in monophonic mode, the other keys play in polyphonic mode.

Blocks

The SFG-01 screen is divided into 5 blocks and an additionnal display zone at the bottom.

Selecting a block is made with the function keys F1 to F5. Use RETURN to go to the next setting, BS to go to the previous setting. Some settings can be changed by pressing a specific key, indicated by [ ]. Other settings can be changed with the cursor keys.

Block 1: POLY

This block allows to change the settings for the polyphonic mode.

	Setting	Values
VOIC	Voice	46 presets + 2 reserved voices (*)
PMS	Pitch Modulation Sensitivity	0 to 7
AMS	Amplitude Modulation Sensitivity	0 to 3
[S] SUST	Sustain	ON/OFF

(*) See Yamaha FM Sound Synthesizer Unit

Block 2: RHYTHM

This block allows to change the settings for the rhythm.

	Setting	Values
NAME	Rhythm pattern	6 patterns: 16BEAT - S.ROCK - WALTZ - J.ROCK - DISCO - SWING
INST	Instruments	0N/OFF for (R)hythm, (B)ass, (C)hord, (S)ynchronised Chord
TEMPO	Speed of rhythm	48 to 176
CHOR	Chord voice	4 chord voices: RM.BRAS(s) - RM.FLUT(e) - RM.GUIT(ar) - RM.HORN
BASS	Bass voice	2 bass voices: R1.BASS - R2.BASS
[R] START	Start or stop the rhythm	ON/OFF
[C] C-KB	Music keyboard in auto-bass chord mode	ON (with RBS in INST setting) /OFF

Block 3: LFO

This block allows to change the settings for the Low Frequency Oscillator.

	Setting	Values
WAVE	Waveform of the Low Frequency Oscillator	0 to 3
SPEED	Speed of the Low Frequency Oscillator (frequency)	0 to 255
PMD	Pitch Modulation Depth (LFO influence on pitch)	0 to 127
AMD	Amplitude Modulation Depth (LFO influence on volume)	0 to 127

Block 4: MONO

This block allows to change the settings for the monophonic mode.

	Setting	Values
VOIC	Voice	46 presets + 2 reserved voices (*)
PMS	Pitch Modulation Sensitivity	0 to 7
AMS	Amplitude Modulation Sensitivity	0 to 3
PORTA	Portamento speed	0 to 255
[P] PORT	Portamento mode	2 portamendo modes: FING(ered) - FULL (time)
[T] TRIG	Trigger mode	2 trigger modes: MULT - SNGL

(*) See Yamaha SFG

Block 5: BALANCE

This block allows to change the settings for the volume balance and other settings.

	Setting	Values
BAL. POLY	Volume balance for the polyphonic mode	0 to 255
BAL. MONO	Volume balance for the monophonic mode	0 to 255
BAL. CHORD	Volume balance for the chord	0 to 255
BAL. BASS	Volume balance for the bass	0 to 255
BAL. RHYTHM	Volume balance for the rhythm	0 to 255
TRANS	Transpose	0 to 24
TUNING	Adjust the tuning less than a half-step	0 to 127
BRILL	Brilliance (brightness of tone)	192 to 255
REC/PLA	Music keyboard record or play RAM mode	REC/PLAY
CAS	Cassette mode	5 cassette modes (*)

(*) ON - OFF - VC. R (load voice data) - EV. R (load) - EV. W (save)

Useful keys

Key
F1	Select POLY(phonic) block of settings
F2	Select RHYTHM block of settings
F3	Select LFO (Low Frequency Oscillator) block of settings
F4	Select MONO(phonic) block of settings
F5	Select BALANCE block of settings
Left and right cursors	Fine adjustment of settings
Up and down cursors	Raw adjustment of settings
1 to 5	Direct access to temporary preset for polyphonic voice
1 to 5 + SHIFT	Temporary preset for current polyphonic voice selected
6 to 0	Direct access to temporary preset for monophonic voice
6 to 0 + SHIFT	Temporary preset for current monophonic voice selected
BS	Previous setting
ESC	Back to YRM-102 or YRM-502 FM Voicing Program
HOME	Back to default value for selected setting
INS	Start tape data recorder
RETURN	Next setting
SELECT	Start music keyboard record or play in/from RAM
SPACE	Portamento ON/OFF
STOP	Stop music keyboard record or play in/from RAM
C with RBS in INST setting	Music keyboard in auto-bass chord mode ON/OFF
K followed by a key on music keyboard	Change music keyboard split point
K followed by the lowest key on music keyboard	Full monophonic music keyboard
K followed by the lowest key on music keyboard and U	Full polyphonic music keyboard
P	Select portamento mode
R	Start or stop the rhythm
S	Sustain ON/OFF
T	Select trigger mode
U	Swap mono- and polyphonic sections of the music keyboard

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