Modifying the Yamaha PSS80 Electronic Synthesizer Keyboard

A How-To Video from ClydeSight Productions

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I bought a Yamaha PSS80 at a yard sale, and discovered that it did not have a sound output jack. Some later versions of this little keyboard may have corrected this problem.

This video shows step-by-step how to modify a Yamaha PSS80 "Portasound" electronic keyboard by installing a direct sound output jack for patching it into mixing boards, computers or any audio device. While this instrument is not a true synthesizer, it has some unique synthesizer sounds that can be a very useful part of the electronic musician's toolkit. This technique can be used with any keyboard that has speakers but no direct sound output jack.

The modifications require a few simple tools and one 1/8" non-circuit breaking mini jack, available at Radio Shack.

When modified, the Yamaha keyboard is able to patch and play music directly into audio devices, including the line-in of a computer, with no loss of sound quality. This allows one to use the unique synthesizer sounds in a variety of ways, mixing it with other tracks of a music composition in a sound editor, for example. At the same time, it will play through its own speaker, which in some cases can create a modified "stereo" effect.

The music performed in this video is Yamaha's own "demo song" built into the little keyboard.

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Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• clydesight
• Yamaha
• electronic
• keyboard
• synthesizer
• mixing
• sound
• audio
• music

[Knit1For1Life]

Please I want to know what is the name of the demo song which was featured in this model? Please I really want to know

[clydesight]

@Knit1For1Life The demo song is something built into the keyboard by Yamaha. As far as I know, it is exclusive to that keyboard. The model 100 uses a different demo entirely.

[mvcode]

Thanks for explaining your modification. I have a not-so-old bu-very-cheap keyboard without a external audio output connector, which I will modify because I can only play it at night and I need to use headphones. I will use a solution like yours (connecting to the speaker wires) but I will use a breaking minijack, so that when the headphones are connected the speaker will be disconnected. I was not sure to do it, but your video is inspiring. Thanks for sharing.

[clydesight]

@mvcode Thanks for your comment. Be sure and look at my YouTube video on the Yamaha PSS 100 where I did something similar for a fellow YouTuber. It may give you ideas and insights.

[Kennycomplex]

Thanks for this awsome video! A huge help when i did the same thing with my yamaha pss 100 yesterday. Thanks!!!

[clydesight]

@Kennycomplex You're welcome! Glad I was able to help U.

[manufacturedZ3R0]

These things sound pretty good through a decent system. Suprisingly so. I took what you've done here a bit further and added a delay circuit to a pss30. A hassle fitting it all in but it sounds cool. Give it a go if you've got a delay pedal laying about.

[clydesight]

@Lachlant1984 Thanks for your comment. The keyboard did not have a headphone jack. I don't know anything about circuit bending, though I have seen some interesting videos on YouTube.

[Lachlant1984]

I'm a little surprised you didn't get into circuit bending this keyboard to change the sounds it makes, that's what lots of other people do when they come across keyboards like this one. Because you added this jack I take it the keyboard didn't even have a headphone output like some keyboards do.

[clydesight]

@tassiespirit

Thanks for the encouragement!