After analyzing the Yamaha SHS-500 Sonogenic from every possible angle (even the service manual!), I finally got one. On-line retailers are currently flooded with post-Christmas returns and bargains can be had. And so it was.
First, I must compliment Sweetwater for their prompt service and excellent packing. The SHS-500 was double-boxed. (The inner box was Yamaha’s original packing carton.) The unit is in excellent condition, matching Sweetwater’s assessment of its condition. Even though the inner carton has a big “DEMO” sticker on it, the Sonogenic is “like new.” Money saved and well-spent.
Since the Sonogenic was a demo, the initial settings are probably not factory. Thus, your out-of-the-box experience may be a little different than mine. I loaded the battery compartment with six AA batteries and turned it on.
The internal speaker is not going to impress anyone. Sound quality is at roughly the same level as Reface and I never warmed to that. I’ll be playing the Sonogenic through either headphones, my trusty, portable JBL Charge 2 or a powered monitor. Sonogenic has a master EQ and it’s important to set it appropriately. My unit was set to “Line Out” and the sound through the speaker was weak. Changing to the “Speaker” EQ setting was much better. Be sure to change back to “Line Out” when connecting to an external powered monitor. (Or “Boost,” or “Mild”.)
The SHS-500 is quite solid in the hands — much better build quality than the new PSS series or the SHS-300. Key feel is comparable to Reface. After playing the Sonogenic, the PSS keys have a cheaper feel. Yes, you get what you pay for. The SHS-500 is like a Reface keytar.
Natch, the first thing was quick tour of the sounds. Every panel voice has a DSP effect. (See the table below for default assignments.) Sound quality is on-par with good PSR E-series voices and in a few cases, S-series. The SHS-500 is not a Genos. 🙂 However, the SHS-500 is better than PSS by far.
SHS-500 Bank Bank
Voice MSB LSB PC# Default effect
----------------- ---- ---- --- --------------
Saw Lead 1 104 20 91 LPF
Saw Lead 2 0 104 82 Flanger
Quack Lead 0 112 85 DSP Chrs
Bright Decay 104 21 85 Phaser
Square Lead 0 112 81 Phaser
Under Heim 104 51 88 DSP Chrs
Analogon 104 52 82 Flanger
Synth Brass 0 113 64 DSP Chrs
Electric Piano 104 28 5 Phaser
DX Electric Piano 0 112 6 DSP Chrs
Electric Guitar 104 3 31 Dist.2
Jazz Guitar 104 0 27 DSP Chrs
Acoustic Guitar 0 117 26 LPF
Electric Bass 104 6 34 LPF
Slap Bass 0 112 37 DSP Chrs
Synth Bass 0 112 39 Phaser
DX Bass 0 118 40 LPF
Piano 0 112 2 DSP Chrs
Piano & Strings 104 39 1 DSP Chrs
Piano & Pad 104 40 1 DSP Chrs
Air Choir 0 112 55 LPF
Strings 0 116 49 DSP Chrs
Brass 0 117 63 DSP Chrs
Trumpet 0 115 57 HPF
Flute 0 115 74 LPF
Alto Sax 104 2 66 LPF
Tenor Sax 104 3 67 LPF
Harmonica 0 112 23 Tremolo
House Kit 127 0 65 LPF
Power Kit 127 0 88 LPF
The House Kit has the same program selection numbers as the House Kit in the PSR-E463 and PSR-EW410. These instruments and the SHS-500 are the only ones with this “House Kit.” Go figure.
My favorite voices are the Electric Piano, Jazz Guitar, Electric Bass, Synth Bass, Piano & Pad, Strings, Flute, Tenor Sax and Harmonica. Electric Piano with the Tremolo DSP effect is nice. Can’t wait to try these out with my backing tracks. Here’s a few more snap opinions.
- I’ve never been that excited by the PSR synth voices although Quack Lead, Under Heim and Analogon can be fun. Drop Quack Lead down an octave or two for an alternative synth bass.
- The electric guitar is OK and the DSP distortion effect is welcome versus a static sampled overdriven guitar. However, the DSP effect is not up to the PSR S-series, Genos or MODX, that’s for sure. It’s an early Yamaha algorithm.
- The main piano is bright — think “house.” The piano in the layered voices is warmer.
- The tenor sax needs to be played stylistically. The low end gets into baritone territory — a plus.
- The harmonica is decent enough to go a little Jon Batiste or Stevie with the thing.
- A few of the voices (e.g., flute, tenor sax) have vibrato sampled in. If you’re a PSR-type person, you’ll recognize these as “Sweet!”
- The LPF is a bit of a let-down. One can hear changes due to cut-off, but a certain dynamic aspect is missing.
The DSP effects sound a little over-done. It’s easy enough to strip the effect off by dialing it out with the Effect Control knob. One might get tired of doing this after every voice change, which is why I want to experiment with MIDI Designer as a graphical front end for the Sonogenic.
In addition to the default DSP effect, the Sonogenic sets the octave which is appropriate (in some sound designer’s view) for the instrument. Change the voice and you change the octave, too. Depending upon the scenario, this could be a drag. There isn’t a way to go directly to a voice; you need to spin the Select knob and step through the voices — another motivation for a MIDI Designer front-end.
Jack positions all seem well thought out. The USB and MIDI DIN connector are hidden behind a rubbery cover. The MIDI DIN connector is the same as the Reface connector and takes the same breakout adapter to produce 5-pin IN and OUT.
The audio Line Out is mono. (Yes, mono, according to the Service Manual.) The headphone output is stereo. If you need stereo, give the headphone output a try. Dunno if the waveforms or effects are stereo, but the stereo signals are sent to the headphone jack. (The DAC is an AK4430ET, BTW.)
The SHS-500 includes a PA-130 power adapter. I have a PA-150 plugged in at all times and it works just fine with the SHS. The PA-150 supplies the same voltage and has a higher amp rating. All good.
Overall, the Sonogenic SHS-500 is worth the (reduced) price. Will I take it to rehearsals? Heck, yeah! It’s a shame that Yamaha left at least one organ patch out of the voice set. There is enough here for those weeks when organ is not in the church gig spotlight. Almost wish the SHS-500 and Reface YC were combined into the same ax…
Copyright © 2020 Paul J. Drongowski