The HS-8 Electone

The Yamaha HS-8 Electone was the HX's "small brother". It had almost the same features
as the HX but lacked the HX's powerful FM synthesis power, sound quality, full manuals/pedals
layout and abilities, beauty etc...

But surprisingly, it had five features wich were better than the HX (!!):
1) You can save 32 user rhythm patterns, and 16 fill-ins. (HX: 8 and 8)
2) You can use the poly AWM sound on BOTH U/L keyboards (!!!!!). (HX: only one at a time)
3) You can change the arpeggio/chord accompaniment sounds and even edit them. (HX: none)
4) You can change the AWM sounds with AWM sample packs. (HX: None)
5) You can edit FM sounds on-board the HS itself !! (HX: Only via editing SW)

Well, this is NOT an HS-8 site, so I'll stop here..

Pictures:


Notice the small drawer under the lower manual on the left - this is the place for the AVPs (It has 3: 2 for manuals & 1 for Bass).







HS-# FM Voice Pack:



HS-8 spesifications table:
KeyboardsUpper 49 keys, Lower 49 keys, Pedal 20 keys. Initial and after touch.
Upper Orchestral VoicesStrings, Brass, Wood, Vocal, Volume.
Upper Combination Voices1, 2, 3, 4, Volume.
Lower Orchestral VoicesStings, Brass 1, Brass 2, Vocal, Volume.
Lower Combination Voices 1, 2, 3, 4, Volume.
Upper / Lower AWM Preset Piano, Strings, Pipe Organ, Brass, Volume.
Upper / Lower Lead Voices Flute, Oboe, Trumpet, Trombone, Volume.
Pedal KeyboardAWM Bass voices ( Wood Bass, String Bass, Volume ). Bass Voices ( Contra Bass 1, Contra Bass 2, Electric Bass, Tuba, Volume ).
Upper EnsembleOrches., Combi., AWM Preset, Lead.
Lower Ensemble Orches., Combi., AWM Preset, Lead.
Arpeggio Chord Section ( lower keyboard ) 1, 2, 3, 4, User 1, User 2, Volume.
Effects
Tremolo and Symphonic: Chorus, Tremolo, Upper Combi., Lower Combi., Celeste, Symphonic, Upper Orches., Lower Orches.
Sustain: Upper, Upper Orches., Lower, Lower Orches., Pedal, Lead.
User Vibrato: Upper Orches., Lower Orches., Lead.
Flanger / Delay: Upper Orches., Lower Orches., Lead, Arpeggio Chord, AWM Preset, AWM Bass.
Others: Manual Balance, Reverb, Modulation Selector & Wheel, Pitch Selector & Pitch Bend Wheel.
Auto Rhythm Section
Rhythms: March, Waltz, Ballad, Swing, Bossanova, Tango, Samba, Latin, Bounce, Latin Rock, 8-beat, Slow Rock, Disco, 16-beat, User 1, User 2.
Variations Fill in 1, Fill in 2, User Fill in, Intro., Ending.
Others: Start, Synchro Start, Tempo, Balance, Volume, Tempo Display.
Keyboard Percussion
Section Lower Keyboard Percussion Selector, Pedal Keyboard Percussion Selector.
Instruments:Bass Drum Heavy x 2; Snare Drum: Heavy x 2, Light, Gate Echo, Rim Shot; Hi-hat: Closed, Open; Cymbal: Crash, Ride; Sturdo Open; Timbales: Low, High; Conga: Low, High; Cuica: Low, High; Synth Drum: 1, 2, 3; Brush: Roll, Shot; Tom: 1, 2, 3; Cow Bell; Wood Block: Low, High; Agogo: Low, High; Hand Claps.
Registration Memory SectionMemory / To Pack, 1 - 16.
Chord Sequence Programmer / Rhythm Sequence Programmer Song 1, 2, 3, 4, C.S.P. Play, R.S.P. Play.
Auto Bass Chord ( A.B.C. ) On, Memory.
Melody On Chord On
Registration Pack Section Confirm, To Pack, From Pack, Ready, Error, RAM Pack Socket.
AWM Voice Pack SectionPipe Organ 1, Brass 1, String Bass 1, 3 Voice Pack Sockets.
Multi Menu SectionSee below for details.
Other ControlsMaster Volume, Expression Pedal, Foot Switch Selector ( Left: Rhythm Fill In, Stop, Ending; Glide / Right: Registration Shift ), Guide Display, Power Switch, Knee Lever ( for sustain ).
Other FittingsMIDI in/out, Headphones Jack, Mic., Mic. Vol., Rhythm Out ( L & R ), AUX. Out ( L & R ), RCA Aux. In/Out ( L & R ), RCA Exp. In, From/To Cassette, Music Stand, Bench, Second Expression Pedal ( Option ).
Sound System
Power Amplifier:30W x 2.
Speakers: 20cm ( 7.9" ) x 2, 5 cm ( 2" ) x 2.
DimensionsWidth 109 cm ( 42.9" ) x Depth 52 cm ( 20.5" ) x Height 99 cm ( 39" ).
Weight79.5 kg ( 174.9 lbs ).
FinishBlack ( Side Panels: Simulated Black Rosewood Grain ).
Flexibility (The Multi-Menu) The HS8 features a highly intelligent master cylinder - The Multi-Menu. Located just above the upper keyboard and accessed via a convenient thumbwheel, the Multi-Menu incorporates 12 'pages' of ten menus with extremely broad-based features. While at first the Multi-Menu appears complicated, in actual operation it's very simple. Used in conjunction with the panel features, it expands your music making potential enormously. Following is a brief outline of its menus:
1. The Registration Menu
is a selection of 38 preset panel setups - suitable for a wide range of popular musical styles - ready for instant recall.

2. The Voice Menu
is a bank of 59 additional preset instrument sounds ( combi 1, combi 2, combi 3, pipe organ 1, pipe organ 2, pipe organ 3, strings 1, strings 2, strings 3, brass 1, brass 2, wood, accordion, synth string, synth brass, cosmic 1, cosmic 2, cosmic 3, vocal 1, vocal 2, piano, elec piano 1, elec piano 2, harpsichord, harp, acoust guitar, elec guitar, jazz guitar, steel guitar, distor guitar, vibraphone, marimba, celesta, banjo, koto, steel drum, timpani, clavi, chime, wave, violin, cello, horn, flugel horn, piccolo, clarinet, saxophone, bassoon, pan flute, recorder, harmonica, whistle, synth lead, combi bass 1, combi bass 2, elec bass 1, elec bass 2, synth bass 1, synth bass 2, original voice ) that are all transferable to any FM tone group on the panel.

3. The Voice Edit Menu
is a means of altering, or personalizing, the tone color of the preset FM instrument sounds.

4. The Rhythm Menu
is a bank of two or more variations for the preset rhythms located on the panel; it expands the HS8's selection of presets to a total of 50 rhythms.

5. The Rhythm Pattern Programmer, Rhythmic Chord Programmer Menu
is a dual-function menu. The R.P.P. lets you modify any existing rhythm, or create your own from scratch. The R.C.P. lets you preprogram block and arpeggio chords that automatically synchronize with the rhythm during playback.

6. The Chord Sequence Programmer, Rhythm Sequence Programmer Menu
is also dual-functional. The C.S.P. lets you preprogram - step by step, one measure at a time - a series ( or sequence ) of chords for automatic playback. In the same way, the R.S.P. lets you preprogram sequences of rhythm patterns for automatic playback. You can store both C.S.P. and R.S.P. data in RP-3 or RP-5 RAM packs, or digitally on cassette tape.

7. The Full Music Programmer Menu
is a digital multi-track recorder. It lets you record and edit the different parts for your composition. You can store your F.M.P. data in RP-5 RAM packs, or digitally on cassette tape.

8. The Vibrato, Sustain, Tremolo, Touch Menu
is a multi-function menu. It lets you select parameters for the vibrato, sustain and tremolo effects, activate touch vibrato and touch tone, and select MIDI modes.

9. The Footswitch ( Pitch Wheel, Modulation Wheel ), Transposition, Pitch Control Menu
is also a multi-function menu. It lets you designate the functions of the footswitch ( and pitch and modulation wheels ), as well as transpose the key and fine tune the pitch.

10. The Auto Bass Chord,
Melody on Chord, Flanger / Delay, Volume Fine Menu is also multi-functional. It lets you select the different A.B.C. and M.O.C. modes, program parameters for the flanger and delay effects and control each volume level in fine increments.

For more information please refer to the Yamaha manual library. (Yamaha Manual library)

Sincerely yours James Cohen Israel.