Glenn, thanks for sharing your PSG keyboard emulation experiences . I especially appreciate your keen observations regarding the MANY different types of sounds (bends: including single notes within a chord, glides, crescendos, etc) which are produced on an acoustic PSG. I realize now that it may not be IMPOSSIBLE to accurately reproduce all these sounds on an arranger keyboard, especially when playing live in auto-accompaniment mode. I suppose my aim now is to attempt to al least emulate 'enough' PSG sounds to give an overall impression of PSG or Hawaiian steel guitar playing.



Yes, I find Portamento best used 'only occasionally', to re-create the long bar slides between notes of large intervals.



The foot pedal activated 'Glide' function (on the Tyros) produces what 'Pitch Bend' does, activated from a dedicated pitch bend WHEEL controller. Activated with a Wheel or Stick, you're able to produce ALL the pitches of the specified note (bend) range, but unfortunately, the pitch bend controler function, triggered by foot pedal, only produces the bended note (with no notes in between). The 'Glide' function addresses this problem by including all the notes (and in between the cracks) of the entire note (bend) range. You're also able to set the speed rate of the transition. I realize the foot pedal activated 'Glide' function doesn't offer the playing flexibility and expression that a wheel activated pitch bending can, but it's the next best thing for us arranger players not able to access the pitch wheel, when both hands are already fully occupied playing the keys.

I'm begining to realize now that accurately emulating a PSG on the arranger (and via foot pedals to boot) will probably be impossible, but if I can at least provide the general impression & sound of an acoustic PSG , I'll be pleased.

I think my interest in PSG may have more to do with my closeted childhood fantasy to have learned to play it. I've recently toyed with the idea of taking PSG lessons, but at this stage, I think I'd better stick with the keyboard.


Pose, just read your reply and WOW, how lucky you are to have a PSG player (on stage) right next to you to pick up keyboard emulation pointers from. I would LOVE to hear a sample of your PSG emulation.



When you say pedal #2 is set to glide 'one note down', I assume you mean one semi-tone (1/2 step down), right?

Please tell me what settings you use for the following Glide parameters settings in your PSR9000's Glide Controller Window:

1) Up/Down
2) Range
3) On Speed
4) Off Speed

Also, are you able to concurrently operate the pitch wheel while playing (in auto accomp arranger mode) left hand keyboard as well? Because I can't I have to trigger Portamento (via footpedal) to produce the effect of large interval pitch bend gliding. The only problem is that Portamento doesn't work when 'harmony' is turned on.

Pose, do you utilize the Portamento feature (via footpedal) at all when emulating PSG? If so, what 'value' do you set the 'Portamento time' to?

Pose, many thanks again for all the wonderful tips you've given. As I mentioned earlier, it would be great to be able to hear a sample of your PSG emulation playing on your keyboard. Any chance you could post an MP3? I hope to have the opportunity to pick up some of your playing techniques.

Scott