Yamaha EX5, EX5R, EX7

Introductory

Section

■Layered AWM Voices

In AWM voices up to four AWM elements can be layered to create extraordinarily rich voice

textures.

Virtual Acoustic Synthesis (EX5 and EX5R only)

Yamaha’s Virtual Acoustic (“VL”) Synthesis tone generation system does not use oscillators, function

generators, preset waveforms or samples to produce sound. Rather, it applies sophisticated computer-

based “physical modeling” technology to musical sound synthesis. In the same way that computer

“models” are used to simulate weather systems or the flight characteristics of aircraft in the design

stage, the VL system simulates the very complex vibrations, resonances, reflections and other acoustic

phenomena that occur in a real wind or string instrument.

VL synthesis offers many advantages in terms of musical performance. Not just in terms of sound, but

also in terms of the “behavior” that makes acoustic instruments so “musical.” For example, simply

playing a note in the same way does not always produce precisely the same sound — the instrument is

responsive and “alive.” Rather than simply controlling parameters like volume or pitch, you can

control characteristics such as breath and reed pressure with appropriate complex effects on the

timbre of the sound.

■The VL “Instrument” or “Wave”

The VL “instrument” or “wave” defines the fundamental tone or timbre of the sound. The

instrument model consists primarily of a driver — the reed/mouthpiece, lip/mouthpiece, or

bow/string system — and a resonant system corresponding to the tube and air column or string.

One of the remarkable features of the Virtual Acoustic Synthesis system is that just about any

driver can be used with any type of pipe or string. The EX5/5R provides a range of 272 preset VL

“waves” which integrate all of the necessary characteristics, and which can be assigned to voice

elements in much the same way as AWM waves (VL voices can have 1 VL element plus up to 3

AWM elements).

Pipes/StringDrivers

EL1 Sample Sample Sample

AWM

WAVE

WAVE parameter

EL2 Sample Sample Sample

AWM

WAVE

WAVE parameter

EL3 Sample Sample Sample

AWM

WAVE

WAVE parameter

EL4 Sample Sample Sample

AWM

WAVE

WAVE parameter

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