Duration: 26:51

1,057 views

15

In addition to the Oric and Atari computers, I'm also interested in "vintage" audio equipment.

The Yamaha MU-series of source modules was produced from 1994 to 2000, with various form factors ranging to table-top looking calculators to, to hi-fi amplifier style, 1U full racks, or even 2U half rack format.

The MU-100, released in 1997 is an evolution of the MU-50/MU-80/MU 90 models which are all half rack 1U units. Later models, like the MU128, MU1000 and MU2000 are 2U format successors.

In this familly, the MU-100 is the first model to access plug-in expansion boards, which is why I was interested: Compact size, maximum possibilities!

The main issues regarding the MU100 and MU100R (the rackable version) is that some build quality issues make them tend to fail because of bad soldering of surface mounted components.
Another issue is that only the PLG100 variant of cards is fully supported, the PLG150 models are not 100% compatible.

The PLG150-PC expansion card was released in 2002


Here is a list of the PLG card I managed to identify, knowing that some were only released in Japan (ex:PLG100-SG)
- PLG150-DR: Drums
- PLG150-PC: Percussion
- PLG150-AN: Analog Physical Moderling
- PLG150-PF: Piano
- PLG150-DX: Advanced DX/TX
- PLG150-VL: Virtual Acoustic
- PLG100-XG: XG
- PLG100-VH: Vocal Harmony
- PLG100-SG: Formant Synging

Direct links into the video:
00:00 | Intro
00:10 | Presenting the MU100
02:12 | The Yamaha Modular Synthesis Plug-In System
02:34 | PLG100 series
02:38 | PLG150 series
02:57 | Contacting Yamaha
04:04 | Unboxing the PLG150-PC
06:16 | The scary information notice
08:41 | Installing the card
10:59 | Power On
12:39 | The DVD Content
13:49 | PLG150 Demo Song
15:40 | Solo #1
16:14 | Solo #2
16:50 | Solo #3
17:24 | Solo #4
18:04 | Solo #5
19:04 | Solo #6
19:54 | Solo #7
20:34 | Solo #8
21:23 | Solo #9
22:04 | Solo #10
22:53 | Solo #11
23:52 | Solo #12
24:29 | Solo #13
25:19 | MU100 broken demo

References:
- Wikipedia's article about Yamaha MU: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yamaha_MU-series
- Yamaha article about the MU series: https://europe.yamaha.com/en/products/contents/music_production/synth_40th/history/column/mu_series/index.html
- My unlisted video about the MU100 Rom Error with the properdemo music: https://youtu.be/VPl_frNcpj8

As usual, feel free to comment if you have remarks, suggestions, questions, or ideas of topics you'd like to be covered in my videos.

--=-=--=-=--=-=--=-=--=-=--=-=--=-=
- The Defence Force blog: http://blog.defence-force.org
- The Defence Force forums: http://forum.defence-force.org
- The Defence Force games and demos: http://www.defence-force.org

we also have a twitter account and a facebook page
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/DefenceForceOrg
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DefenceForceOrg/

and if you want to code on the Oric, we have a Software Development kit for you:
- The Oric SDK: http://osdk.defence-force.org