Yamaha Portatone PSR-210 & PSR-310 Owner's Manual

Important Information & Safety

Germany Specific: This instrument is certified as radio-interference-free according to Decree 1046/84.

Canada Specific: This digital apparatus does not exceed Class B limits for radio noise emissions as set by the Canadian Department of Communications.

Battery Disposal: Please dispose of used batteries responsibly according to local regulations. Do not mix new and used batteries, or different battery types.

Power Supply: Use only the specified Yamaha AC adapter (PA-3, PA-4, or PA-40) or the recommended batteries (D size, 1.5V x 6). Using incorrect power sources can damage the unit.

Safety Precautions:

• Avoid direct sunlight and extreme heat or humidity.
• Keep the unit away from sources of electromagnetic interference like TVs or radios.
• Handle with care to avoid impacts or dropping.
• Do not apply excessive force to controls, keys, or connections.
• Turn off the power before connecting or disconnecting accessories.
• Unplug the AC adapter during thunderstorms or when not in use for extended periods.
• Clean with a soft, dry cloth. Use a slightly damp cloth for stubborn stains. Avoid solvents.
• Do not attempt to disassemble or incinerate batteries.

Service: Refer all servicing to qualified Yamaha service personnel. Yamaha is not responsible for damage caused by misuse.

Name Plate Location: The name plate with model number, serial number, and power requirements is located on the bottom of the product. Record this information for your records.

FCC Information (USA): This product complies with FCC Part 15 regulations for Class B digital devices. Modifications not expressly approved by Yamaha may void FCC authorization. Ensure proper installation and use of shielded cables.

Installation

After unpacking, ensure all equipment is powered off before installation and connecting accessories.

Porta Tone Care Recommendations:

• Location: Avoid direct sunlight, extreme heat, and high humidity.
• Handling: Protect from strong impacts; do not drop or place heavy objects on it. Avoid excessive force on controls.
• When Not in Use: Turn off the power. For long periods, remove batteries to prevent leakage.
• Power Adapter Use: Disconnect from the wall outlet if the cord is damaged, liquid spills occur, or during lightning. Always pull the plug, not the cord, to disconnect. Do not exceed the device's rated capacity with extension cords.
• Cleaning: Use a soft, dry cloth. For stubborn marks, use a slightly damp cloth. Avoid alcohol or chemical solvents. Do not leave plastic materials on the unit for extended periods.
• Service: The Porta Tone has no user-serviceable parts. Refer issues to your dealer or Yamaha service center.

Powering the Keyboard

The PSR-210/PSR-310 can be powered by an optional AC adapter or batteries.

Connecting the AC Adapter:

Ensure the POWER switch is OFF. Connect the DC IN plug to the rear of the keyboard and the adapter to a wall outlet.

Inserting Batteries:

Ensure the POWER switch is OFF. Open the battery compartment on the bottom of the keyboard. Insert six D-size 1.5V batteries, observing polarity. Close the compartment securely.

Note: When using the AC adapter, batteries do not supply power.

Battery Warnings: Low batteries may cause distorted sound. Replace all batteries at once. Do not mix new and used batteries or different types. Memory will be retained for about 1 minute when batteries are replaced; longer periods may reset the keyboard to factory settings.

Connections

• Headphones: Connect standard stereo headphones to the HEADPHONES/AUX OUT jack. This automatically deactivates the internal speakers.
• Amplifier: Connect the keyboard's sound output to an amplifier, stereo system, mixer, or tape recorder via the HEADPHONES/AUX OUT jack.
• Pedal: Connect a sustain pedal (e.g., Yamaha FC-4 or FC-5) to the PEDAL SUSTAIN jack. This allows notes to sustain after the key is released. Ensure the Porta Tone is OFF when connecting/disconnecting the pedal to avoid inverted sustain function.
• Music Stand: Insert the music stand into the slot on the top of the control panel.

Basic Operation

• Powering On/Off: Press the POWER switch once to turn on, press again to turn off.
• Master Volume: Adjust the overall volume using the MASTER VOLUME control. Start at the midpoint and adjust to the desired level while playing.
• Playing Demo Songs: Press the DEMO START/STOP button to play the 15 built-in demonstration songs sequentially. Use SONG SELECT (+/-) buttons to skip songs. Press DEMO START/STOP again to stop playback.

Voice Selection and Playback

The keyboard features 100 AWM voices. Select voices using the VOICE/STYLE button and NUMERIC SELECTION buttons or the SELECTION (+/-) buttons.

• Selecting a Voice: Ensure the VOICE indicator is lit. Use the numeric buttons (0-9) or +/- buttons to select a voice number (01-100). Voice 01 (Acoustic Piano) is the default.
• Keyboard Percussion: Specific keys trigger drum and percussion sounds. Voice 99 (Latin Perc) offers five different instruments, and Voice 00 (Drum Kit) provides a drum kit with 61 sounds across the keyboard.

Automatic Harmony (AUTO HARMONY)

This feature adds harmony notes to your melody. Choose from 5 harmony types using the AUTO HARMONY (+/-) buttons.

Note: AUTO HARMONY works best with single notes or in the right-hand section when using SPLIT mode. It does not apply to the left-hand voice in SPLIT mode or accompaniment sounds.

Sustain

The SUSTAIN function allows notes to fade out gradually after keys are released. Press the SUSTAIN ON/OFF button to toggle it. Sustain can also be controlled via a pedal.

Sustain in SPLIT Mode: Sustain can be activated/deactivated independently for the left and right sections by selecting a key in each section and then pressing the SUSTAIN button.

Touch Response

The keyboard responds to how hard you play the keys, controlling volume and tone. Press the TOUCH RESPONSE ON/OFF button to activate or deactivate this feature.

Dual Voice

Play two voices simultaneously by activating the DUAL VOICE feature. Press the DUAL VOICE ON/OFF button to toggle it. The default dual voice is 39 (Strings 2 Slow). When using DUAL VOICE, polyphony is reduced.

Dual Voice in SPLIT Mode: Different dual voices can be assigned to the left and right sections.

Split Mode

Split Mode allows you to play two different voices simultaneously, one for the left hand and one for the right. Press the MODE button repeatedly until the SPLIT indicator lights up.

Changing the Split Point:

Press the SPLIT POINT CHANGE button. While holding it, press a key on the keyboard to set the new split point. The default split point is C3.

Note: The split point can be changed in SINGLE FINGER and FINGERED modes but not in NORMAL mode. Split point settings are stored even when the unit is powered off.

Transpose

Transpose allows you to shift the keyboard's pitch up or down by semitones (up to 12 semitones/one octave). Use the TRANSPOSE (+/-) buttons. Pressing both TRANSPOSE buttons simultaneously resets to the default (0).

Playing with Accompaniment

The PSR-210 offers 50 accompaniment styles, and the PSR-310 offers 100 styles.

Selecting an Accompaniment Style:

Ensure the STYLE indicator is lit. Use the VOICE/STYLE/SOUND EFFECT button and NUMERIC SELECTION or SELECTION (+/-) buttons to choose a style (01-50 for PSR-210, 01-100 for PSR-310). Style 01 is the default.

Accompaniment Modes:

Choose between SINGLE FINGER (easy chord playing) and FINGERED (more advanced chord playing) modes by pressing the MODE button.

• Single Finger Mode: Play root notes for major, minor, seventh, and minor seventh chords.
• Fingered Mode: Play more complex chord voicings. The keyboard recognizes various chord types.

Starting Accompaniment:

Press a key or chord in the left-hand section to start the accompaniment. It synchronizes with your playing. The SYNCHRO START/ENDING button can cancel this sync mode.

Other Start Methods:

• START/STOP: Starts the rhythm pattern immediately.
• INTRO/FILL IN: Starts with an introduction pattern, then continues with the main rhythm. If pressed during a fill-in, it plays a fill-in pattern.

Tempo Adjustment:

Use the TEMPO (+/-) buttons to adjust the tempo (40-240 BPM). Pressing both TEMPO buttons simultaneously resets to the default tempo for the selected style.

Accompaniment Volume:

Adjust the accompaniment volume using the ACCOMPANIMENT VOLUME (+/-) buttons (0-24). Pressing both buttons resets to the default volume (21).

Adding a Fill-in Pattern:

Press the INTRO/FILL IN button during accompaniment to add a fill-in pattern.

Stopping Accompaniment:

Press START/STOP to stop the accompaniment immediately. Pressing SYNCHRO START/ENDING adds a brief ending pattern before stopping.

Using the Song Book

The Song Book contains 15 demonstration songs. You can play along using the "Minus One" feature.

Playing Demonstration Songs:

Use the SONG SELECT (+/-) buttons to choose a song. Press DEMO START/STOP to play. The songs play sequentially. You can also play along on the keyboard.

Minus One Feature:

This feature removes the melody line from a demonstration song, allowing you to play it yourself. Select a song, press the MINUS ONE button (indicator lights up), then press DEMO START/STOP. Play along on the keyboard.

Recording and Playing Back Your Music

The MEMORY CHORD (PSR-210) and MELODY AND CHORD MEMORY (PSR-310) functions allow you to record and play back sequences of chords and melodies.

Recording a Sequence:

Select SINGLE FINGER or FINGERED mode. Press a BANK button while holding REC to enter Record Ready mode. Press a key or chord to start recording (synchronizes with playing). Play chords and melodies (melodies only on PSR-310). Press START/STOP or SYNCHRO START/ENDING to stop recording.

Note: Recorded sequences are retained in memory. Recording over a bank erases previous data.

Playing Back a Recorded Sequence:

Press a BANK button to start playback. You can play along, change voices, add fills, or adjust tempo. Press START/STOP to stop playback.

Programming a Chain:

Press the CHAIN button to enter Chain Ready mode. Press BANK buttons (1, 2, 3) in the desired order to program a sequence of up to 8 steps. Press CHAIN again to exit.

Playing Back a Programmed Chain:

Press the CHAIN button to activate Chain Ready. Press START/STOP to begin playback. You can play along. Press START/STOP to stop.

Sound Effects (PSR-310 Only)

The PSR-310 includes sound effect pads for various sounds like animals, vehicles, and nature. Ensure the SOUND EFFECT indicator is lit. Select a sound effect set using the NUMERIC SELECTION or SELECTION (+/-) buttons. Press one of the four SOUND EFFECT PADS to play the effect.

Sound Effect List:

Some sound effects play continuously while the pad is held.

MIDI (PSR-310 Only)

MIDI allows musical instruments and computers to communicate. You will need a MIDI cable to connect the PSR-310 to other MIDI devices. The PSR-310 has two MIDI modes: Remote Control and Multi.

Remote Control Mode:

Allows the PSR-310 to control other MIDI devices or be controlled by them. It's selected automatically on startup but can be switched to Multi mode.

To Select Remote Control Mode: Hold REC and press NUMERIC SELECTION 0. This cycles between "rc" (Remote Control) and "l" (Multi).

Multi Mode:

Use this mode when the PSR-310 acts as a tone generator, receiving multiple MIDI channels for different voices. It's useful for connecting to sequencers or computers.

To Select Multi Mode: Hold REC and press NUMERIC SELECTION 0.

MIDI Channels:

The PSR-310 can transmit and receive on 16 MIDI channels. You can set the transmit channel by holding REC and pressing NUMERIC SELECTION 1. You can set the receive channel by holding REC and pressing NUMERIC SELECTION 2. Selecting E2 sets it to ALL MIDI (OMNI ON).

Porta Tone Reset

Specific functions can be reset to factory defaults:

• Memory (Melody & Chords): Hold BANK and turn on the power.
• Chain Memory: Hold CHAIN and turn on the power.
• Split Point: Hold SPLIT POINT CHANGE and turn on the power.

Polyphony

The maximum polyphony for the PSR-210/PSR-310 is 28 notes. This includes notes played by the user, accompaniment, recorded sequences, sound effects, and demo songs. Exceeding 28 notes may result in dropped notes.

A table lists the polyphony for each voice (e.g., Acoustic Piano: 1, Electric Piano 3: 3, Strings 1 Fast: 2).

Troubleshooting

Issue: "Pop" sound when powering on/off. Action: Normal.

Issue: Accompaniment not working. Action: Check if accompaniment volume is adequate. Ensure correct mode (SINGLE FINGER/FINGERED) and chord input.

Issue: Accompaniment chord not changing correctly. Action: Ensure chords are released fully before playing the next one.

Issue: Distorted or intermittent sound. Action: Batteries may be low; replace them. If using AC adapter, check connections.

Issue: Sustain active after pedal disconnect. Action: Reconnect pedal or power cycle the unit.

Specifications

Keys: 61 regular size keys (C1-C6) with touch response.

Voices: 100 AWM voices.

Polyphony: Max 28 notes.

Styles: PSR-210: 50 styles; PSR-310: 100 styles.

Controls: POWER, MASTER VOLUME, VOICE/STYLE/SOUND EFFECT, NUMERIC SELECTION, SELECTION (+/-), MODE (NORMAL, SPLIT, SINGLE FINGER, FINGERED), TEMPO, TRANSPOSE, SPLIT POINT CHANGE, AUTO HARMONY, SUSTAIN, TOUCH RESPONSE, DUAL VOICE, ACCOMPANIMENT VOLUME, INTRO/FILL IN, SYNCHRO START/ENDING, START/STOP.

Song Book: 15 songs (01-15), MINUS ONE, DEMO START/STOP.

Memory: Melody & Chords (PSR-310): REC, 3 Banks, CHAIN. Chords (PSR-210): REC, 3 Banks, CHAIN.

Sound Effects (PSR-310): 4 x 10 effects.

MIDI (PSR-310): Remote Control Mode, Multi Mode, MIDI IN/OUT ports.

Amplifier Output: 2W x 2.

Dimensions: 908 x 344 x 110 mm.

Weight: 5.1 kg (without batteries).

Speaker: 10cm x 2.

Optional Accessories: Headphones (HPE-3), Keyboard Stand (L-2C), AC Adapter (PA-3, PA-4, PA-40), Foot Switch (FC-4, FC-5).

Supplied Accessories: Music Stand.

MIDI Implementation Chart (PSR-310)

This chart details the MIDI data transmitted and recognized by the PSR-310 in Remote Control and Multi modes, covering functions like Basic Channel, Mode, Note Number, Velocity, After Touch, Pitch Bend, Control Change, Program Change, and System Exclusive messages.

Distributor Information

Contact your nearest Yamaha distributor for product details. A comprehensive list of distributors worldwide is provided.