Yamaha EL900ME, EL-900m User Manual

Upgrade Kit

OWNER’S MANUAL

SPECIAL MESSAGE SECTION

PRODUCT SAFETY MARKINGS: Yamaha electronic

products may have either labels similar to the graphics
shown below or molded / stamped facsimiles of these
graphics on the enclosure. The explanation of these
graphics appears on this page.
Please observe all cautions indicated on this page and
those indicated in the safety instruction section.

CAUTION

RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK.

DO NOT OPEN

CAUTION: TO REDUCE THE RISK OF
ELECTRIC SHOCK, DO NOT REMOVE

COVER (OR BACK). NO USER-SERVICEABLE

PARTS INSIDE. REFER SERVICING TO

QUALIFIED SERVICE PERSONNEL.

See the name plate for graphic symbol markings.

The exclamation point within the
equilateral triangle is intended to alert
the user to the present of important
operating and maintenance
(servicing) instructions in the literature
accompanying the product.

The lightning flash with arrowhead
symbol within the equilateral triangle
is intended to alert the user to the
presence of uninsulated "dangerous
voltage" within the product's
enclosure that may be of sufficient
magnitude to constitute a risk of
electrical shock.

ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES: Yamaha strives to produce
products that are both user safe and environmentally
friendly.
We sincerely believe that our products and the production
methods used to produce them, meet these goals. In
keeping with both the letter and the spirit of the law, we
want you to be aware of the following:

BATTERY NOTICE: This product MAY contain a small
nonrechargeable battery which (if applicable) is soldered
in place. The average life span of this type of battery is
approximately five years. When replacement becomes
necessary, contact a qualified service representative to
perform the replacement.

WARNING: Do not attempt to recharge, disassemble, or
incinerate this type of battery. Keep all batteries away from
children. Dispose of used batteries promptly and as
regulated by applicable laws. Note: In some areas, the
servicer is required by law to return the defective parts.
However, you do have the option of having the servicer
dispose of these parts for you.

DISPOSAL NOTICE: Should this product become
damaged beyond repair, or for some reason its useful life is
considered to be at an end, please observe all local, state,
and federal regulations that relate to the disposal of
products that contain lead, batteries, plastics, etc.

NOTICE: Service charges incurred due to lack of
knowledge relating to how a function or effect works (when
the unit is operating as designed) are not covered by the
manufacture's warranty, and are therefore the owner's
responsibility.
Please study this manual carefully and consult your dealer
before requesting service.

NAME PLATE LOCATION: The graphic below indicates
the location of the name plate. The model number, serial
number, power requirements, etc., are located on this
plate. You should record the model number, serial number,
and the date of purchase in the spaces provided below
and retain this manual as a permanent record of your
purchase.

IMPORTANT NOTICE: All Yamaha electronic products are
tested and approved by an independent safety testing
laboratory in order that you may be sure that when it is
properly installed and used in its normal and customary
manner, all foreseeable risks have been eliminated. DO
NOT modify this unit or commission others to do so unless
specifically authorized by Yamaha.
Product performance and/or safety standards may be
diminished. Claims filed under the expressed warranty may
be denied if the unit is/has been modified. Implied
warranties may also be affected.

SPECIFICATIONS SUBJECT TO CHANGE: The
information contained in this manual is believed to be
correct at the time of printing. However, Yamaha reserves
the right to change or modify any of the specifications
without notice or obligation to update existing units.

92-469-➀

Model

Serial No.

Purchase Date

PRECAUTIONS

PLEASE READ CAREFULLY BEFORE PROCEEDING

* Please keep these precautions in a safe place for future reference.

WARNING

Always follow the basic precautions listed below to avoid the possibility of serious injury or even death from electrical shock,
short-circuiting, damages, fire or other hazards. These precautions include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Do not open the instrument or attempt to disassemble the internal parts or
modify them in any way. The instrument contains no user-serviceable parts.
If it should appear to be malfunctioning, discontinue use immediately and
have it inspected by qualified Yamaha service personnel.

• Do not expose the instrument to rain, use it near water or in damp or wet
conditions, or place containers on it containing liquids which might spill
into any openings.

• If the power cord or plug becomes frayed or damaged, or if there is a sudden
loss of sound during use of the instrument, or if any unusual smells or
smoke should appear to be caused by it, immediately turn off the power

switch, disconnect the electric plug from the outlet, and have the instrument
inspected by qualified Yamaha service personnel.

• Only use the voltage specified as correct for the instrument. The required
voltage is printed on the name plate of the instrument.

• Before cleaning the instrument, always remove the electric plug from the
outlet. Never insert or remove an electric plug with wet hands.

• Check the electric plug periodically and remove any dirt or dust which may
have accumulated on it.

CAUTION

Always follow the basic precautions listed below to avoid the possibility of physical injury to you or others, or damage to the
instrument or other property. These precautions include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Do not place the power cord near heat sources such as heaters or radiators,
and do not excessively bend or otherwise damage the cord, place heavy
objects on it, or place it in a position where anyone could walk on, trip over,
or roll anything over it.

• When removing the electric plug from the instrument or an outlet, always
hold the plug itself and not the cord. Pulling by the cord can damage it.

• Do not connect the instrument to an electrical outlet using a multiple­connector. Doing so can result in lower sound quality, or possibly cause
overheating in the outlet.

• Remove the electric plug from the outlet when the instrument is not to be
used for extended periods of time, or during electrical storms.

• Before connecting the instrument to other electronic components, turn off
the power for all components. Before turning the power on or off for all
components, set all volume levels to minimum. Also, be sure to set the
volumes of all components at their minimum levels and gradually raise the
volume controls while playing the instrument to set the desired listening
level.

• Do not expose the instrument to excessive dust or vibrations, or extreme
cold or heat (such as in direct sunlight, near a heater, or in a car during the
day) to prevent the possibility of panel disfiguration or damage to the internal
components.

• Do not use the instrument near other electrical products such as televisions,
radios, or speakers, since this might cause interference which can affect
proper operation of the other products.

• Do not place the instrument in an unstable position where it might accidentally
fall over.

• Before moving the instrument, remove all connected cables.

• When cleaning the instrument, use a soft, dry cloth. Do not use paint thinners,
solvents, cleaning fluids, or chemical-impregnated wiping cloths. Also, do
not place vinyl, plastic or rubber objects on the instrument, since this might
discolor the panel or keyboard.

• Do not rest your weight on, or place heavy objects on the instrument, and do
not use excessive force on the buttons, switches or connectors.

• Take care that the key cover does not pinch your fingers, and do not insert a
finger or hand in the key cover gap.

• Never insert or drop paper or metallic or other objects between the slits of
the key cover and the keyboard. If this happens, immediately turn off the
power and remove the electric plug from the outlet and have the instrument
inspected by qualified Yamaha service personnel.

• Do not place the instrument against a wall (allow at least 3 cm/one-inch
from the wall), since this can cause inadequate air circulation, and possibly
result in the instrument overheating.

• Do not operate the instrument for a long period of time at a high or
uncomfortable volume level, since this can cause permanent hearing loss. If
you experience any hearing loss or ringing in the ears, consult a physician.

■ USING THE BENCH

• Do not play carelessly with or stand on the bench. Using it as a tool or step­ladder or for any other purpose might result in accident or injury.

• Only one person should sit on the bench at a time, in order to prevent the
possibility of accident or injury.

• If the bench screws become loose due to extensive long-term use, tighten
them periodically using the included tool.

■ SAVING USER DATA

• Always save data to a floppy disk frequently, in order to help prevent the loss
of important data due to a malfunction or user operating error.

Yamaha cannot be held responsible for damage caused by improper use or
modifications to the instrument, or data that is lost or destroyed.

Always turn the power off when the instrument is not in use.

(1)B-6

Congratulations!

This manual provides the information related to the newly upgraded features and functions,

difference between EL-900 and EL-900m. You can enjoy specially tailored sophisticated

voices, convenient and versatile voice display functions, voice editing even with VA voices

and more.

Included Items

Registration Menu Disk

3.5" Floppy Disk

Owner’s Manual

To Authorized Service Personnel

Turning the Electone off erases all panel settings you have made. When the Electone is turned on, Basic

Registration 1 is automatically selected. If you have made panel settings you wish to keep, save them to

Registration Memory before turning the Electone off.

GM (General MIDI System Level 1) is an addition to the MIDI standard which ensures that any GM-compatible
music data can be accurately played by any GM-compatible tone generator, regardless of maker. The GM mark is
affixed to all software and hardware products that support the General MIDI standard.

XG is a new MIDI format created by Yamaha which significantly improves and expands upon the General MIDI
standard by providing a greater variety of high-quality voices plus considerably enhanced effect operation—while
being fully compatible with GM.

Products bearing the SONDIUS-XG logo are licensed under patents of Stanford University and Yamaha as listed on
the internet web site, <http://www.sondius-xg.com>.

• The screen displays and illustrations as shown in this owner’s manual are for instructional purposes only, and may appear somewhat different

from those on your instrument.

• Copying of the commercially available music sequence data is strictly prohibited except for your personal use.

• The company names and product names in this Owner’s manual are the trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.

4

Table of Contents

Panel Layout ....................................................................... 6

1 Registration Menu Disk .................................................... 9

Registration Menu List ............................................................................................................... 11

Voice Category List ..................................................................................................................... 14

2 New Voices .................................................................... 16

Strings Page .................................................................................................................................. 16

Brass Page .................................................................................................................................... 16

Trumpet Page ............................................................................................................................... 17

Tuba Page ..................................................................................................................................... 17

Flute Page ..................................................................................................................................... 18

Oboe Page ..................................................................................................................................... 18

Clarinet Page ................................................................................................................................ 19

Saxophone Page ........................................................................................................................... 20

Tutti Page...................................................................................................................................... 20

Chorus Page ................................................................................................................................. 21

Piano Page .................................................................................................................................... 22

Electric Bass Page ........................................................................................................................ 22

New Voices .................................................................................................................................... 23

Voice Menu ................................................................................................................................... 24

3 Additional Changes on Voice Display Pages ................... 26

Voice Display, Page 1 ................................................................................................................... 26

Voice Display, Page 2 ................................................................................................................... 26

Voice Display, Page 3 ................................................................................................................... 29

Basic Operation ........................................................................................................................... 30

UNIFORM and REGISTRATION SELECT ........................................................................... 30

Setting Examples ......................................................................................................................... 34

4 Pedal Polyphonic Mode .................................................. 36

5 VA Voice Edit .................................................................. 37

6 Registration Shift Next Song + ....................................... 41

7 Convenient Disk Copy Function ....................................... 42

Disk Copy 2 .................................................................................................................................. 42

Error Messages ............................................................................................................................ 43

8 MIDI Out filter ................................................................ 45

9 APPENDIX ...................................................................... 46

Details on Each Voice .................................................................................................................. 46

MIDI Data Format ...................................................................................................................... 50

MIDI Implementation Chart ..................................................................................................... 61

Specifications................................................................................................................................63

5

Panel Layout

EL-900m Panel Layout

LOWER KEYBOARD VOICE 1, 2 UPPER KEYBOARD VOICE 1, 2

Monitor Speaker

REVERB

SUSTAIN

RHYTHM

KEYBOARD

PERCUSSION

LOWER

1

PEDAL

2

INTRO.

ENDING

REVERB

MAX

MIN

SUSTAIN

UPPER

(KNEE)

LOWER

(KNEE)

SEQ.1SEQ.

SEQ.3SEQ.

SYNCHRO

START

STRINGS BRASS CLARI-

ORGAN PIANO GUITAR VIBRA-

STRINGS BRASS CLARI-

PEDAL

ORGAN PIANO GUITAR COSMIC TUTTI

RHYTHM

MARCH WALTZ SWING BOUNCE SLOW

2

USER 1 USER 2 USER 3 USER 4 A B

TANGO LATIN 1 LATIN 2 8 BEAT 16 BEAT

4

USER 5 USER 6 USER 7 USER 8 C D

TEMPO

START

FILL IN

UPPER KEYBOARD VOICE 1

CHORUS HARMO-

SAXO-

NET

PHONE

COSMIC TUTTI

PHONE

LOWER KEYBOARD VOICE 1

SAXO-

CHORUS

NET

PHONE

VIBRA­PHONE

ROCK

BAR/BEAT

TEMPO

BRILLIANCE

VOLUME

BRILLIANT

MAX

MELLOW

BRILLIANT

MELLOW

BASIC

VOLUME

1

2

3

4

5

STRINGS BRASS SAXO-

ORGAN PIANO GUITAR VIBRA-

MIN

MAX

STRINGS BRASS CLARI-

ORGAN PIANO GUITAR VIBRA-

MIN

1

NICA

2

BRILLIANCE

HORN

1

2

VOLUME

REGIST.

MAX

1

2

MIN

UPPER KEYBOARD VOICE 2

CHORUS HARMO-

CLARI-

PHONE

NET

COSMIC TUTTI

PHONE

LOWER KEYBOARD VOICE 2

SAXO-

CHORUS

NET

PHONE

COSMIC TUTTI

PHONE

BRILLIANCE

VOLUME

BRILLIANT

MAX

1

NICA

2

MELLOW

MIN

BRILLIANCE

VOLUME

BRILLIANT

HORN

MAX

1

2

MELLOW

MIN

BASIC REGIST.KEYBOARD PERCUSSION

M.

13 14 15 16 1 2 3 4

/TO DISK

Registration MemoryM./TO DISK

6

LEAD VOICE 1, 2LCD Display DISPLAY SELECT

DATA CONTROL

PAGE

CONTRAST

HOLDCOARSE

VOICE

DISPLAY

FOOT

SW.

VOICE

EDIT

U. FLUTE

VOICE

DISPLAY SELECT

EFFECT

A. B. C.

SET

M. O. C.

REGIST.

EXP.

SHIFT

PITCH/MIDI

RHYTHM

PROGRAM

PATTERNSEQUENCE

L. FLUTE

TREMOLO

VOICE

(FAST)

LEAD VOICE 1

VIOLIN FLUTE

OBOE TRUM-

PEDAL VOICE 1

CONTRA

BASS

BASS

PETTOLOWER

ELEC.
BASS

TUBAORGAN

LOWER

1

1

TO

BRILLIANCE VOLUME

BRILLIANT

MAX

MELLOW

MIN

VOLUME

BRILLIANCE

BRILLIANT

MAX

MELLOW

MIN

ACOUS-

ELEC-

TRONIC

CONTRA

BASS

BASS

VA

TIC

VA

LEAD VOICE 2

PEDAL VOICE 2

BRILLIANCE VOLUME

BRILLIANT

VA

VIRTUAL

VA

(KNEE)

CUSTOM

ELEC.
BASS

TUBAORGAN

LOWER

RECORD PLAY

UPPER LOWER PEDAL CONTROL UPPER LOWER PEDAL CONTROL

SONG

REPEAT

PAUSE STOP PLAY SONG SELECT RECORD

MUSIC DISK RECORDER

MAX

1

SOLO

MELLOW

MIN

BRILLIANCE

VOLUME

BRILLIANT

MAX

1

TO

MELLOW

MIN

FROM SONG DEL.

TO

SONG COPY

TEMPO– +

FORMAT

MASTER VOLUME

POWER

SHIFT

CUSTOM PLAY

Monitor Speaker

PEDAL VOICE 1, 2

MASTER VOLUME

POWER

MUSIC DISK
RECORDER

5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 D.

D. (Disable)

Floppy Disk Slot

LED (Lamp in-use) Eject

7

LCD Display/Display Select

LCD Display Page Buttons

VOICE

DISPLAY

PAGE

FOOT

SW.

CONTRAST

DATA CONTROL

DATA CONTROL Buttons

COARSE Button

Contrast Dial

VOICE

EDIT

U. FLUTE

VOICE

HOLDCOARSE

HOLD Button

EFFECT

SET

REGIST.

SHIFT

PITCH/MIDI

RHYTHM

PROGRAM

PATTERN SEQUENCE

L. FLUTE

VOICE

DISPLAY SELECT

A. B. C.

M. O. C.

EXP.

TREMOLO

(FAST)

VOICE DISPLAY Button
EFFECT SET Button
A. B. C. /M. O . C. Button
FOOT SW. Button
REGIST SHIFT Button
EXP./PITCH/MIDI Button
VOICE EDIT Button
RHYTHM PATTERN PROGRAM Button
RHYTHM SEQUENCE Button

TREMOLO (FAST) Button
L. FLUTE VOICE Button
U. FLUTE VOICE Button

Others

Monitor Speakers

Jacks

Speaker Unit

Keyboard Cover/Music Stand

Front Panel

Upper Keyboard

Lower Keyboard

MIDI Jacks

Knee Lever

Right-Footswitch
Left-Footswitch

Expression Pedal

Second Expression Pedal

Pedalboard

8

1 Registration Menu Disk

The contents of the registrations have been perfected with the new voice

combinations, compared to the ones of El-900.

80 registration patterns in five basic categories are available for you to play.

To use the Registration Menu:

Insert the included Registration Menu disk in to the slot.

1

Select the desired page, or the category you want to use, by pressing the

2

Page buttons.

Select the registration by pressing the appropriate Data Control buttons.

3

* Each registration is preset with various functions, rhythm, effects,

panning, etc., all suited to the voices.

The voices are elaborately combined to bring out the characteristics

of each voice. You can use them as your good reference when you

create your own registrations.

PAGE

9

Take a brief look at each menu.

(page 1)

(page 2)

(page 3)

(page 4)

(page 5)

Each registration is briefly described in the following tables.

10

Registration Menu List

Page 1: Symphonic Or chestra

LCD (Name) Content

Maestoso

1

GrandOrch.

2

Full St.

3

Str. Ens.

4

LowSt&Harp

5

Pizz.Ens.

6

ClassicEns

7

WoodsQuart

8

Flute&Harp

9

Fanfare

10

BrassEns.

11

PfClimax

12

Baroque

13

Symphonic Orchestra 1
Symphonic Orchestra 2
String Ensemble 1
String Ensemble 2
Strings & Harp
Pizz. Strings
Classical Orchestra
Wood Ensemble
Flute & Harp
Brass Ensemble 1
Brass Ensemble 2
Piano Concerto
Baroque 1

Vl.Rococo

14

Str. Quart

15

ChoirTutti

16

Baroque 2
String Quartet
Orchestra w/choir

Page 2: Twilight Illumination ~ Jazz Time

LCD (Name) Content

Sax. Full

1

Full Brass

2

Mute Ens.

3

SolidTutti

4

Moon Light

5

Trb. Ens.

6

Quartet

7

Cocktail

8

BeBop

9

Afro'Jazz

10

Jazz Vl.

11

Big Band Orchestra 1
Big Band Orchestra 2
Big Band Orchestra 3
Big Band Orchestra 4
Big Band Orchestra 5
Big Band Orchestra 6
Quartet
Quintet
Be Bop
Afro Cuban
Jazz Violin

SwingWaltz

12

Fast Combo

13

Dixie

14

RadioDays

15

Charleston

16

Jazz Waltz
Combo Jazz
Dixieland Jazz
Ragtime
Charleston

11