SampleScience has released Toy Keyboard 2, a freeware sample-based instrument featuring the sounds of the Yamaha PSR-78 home keyboard.
Toy Keyboard 2 is a free virtual instrument in VST, VST3, and AU plugin formats for compatible digital audio workstation software on PC and Mac. It features 73 individual presets, including one drum kit. The presets are fully based on the original preset sounds from the Yamaha PSR-78 keyboard.
See also: BPB Yamaha SHS-10 Toy Keytar Sessions (Free Sample Pack)Each preset is represented with a single sampled note (the C1 note in most cases). This sample is then stretched across the keyboard to play different notes. As a result, the Toy Keyboard 2 sounds lo-fi, but that is a part of its charm. Longer sounds like leads and pads are looped to enable infinite sustain.
Toy Keyboard 2 comes with all the extra features of a plugin based on the Maize Sampler platform. It has a nifty preset manager, a built-in reverb effect, a multi-mode LFO for modulation, and a pair of filters for tone shaping. The virtual keyboard at the bottom of the interface is handy for previewing the presets without connecting a MIDI keyboard to the DAW. Toy Keyboard 2 can operate in polyphonic, monophonic, and legato playing modes.
If you’re looking for a clean, high-quality virtual instrument, then Toy Keyboard 2 is definitely not a good fit. But fans of lo-fi sounds and old-school toy keyboards will absolutely love it. If you’re into that sort of stuff, you should also check out our Casio SA-10 and Yamaha PSS-390 sample packs. You can also download the GB DrumBox plugin, which is the result of a collaboration between Bedroom Producers Blog and SampleScience.
Toy Keyboard 2 is available for free download via SampleScience, with optional donations. You can download the plugin directly from the website without signing up or submitting your email address. Both 32-bit and 64-bit plugin hosts are supported.
More info: Toy Keyboard 2 (33.2 MB download size, ZIP archive, 32-bit & 64-bit VST/VST3/AU plugin format for Windows & macOS)
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3 Comments
Anoanaom
onI like SampleScience new user interfaces / graphics framework. Looks much better and more usable than the older ones. It’s funny that he releases a sample library of such a home entertainment keyboard. As a kid in the 1990s (long time ago – I know) I always wanted to have one of these (Yamaha and Casio were the two main brands, similar to Sega and Nintendo with gaming consoles). Thanks!
MRG
onI dunno, this whole teal business is a bit grim, sad, nostalgic, in a bad sense.
Would totally have gone for a pink-ish Hello Kitty version myself.
MRG
onThe cheese is melting. The cuteness of those sounds cannot be ignored.
Funny how those old keyboards were sample-based, yet some presets sound even more synthetic than …synthesized ones. I’m looking at you, ‘Electric Guitar’.
Common problem with Maize-based rompler is the Release, for some reason I can never dial one I’m entirely satisfied with. Must be the curve, or lack thereof.
Access to source WAV files on the download page, so… YAY! \o/