Back to Keyboards
Originally uploaded on 25/06/2015. Last edited 22/07/2023
One thing that I have discovered recently is that the PSS-580 has a hidden test mode. It can be accessed by holding down the last two keys to the right of the keyboard and switching the power on.
The screen will briefly show 5 dashes (--- --) then the numbers 480 and 04.
I suspect that the number shown on the right is the firmware and the number shown on the left is the hardware revision. Notice that it says 480 as apposed to 580.
There is another keyboard called the PSS-480. It is essentially the same keyboard but with a different colour scheme. I suspect that the 580 has the same hardware as the 480 and Yamaha hadn’t changed the revision number.
The little indicator dots between the numbers move from left to right rapidly and pressing a button on the keyboard’s panel will produce a sound.
Hitting the voice/style number pad will not only generate a noise but it will also cause the LCD to display the corresponding number i.e. pressing the number 9 will cause the LCD to display 999 99.
Hitting both the chord and song memory pads will produce drum sounds and the LED indicators next to them will light up when the button is held down.
To exit test mode, just switch the keyboard off then on and the keyboard will work normally.
I suspect that the number shown on the right is the firmware and the number shown on the left is the hardware revision. Notice that it says 480 as apposed to 580.
There is another keyboard called the PSS-480. It is essentially the same keyboard but with a different colour scheme. I suspect that the 580 has the same hardware as the 480 and Yamaha hadn’t changed the revision number.
The little indicator dots between the numbers move from left to right rapidly and pressing a button on the keyboard’s panel will produce a sound.
Hitting the voice/style number pad will not only generate a noise but it will also cause the LCD to display the corresponding number i.e. pressing the number 9 will cause the LCD to display 999 99.
Hitting both the chord and song memory pads will produce drum sounds and the LED indicators next to them will light up when the button is held down.
To exit test mode, just switch the keyboard off then on and the keyboard will work normally.
Yamaha PSR-48
The PSR-48 also has a test mode that can be accessed the same way.
It is slightly different than the PSS-580 as the LCD displays the numbers 888 88 and all of the LED indicators aluminate.
Pressing the buttons does nothing which I find strange as I thought that the whole purpose of the test mode was to check if the buttons work.
The only keys that seem to do anything in this mode are the lower auto accompaniment keys.
Pressing the buttons does nothing which I find strange as I thought that the whole purpose of the test mode was to check if the buttons work.
The only keys that seem to do anything in this mode are the lower auto accompaniment keys.
The black keys don’t do anything.
The keys C, D, E and F on the lower left of the auto accompaniment section switches the LCD display and LED indicators off.
The keyboard is still powered on, its just the indicators and LCD that are turned off.
Maybe the keyboard was originally going to have a standby feature or this is testing a battery saving feature.
The keys C, D, E and F on the lower left of the auto accompaniment section switches the LCD display and LED indicators off.
The keyboard is still powered on, its just the indicators and LCD that are turned off.
Maybe the keyboard was originally going to have a standby feature or this is testing a battery saving feature.
The A key in the auto accompaniment section causes the LCD to display the numbers 2.0 which I suspect is the PSR-48’s firmware version.
Hitting the G key will cause the LCD to display numbers 0 to 3 adding 1 each time.
The LCD will then display 3d. I’m not sure what the keyboard is doing when it does this but I suspect that it is transmitting something either via MIDI or a hidden service port inside the keyboard and I suspect that the “d” means “done” or something like that.
The service manual may have the answers to this but I do not have it in my possession right now.
To exit test mode on the PSR-48, hit the lowest B key on the keyboard.
I did try the same method on my PSR-280 and it didn’t do anything. I suspect that it has a test mode as well, but it is accessed differently.
From what I have heard, this will work on all of the PSS models such as the PSS 480, 680 and 780 but Yamaha may have implemented this on some of their other models.
By Stereo Ninja Music
The LCD will then display 3d. I’m not sure what the keyboard is doing when it does this but I suspect that it is transmitting something either via MIDI or a hidden service port inside the keyboard and I suspect that the “d” means “done” or something like that.
The service manual may have the answers to this but I do not have it in my possession right now.
To exit test mode on the PSR-48, hit the lowest B key on the keyboard.
I did try the same method on my PSR-280 and it didn’t do anything. I suspect that it has a test mode as well, but it is accessed differently.
From what I have heard, this will work on all of the PSS models such as the PSS 480, 680 and 780 but Yamaha may have implemented this on some of their other models.
By Stereo Ninja Music
Disclaimer: If you see my keyboard images and blog posts on online auction sites, it’s most likely that the seller has taken my content without my permission. I am not affiliated with any of these sellers and I cannot be held responsible for the items they are selling.Disclaimer: If you see my keyboard images and blog posts on online auction sites, it’s most likely that the seller has taken my content without my permission. I am not affiliated with any of these sellers and I cannot be held responsible for the items they are selling.