yamaha sw1000XG (december 1998)

[supernova777]

http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/dec98/articles/yamsw1000.632.htm

Just in case you missed that small but important phrase in the last sentence, let me say it again: the five-buss effects engine can be used by both MIDI and WAV sounds. This is a major step forward in integration, especially since you can also route the MIDI sounds to be recorded as a WAV file (complete with effects), either to release special effects for other use, or during final mixdown, thus keeping the MIDI sounds entirely in the digital domain.

In addition, the SW1000XG has a daughterboard socket, for which three juicy additions are so far available. If you fancy adding some physical modelling facilities, there is the PLG100VL synth which provides a VL70m with 326 monophonic synth sounds for £119. Alternatively, the PLG100VH gives you three-voice vocal harmonising capabilities for £99. There's also the £199 PLG100DX, which effectively gives you a six-operator FM synth, with all the benefits of computer-based editing (including 912 preset and 64 custom FM synthesis voices), but minus the background noise of the original DX7.

http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/sep98/articles/xgexplained.html