SWAY - a synth modeled after the Yamaha SY77
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- KVRer
- 16 posts since 31 Dec, 2002 from Bradford, England (UK)
From reading this thread from the beginning, the only thing that is not 100% accurate is the FX section, but has been made to be very similar apparently. The Factory ROM and all the optional WAVEFORM/DATA card sets can be imported into SWAYED, so as long as the data for the presets is there or able to be imported, then it should sound quite close to the real thing. I just think of this as being like Nil's K1v recreation of the classic Kawai K1, which I also happen to own a K1r bought in 1990.
- KVRAF
- 20674 posts since 22 Nov, 2000 from Southern California
Can it load other sample formats?
- KVRAF
- 24405 posts since 7 Jan, 2009 from Croatia
For now it supports only the file format used by the ROMs IIRC.
- KVRAF
- 19788 posts since 16 Sep, 2001 from Las Vegas,USA
And yet another ethical conundrum.
None are so hopelessly enslaved as those who falsely believe they are free. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
- KVRAF
- 24405 posts since 7 Jan, 2009 from Croatia
Not really, because sy.factory program (by Derek Cook, one of long-time Yamaha specialists) exists and it is a legit way of adding your own samples to an SY/TG77, by means of a WaveBlade card. So that program writes valid binaries (which you would otherwise burn onto the WaveBlade card via its own programmer unit) that Swayed will slurp up perfectly fine.
- KVRAF
- 19788 posts since 16 Sep, 2001 from Las Vegas,USA
Wag's question was about the factory ROM, not about adding our own samples:
wagtunes wrote: Thu Mar 26, 2026 12:58 pm I wonder if the ability to load the factory ROMs will be included.
None are so hopelessly enslaved as those who falsely believe they are free. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
- KVRAF
- 19788 posts since 16 Sep, 2001 from Las Vegas,USA
If it was legal to use the SY77's original Wave ROM why didn't Sheaf just use it ?
None are so hopelessly enslaved as those who falsely believe they are free. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
- KVRAF
- 3032 posts since 6 Jul, 2013
I mean, it's like any sampler - you can load in samples. Whether you choose to load in recordings under copyright owned by someone else, or whether you choose to load in your own recordings you own the copyright of, is up to the user.
There was talk in future versions of supporting more open formats like sound fonts, to make it easier to use your own samples without having to build a Yamaha-format card image.
There was talk in future versions of supporting more open formats like sound fonts, to make it easier to use your own samples without having to build a Yamaha-format card image.
It's not legal to include those samples, hence, they are not included. Let's not try to turn every conversation about samples into an ethical dilemma. That has existed since the first samplers were made and copyright recordings were sampled. Any device you can record with is capable of generating ethical dilemmas, but we don't question whether DAWs should exist or let people load in samples in every DAW thread etc...Teksonik wrote: Thu Mar 26, 2026 9:54 pm If it was legal to use the SY77's original Wave ROM why didn't Sheaf just use it ?
Last edited by beely on Thu Mar 26, 2026 10:02 pm, edited 1 time in total.
- KVRAF
- 20674 posts since 22 Nov, 2000 from Southern California
The original SY77 samples had little to do with what made it special. It can only be improved with Sheaf's samples.
- KVRAF
- 3032 posts since 6 Jul, 2013
Probably the same is true for the FX too...Uncle E wrote: Thu Mar 26, 2026 10:01 pm The original SY77 samples had little to do with what made it special. It can only be improved with Sheaf's samples.
- KVRAF
- 20674 posts since 22 Nov, 2000 from Southern California
Sadly not, though let's not open that can of worms again.
- KVRAF
- 22876 posts since 8 Oct, 2014
Ethics aside, we all know about a certain site that has every freaking ROM from from every freaking synth in existence. So if somebody wants to use it, they're going to. That is the reality.
- KVRAF
- 19788 posts since 16 Sep, 2001 from Las Vegas,USA
Then you need to address your comment to Wags:
wagtunes wrote: Thu Mar 26, 2026 12:58 pm I wonder if the ability to load the factory ROMs will be included.
None are so hopelessly enslaved as those who falsely believe they are free. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
- KVRAF
- 19788 posts since 16 Sep, 2001 from Las Vegas,USA
It's only an ethical dilemma when copyrighted material is used. I refer you to the KVR terms of service.beely wrote: Thu Mar 26, 2026 9:55 pm It's not legal to include those samples, hence, they are not included. Let's not try to turn every conversation about samples into an ethical dilemma.
But hey if morals mean so little to you that you would compromise them over 4mb of ancient Wave ROM then by all means knock yourself out.
That's simply a misdirection and has nothing to do with the subject at hand.beely wrote: Thu Mar 26, 2026 9:55 pmThat has existed since the first samplers were made and copyright recordings were sampled. Any device you can record with is capable of generating ethical dilemmas, but we don't question whether DAWs should exist or let people load in samples in every DAW thread etc...
But I surrender. Steal everything, use A.I. to make your music because you're too lazy to make it yourself. It's a f*cked up world we live in right now. We should strive to make it less so.
Anyway I'll be back when there is a SWAY demo to try and we can have something solid to talk about.
None are so hopelessly enslaved as those who falsely believe they are free. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
- KVRAF
- 7019 posts since 19 Apr, 2002 from Utah
It's still too bad that it doesn't support Linux. Even though I just bought Zebra 3, I'd still be interested in picking this one up too. But I understand how it goes......nevertheless, I still wish........ 
"I’m told I lie constantly when I say Linux is great — which is wild, because I’m apparently “misleading” you with things like: it boots, it runs my audio workflow, it stays stable, it gets updates, and it keeps existing despite being declared dead every year since forever. Also yes, it’s “too hard,” “too niche,” “no devs will ever care,” and “Linus complained once,” so clearly I must be fabricating my entire operating system out of pure delusion."
-----The Delusional Linux Advocate
"I’m told I lie constantly when I say Linux is great — which is wild, because I’m apparently “misleading” you with things like: it boots, it runs my audio workflow, it stays stable, it gets updates, and it keeps existing despite being declared dead every year since forever. Also yes, it’s “too hard,” “too niche,” “no devs will ever care,” and “Linus complained once,” so clearly I must be fabricating my entire operating system out of pure delusion."
-----The Delusional Linux Advocate
Vendor‑Dependent Copy Protection: Customers lose. Pirates win.
(Also: I'm Accused of lying about Linux—it boots, runs my pro audio workflow, stays stable, updates--though yearly dismissed as “niche”. Yet I'm the deluded one.)
(Also: I'm Accused of lying about Linux—it boots, runs my pro audio workflow, stays stable, updates--though yearly dismissed as “niche”. Yet I'm the deluded one.)
