The instrument
The PortaSound PSS-21 from 1992 is an entry-level portable music keyboard. The Portasound PS and PSS synthesiser series were produced in the 1980s and 1990s as mostly low-cost models. The first series, the PS-1, PS-2 and PS-3, was launched in 1980. The name Portasound refers to the portability of the instruments, which are battery-operated. Some were designed for children and are equipped with small buttons and simple preset functions. A card reading system was introduced in 1982, allowing players to learn and play along with sequenced songs. Some higher-end keyboards have advanced features such as programmable synthesiser controls, midi capability and sampler functions.
Details
The digital PSS-21 is 12-voice polyphonic with a keyboard of 37 small keys for children. It has 100 AWM (Avanced Wave Memory) voices, 15 rhythms, 15 demo songs, 15 programmed rhythm and chord progressions and an auto-accompagnment function with a single-finger function for automatic chord and bass accompaniment.