Walkstation

A walkstation is an electronic music device which provides musicians with the facilities of a music workstation in a portable package. The term was introduced as part of the marketing for the Yamaha QY10[1], presumably as a portmanteau of Walkman and workstation[2]. Its usage is typically limited to the portable members of Yamaha's QY sequencer family[3].

The Yamaha QY10 - the device for which the term walkstation was originally coined

The features of a walkstation are:

• sound module
• music sequencer
• (usually) a small musical keyboard.
• small size
• battery power

The heyday of the walkstation lay between the time when creating such devices was viable and the time when general-purpose portable devices, such as laptops and mobile phones, were capable of offering comparable functionality.

Devices

Yamaha QY70

Manufacturer	Device	Year	MIDI	Keyboard	Sequencer tracks	Accompanyment tracks	User accompanyment	Digital Effects	Storage media
Yamaha	QY10	1990	Yes	1 octave	4	4	Yes	No	No
Yamaha	QY20	1992	Yes	2 octaves	4	4	Yes	No	No
Yamaha	QY8	1994	Yes	None	4	4	No	No	No
Yamaha	QY22	1995	GM	2 octaves	4	4	Yes	No	No
Yamaha	QY70	1997	GM/XG	2 octaves	16	8	Yes	Yes	No
Yamaha	QY100	2000	GM/XG	2 octaves	16	8	Yes	Yes	SmartMedia

Other comparable devices:

Manufacturer	Device	Year	MIDI	Keyboard	Sequencer tracks	Accompanyment tracks	User accompanyment	Digital Effects	Storage media
Philips	PMC-100	1986	No	2 octaves	1	5	No	No	Cassette tape
Roland	PMA-5	1996	GM/GS	2 octaves	4	4	Yes	Yes	No

More recent portable music workstations:

• Teenage Engineering OP-1
• Cyberstep KDJ-ONE

References

1. Trask, Simon (May 1991). "Yamaha QY10". Music Technology. Music Maker Publications (UK).
2. Russ, Martin (August 1994). "Yamaha QY300". Sound on Sound. SOS Publications Group.
3. Johnson, Derek; Poyser, Debbie (August 1996). "Roland PMA5". Sound on Sound. SOS Publications Group.