SWAY is a virtual instrument modeled after a classic FM/PCM synth from 1989. The goal is to have 100% patch compatibility and to get it sounding as close as possible to the real hardware.

It can also function as a patch library manager for the hardware. Banks of 64 patches can be created and sent to the hardware using SysEx. It's currently still in development .


FEATURES

FM SYNTHESIS MODULE

Advanced FM synthesis engine:

15 waveforms / 6 operators / 45 algorithms
3 configurable feedback paths
Noise & PCM input
Envelope generator per operator
Velocity sensitivity
Envelope rate scaling
Level scaling

FM ROUTING MATRIX

Matrix view of the FM operator routing setup. Visualizes the connections of carriers, feedback paths and external sources, as well as the input levels.

PCM SYNTHESIS MODULE

Sample playback based synthesis engine:

Envelope generator
Fixed or key tracked pitch
Velocity sensitivity
Envelope rate scaling
Ability to load the internal SY55/SY77 sample ROMs*
Ability to load Yamaha Wavecard expansion ROMs*

* Yamaha sample ROMs are not included with the plugin, for obvious reasons

FILTERS

Both synthesis modules include a resonant filter section:

2 filters (1 LPF/HPF and 1 LPF)
Cutoff frequency control
Resonance control
Velocity sensitivity
Envelope generator per filter
Cutoff frequency key scaling

LFOS

Both synthesis modules include a multi LFO:

6 waveforms (triangle/saw up/saw down/square/sine/S&H)
Configurable speed/phase/delay
Amplitude/pitch/filter cutoff modulation targets


In addition the FM synthesis module includes a sub LFO:

5 waveforms (triangle/saw down/square/sine/S&H)
Configurable speed/phase/delay
Delay/decay modes
Pitch modulation target

DYNAMIC PAN

Both synthesis modules contain a dynamic pan:

Panning controlled by LFO
Panning controlled by an envelope generator
64 preset panning envelopes
Custom panning envelopes

EFFECTS

Flexible FX section:

2 modulation effect units (4 algorithms)
2 reverb effect units (40 algorithms)
3 effect routing options

SYSEX COMPATIBILITY

Sway can work with SY55/SY77/SY99 SysEx:

Load SY55/SY77/SY99 patches from SysEx dumps
Send patches to your SY77/TG77 hardware using SysEx
Manage patch banks

More Info:
https://www.sheafmusic.com/sway/

 

Sounds impressive.
"It's currently still in development. I hope to release it in the second half of 2024."
I guess that did not work out yet....

 

Thanks @paul_audioz for the information.

I found the following at KVR, I quote:

sheaf Sun Jul 20, 2025 8:52 am

Had to do some last minute fixes for a problem that revealed itself when I did some more thorough testing in Logic, but I'm really ready to send out installers today.
Thanks for all the offers to test! It's appreciated. Between all the offers going back to the first pages of the thread and my email inbox I've got more potential testers lined up than I can handle right now, so I'm not going to include everyone.

I also decided to separate my plugin operation from my music, so I made a new label and website for the product: https://strydeaudio.com/sway. Still a work in progress.

Source: www.kvraudio.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=605810&start=705

 

It might show up here in future.

 

How much does it cost or is it free?

 

Damn macOS 12 and higher (if this does release)

 

I think the demo's really sound good. Also: to my ears I cannot hear any difference between the plugin and the original SY77!

 

It will be commercial, but there is no info on pricing yet. You'll likely have to wait for the launch for that.

 

Sway load Yamaha SY55 SysEx dumps

Yamaha-SY55_TG55-Soundbanks-Collection - Free
https://dreyandersson.com/blog/yamaha-sy55-soundbanks/

 

The demos are VERY convincing! Curious....

 

The SY / TG have 'AWM' not PCM!

 

AWM is Yamaha's term for PCM. Just to convince users they have some unique technology.

 

[Chapter 3] Evolution of Tone Generator Systems & Approaches to Music Production
https://europe.yamaha.com/en/musical-instruments/keyboards/explore/synth-40th/history/chapter03/

Monster Synths: Yamaha SY77 Past The Presets

 

Last edited: Jul 20, 2025

My only concern about this, while it does have newly created replacement AWMs exclusively for SWAY, it kinda sucks that, currently, there doesn't seem to be a viable means to accessing the TG/SY AWM/PCM rom binaries.

Yes, I've already tried scouring the dbwbp ROM/EPROM dump archive... No dice, apart from a strange rhythm sect. (random drums and percussion) waveROM for the SY77. Hopefully the sister site could bring some heads together and bundle the ROMs like they did with the VirtualJV? Just wishful thinking lol.

 

Wave ROMs here:
EPROM Pack 90s vintage synths
https://archive.org/details/httpsdbwbp.com

 

There's Korgs' version = DWGS

Korg DW6000 DW8000 Microkorg MS2000 R3 etc...

For interesting tech.theory on KORG DWGS - Google "korg dwgs"

 

Last edited: Jul 20, 2025

Sadly the collection here is largely the same is it on the website, only as much as the operating system ROMs. I appreciate the suggestion, though. Cute profile picture too

 

Well it's certainly more aesthetically pleasing than the Sound Diver adaptation.

The question is, will it actually work properly with the hardware or will it be more Mystery Island / Waldorf style bugware? Hopefully it will. It would be a good excuse to fire up the old units (that's provided they actually power on after so many years).

I wasted a big chunk of my life making Cubase device maps for the TG's many years ago. I remember they were full of ridiculously convoluted NRPN's that used to cause MIDI buffer overloads and crash the units if you sent messages too fast. I was seriously annoyed after a Cubase update broke all my device maps. I couldn't face going through the torture of making them all over again after that so reverted to standard MIDI messaging.

 

Manual tells something about AWM2 sample proprietary spectrum control, but to be honest I don't remember what or how.
I just remember to have tampered with editor few times an tried the RCM, from which the most I could get was a screechy sound, since then to me the SY99 was just a preset synth.