Yamaha199616-stepStudio / Desktop$Budget($50–250)
Yamaha QY700
Producers wanting a deep, desktop-format standalone sequencer workstation from the same family as the pocket QY70.
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Strengths
- Full-size desktop sequencer-workstation version of Yamaha's QY line, with a much larger display and more hands-on controls than the pocket QY70
- Strong onboard sound library made it a legitimate complete-song-sketch tool without any other gear attached
- 16-track sequencer with real mixing/automation controls was genuinely deep for a standalone box of its era
Trade-offs
- Considerably less portable than the pocket-sized QY70 that followed it, despite sharing much of the same underlying engine
- Menu-heavy operation for anything beyond basic pattern entry, typical of mid-90s Yamaha workstations
Full Specifications
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Brand | Yamaha |
| Model | QY700 |
| Era | 1996 |
| Typical Price Tier | Budget ($50–250) |
| Synth Engine | PCM (AWM2 tone generator) |
| Voice Count | 32 |
| Steps Per Pattern | 16 |
| Pattern Memory | 100 |
| Built-in Speaker | No |
| MIDI Equipped | Yes |
| Sync Type | MIDI |
A relative used-market guide, not a live quote — real prices vary by condition, region, and timing. Check the Reverb/eBay links on any item for current listings.
Similar Studio / Desktop
Match Score Explorer
Weight what matters to your workflow. Every deck is re-scored live against your priorities, benchmarked against the Yamaha QY700.
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This deckYamaha QY700
Match51
Flexibility62
Portability45
Ease of Use48
Tonal Neutrality48
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