Walkstation

File:Yamaha QY10.jpg

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

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, presumably as a portmanteau of Walkman and workstation. Its usage is typically limited to the portable members of Yamaha's QY sequencer family.

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

File:YamahaQY70.jpg

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
Boss	Dr 5	1993	Yes	Fretboard Style	0	4	Yes	No	No
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