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
Manufacturer Device Year MIDI Keyboard Sequencer tracks Accompaniment tracks User accompaniment 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 Accompaniment tracks User accompaniment 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 include: Teenage Engineering OP-1 Cyberstep KDJ-ONE
References