Bad Gear - Korg 707 FM Synth 

...or all of it is;)

@@AudioPilz Korg 707 is one of those rare quirky synths that relies on a CR2032 coin cell battery to maintain the integrity of ram memory (patches) intact including factory ones. Once this battery runs out it causes a very annoying problem. The contents of memory becomes quite a mess of inexplicable characters on screen and weird sounds to the point you realize that your synth is F* Up. A good town workaround is to restore a backup of ram stored on a external ram card that you can insert on the front slot but many owners of this synth don't have one and the available ones on the market are Perry expensive for what it is. So ... I found a solution. To revive your synth you need FIRST to replace the CR2032 Battery, is not that complicated you have to take apart your synth just couple screws on the bottom. You need a computer any OS including Linux, a Midi interface and a standard din Midi Cable Download a Korg 707 SYSEX file containing l the factory presets I found one, if you can't I will share it with you. You need to download MIDIOX on Win/Linux .. SYSEX Librarian on the mac Connect the midi cable to the midi out of the interface to the midi in on the 707 On the FUNCTION Menu of the 707 you need to ENABLE SYSEX Messages on the MIDI Options and Turn OFF Internal Memory Protection Set your software to transmit SYSEX messages with a Tansmit Speed of 128 bytes and a 600ms Delay - THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT Transmit the Sysex file it takes around 2 minutes, you will NOT see anything happen on the 707 screen just leave it untouched After the file finished to transmit go to PROGRAM on the 707, type any number and VOILA !!! your synth has been resurrected. I was sucessful after MANY HOURS of troubleshooting now I have a working synth hope you find this information useful. Excuse my poor English, its not my native language. PS: NEVER REMOVE YOUR KORG 707 INTERNAL BATTERY UNLESS YOU HAVE TO

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The more I listen to this channel, the more I come to the conclusion there are no bad Bad Gear episodes...

It’s all about how you make do with what you have. You can probably turn the sound of a tin can into a rager

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Same thoughts here.

😁😁😁👌🏼

Yeah not a bad performance ever!

its all about the dude or dudette behind the gear... talent can make good music with anything... I have 4 sequencers and I cant finish a f@king track...

Now I can't unsee it😂😂😂

Hahahha most original joke of the century

I don't think anyone would understand it back then as words like "LOL" were only used by a very niche group of usenet dwellers.

I have to check that out, thanks for posting!

THE Yamaha HS8 and HX1 were the top of the line Yamaha organs in the late 80s and even the previous FX and FS series organs were monster FM instruments.

@@madness8556 In fact, Yamaha was so ahead of time that even the midi commands are capable of sending all kinds of messages for just about everything, I use the organ today with an Roland JD-Xi, everything is supported, aftertouch, changes, sustain, velocity - and the bass even hits the Analog channel as bass. You can do so much with it if you're a lil clever.

Not a bad starting point!

@@AudioPilz yeah! Before that I had a Yamaha pss 570 on which I tried to play depeche mode songs

Yes dude, my 707 ain't going anywhere! It can sound really fat with a bit of layering, and quite warm too, so much more to it than 80's video games sounds, though it does them very well. Might just become a classic...

@@markb9488 Yes! I still have my blue one! Love it for some of the unique sounds it can create.

Nice one dad

Greetings to your significant other;) D-50 is a tough choice, let me take a closer look!

I think that might be a job for jorb. Have yet to see any d50 slander on the webs as of late.

It's always Roland time on Bad Gear™

The D50 was great, but had TERRIBLE MIDI. It is why MIDI got a reputation for latency. It was fine from it's own keyboard, but send it a note from a sequencer and it was like "oh...you want me to play a note....ok...let me see...this one?". Horrible. Also, it was a very nice sounding synthesizer and that is about it. Making it sound anything but nice was difficult.

@@AudioPilz D-50 isn’t necessarily *bad gear* though. iconic tbh

Yeah, fortunately the FM revival is still in full force!

I just received my Sonicware Liven XFM two days ago. Still to early to give a judgement, but it seems to be a creative approach into FM (besides some groovebox approach) aswell.

So my home studio centerpiece is almost ready, my k2661 is supposed to have alot of untapped FM potential (they just couldn't call it that) and while I only ever used it for loops and virtual analog back in the day, I'm looking forward to digging into that beast to see what it can do. I know that I was able to accurately emulate the NES Saw, Square, and Sine back in the day, I'm eager to see what I can do on the FM side.

I had a Digitone, but i found this macro approach to restrictive. Sure, you get a good number of sweet spot, but not really the pearls in between. The OpSix did it for me. Full access to the FM synthesis, while still being easy to use. :)

I'm a game developer, and I'm writing my own FM synthesizer for my retro game engine, because sound design is just as important as graphics. My synth will have 16 2 operator channels that can be paired up to became 4 operator channels for more complex voices. I even did some preliminary MIDI 2.0 support, but unfortunately no file format can support it yet, which I might have to solve, and that will mean yet another new editor, yet another new file format, etc... Also there's a very lo-fi PCM sampler in the works too, because a lot of "retro" games are awfully hi-fi sounding...

Thank you! Yeah, bass for days!

Yeah, the chip in these was quite similar

And that’s bad why? I thought those sounds were good, and the fact it sounded like old video games only endeared it more. And yes, I have a Korg 707, paid only $200 for it. Wanted a DS-8, but this became available.

I think the portamento on the 707 sounds like a 80's video game effect. It has a stepping sound on long glides. It's useful at times. I wish it could be a choice on the portamento edit page.:)

Simpler times!!!

Why did you buy two of the synths?

So happy to hear that! Thanks!

its a mood lifter for me.

...also, f*#k the Casio Rapman!!

Thanks! No tats for me;)

Yeah, that one had me rofling too!

True, the similarities are obvious

Thank you so much!

Thank you so much!

Yeah! Check out the Yamaha SHS-10 episode. Plenty of keytar & mullet scenery;)

It's a pretty terrible Casio and i love most of them. It's quite good fun when you feed the signal back into the mic input though. You should probably do Casio VA-10 at some point too. That's definitely bad gear

Thanks! Happy to hear that!

Thanks!!!

Thank you so much!!!

Thanks!

Thanks!

Thank you!!! Digitone, nice!!!

Love Sega Soundtracks!

When it comes to music, Genesis does what Nintendon't!

@@Juuhazan_ yeah FM vs rompler is a pretty one sided fight

Agreed, it was about time the FM revival hit us with full force!

Yep! The lineage is quite clear. :) I really love my OpSix. It's one of the best synths of 2020 and 2021, imo. The sounds are a nice change compared to the huge wave of new analog gear. I'm kinda excited to see how the Modwave, which should arrive in about two weeks, continues the DW legacy. :)

@@gamma_noize yeah, love mine too! Just deciding if I can afford the modwave! :-)

For me, the OP6 sounds boring, it has a very good size, a nice display, enough knobs and sliders but the sound sounds very dark to me... i have always the feeling that there is a filter on the higher range... my Montage sounds much, much better on the higher frequencies...!

The Opsix, or FM in general is a specific sound. It's very good at what's it good for, and for other things you can better use other gear. For me what's outstanding is: EP's (endless fun), bass and lead sounds. The rest is mostly weirdness/darkness and can't really bother me. Oh yeah, it does the M1 organ and TX81Z lately bass too :)

Thank you!!!

I found that one quite inspiring too!

Maybe some of the space billionairs can help;)

Thank you!!! Keytar 4 life!!!

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Thanks!

Thanks! One man's Bad Gear...

I hear ya!!!! Im the same way. But beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I happened to have enjoyed my old 707 and alot of the gear ive had thats been on this channel. Truth be told if i happen upon another 707 I'll get it. I had a yamaha csx1 that alot of people didn't like but used it alot in many recordings. Only thing i disliked about it was the fact the arpeggiator didnt transmit over midi but hey i had other synths with arpeggiators.

I like the design too!

Thank you!!!

True that! Great combination!

I'm warming up to it too (no pun intended;)

Thank you!

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Yeah, they were quite expensive compared to the budget Yamahas

Will happen;)

Thank you!!!

Thanks! Yeah, that one is surprisingly versatile

True that!

Mmmmmmh, coffee;) Thanks!

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Thanks!!!

Yeah, it's 80s in a box!!!

@@AudioPilz Well, maybe that and a D-110 :D

Thanks! I have to check out that PSS!!!

@@AudioPilz also you could try the 470 and 570, all very similar. If only you lived close you could borrow my PSS 570. The problem is that all the of the above are fairly well loved, so not really bad gear.

@@davedagreat69 Yep! They're amazing with their programable drum machines and editable synth sounds. A great thing to have for quick and cool FM sounds. If they had MIDI I feel like they'd go for much more!

@@AudioPilz Definitely do! It's kind of a little kids groovebox with it's programable drum machine and synth sounds. Also your Digitakt video finally put me over the edge and I shelled out the $$$ for it! After having a TR8 and Electribe 2 Sampler, I felt the same way about them that you did. Cool, but not entirely for me. I'm instantly in love with the digitakt. The groovebox features seem suspiciously similar to my old long gone MC-505 and the old school sampler reminds me of my (long gone) Ensoniq EPS. Amazing!

A great little synth, terribly underrated, I've had mind for nearly 20 years, still has a sound or two to compliment the modern stuff, and those basses!

Danke!

Thank you!!!

Thank you!!!

Thank you!!!

Thanks!

Thanks! So happy to hear that!

Good to know, I hope it works similarly on the 707

Thanks! Mr. Reznor, king of DX7 destruction!

@@AudioPilz DX9 I think - brown case. Cheaper to pickup secondhand, metal cases could take some punishment - which they definitely received!

@@tonydotnottingham nah they were dx7s

Thanks!

Thank you!!!

The FX on the DS-8 must be really nice!

Much recommended!

Thank you!!!

Love that one too!

Nice collection of noisemakers;)

@@AudioPilz : Everything except the Casio was racked or tied down with bunjees. The Casio got replaced by a Roland piano after a fatal collision with a bass guitar. The fate of many a flimsy keytar.

Thanks! He REALLY likes them DX7s;)

Thanks! More keytars to come!

Thanks!

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Which one would be a good starting point?

@@AudioPilz i think what you get! CZ 230s ,101 ,1000 ,3000, 5000/its w seq/

Cz230s is preset except last 4 memo place 96-99 ...which editable with computer. It has drums with seq and memory

@@AudioPilz Personally, if you wanna get into all the cz line has to offer, I would start with the 5000 (has a built in 8 channel sequencer) or the 3000/1. Thanks for replying! Hope to see this covered :)

So true! How could I not see this???

Agreed!

Cheers!!!

@@AudioPilz also getting mega micro korg vibes, after playing a loaned one all month, I definitely can hear some familiar stuff

Thanks! It would be great to have this confirmed

Yeah, funky little keyboard!

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Thanks! Nice technique!

Mmmmmmh, beer;)

I like that one too!

Yeah, the bass is strong in this one!

Thanks! Black Sabbath = best band!!!

FMPTSD is real;)

It's very closely related to the Sega Genesis

@@AudioPilz digging the sound of it

Nice! I still have to try the DS8!

I have to dig deeper when it comes to the PSSes!

Would b good for psych this synth (just curious )

@@AudioPilz I grew up with the PSS270. Its glass bell sound, “crystal” (number 88) is what got me to fall in love with FM from a young age! It’s also a neat keyboard because it has stereo line out. Also, a lot of the groups of presets are the exact same patch but with different ADSR envelopes, so the choice is bigger than one might expect from a preset-only keyboard.

The UI is completely different but the sound engine should be able to keep up

Certainly nice for that genre!

There should be Bad Gear in every household;)

Thank you!!!

Thanks!

It's LOL upside down;)

Never!!!

Yup, bass is MASSIVE!!!

Any old synth with a coin cell battery will have similar issues. You can solder in a new battery or battery holder (or have someone else do it) and it should good for another 10 years. Though a dead battery is a great way to generate “random” presets

Thanks! I'm just not sure if I actually need a RAM card or if I can rescue the synth vie Midi Dump

Obviously the entire OS gets scrambled😬

Nice one!

Thanks! YT sometimes goes rogue with the ad placement, sorry for that. (Shameless plug: you can watch without interruptions on Patreon;)

Thanks!

The OpSix is indeed tempting!

Nearly bought one the other day

I love my opsix! Someone thought "hey what if we crammed a fancy subtractive mod matrix inside the algorithms of an FM synth", and then did that. And it worked! It's a great fm that also does so much more.

@@ChamiCh Yep. It would've already been a great instrument, if it only would do FM. But the addition of RM, Filter FM, Filters and Wavefolders as operators opens up so damn many possibilities no other synth currently has and the freely configurable user algorithm then shoots it over the moon. :D

Thanks, Anthony!!!

Yodel;)