DX7s - the last Yamaha DX7 | tips and tricks 

What if you had two Dx7s 's (?)

I wanted one of those but boy are they sought after now. I'll settle for my DX7s, DX7 and TX802 :) My Kurzweil Forte and Waldorf Quantum will load DX7 patches too.

Congrats. One of my all time favorite synths. It was my first and best DX7. 😎

What a coincidence! I'm also expecting a DX7IIFD tomorrow (along with mk1 DX7). I've been wanting my own since I first tried one back in the late '80s!

@@therm0tt0 I was just a kid in the '80s and the DX7 was my dream keyboard at the time as it was everywhere on tv. The big DX7 logo on the rear of the keyboard became imprinted in my brain. None of my friends had one as it was a bit expensive for the standards in my circle. I later came to hate it for the cliche Rhodes sound and now I'm in love again.

@@mirkocaserta Same here. I was also just a kid back then, and there was no way I could get my hands on my own DX7. My first synth was a Casio HT-700. I still have it! It's fun to play around with, and it has a surprising amount of flexibility for a cheap consumer keyboard. But there is something indescribably unique about FM synthesis. I want to return to that feeling I had the first time I heard it. And now that I'm going to finally have my own, I look forward to diving into the full programming potential.

SY77/99 is halfway there! Opsix is even closer, if you can stand the form factor!

@@huntergalloway3944 I remember to have imagined what could be a kind of "SY77" in my late teenager brain in early 86. Something with other kinds of osc, other thas sines but with sawteeeth, squares and PCM, plus an onboard reverb and a chorus. But I didn't work for yamaha and the only thing I could buy in these time was an FB01. 👨🏼‍🦳 (I'm less imaginiative now but I still have my FB01 getting dust on a shelf in my studio) And yes, now I use Dexed 😄

Unluckily synthcity controller is sold out. ~1200€ if remember correct.

Cheers!

Yeah, when you play the EP sounds on the D50 or the M1, they sound kind of flat in comparison.

When it comes to the original DX7 (not the S or mark 2), the bad thing is that the resolution for velocity is nowhere near 128 steps (0 to 127) when recording midi. I tested it some years ago in Cubase and I can't remember it exactly but it was an abysmal low number of discrete values somewhere in the 10:s (10-20 different separate values). I am not sure if this translates to the same thing if you play it live (without going out over midi). It could be the really early midi implementation. Another thing is that it is really hard to push it beyond 100 in the first place. If you bang with a closed fist you can actually get past 100. Some say it is hardware limited to a maximum of 100 which in theory is not true but in practice when playing normal, it is. (I have compensated for it with midi compression of 7/5 to make softsynths to respond with the full velocity range) So what I am saying is that may only be the early midi implementation that is really bad in that aspect. And if you record the Dx7 via midi and then play it back (from a sequencer) you WILL get the same abysmal low res velocity curve, ie just a few discrete values. It may also be that the hardware itself has a low res velocity curve (few discrete values). I don't know since I only use it as a controller. And speaking of that, as a controller, What it does have though is a fantastic keybed that responds extremely well when you play. The feeling of it is unbeatable. That may be something that may make you think that it has better resolution of velocity values than it really have. (Unless you are on a later model DX). The aftertouch also feels just perfect with just the right amount of pressure. In fact, to have the best of both worlds I bought a vintage Yamaha Motif 6 which has a great feeling keybed with full velocit resolution. But it has a bad aftertouch (goes from zero to full with just the tiniest little pressure), so I use them for different types of sounds. For the slow evolving sounds (like atmospheric pads) I use the DX7. For the fast attacky sounds I use the Motif.

They ran them thru racks in the 80s

That's a cool trick. Thanks for sharing!

I got along with the 27’s little brother (100) pretty well. I love the feel of the little green rubber buttons . Someday I’ll find the loose solder connection on my 100, I hope. Much of the technique in this video works, just with fewer operators to toggle.

A friend is making me an affordable 65 knob controller for the TX 802, in case you also want one. I agree with you, worse ever rack to edit.

Yes, all those fancy bells and whistles are exactly why I don't want any of those newer Yamahas. ;-)

@@EspenKraft In 20 years from now, you'll be ranting about how it was the greatest FM synth of all times. Hey, I got an FM Chip Based Yamaha 4-Operator Electone organ too, your tips was useful! :)

If I had more space I would fill the house with many Electone organs. ;-)

The DX series had (has) a pitch envelope for the base note frequency, but not for individual operators. I love the sound of the Montage/MODX, but found the panel layout too confusing. (I read enough computer manuals at work already 🤪 ) I ended up getting a Korg Nautilus recently, which seemed a better balance of ease of use vs power. It’s not classic gear, but Korg is actually making this model back in Japan again, and the finish reminds me of an M1. Plus I get a warranty for a while.

@@Roboprogs I agree, it was confusing for me too for the longest time, until I saw a tutorial. It's actually easy, you need to go to the Home menu (make sure you're in FM-X init mode/instument), then press view (green) and select the first bar. Then you can use the 8 sliders to set each operator, and use the dial to select operators LIVE while playing. This is unique, because you can now play with the variables of the Carrier and modulators LIVE while playing on the keyboard!

Thanks!

Cheers!

Cheers!

Thanks!

Cheers!

Cheers!

Many thanks!

Cheers!

Many thanks! I reality the DX7s is just like the 1983 DX7, it just has better converters and more performance options. Basic FM synth programming are almost the same except for a few more parameters. I have no plans to do any DX7 programming video in the near future.

Cheers!

We know over 200,000 DX7s were made, and that's not even counting the other various 4 and 6 Operator DX and TX variations. I cannot imagine the D50 sold anywhere near that much.

@@lrblouie would be interesting to know, it ran for 3 years. The Korg M1 obviously takes the lead but I don't imagine the D-50 was all that far behind.

I agree completely. The irony is that there are those, even here in this comment section, that thinks the complete opposite when it comes to the DX sounds. ;)

100% agree. I had a DX7IID, no floppy drive, back in the day. Good programming, layering, and a touch (or full-on crazy amount) of effects, and it's sonic bliss. FM is very flexible. I rewatched Top Gun the other night after so many years: and that's a perfect DX7 showoff ;)

You can get it back for about $500 now 😎

@@retro-dademusic6403 I saw that. I checked it out right after I posted here. LOL

It's time to get it back again!

@@CussaOnara Sadly, I’m a plug-in person now. It’s more convenient, plus I have very limited studio space.

Cheers! I have a SY22. ;-)

don't forget the 77 and 99 !!!!!!!

I have some plans to do the 77 and 99 at some point. Depends on a lot of things. ;-)

@@EspenKraft The SY77 and SY99 are fantastic. I owned an SY77 and only upgraded to an SY99 in order to be able to use my own drum samples, but found I really liked the cleaner sounding effects in the later model. The SY77 effects have a grainy charm of their own, but aren't as good when creating an entire track on the machine as things can get quite muddy sounding. My only complaint is that the envelopes are possibly too sophisticated, with parameters that interact with each other in unintuitive ways when I often just want a basic ADSR approach.

@@chriswareham I think about all of the 80s (early 90s?) Yamahas use the 4 stage Rate/Level envelopes. It’s nice that you can have a “convex” or “concave” attack or decay, but it does often add an extra step if you have to remember to set level 2 and 3 to the same value to emulate the sustain of a standard ADSR. Edit: R1 is Attack. Set L1 to max. R2 is Decay (so long as L2 is less than L1). L2 is Sustain (set L3 to the same as L2, ignore R3). R4 is Release (so long as L4 is 0). That said, setting L3 to 0 with a slow R3 nicely models sounds which slowly die off, rather than sustaining forever, particularly if playing with a sustain pedal.

I have no idea.

Just so we're clear, the DX7s is not a DX7II. I say so in the video itself. I recently did a video about the TX802. That's a DX7II in a box. I have this DX7s because it was given to me. The FM engine is pretty much the same as on the original DX7, it's more performance-things that set them apart, although there some bits and pieces here and there that makes it more advanced too. The original had 12-bit DA converters and as such many prefer it because of that, while this has 16-bit DACs. I did a comparison between the TX802 (DX7II) and the TX816 (DX7mk1) earlier where there is a blindtest of which is which.

I might do a video about them at one point, as I know them very well, but I really don't like them very much.

The DX7s is not a DX7II, as I say in the video. ;-) There's no pan functionality here.

Cheerzzz

Thanks. Not really, I just find this chord progression a good one to demonstrate pads and strings, so I use them for that. ;-)

It’s one of the most beautifully nostalgic progressions I’ve heard in years. I would love to hear this as a song on your new album! 🙌🏽

I have a song with these chords already published. It's in the "grasshopper" video. That tune will not go into the album though. Although the grasshopper itself will. :P

@@EspenKraft wonderful. I will listen to it now. Super excited. Thank you

It's true, that was another 1987 DX7.

DX7 out-into the pedal-out of the DX-into the recording medium. Just like a guitar pedal. All the DX7 models are compatible with each other in terms of patches, but they might sound a little different due to different models. I record my synths through great preamps, add effects and processing in the mix and master the sounds. Nothing you hear in my videos are straight out, so to speak, unless I clearly state so. Cheers

@@EspenKraft Thanks for the reply and info :)

@@EspenKraft great stuff as always Espen! Can I ask which reverb and dly plugins you used here, sounds lush so I assume some Valhalla was used? Btw, I have an old TX81Z. Will this compare in anyway, can I make similar pads on it? Didn't use it for 20 years and found it very limiting back then. Thanks!

@@AnalogFlava Thanks! It's Valhalla yes, A custom Hall preset. Delays I can't remember.

I have both a DX7 and a DX7s. Patches are interchangeable, but I definitely like the sound of the DX7 better. I will likely be selling my DX7s (along with an Ensoniq Mirage) soon because I'm running out of room. Espen has brainwashed me into buying far too many synths :)

Nowhere. I didn't even save the patch. ;-)

DX7II is the same with our without the floppy. The DX7s is simpler, more like the original DX7. Mono, where the II is stereo. The manuals for all of them are online so just read through them. ;-)

After the original DX7 was replaced by the much improved DX7IID/DX7IIFD, there was still a market for "somewhere in between". The DX7s bridges the gap between the old and the (expensive back then!) new DX7IID.

These chords are my own really. ;-) The DX7IIFD is from 1986.

Google how to record into a DAW.

You can't do that. To program the TX7 you need a DX7 or a computer editor.

@@EspenKraft also DX7||FD or DX7s or only the first model 12 bit mono?

All the 1986/1987 DX7 models has 16 bit converters. The DX7II is stereo, the DX7s is mono.

@@EspenKraft yes, but i want understand if is possible programmer tones in one 1984 TX7 12 bit module, with only DX7 first series (mono, 12 bit) or whith every DX7 model of various years? thanks

You can program the TX7 from any DX7.

Det får jeg da håpe. ;-)

Around $300USD if in a nice state.

@@EspenKraft thanks for the reply, much appreciated! a lot of people seem to be overvaluing the vintage synths nowadays as I can see an ad asking for almost double of that and it's not in the best shape... same with the other vintage models that I keep looking around for

Most sellers are on mushrooms these days. ;-)

The DX7s is mono, like the original. Smaller display. No layering of patches like the DX7II. So it's more basic in performance features, but still patch compatible with the DX7II and backwards too.

@@EspenKraft Thank you Espen! That clears things up enjoyed the video as well. I only asked because I just ordered a DX7S and am fearing I might regret it because the DX7II seems to have that nice layering feature but honestly I think I’m gonna stick with the DX7S some limitation can do wonders for creativity.

They're both great and you could always get the TX802 later which is the module version of the DX7II, and use the S as the keyboard.

@@EspenKraft thanks Espen good point

All my videos have sound that has been mixed. I'm using stereo chorus on the sounds.

@@EspenKraft Yes, I can see that, I was refering to the keyboard headphone output. That one is stereo by itself.

It's not. The DX7s is mono, just like the DX7. The DX7II is stereo.

@@EspenKraft Hm, it did have stereo effect over the headphone and I also used the headphone output instead of the rear connected to sound effect and it did appeared very stereo, or maybe the sound module does it. I know the rear output is mono.

The DX7s is mono out, but of course you'll have sound in both ears if connecting headphones to the headphone output. It will still be mono though as you have no pan controls over left right internally in the DX7s. The DX7s does not have a module counterpart. The TX7 was a module of the DX7mk1. The DX7II had a module named TX802. Both of these are true stereo synths.

No.

No, the first 6OP FM synthesizers were DX7, TX7 and TX816 and the second 6OP FM synthesizers were DX7s, DX7IID, DX7IIFD and TX802.