YAMAHA DX7 II "FM Synthesizer"

[fender1000100]

DX7 II is the greatest PURE SYNTH of ALLTIME. It can do anything from claves to the most epic pads and killers basses.

[mishmoshable]

And 4:43

[mishmoshable]

I love the sound at 3:51.

[3Deity]

I heard that 90% of DX7 returned to the factory for servicing had the factory presets on - thats how bad the user interface was! Is this true?

Great demo, maybe you should reupload your source video again so YouTube can convert it to higher quality. 480p makes a huge difference to sound quality.

Easy to see why this synth worked so well with analogue recording and tape compression.

[ionmyke]

holy shit this thing is sextastic.

[KodyBoy555]

This part with the brass may sound like Sega Genesis music because the console soundchip is the Yahama FM2612.

[CellTrace]

the fact that roland is making digital hardware synths without FM is the stupidest decision ever

[GordonFreeMANness]

Serbia strong.

[GentleSavage1]

Heh, on quite some patches, you can hear the connection to the FM synth chips in 90's computer soundcards (e.g. OPL3). Kind of sounds "like soundblaster, just better".

Some played sequences even resembled computer game tunes (...descent? comanche? *scratches head*)

It would be awesome if somebody could play some of the best computer game tunes of the FM synth soundcard era on a more "pro" sounding FM synth like this one here!

[locomotifx]

I really love the DX series actually. I did feel that they were never exploited for what they could do best, 'though some artists seem 2 be incorporating FM into electronica.

[Montin83]

I want this synth, so hard. I must have it.

[MrKeyboarder100]

one of the greatest synthezeisers ever made

[MystroMusicMan]

@MrKeyboarder100 4 Synthesizers rule music.

Minimoog, Korg M1, Yamaha DX7, and Roland D-50.

Everything else is pretty much a relative of either somewhat.

[MrTamiya89]

i really want one of these keyboards

[ed90music]

Hallo, ich hoffe, Du kannst mir weiterhelfen:

Wie kann man eigentlich beim DX7 einzelne Sounds vom PC via MIDI übertragen?

Trotz diverser Programme, die auf Windows XP, resp. auch via ATARI ST Emulator, funktionieren, kann ich die Sounds nicht problemlos übertragen. Bei einem Programm wird immer nur ein Sound pro Ladevorgang übertragen, dann mit wirren Schriftzeichen abgesichert; zudem stürzt dann der DX7 jedes Mal ab und muss nochmals neu eingeschaltet werden. Irgendwelche Softw.Empfehlungen?

[retrosound72]

@ed90music

hast du memory protect auf off gestellt?

[ed90music]

@retrosound72: Ja, aber eben, es funktioniert nach wie vor nicht. Gibts da eine spezielle Software, die Du mir empfehlen kannst?

[retrosound72]

@ed90music

suche mal nach:

jsynthlib im web

ist gut und kostenlos

[ed90music]

@retrosound72: OK, habe mir diese Software runtergeladen. Nur ist auch daran schon mal seltsam, dass ich die SysEx-Dateien gar nicht laden kann, wenn ich sie via die Import-funktion anklicke. Muss ich da zuerst noch etwas berücksichtigen?

[retrosound72]

@ed90music

evtl kannst du nur midi daten (enthalten ja auch sysex) laden und keine reinen sysex Files.

probiere das mal aus .

suche mal nach:

sexwin99.zip

das ist ein reiner sysex dumper . das muß gehen.

[blauwolfenduro]

@ed90music kauf einen alten atari st und dann omnibanker das geht wie die eisenbahn...

[wandov8]

@ed90music Entendi p**** nenhuma, mas levou um legalzinho. :)

[KodyBoy555]

0:46-1:01 Does this sound like Freddie Mercury's "Living On My Own"

[ByeKitty19]

wow



[SanjeevGeorgeV]

I Like this. Can u tell me how a synth is different from a keyboard,like the psr models yamaha has??? are they also synths???I really cant understand this :-)

[dudewhosaysarrh]

@SanjeevGeorgeV Synths and keyboards are different in that respect, that most keyboards operate on presets and sampled sounds which can not be fundamentally altered, while synths generate the sound via a complex series of oscillators, filters modulation devices and effects. On a synth you can tweak every single parameter which allows you to custom build your sounds, something you can't do on a home keyboard.

[SanjeevGeorgeV]

@dudewhosaysarrh So are the yamaha PSR Models PSR 500 and 550 synths?

[dudewhosaysarrh]

@SanjeevGeorgeV No, those are entry level keyboards which use wavetable presets, there is no proper synth engine involved.

[ismaelkhan]

ok, i wasn'y born until 1986 which sadly was too late but i really do appriciate music and films from the 80's ever since i was about 14-15 im now 25 i have always felt pulled in by the 80's, i go crazy over it and i have to admit without a big head that i know quality music and films when i see the, ( all from the 80's ) dont get me wrong, the 60's and 70's had some great stuff to offer but of course i was born in the mid 80's and grew up to this stuff so i know whats best :) todays is crap

[Elettronico94]

Awesome 0:11!!! What patch is it? Can you help me?

Thanks!

P.S. DX7II is a very good synth!!!

[manuelink64]

freaking amazing!!!

[nokia3210fuck]

wie viel zahlt man da heute für so einen?

[retrosound72]

@nokia3210fuck

400-500,-

[AttilaSVK]

@nokia3210fuck you can buy for less... I bought my DX7-IIFD in Hungary for 200 euros. However, that was without the E! expansion.

[moopMASTER2000Films]

MIKU!

[MrDebauch]

you actually manage to make that sound good.... the dx is so awful.... yet it rules at the same time. It really is a love hate thing.

[offthelinegt]

digital? analog?

[retrosound72]

@offthelinegt

DIGITAL

[thechurchofdave]

I just bought this model at a garage sale for 40 bucks. Everything good except one black key I am replacing and a missing music stand. Complete with the cartridge.

[SuperSonicoTV]

Michael Jackson, Van Halen , Madonna, prince, Depeceh Mode, Pet Shop Boys, Kraftwork the list goes on. The 80's sound comes from this fm synth.

[betux2010]

5:27, suena así con solo prender el teclado o hay que configurar el sonido?

[betux2010]

the sound we hear in the video. sounds just turn it on or have to be connected to a PC to change the sounds?

[maddermofo]

Really cool sounds in this baby. I have taken a recent interest in old synths. Would love to get my hands on a few collector items

[utoobepee]

Is this 16 bit or 8 bit? It sounds like 8 bit to me...

[TwiceToldCinema]

@utoobepee Definitely 16 bit

[P5B5]

---> mein Bester, mit einem TX81z geht das nicht, der hat nur 4 Operatoren mit weniger runden Waves, wg. sparsamerer Wandler fehlt immer der Biss.

hatte beides hier vor Jahren, nicht vergleichbar.

Und das betrifft alle 4OP-Syteme vom DX100 bis zum DX27.

[allmeatnobrain]

hi guys, i'm really interested in sounds like these. yet i have some questions that i hope some of you could help me with.

were the sounds in this video made by using a synthesizer?

and i'm really interested in synthesizing, is it better for me to start learning it by learning keyboard, first?

i really hope some of you could help me out. thanks.. your reply will be great appreciated!

[DemonWTF]

0:47 sounds awesome!!!!

[PHAEDRIDER]

i always describe a dx 7 as sounding " gongy" beautiful sounds.. i keep an eye open for a tx7 for those sounds..

[kalletjie]

3:50 sounds EXACLTY like Roland D-50's "staccato heaven"!!! AWESUM

[donpepperoni0]

@kalletjie .....and 3.25 sounds like the D50's 'Soundtrack' patch! Both amazing synths!

Retrosound72, thanks for the videos, a constant source of reference for me and you always seem to get the best sounds from your synths, keep up the good work dude!

[therealsniqow]

Had and loved one of these for 4 years but the guy who gave it to me without knowing its value found out, asked for it back so he could sell it because he was a poor provider for his family, also a guitar his wife gave me when i was 13 years old.... 10 years later...

[svenolle]

Es klinkt nicht geil aber knocke!

[BaumDerProllige]

Oh mann , darf ich dir meinen TX81Z ausleihen , deine Demos sind der HAMMER , bei mir klingt FM nicht so GENIAL!!! Das ROCKT!! Ich liebe FM!!

[retrosound72]

:)

danke

Nicht ganz umwichtig bei FM sind die nachgeschalteten Effekte. Erst sie lassen die Sounds so richtig glänzen. Ein bisschen Reverb und Delay drauf und schon geht die Sonne auf.

[AndrasSimon]

Retro? Vintage?.... I must be old, I remember when the DX7 first came out... seems like yesterday.

There was a point in the early 80's when every band had one.

[maccagrabme]

After listening to a ton of analog the digital harshness of this sounds pretty interesting so I can see why players turned to digital when these came out especially combined with the weight and reliability difference. Still love analog though but digital sounds more sophisticated and mystical.

[KCJazzKeys]

I just got a DX7II a couple of months ago and it is great for those 80's keyboard sounds and random FM noise. I still think Korg's overlooked DS-8 (which I have one as well), was far more creative for tonal contstruction. (Krog bought the FM license from Yamaha to make these)>

[rouncer81]

I LOVE SYNTHS!

[fyghtermusic]

Con tutto il rispetto per questo video, ma i suoni che può creare questa tastiera sono decisamente superiori. io ho questo synth e vi garantisco che in qualsiasi situazione la dinamica è impressionante ed emozionante. un solo commento su questa tastiera: "Speciale"

[keem85m]

I don't know where to ask, but if someone knows I would be happy to hear from them! :) I have a virtual FM synth, and I'm currently looking for a midi keyboard which can transport the "midi" patches from my virtual FM synth to the midi keyboard for live playing..

Again sorry for the off-topic

[F0nkyNinja]

You'll need some kinda sampling synth/keyboard workstation. Hard to find one cheap. You're trying to get the sounds FROM the computer TO the keyboard and then save them on the keyboard so you don't have to bring your computer on stage? Yeah.. Hard to get those cheap. There's something called a Korg Microsampler, but that's more a DJ's thing . The best of the best are the roland fantom and the yamaha motif series of keyboard workstations.

[keem85m]

Thanks alot for the answer! :)

[F0nkyNinja]

You're welcome. I hope you find something good enough for your gigs!

[ravenmek]

the v-machine may be the thing you are looking for :-) google it!

[jomarcavalcanti]

I'd say go for a fantom g easiest to sample sounds and save to future use.. I have a motif xs and fantom g and fantom is so much easier.. a bit too xpensive but. great machine..

[vjrei]

Is not possible. The architechture of both are different. Unless you have that precise synth in software and in hardware versionthen you probably can translate a patch from one to another. Clavia has the Nord Modular that does just that, you create the sound in your computer and load it into the small hardware to take to the road.

[hadiway]

Micheal Jackson was the first who used the DX7 in his old album production!

[schmember]

The keyboard feel of the DX7II is superb!

I still wait for the day that Yamaha makes a DX7III with weighted keys, user-created algorithms, multiple waveforms or even wavetables for each operator, layers, loopable multistage envelopes, built-in effects and a killer arpegiator/sequencer hybrid ...

Till that day i hang on to my TG77, V50 and FM8. Come on Yamaha! Marry a CS80 with a DX7II and give us their "child"!

[SpacehotelMusic]

I love my DX7 IID - I also have an SY77 (far more advanced, and now my main FM workhorse) but could never part with the 'real' DX7...

[thesnake383]

How do you extract fm sounds from genesis games to use them on the dx7?

[NexXxus86]

they're not sounds, they're presets, you can use tools like awave studio to convert them.

[VictorFleur]

Yamaha should build a DX7 III whit 9 operators (sine/saw/square), effects, arpeggios, sequencer, storage on cartridge mk1,2 and usb and much more.

But that's only a dream synth!

[cubdukat]

It certainly is. They attempted to bring FM back several times, and it never caught on. In fact, the SY77 followed that same principle of having each operator generate waveforms other than sine waves. The sound was impressive, but FM's day is more or less over. About the closest you can get to that without buying a used SY77 is Native Instuments' FM8, but I think that sticks to 6-op algorithms. I think the FS1R might have had algorithms with more than six operators. I'm not sure, though.

[VictorFleur]

Wow! A 16 op FM synth with effects!!! And look at the price!!! Yes, but no keyboard :(

Thank you, never heard about it.

[cubdukat]

Did a little research. Turns out that the

FS1R did indeed add two more operators for a total of eight, and just like everything from the SY77 forward, they were capable of multiple waveforms. I really think that if Yamaha hadn't waited until the SY series to give us that capability with 6-op FM, it'd have gained the technology five years more. I mean, look what it did for 4-op units like the V50 or the TX81z.

[ThreeX]

Love the sound they are so 80's!

[jimbotron70]

These sounds always remind me Miami Vice atmosphere...

[GCom67]

I really miss having this synth after trading it in a few yrs ago for a silly price :( Live and learn tho!!!

3:17 patch and 5:27 are so wonderful :)

Great demo mate!!!

/G

[retrosound72]

Hi!

I hate and I love my DX7 ;)

thank you graeme

[searchme45]

I saw one of these At Cro Magnon Studios got a chance to mess with it can not find one locally ...dayton ohio so got a arp oddessy at a pawn shop and a yamaha psr 310...and a few others, casio some type of moog...all in storage waiting for the studio i havent build ...Bummer...thanx for reading my post

[DJGahann]

Awesome sound! The things I could do with this...

[davidionelove]

i o kiko

[dvamateur]

Beautifully looking instrument. They don't make them like this anymore. Oh well, I am old. I grew up in the 80's, so I guess certain tastes get imprinted on you when you're a kid, and it just stays with you for the rest of your life. At least that true in my case. I also like the original DX7, and the D-50. As well as the Ferrari Testarossa! 80's were in fact very innovative in a lot of areas of technology, I think. People seem too lazy these days to come up with anything pleasing.

[UnchainTheNight1]

amen to that, the 80s technology was crude compared to todays but it was so much more impressive especially at the time

[ORUPRANKSTAZ]

The II-FC is less sought after, but it's still so cool! :D

[MARANTZamp]

The motif is kind of boring...the dx-7 was more unique.

[MARANTZamp]

This comment doesn't make much sense at all.

Either you were too young to appreciate the 80's, or you were born in the 90's.

In case you haven't noticed, the 80's (particularly the first half) was perhaps the most magical, creative, festive, and innovative era for music, technology, sound design, and film. (steady cam anyone?)

Today's music, on the other hand..lacks all of these things.

The production and sonics are awful and plastic..and producers and artists are just lazy overall..

Reeno

[Fender1976uk]

I know what you mean :) I own afew synths and I have a TX-7 which I think is great :) I am mainly a guitar player and I avoid modern products!! like digital multieffects that everyone brags about! they sound so thin and lifeless :( I stick to analog pedals but alot of todays young musicians dont give a damn about what was special about the past

[trisky1234]

I've been making music using vsti's for a few years but the more I learn about real analog classic synthesizers and the more I listen to recordings the more I wish my job would pay enough to allow me to buy them!! It's an entirely different ballgame..

[trisky1234]

although ofcourse the dx7 is digital ;)

[fonarte]

@MARANTZamp opinions opinions.

[sacredgeometry]

@MARANTZamp you are listening to and watching crap, creativity, technique and production hasn't gone backwards since the dark ages. :P

[sacredgeometry]

@MARANTZamp urgh punctuation fail. i apologise.

[VacTrooper]

@MARANTZamp Haha. Fuck You. You are ignorant to even say that. Just unable to listen to anything else. The 80's were a GREAT peroid, but to say everything in today's music lacks all the greatness of the past, is just plain ignorant. "The production and sonics are awful and plastic..and producers and artists are just lazy overall.." Wow. Just Wow. I dare you to listen to newer material. I dare you. Peace out. Nice demo, retro, sounds REALLY nice, by the way.

[Tri3Dr]

@MARANTZamp

I appreciate roots of techno and house culture from mid 80's chicago and detroit.

But that lame cheesy overall 80's sound makes me feel sick.. . .

[MaynoDolphin]

@Tri3Dr To most people that period produced the best material of those genres.

[messager3000]

@MARANTZamp so true ... JM Jarre's zoolook album is a very good example (in association with analog synths and digital fairlight cmi ... just wonderful !)

[colin5577]

@MARANTZamp In terms of film, the '80s oeuvre was pretty shite a lot of the time, and I'd add that digital animators and the guys at Pixar kicked off something that gives the 90s something to shout about.

Musically, it peaked in the 80s for me, until the advent of 'producers' in the initial (as I remember it) form of Stock/Aitken/Waterman, who showed that no talent at all was required to make a fortune. They opened the flood gates to an awful lot of crap.

[MrKeyboarder100]

@MARANTZamp I agree.

[rrraistlin]

@MARANTZamp

don´t know to what you replied, but your message that everything new sucks is just ignorant.

[hongdekong]

@MARANTZamp im affraid your just not looking in the right spot

[striderkyo]

@MARANTZamp

I hate to break it to you but you're the exact same type of fuddy-duddy who in the 80s was saying real music ended with the 1960s. 20 years from now there'll be somebody saying nothing sounds as good as it did in the 00s. You'll all be wrong.

[MystroMusicMan]

@MARANTZamp The 80's were the ONE and ONLY era where ALL aspects of entertainment oozed with innovation that forever laid the groundwork for the future decades. For example, for my personal favorite decade, the 90's.

Today? Technology soars while creativity slithers!

[andygunners14]

@MARANTZamp Even tho you made this comment a while ago, i agree with you all the way, I am trying to go to school in california for music production and im trying to learn how to play piano, but this seems really neat, but anways yeah your right

[ardientemusical]

hi i want to have all the brass patches in my dx7IID. can you help me with that?

[SpacehotelMusic]

Got one of these also (A IID) amazing synth once you dig beyond the 'epiano' presets and put some mild effects on it. Great to play too (good keyboard and nice solo/portamento)

[zicoskywalker]

beautiful keyboard

[Twilight1964]

just bought a DX7 MK1 and it was damaged in transport.... anyone know if you cna get replacement cheek pieces for them as it has a huge hole in one of them :o(

lukcily it plays just fine :o)

[ec101dm]

I never knew the DX7 sounded so great !

[garnierdj]

Very good sounds! Can you give sysex patches of this video?

[StrangeQuarkStar]

I second this request, as I got a DX7 II FD the other day, but with none of the fabulous factory presets (and no ROM) :(

Are they available somewhere on the net? So far I've only been able to find mark I sysex files...

Great Demo, by the way ;)

[tmnt220]

My old Sega Genesis game console uses a Yamaha DX-7 chip to produce the sounds for the various video games. The best example is a game called Streets of Rage. Excellent audio trax in full stereo.Sounds real sweet!!

[retrosound72]

thanks :)

[rezisehtnys]

Actually it is a 4-operator FM synth in the Genesis. So it's like the DX100, DX27, etc... Essentially the same sound though.

[javiceres]

@tmnt220 I looooooved SOR I & II soundtrack to death!!!!!!!!

[Paricoful]

@tmnt220 Sega Genesis use YM2612 sound chip, its more close to Yamaha DX100

[Atomicskull]

@tmnt220 The Genesis used a YM2612 which was was only 6 channels with 4 operators per channel. The FM synthesizer used in the DX-7 was 16 channels with 6 operators per channel.

[fafsa89]

what year did these come out?

[retrosound72]

1987

[Fritz641]

Howard Jones was using one 84!

[retrosound72]

the mk1!

but the mk2 come 1987 out

[Fritz641]

My mistake! :)

[cyconick]

can you make the sounds at 1:00 with the dx 11?

[Biopharmer]

Does it have an arpeggiator? My DX7 (mk1) sure doesn't!

[retrosound72]

unfortunately no

[octavioa2]

Hey Does the DX7 2 have the same sounds as the DX7 1,

does it have the Br trumpet, or the FM Bass?

[retrosound72]

not the same presets but the DX7 II can load all DX7 sounds.

[soadevpiPod]

At 4:30 can anyone tell me what voice patch that is?

[saturatedskillz]

Dose anyone know if it's hard to find of of these

[loneraver2]

well, I found one in my high school attic and convinced them to sell it to me for 50 bucks. suckers

[saturatedskillz]

Dam man what a deal!

Someone is listing one one my local CL for $375

[polysmart]

I would love a demo of DX1 or at least DX5 if you can get one :)

[michaeltesh]

is the yamaha portasound 780 a derivative of the dx-7 some of the sounds are similar ive also noticed that the sound ic sega used on the system 16 also sounds similar it's the ym2151 i have a portasound 780 :)

[ericdrebin]

The Sega Genesis (or Mega Drive) uses a YM2612, which is pretty much the heart of Yamaha's DX line.

The Portasound has some FM synthesis to it, so I guess you could call it a derivative of the DX-7.

You should put a video of your 780 up here on YouTube.

[tm94065]

I've seen a schematic of the DX7, and it doesn't use the YM2612. The FM synthesis is performed by multiple chips.

[porcorosso81]

The Mega Drive uses 4OP FM synthesis. DX-7 synthesizer use 6OP FM synthesis, so it has much more beef.

[sauermusicDE]

The PSS-780 uses 2 operators for frequency modulation while the DX7 uses 6 operators. That's why the PSS-780 sounds thinner and less complex. Also the D/A converter in the DX7II is much better (= cleaner sound, less "gritty"). I bought myself a PSS-780 for about 45 EUR on ebay a few years ago as it is still a fantastic little machine in it's own kind of way. Too bad that Yamaha doesn't bring back the PortaSound series of keyboards. They were a perfect start into the world of music.

[michaeltesh]

turn up your speakers! :)

[intheboonies7]

I'm thinking about buying a used one. Anyone know how much I should pay?

[10x19AnninDefiance]

200-500 usd.

[5214428]

whats better motif or this?

[analogig]

its a totaly differant machine... Motif is a great synth and much easier to program than the DX range. If it was me i would go for the motif. I have both

[5214428]

thanks_)

[mrbeautiful999]

Well, I am dragging out my DX7 version 1 and working on similar patches too.

Great job!

[retrosound72]

thanks :)

[furyplum44]

I love the synth base you can get on this machine, thank you!!!!

[retrosound72]

thank you :)

[dstuhne]

Great video! Thanks for sharing!

[retrosound72]

thank you

[StinkySound]

You should download the Knight Rider soundtrack from the original TV series, theres a few patterns that sound like a few of the tunes used in the show. What a phatt sound.

[bredend]

Tip:

Add a bookmark with the following as location:

javascript:window.location=loc­ation.href+"&fmt=18";

This will reload the page with "&fmt=18" behind it! (sounds so much better)

[SynthaholicNH]

Very nice demo.  It sounds FAT in unison mode. I have a TX802 which is the rackmount "equivalent" of the DX7II, but it doesn't have the unison mode.

That patch around 3:20 sounds a lot like "Soundtrack" from a Roland D-50. I like the calliope sound just before this too.

[retrosound72]

yes this sound is "Soundtrack" like but the D-50 can make this sound much better

thanks :)

[sargetech]

Cool,Crispy,Crunchy,Sonic goodness!

Do you have a Casio VZ1, I still use this

keyboard to this day!!! Still works great!!!

a pain to program but I have gotten some out of this world sounds from it,and it still functions as a good master controller

[retrosound72]

the rack module VZ-10M but i have sold

[footinmouthindustrys]

almost every band in the 80's had this synth

[StefanoBottarelli]

as ususal, a great demo...but the synth is a bit overrated imho. it was terrific in the '80s but now there's a lot of machines working better (maybe because digital tech is more likely to be modeled with a processor...stuff like the Minimoog still stand unchallenged on the analog side, but I can't see why I should play a DX7 instead of a Waldorf Q or a Virus TI and so on)

cheers anyway :)

[retrosound72]

thanks

overrated ok but it`s the original :)

[TR0jAX]

Ein FM Synth ist immer eine gute Ergänzung zu dem ganzen anderen analogen Equipment. Mich würde mal intressieren wie der im Vergleich zum SY77 abschneidet.

[retrosound72]

Das kann ich dir auch nicht sagen. Einen anderen FM synth hatte ich nicht.

[golafs]

I think tg77(sy77) is the best fm synth yamaha ever made. A total FM monster :)

[576557]

another classic, thanks

what planet do you get these machines ! they come from somewhere, you lucky !!

[retrosound72]

thank you

[sinusgolf]

i love this instrument you here sounds from jan hammer-jmj-vangelis super.

[retrosound72]

thanks for watching and your comment :)

[SpringDivers]

Now that's fat. Thanks for the demo.

[retrosound72]

thank you :)