Yamaha DX7 Mk1 Demo

Video demo of the Yamaha DX7 Mk1, 1983, using custom patches designed by me.

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Music

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• DX7
• DX9
• DX5
• DX1
• Yamaha
• Mk1
• DX7IIFF
• FM
• Synthesis
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• :)

[fender1000100]

only for sections 1, Algorithms 2,Freq fine/coarse 3,EGRS/EGLS and Output level mixer. And in the case of the DX7S you have the poly unison mode. Which is what puts it on par with an analogue synth. As this fattens a sound and detunes it. Much like the chorus and detume features on a Jupiter 8 do. This makes for some huge lush sounds or basses that will make a mimimoog sound like nothing special.

So again learn what areas really shape a sound and this idea about a DX7 being hard to program goes

[ajantred]

@fender1000100 I have found the DX7 laborious to program through the LCD, so I wired it up to my Atari ST and used a software editor so I could keep track of what I was doing, plus load sysex patches others had made. I'm impressed with the amount of effort people put into patches I never dreamt of hearing from the DX7. Prior to using a software editor, I did get right into synth and learnt how the envelopes, the key scaler could be used to make interesting FX and pads. Patience is the key :)

[fender1000100]

What you do with the DX7 is learn what parameters are the equivalents to analogue parameters. For instance instead of having ATTACK, DECAY, RELEASE, SUSTAIN knobs or sliders. You have EGRs for each of the 6 opperators. These really shape a sound.

Then you have individual output volumes for each of the 6 opperators. Again just by experimenting with those you can change the charactor of a sound dramatically. I have built a library of impressive sounds by simply tweaking factory patches using.

[ajantred]

@fender1000100 Yeah I knew how the EGs worked before I bought it 3 years ago (has it really been that long ago?!). I find these kind of envelopes, in many respects, superior to the ADSR as they allow for more complex envelope patterns as each level is independent. Making a pad or a soundscape with slow moving envelopes plus some hall reverb sounds really lush and heavenly. Add some chorus to give it some weight and the DX7 really comes into it's own.

[fender1000100]

@ajantred I have the DX7S model which is in between the MK1 and MK2. I created this sound a 20 years ago while messing around on my friends DX7S and at the time I owned a Roland Jupiter 8 AND Juno 106. They got sold shortly afterwards and I bought a DX7S and to this days its my only synth. And It does everything in my music from the drums to the strings. It can sound like Vangelis or Vince Clarke. I have a demo coming at the end of february please check it out and tell me what you think.

[ajantred]

@fender1000100 Haha! I've never played on the JP8 or the Juno, though I am aware of their timbre, the JP8 sounds BIG when playing PWM string patches. I'll be sure to check your vid!

[fender1000100]

One of the key things that makes the DX7 so awesome is its granite hard attack/snap. At the same time it can produce lush pads and gorgeous guitar like tones. Vangelis CS80 in nature. But its that hard metalic edge that has allowed me to reproduce the key sounds of the TR808 drum machine. Including that funny cowbell, snare, claps, closed hi-hat, claves and of course that booming bass drum.

[fender1000100]

Story on the cover. It doesnt get any better than those presets. And all owners of these synths ever did was twiddle and slide and switch to their hearts content but get nothing worth a hoot but the same resonating sqealchy sounds weve heard a million times. The DX7 on the other hand is a dark knight. Its magic lays inside YET TO BE UNCOVERED. And those with the patience and perserverance emerge with sounds that would make and synth owner proud and inpired. And thats my job now after 20 years.

[fender1000100]

@ajantred, I have never been afraid of the DX7S reputation of being hard to program. This was a cop out by the analogue brigade because they rightly saw their precious overpriced synths trounced by the DX7. Like you aforementioned, those who dive into those parameters will be rewarded with sounds that make the presets that came with the DX7 sound like toytown.

You see the lazy analogue squad boast the JP8 and the monster CS80 had/das great presets. And its true they do. But they tell their

[ajantred]

@fender1000100 Yeah I've had a go with the MK2, it is a great improvement in terms of functionality but to my ears it sounds a bit colder/harsher. It can still make what I think are warm, bassy sounds but it's too clean, the MK1 has a subtle lo-fi feeling, plus depending on the settings, it glitches, VSTs like FM8 don't recreate that. I'm not bashing the MK2, it's perfectly good but I simply do prefer the sound and functionality of the MK1. If I was to ever ditch the MK1, i'd get a TG77 :P