Sound Of Music

 

 

 

BACKGROUND

1973 Yamaha´s organ division began to develop a prototype FM monosynth, and built 1975 a prototype polyphonic FM (the monophonic version was called "MAD"). Yamaha released in 1983 the new product line synthesizers, called DX. The rest is history. DX7 was one of the first synthesizer with MIDI, had no knobs, no oscillators, no waveforms. And it didn't sound like any other synthesizers. And later, in Tokyo, December 1986 (and in USA January 1987) came the successor to the DX7 - DX7II. There are 3 different DX7 II models:

• DX7 II S, with a Single set of sound that can be played simultaneous
• DX7 II D, with a Dual set of sound that can be played simultaneous
• DX7 II FD, with a Dual set of sound that can be played simultaneous and with a Floppy Drive

 

DESCRIPTION

The DX7 generate the sound with a method called FM-synthesis - frequency Modulation. FM synthesis was first found in the New England Digital Synclavier and later on the Synclavier II (synthesizer/sampler for some 100 000 dollars, that was mainly found in multimillion-dollars film- and post production studios), with 8-bit chip. But Yamaha was first with FM-synthesis for the people. It is based on the 6-OP VLSI-FM-Chip (VLSI stands for Very Large Scale Integration) from 1983. The original DX7 had a 14-bit D/ACs and DX7II 16-bit, 44.1 kHz D/ACs that gave a little bit clearer sound.

Characteristic sounds for the DX7 is first their famous electric piano. Even basses, the brass, the marimba and tubular bells are well known DX7 sounds. But the DX7 can more than that.

The 6-OP VLSI-FM-Chip.
(Courtesy of dx7heaven.com/The DX-Story archive)

 

Yamaha 2 original L51s are the "heart" of the DX system

Part of the prototype system at 1980, in double refrigerator size

 

• Octal Mode - up to 8 part multitimbral
• Engine - allows to play things such arpeggios, chords etc with one finger trigging
• SE!quenser - allows to control internal and external sound sources on 16 tracks
• Expanded patch memory - instead of 2x32 voices (single patches) and 32 performances (combinations) it now contains 4x2x32 voices (totally 256 voices) and 128 performances. With the optional DX7 memory cartridge total 320 voices and 160 performances
• Expanded MIDI - transforms the DX7II to a powerful master keyboard
• Expanded Micro Tuning - up to 32 12-tone micro tunings
• Voyeur - Midi-monitor for incoming and outgoing Midi signals
  
  
• DX7IIFD also contains expanded features for disk operations

 

The original DX7

 

YAMAHA FM-LINE SYNTHESIZERS

The D/A converters makes much of the character of a sound on a synthesizer. Yamaha made 4 generations of D/A converters for their FM line synths in the 80s. The older are more "dirty" and more punchy, and the newer are cleaner, but not so punchy.

The First Generation Yamaha FM Synths

Sine wave operators and 14 bit D/A converters

Year	Name	Operators	Polyphony	Comment
1981	GS1	4 pairs	16
	GS2	2 pairs	16
1982	CE20	2 pairs ?	9
	CE25	2 pairs ?	9

 

The Second Generation Yamaha FM Synths

Sine wave operators, 14 bit D/A converters

Year	Name	Operators	Polyphony	Comment
1983	DX7	6	16	The original
	DX9	4	16	No velocity sensitivity
	TX7	6	16	Desktop model of DX7
1984	TX816	6 x 8	16 x 8	8 DX7 (TF1) in a rack. The ultimate FM-synth
	DX1	6	32	As two DX7 and with better user interface on the panel and better components
1985	DX5	6	32	The successor of DX1
1986	DX21	4	8	The best of the 4 operators FM-synths (but not close to the 6 operators)
	DX27	4	8
	DX27S	4	8	As DX27 and built in speakers
	DX100	4	8	Mini-keys. Velocity sensitivity only by external MIDI
	FB01	4	8	Half rack computer-model

 

The Third Generation Yamaha FM Synths

Sine wave operators, 16 bit D/A converters

Year	Name	Operators	Polyphony	Comment
1987	DX7II/D	6	16	The new standard model DX7. Dual mode
	DX7II/FD	6	16	As DX7II/D and a built in 3,5" disk drive for saving/loading voice-data
	DX7S	6	16	As DX7II/D, but lack of Dual Mode and smaller display
	DX7 Centennial	6	16	Like a DX7II but inverted color (white) and 76 keys
	TX802	6	16	Rack mounted, multitimbral (8 parts) deluxe model of DX7II

 

The Fourth Generation Yamaha FM Synths

Eight waveforms as operators, 16 bit D/A converters

Year	Name	Operators	Polyphony	Comment
1987	TX81Z	4	8
1988	DX11	4	8
	YS100	4	8
	YS200	4	8
1989	V50	4	16
	TQ5	4	8

 

 

TX802 - improved DX7II in rack format

 

SOFTWARE DX7

FM7

There is also a good software from Native Instruments that can emulate a DX7, with additional features that makes it to a killer: FM7

It can produce all classic DX7 patches and even read system exclusive files from DX7. But it also contains filters and effects, and most of all: A user friendly interface

DXulator

DXulator is a non real time DX7 emulator written in Visual Basic (Windows) which is engine with a embedded Csound version - and is free!

 

BROCHURES

The first DX-line brochure from december 1982:

• DX-line, part 1/4
• DX-line, part 2/4
• DX-line, part 3/4
• DX-line, part 4/4

The original DX7 brochure

• DX7, part 1
• DX7, part 2
• DX7, part 3
• DX7, part 4
• DX7, part 5
• DX7, part 6
  
  
• DX7 II Ad

TX7 (1985-1987) - DX7 classic in desktop module format

DX7 MANUAL
From Yamaha Manual Library (http://www2.yamaha.co.jp/manual/english/index.html)

• DX7 Owner's manual
• DX7 Voice Library
• DX7 II FD/D Owner's manual
• DX7 II S Owner's manual
• DX7 Manual Online
  By Patrick Benny
• The DX7 Service manuals are available here: The Vintage Store Around The Corner
  

 

REVIEWS AND ARTICLES

• Aftertouch Magazine, Volume 1, No. 2
  Interview With John Chowning - The Father Of Digital FM Synthesis

• Future Music, October 1995:
  Seventh Heaven

• Keyboard, June 85:
  How to program the DX7

• Keyboard:
  Tips, Traps of the DX7

• Keyboard:
  Grey Matter Response E!

• Keyboard:
  Super Max

• Sound On Sound, April 00:
  Synth Secrets - Frequency Modulation, part 1

• Sound On Sound, May 00:
  Synth Secrets - Frequency Modulation, part 2

• Sound On Sound, August 01:
  Yamaha FM Synthesis - Sound Of The 80´s, Part 1

• Sound On Sound, September 01:
  Yamaha FM Synthesis - Sound Of The 80´s, Part 2

 

PROGRAMMING THE DX7

• Carrier - the fundamental tone
  
• Modulator - modulates the carriers that creates harmonics. Some modulators also has feedback that produces harmonics for sounds like for instance sawtooth wave, used in brass and strings.

 

DX7 SOUNDS

File	Format
All DX7 Original ROM-cartridges - 8 banks (1A, 1B, 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B, 4A, 4B)	Syx
Brian Eno's DX7 Patches (Sound chart)	Jpg
Over 300 DX7 banks (a 32 voices)	Syx
Toby's DX7 Voices (68 selected voices, programmed by Torbjörn "Toby" Frisk)	Cpr - Cubase SX
Toby's DX7 Voices (68 selected voices, programmed by Torbjörn"Toby" Frisk)	Mid
Toby's DX7 Voices (68 selected voices, programmed by Torbjörn"Toby" Frisk)	Lib - SoundDiver

 

EDIT PROGRAMS

• Motu Unisyn
• Emagic SoundDiver - Discontinued, but can be found at Ebay etc.

Shareware program:

• DX Manager

 

 

REPLACEMENT KEYS FOR DX7

If a key is broken, you can get a new from Yamaha. The prices for replacement keys for DX7II is:

• $5.48 (+ tax and shipping and handling) for a white key (January 2005)
• $6.40 (+ tax and shipping and handling) for a black key (March 2007)

To place an order Yamaha needs to know what letter key you order.

E-mail for Yamaha parts: partsyca@yamaha.com
Telephone for Yamaha parts: 888 892-6242 (toll free)

They will accept Visa, MC or AMEX

When you have the key, open the bottom, lose the 4 contacts (at least from the keyboard of DX7II) the ground and the screws at the keyboard. Release the keyboard and the white strip behind it. When releasing the keys, start with the white by pushing them a little bit. Then the black if needed.

Carefully put it together again, and check that all keys are working before making to much work with all screws. If a key not is responding, or responding bad it probably depends on the small metal tongue underneath that can easily adjusted from underneath of the keyboard frame.

 

BATTERY CHANGE OF THE DX7

After some years (5-20) the battery that holds the memory of the DX7 will be empty. Then you will need to replace it with a new CR2032 lithium battery inside the DX7. You can find that very cheap at for instance Ebay. Be sure to buy brand name batteries that last, and not nameless junk batteries - they will not last. This is how to replace the battery:

• http://www.thedx7.co.uk/Battery_Change.htm
• http://www.maths.abdn.ac.uk/~bensondj/dx7/battery.txt

After that you´ll need to reload the sounds to the DX7´s memory. You can find some good DX7 voices here above.

DX7 Mainboard

 

THE FIRST FM RECORDING

"Turenas Stria Phone Sabelithe" from 1972 by John Chowning was the first widely presented composition ever to make extensive use of Frequency Modulation (FM).

Turenas Stria Phone Sabelithe

 

LINKS

• Dave Benson DX7 page
• DX Heaven
• Sonicstate
• Unofficial DX7 Resource Center
• Yahoo DX Group
• Yamaha Japan
• Yamaha U.S.