Sound Of Music

 

BACKGROUND

1973 Yamaha´s organ division began to develop a prototype FM monosynth, and 1975 they built 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...

 

DESCRIPTION

TX816 is 8 TF1 in one MRF8 system unit. One TF1 is like a DX7 or TX7 and 100% compatible with the DX7 and other Yamaha 6-operators synthesizers. At the front of the TF1s are 4 button. It's recommended to edit with an edit program in a computer. But you can also edit TX816 with a DX7 and the parameters there - it's perfect. Functions such MIDI etc can be programmed from each TF1.

Each FM voice is created by setting the value of 145 Editing parameters and 25 Function parameters (at a DX7 as well as TF1). Multiply that by 8 = 1160 Editing Parameters and 200 Function parameters. That's a lot.

At the rear of each TF1 is a MIDI in and MIDI out socket and a XLR audio output. So you'll need 8 channels on a mixing console (preferable with XLR inputs) for the audio signal, because there is no common stereo output on the TX816. But at the front is a common MIDI in and MIDI out for all 8 modules, so you don't need a lot of MIDI cables.

ADVARDS

TX816 was nominated for best Musical Instrument Technology by Technical Excellence & Creativity Awards (Mix Foundation for Excellence in Audio, INC and the publisher of Mix) 1986 together with E-mu Systems Emulator II, Ensoniq Mirage Digital Multi-Sampler, Fairlight Instruments Computer Musical Instrument Series III, Linn Electronics Linn 9000 and New England Digital Synclavier Digital Audio System (winner). All of these (maybe except the Mirage) are still today desirable among synth players around the world.

 

SOUND ARCHITECTURE

TX816 is the ultimate FM-synthesizer, a really monster synth. In a typical sound, for instance an electric piano, the different modules is used to different part of the sound: the attack, the key release, body sound, harmonics etc. That way to use the synthesizer makes it very dynamic, probably more than all other synthesizers. Its not recommended to double the exactly the same sound a couple times - it will be lot of phase problems and the sound will be poor. Have a slight different sounds instead, or build the sound with the TF1s like described above.

Yamaha TF1

HOW TO REPLACE THE LITHIUM BATTERY IN A TF1 MODULE

If the digit 4 appears in the display of a TF1 module every time you start the TX816 the lithium battery is to low and you have to replace it. Otherwise the TF1 soon will lose all data.

1. Save the presets for the TF1 module. All presets of the specific TF1 module will be lost as soon you release the old battery, or if you don't replace the battery before its to late
   
2. Unplug the power cord from the wall
   
3. Release some few screws at the rear and front of the particular TF1 module
   
4. Release the TF1 module from the cabinet. No cables - just pull/push it. The direction is from the rear to the front
   
5. A 3V lithium battery (cr2032) is soldered on the mainboard. Release it - solder
   
6. Replace with a new similar standard 3V Lithium Battery - solder. You'll find that kind of lithium batteries on Ebay or in regular electronic stores such Radio Shack. It can be a good idea to buy some few of them - you'll maybe need to replace more batteries soon, and they are not expensive, just a few $.
   
7. Put back the TF1 in the cabinet
   
8. Load the presets to the module again

Yamaha TF1

 

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

 

3rd PART TX216 AND TX816

The German company Jellinghouse, that also made the DX programmer, was distributor of Yamaha at the 80s, and they made a special TX216 rack module with 2 TF1 mounted side ways.

Jellinghouse TX216

TX816 was the top synth so many musicians wanted during the 80s, but it was not affordable for all musicians. There were more inexpensive options to the TX816. One of these options was to buy a TX216 (2 TF1 in a MRF8 rack). Another was to buy TX816 from a 3rd part manufacturer, considerably cheaper than the original Yamaha, such this TX-rack (that could be found in the ads in Keyboard Magazine many ears ago), containing a number of TF1 in another rack than Yamaha's MRF8

TX Rack - configured with 2 TF1 as a TX216

TX Rack - configured with 8 TF1 as a TX816

Rear of the TX rack

 

FM7 AS TX816

There is also a good software that can emulate a TX816: Native Instruments FM7. Load 8 different FM7 and the presets that you'll find below, and you have a TX816. We have made a special Cubase SX Project configured as a TX816 with all factory patches installed on 8 FM7 modules. A FM7 is required.

The sound of 8 FM7 compared to TX816? We A/B-tested and the result was just a little bit thinner (FM7) but convincing.

Native Instruments FM7

 

BROCHURES

• TX816 Original brochure, part 1
• TX816 Original brochure, part 2
• TX816 Original brochure, part 3
• TX816 Original brochure, part 4
• TX816 Original brochure, part 5
• TX816 Original brochure, part 6
• TX816 brochure, part 1 (Japanese)
• TX816 brochure - part 2 (Japanese/English)

 

TX816 DEMO

• TX816 audio demo from Electronic Soundmaker magazine June 1985, performed from a Yamaha KX88 Master keyboard and Yamaha QX1 Sequencer

• Demo from the TX816 showcase when it was first released at Frankfurt Musik Messe 1985

• The complete sound set of the demonstration disk from Yamaha for the TX816 in the Yamaha MDR format (hardware sequencer)

 

TX816 MANUAL
From Yamaha Manual Library (http://www2.yamaha.co.jp/manual/english/index.html)

• TX816 Operation Directory
• TX816 Owner's Manual
• TX816 Performance Notes - part 1
• TX816 Performance Notes - part 2
• TX816 Performance Notes - part 3
• TX816 Performance Notes - part 4
• The TX816 Service manual is available here: The Vintage Store Around The Corner

 

The onboard pullout TX816 operational guide sheet

 

REVIEWS AND ARTIKELS

• 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

 

TX816 and an original box

PROGRAMMING TX816

Tips: Learn first how to program the DX7, then continue with TX816. The DX7 has 6 operators or sinus tone-oscillators. Each of the operators can be one of following:

• 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.

The DX7 is a perfect tool for programming and edit the TX816. A software program can also be very useful, especially Bert Keizer's TX816 adapter, that can be downloaded from this page.

A good start for understanding the concept of programming FM-synth's is to read these documents:

• How to program the DX7 from Keyboard, June 85
  
• A beginners Guide To FM-Synthesis
  
• Basic FM Synthesis

 

Rear of the Yamaha TX816

 

Mixing console settings

Adjust the volume to the same level at all 8 channels. Pan like this:

Module 1 - 100% left
Module 2 - 100% right
Module 3 - 50 % left
Module 4 - 50 % right
Module 5 - 25% left
Module 6 - 25% right
Module 7 - center
Module 8 - center

It will be easier to handle the TX816 if you address these 8 channels to a stereo subgroup on the mixing console, if you don't have a dedicated mixer just for the TX816.

 

TX816 PATCHES

File	Format
TX816 Adapter version 1.2 for SoundDiver, by Bert Keizer, including patches (SoundDiver required)	SoundDiver
TX816 Factory Patches	Cubase SX Project (cpr)
	Logic-Song (lso)
	Midi-File (mid)
	Midi-File, Single Patches (mid)
	System Exclusive (syx)
Toby's TX816 Patches 1 (by Torbjörn "Toby" Frisk)	Cubase SX Project (cpr)
	Logic-Song (lso)
	Midi-File (mid)
TX816 Demo sound	MDR-File (Yamaha MDR)
TX816 Factory Patches as FM7 in Cubase SX format (FM7 required)	Cubase SX-File (cpr)

How to load the sounds to TX816

The easiest way to load for instance the Factory Presets to the TX816 is to load the .mid-files through the Windows Media Player (if you use a PC). The mode of the TF1 modules is best to have on Common Mode.

1. Unmute the Memory Protect button at the TF1 module one
2. Load the file for the TF1 module 1 from the Windows Media Player
3. Activate Memory Protect on the TF1 module 1 again
4. Unmute the Memory Protect button on the TF1 module two
5. Load the next file, for the TF1 module 2 from the Windows Media Player
6. Activate Memory Protect on the TF1 module 2 again
7. Repeat the steps above for module 3-8.

If the loading was successful a AF will be displayed on the TF1 modules after some few seconds, when the file transfer is completed.

If the loading was not successful nothing new appear in the display. Probably you have to make a adjustment in your computer so the Windows Media player will play through the MIDI-port the TX816 is connected to. If you use Windows XP, make the adjustment (Control Panel > Sound and Audio Devices > Audio > MIDI Music Playback). If you use a sequencer the problem can be that the tempo is to fast - slow it down to for instance 80 bpm.

SoundDiver's TX816 adaptation v1.2 by Bert Keizer is the best tool for edit and manage all the TX816's TF1 modules simultaneously. Highly recommended.

Another great way is to use the Yamaha QX1 sequencer

TX816 HARDWARE PROGRAMMERS

There were some hardware editors for the TX816 (DX7) in the 80s:

• Beetle PR-7, manufactured by Beetle Incorporated from Burbank, California, was designed exclusive for TX7 and TX216-TX816 and was a 19" rack mounted DX7 front panel with backlit LCD and ROM/RAM cartridge port. The list price was $495

Beetle PR-7

Beetle PR-7 rear

• DX programmer from 1987 was a large blue analog style programmer for Yamaha FM line synths such TX816, manufactured by the German synthesis specialized company Jellinghaus. Each parameter had its own knob - total 148 knobs and switches. Only about 25-50 DX Programmers were made.

Jellinghouse DX Programmer

 

TX816 & QX1

One great companion to the TX816 is the Yamaha QX1 sequencer, from the mid 80's too, and built special for use with TX816 as a power setup. It has a special TX mode in/TX mode out and 8 independent outputs that can be connected to the 8 MIDI inputs on the TF1 slots. And therefore its possible to send different sysex data (for the patches) to the different slots at the same time. The voice data is stored on floppy disks (5 1/4", non DOS format).

Its old and slow, but powerful together with the TX816.

A power setup from the 80's with Yamaha TX816, QX1, DX7 & RX11. From Yamaha QX1 Owner's Manual

 

DIGITAL 8 CHANNEL OUTPUT FOR TX816

Instead of having 8 XLR cables running to your mixer console or sound card, you can have a single light pipe cable if your mixer or sound card has an ADAT input (TOS link). You need to invest in a 8 channel A/D converter, for instance a Behringer ADA8000 (approximately $200). Run 8 XLR Cables from the TX816 to the A/D converter, and from that just a small light pipe cable to your mixer with ADAT input, or your sound cards ADAT in.

ADAT optical TOS link cables (Light pipe) can be bought from places such Ebay for some few dollars.

 

EDIT PROGRAMS

There are many tools for sedating a TX816. Basically a TX816 is 8 DX7 in a 4 HU rack and there are 5 types of tools for programming and editing a TX816:

• DX7 or a KX76/KX88
• External hardware programmer
• DX7 edit software
• TX816 edit software
• An application in a host sequencer program such an environment in Emagic Logic, panels in Steinberg Cubase SX, Cakewalk Sonar and Opcode Vision/Studio Vision (Mac only)

 

Shareware programs:

TX816 Edit for PC and Atari ST

Commercial programs:

Motu Unisyn
Emagic SoundDiver - Discontinued, but can be found at Ebay etc.
Soundquest/Midiquest

 

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

 

TX816 IN FILMSCORES

Many movies in 80s contained TX816 on the tracks. The sound track to the film "Runaway" staring Tom Selleck (from "Miami Vice"), from 1984, was done solely on a TX816 and QX1 sequencer. Composer was Jerry Goldsmith. Here is a sound clip from the movie ("Ground floor").

Runaway - the movie

Runaway - the soundtrack

 

 

SPECIFICATIONS

	TX216	TX816
Power Requirements	100-120V (60Hz) (U.S./Canadian Model) 100-120V/220-240V (General Model)	100-120V (60Hz) (U.S./Canadian Model) 100-120V/220-240V (General Model)
Power Consumption	22W	70W
Dimensions (W x H x D)	480 x 176 x 346 mm 18 7/8" x 6 15/16" x 13 5/8"	480 x 176 x 346 mm 18 7/8" x 6 15/16" x 13 5/8"
Weight	10 kg (22 lbs)	12 kg (26,6 oz 1.)

TX816 Dimensions

LINKS

• Atari Editor for TX816
• DX Heaven
• Harmony Central
• Sonicstate
• The MIDI function they forgot for TX816
• TX816 Editor
• TX 816 search from Google User Groups
• TX816 User group
• Virtuelles Synthesizer-Museum
• Yamaha in Japan
• Yamaha U.S.
• Yamaha Synthesizers