Yamaha DX-100

I am visually impaired so can not read the manual

No onboard sequencer

It reacts just fine

Yes

No. Never got an upgrade or had it repaired.

Best keyboard for a talkbox I've bought. For years, I was trying to figure out how Roger Troutman was sounding like a robot. When I was little, I thought Roger was a girl because of the hi notes. When I got older, and went to concerts, folks would later tell me he was using a Yamaha DX100 keyboard and had a tube hooked up to a speaker for a talkbox. I was hooked. For years, I would learn his parts by voice since I can sing. Then two years ago, I got to speak with Terry Zapp Troutman and he hooked me up with a Yamaha dx100 keyboard. I own a Rocktron talkbox because I feel it is easier for me to set up and use and I don't have to rely on folks to help me set it up incase I can't get eyes. The keyboard has never failed on me at all. I am a musician as a hobby but, hope to turn it in to a living someday and my Yamaha dx100 and talkbox will be right there. That is what I mostly use this keyboard for. Just talkboxing, and nothing else. I have heard the other sounds but, I don't like them. I am not saying the keyboard is bad, I just don't like the other sounds in it. I mostly leave it in the FM saw tooth patch mode for my talkbox. If you really want a Roger Troutman sound, I would really recommend that you get this keyboard. You won't be making the wrong choice when it comes to keyboards.

If I had to recommend a synth to any FM/Digital synthesis novice, this synth would be it. Despite FM synthesis' rather daunting reputation, the DX-100 is surprisingly easy to program and use. Its presets sound quite good, and it's small, light, and a pleasure to carry around.
Programming for this synth is rather simple. Even if you don't have a complete knowledge of FM synthesis, just a little doodling around can result in some pretty neat sounds and effects. If you do know some basics, it's even easier. [One of my other synths has a two-operator FM synth, so I had a clue what to expect.] The manual is wonderfully complete and concise.

The DX-100 has 8-note polyphony and a non-touch-sensitive keyboard, although the synth can respond to touch signals via MIDI from an external controller. There are no built-in effects, you're pretty much stuck with the little "Trick-the-ear" possibilities that you can get via varying operator settings. For example, by using different release rates [Each operator has an independent EG], you can create great reverb. by detuning the operators, you can get flanging and chorus effects. There are no expansion capabilities except via MIDI. Unless you have a data-tape recorder or the appropriate MIDI software, you're stuck with the 24-slot internal memory, 96-slot function memory, and 192-slot preset memory, only the former two of which are editable. Its MIDI functionality is minimal at best. The synth dates from 1986, and the MIDI operation pages in the manual look as if they were printed from a computer one of those old green-and-black monitors. There's no on-board sequencing or arpeggiation unless you're after octave pulses via the single LFO.
The only truly unique function this synth can offer is the little hook-up for a breath controller, the function of which can be controlled during timbre programming.

Although there's no touch sensitivity at all, the breath controller is reasonable at controlling dynamics, but if you use it with a timbre that doesn't sound brassy or windy, you'll get some strange looks unless you're known to be an experimentalist. The mouthpiece, however, whistles when you blow into it, and you can't adjuat the sensitivity or air resistance of the mouthpiece on its own.
This type of synthesis is, to me, good at reproducing characteristics of chordophones [stringed instruments like guitars and harps] and idiophones [Instruments that are struck, like bells, wood-blocks, chimes, etc.]. Bells are indeed some of the easiest instruments to make on this synth. Its basses are quite admirable, as are its xylophones, harps, and marimbas, With the right amount of doodling, you can make sounds that are very thick and rich that you could never reproduce on an analogue machine.
Its capacity for original sounds is also wonderful. One can create chimes and bells that sound otherworldly and aethereally beautiful. For you IDM and Industrial players out there, the DX-100 is fabulous at making clinks, clanks, drones, and metallic effects. You can also make some of the most acidic leads I've ever experienced, and some of the most beautiful pads, too. There's deinitely a reason Brian Eno uses the DX-100's big sister, the DX-7.
The DX-100 also has passable organ-emulating capabilities. Its four ooperators can be tuned at octaves or intervals and mixed with or without modulation to emulate everything from a 2' tibia to a pipe organ at full blast.
Genre-wise, I think the DX-100 can find its niche everywhere.

I can only think of one big BUT.
There are no filters anywhere on this device. This is the only major disadvantage, because on nearly every timbre the FM synthesis creates undesirable harmonics at very high frequencies. I STRONGLY recommend that anyone who uses the DX-100 for non-experimental music to do so with the unit attatched to a filter or an EQ. There are some very good multi-function effects pedals available for around $50 that include equalizers, and since the DX-100 is quite affordable, buying a filter or EQ pedal to go with it shouldn't severely stretch a budget.
The only other nitpick I have is that the synth is mono, but it has enough "Oomph!" to make up for that.

This synth is as old as I am [19] and it's still working fabulously. If that isn't a testament to its durability, I don't know what is.

Never had any trouble with it, neverr needed to contact the company.

It may not be big or heavy, but this little jewel packs quite a punch. Its strengths far outweigh its weaknesses. To tell the truth, having read reviews elsewhere, I was a little daunted at what this synth might end up doing. I had tried to program a DX-7 once, with the result being a grating "IIIIIIIIGH," but the DX-100 is a pleasure to program, a delight to play, and a charmer no matter what.

The DX100 is pretty easy to use,all the factory FM noises are quite good.I haven't edited patches permanently yet,but with 8 algorithms and 4 operators there's a lot more variation than my PSS4&580.I am working on software for editing SYSx format patches, as I did this using a VIC20 for the PSS.Some of the files are available at members.aol.com/templarseries/synths.html. I use MIDI-ox which can be yoked to sequencers like Cakewalk,which means you can pass MIDI info from one program to another,this allows me to use a Casio DH-100 Horn to control the Dx's breath control for dynamic changes. If anyone has a BC-1 breath controller going spare,please let me know.
Yamaha manuals can be obtained from the website via the above URL in PDF format...they are excellent and it's brilliant that you can pick up an old synth and still get the manual if it doesn't have one.

I think the DX is 8 note poly,but can be switched to MONO mode,this is usually a good idea for breath control.There are no effects,but the way the operators are laid out,it is possible to get phasing and trememlo,vibrato and portamento,the latter can be controlled from the keys as well as the MIDI function. It has thorough MIDI control..all 3 ports...SYSx dumping and can respond dynamically to MIDI breath as well as loudness info,which can affect timbre if you set it up correctly,but it does not produce volume key info iteself.It responds well to my PSR420 though.The channels can be set for Rx and Tx and Omni on. The voice storage is excellent and can be dumped via SYSx.There is no sequencer,but frankly this is not it's forte,along with a 5 track PSS580,there is no need for note storage,or one can use a sequenc package.

The only bad presets are the FM basic noises which are intended as basic parameters to work from when creating a timbre. The DX is pretty good at lead solos,and with Modulation and pitch bend built in and a guitar strap,it works well as a Clavitar. I'm currently using it as a primary controller as it produces so much control info,but if you haven't got a BC-1 then try a Casio DH100,which produces Aftertouch (I got mine for #16 which was amazing) info,this can be used if in fact you do not trigger the notes from the DX keyboard,as if you do then they come on at the same time as those from the DH100.
I played the DX over "Missing" by Evanescence....it sounded cool using the LYRISYN preset,which I think is a mimic of an other keyboard...it really squeals...it would probably sound great through a fuzzbox or effects processor,as the FM can sound "dry" if it is not processed,a touch of echo or reverb helps. All the operators can be set to respond to keyboard velocity...so timbre changes can be made the harder you hit a velocity sensetive MIDI keyboard..which is quite expressive,couple that with a breath controller and it sounds quite dynamic.

I got this from a reslae shop on the cheap...I don't know it's history but it looked almost brand new.I cannot say the same for my PSS480 which lost use of it's rubber keys which select the voices..which is why I replaced it with PSS580. The DX is a good introduction to FM synthesis and if you can't afford a DX 7,get one of these.It also has a cassette interface for storing voices,but these days it's probably better to do it via SYSx and MIDI-ox or something which stores SYSx dumps.

Get PDF manuals from Yamaha,they are free and take a while to download but are excellent for finding out stuff you never knew your equipment could do. I would like to find out if they still do BC1 controllers but apparently you can get a replacememt unit from MIDI Solutions.com.

This is a brilliant keyboard and well worth #25...Amazing considering I paid #30 for a PSS580 which has only one operator.The only real problem with this unit is the capacity to get some of the performance controls to respond to the required inputs,as there are so many variations,you really have to know what you are doing.

Presets are pretty good for FM. I borrowed this from a friend and was
impressed. I just wanted those sounds for my tx802's. Worked out some
conversion problems and now I can have them in a better environment.
The extra two operators are great for chorus. Just copy a carrier and
modulator and detune.

I think polyphony is eight voice.
No effects. No expansion. No velocity on the keyboard but will receive and use velocity for a few sounds(less than 10 of the 192
presets). No sequencer.

I wanted the strings mostly. They were better than the dx factory string presets. The tx816 has a couple great fm string sounds that I
have gotten since but the converted silk cello is great in 12 operator. The orchestra is good in 12 op. Old Electro came out great.
Acoustic Electric, Yeah!

Pull out the little plastic strip with the round holes that's between
the pickup strip and the key bottoms. Through it away.

Yamaha made a dx7 rom upgrade in '89 for the first generation. I've
been trying to get it.

There are 96 rom sounds in this that are in a special area called the
'shift mode'. These are different than the 96 basic presets. To get
to them press and hold Internal Play and press the +1 button. Then
hold function and press one of the four (a-d) bank buttons. 96 new sounds! If you power off, the keyboard defaults back to the 'normal'
group. You can also get back to the normal group by holding Internal
Play and pressing -1.

This was the first synth I ever owned (I've still got it), and while it's not the absolute toughest synth to program, it can also be a bit intimidating. The manual is a definite help, so download one from Yamaha if one didn't come with when you bought the board. Bank changes and patch selection are pretty simple.

8-note polyphony, monotimbral, responds to velocity and aftertouch only through MIDI (not through the keys). Combine this with a smallish 49 mini-key setup, no split/layer functions, no arpeggiators, and no "Local Off" switch, and you've got yourself a joke of a master keyboard. No effects, no sequencer, no bells, no whistles. This is not a workstation. Features-wise, this is a supplementary or beginner's keyboard.

If you are looking for a cheap MIDI keyboard to run other gear or control soft synths, then keep looking. For about the same price you can get an M-Audio Oxygen8 controller or something.

The noise floor can be a bit high, but that also might just be the output jack on my particular board.

Because the keys do not respond to dynamics (velocity, aftertouch, etc.), this is not the most emotive piece of gear. In addition, the sounds also tend to be a bit flat right out of the gate. But once you get to know the board, EQ it, maybe a little chorus or reverb, a touch of delay, and you can embiggen the sound amazingly.

As noted elswhere, the "Solid Bass" patch is pretty good, and "Drawbars" and "Club Organ" hit me right in the drone zone. Look out Boards of Canada.

Bell sounds in particular are a strong suit of FM synthesis, and there are a couple of really cool Tubular Bell and Gong patches. Some decently wacky FX. Respectable organs and electric pianos. However, do not try to imitate an acoustic piano with this thing, or your ears will throw up.

Otherwise, the presets are nothing to write home about. Hit the net, make your own. There's a lot of room for experimentation.

I've never had a problem, but then again I've never really used it outside my studio, so I don't know. It seems solid enough for something so small.

Bought mine used, so I don't think Yamaha would be that willing to fix it. Their website is pretty good, though.

Here's the crucial point; This thing, it can take you just about anywhere. The whole DX line is amazing, and the DX100, one of the humblest little brothers of the FM family, is still heir to all the versitile power and uncanny capability of its larger (and more expensive) forbears. For as cheap as you can get these little fuckers on Ebay, they're a great deal if you want to get into FM synthesis. I'll be keeping mine for a long time.

All in all, it is a small wonder.

well the dx 100 is so easy to use i never was in doubt about the sounds can do a lot just take time and follow my instructions boy! and you will see how good a dx 100 is i tell you i traveled all over with my dx and it was great

8 notes aux max was the standard then but not bad boring but not bad no effects just fm synhtesizer program of 8 algorithms and breath controller full midi capacity memory stable until no cards no boards just what they put it out for dx 100 can do some great programs if you just take some advice no sequenceing

sort of undepenable after the battery backup goes seems like everything else goes with it

yamaha is a pretty good musical instrument factory if not the best they are probably almost there so what about

i traded it in for kawai k1m in 89 and still miss it from that day till i get 1. not used though i do try to look out for 1 dx 100 was diverse and i think still will always be what it was a small division of fm synthesizer with very big bold output simple and over

Dont know its age..bought it off Ebay 2 weeks ago. Some presets are OK, some are cheezy. You can find free, downloadable manuals for it in PDF format on the net, and I recomend it. I did a search from MSN and found one in about 3 or 4 tries. I belive if you go to www.yamahasyth.com, you can download them straight from yamaha for free. The manual is good and in the end, walks you thur making an electric piano sound. This is my first FM synth and I figured it would be tough, but its easy. You can start trashing sounds right away....there's really not much to it. What takes the time, is figuring out how to get the sound you want. Which is why I bought it to begin with. I wanted to get my fingers dirty again with a synth.

8 note polyphony. 4 operator synth. 49 mini keys, playable in a pinch. I responds to velocity sensitivity via MIDI, so if you have a controler keyboard, like me, you get alot more out of it. Of course, its from 1984 at best, so there are no effects or expansion. Basic synth. Because its almost 20 years old, I cant knock it too hard in the features dept.

Some sounds are really nice. I bought it for a spacy, techno, DepechMode noise maker and maybe some Rhodes sounds. Run it thru Chorus and it fattens up very nice. I only play it with chorus now...it brings it to life. Yamaha, at the time of the FM craze, packed a shitload of parameters and control into their synths, and you get that here too. They revolutionized the standard ADSR envelopes and those have held to this day. You have amazing control over the behavior of a sound and the way it evolves over time.
A synth, like a computer, is only as good as the user. If your're reading this, imagine you're favorite keyboard player on a $50 Walmart toy keyboard. He/She would kick ass anyway. The point being, I dont think any synth is geared toward any particular music.
I have found though, that some sounds are hard to get....or at least I haven't figured out how to do it yet....ie lush pads. I had a Roland Juno 106 once. Analog synth and made nice lush pads very easily. I'd already read in the DX posts that pads are hard to get...I'll have to keep trying. I've come close. But there are 8 algorithms, and I've yet to get to all of them.

Most Yamaha stuff is rock solid. I'll probably have it for life. Although I did have one of the first 4 track cassette recorders that Yamaha released...big grey console looking thing that I punched out of frustration. <:-D

never had to deal with support.

If lost or stolen, I'd move up to the DX7 or the new DX200 box. Man! Its a $499 DX7 with knobs and a sequencer. Check out the demo's at Yamahasynth.com. I dont play synths as much as I use them for making soundscapes. I wanted something that could give complex, complicated sounds for a cheep, cheep price and this will do just that. I hate that fact that there are only 24 user memory banks. But hey, its 20 years old. You CANT get a more complex sounding tone box for the price that these little guys go for on Ebay. Tweaking the presets is well worth the effort and its an affordable way to jump into FM synthisis. If you have a sequencer, the bass sounds are great as are the lead syth type sounds. The lead synth sounds remind me of alot of what I hear on the new Depech Mode cd Exciter.

It's very clear. Just choose an operator, set the frequency, output level and envelope settings and you'll have a nice sound :)-
You can mute operators with dedicated buttons, and jump from one to another with just one button, so you see, it's quite easy!

8 voice polyphony, small, MIDI, Data entry slider, mono out and headphones out, it can function with batteries, etc. Nice envelopes: Attack Rate, Decay Rate, Decay Level, Decay 2 Rate, Release Rate. "Recall Edit" if you loose your patch in an accident. "Init Voice" to start from scratch. 96 presets, 24 user patches, bulk dump, etc, etc. You can even assign different velocities responses to each operator (COOL).

Great basses, organs, electric pianos, Fx's, etc. I don't like the pads, unless you put chorus or flanger on them, but that's personal taste. The basses are so good that are at the same level of some classic analogues (yes, I'm an analogue fan too), overall the "Solid Bass" patch, wich is one of the better and most popular bass sounds of all time.

Depends on you (or the past owners). Mine works perfectly, it only have a little problem on the main output, but it work fine if you are careful. It's not very attractive for playing live, since it have small keys and just one slider, but it's so small that you can consider it as a module with keys :)

I don't know, really.

I love Yamaha because they always try to put as much as they can on every synth they make, and they were criticized for that, so they're not for lazy programmers. This synth is not an exception, it have more functions than the rest of the synths of it's age/price. So you have to be ready to accept it's digital FM sound, which is very diferent from analogue and sampling, but it can add a whole new world of sounds, and help you make a more personal sound, a bit wider than most bands.
I wouldn't buy it again because my Nord Modular have the same FM oscillators, so I have backup copies of my DX100 patches in the Nord ;) But I would recommend it to anyone who doesn't have an FM synth and love real synth programming (no sample playback shit).

The presets are pretty good. The best sounds are basses (Solid Bass ROCKS HARD!!!) Wicked for techno and trance.
Atmospheric patches are really good too, as well as the weird special effects found in the last bank.
The overall sound is obviously a bit harsh and digital, but who cares.
Once you put effects on patches, or even without effets, and you put the sound in your mix, you can't really tell.
People say it's hard to edit, bullshit! Just start pressing edit buttons and experiment freely.
Just write down the original setting if you want to go back to your original sound, as the synth keeps all edits.
The first day I had it, I was coming up with wickrd techno basses, bleeps and blops in no time!
Just experiment, it's easy.

Polyphony is 8. More than enough for this unitimberal synth. Even with the small keys, the synth is quite playable.
It's portable, you can take it anywhere. It fits anywhere in your studio. Has midi in/out/thru, all work great.
It's not pressure sensitive, but who cares.
It's quite easy to get around on, all parameters are layed out for you on the synth casing.

Best for techno basses and crazy techno sound effects that go in the background of
your mix. Great organs, but even crazier when programmed.Some strings and pads are actually pretty good for a digital FM synth. Put some effects
on 'em and they'll sound great! All the realistic instruments sound like shit. But so what, it's not what you got this synth for.
Program them and come up with your own crazy sounds. Some atmospheric patches are wicked too.
Really good for futuristic / funky / minimal techno.

Never broke down. You have to reverse the polarity on the power supply if you're using a 3rd party one
and not the one that came with the synth. It's solid and reliable. But obviously to it's size and solidity,
it wasn't meant to be thrown around.

Never needed it.

It was more than worth it for what I payed. Mine is in mint condition.
I would definitly get another one if I saw it for really cheap. It sits
perfectly in the mix with other digital and analogue synths I own.
No complaints about it. It's very, very usefull, especially for the price.
I've made complete minimal techno tracks just using a drum machine,
one sample off the sampler, an effects box and a single DX 100 bass patch.
You obviously can't compare it to a good analogue synth, but it sounds great
for what it is.

Tokyama-mama city.. this is a nightmare to program without a manual. It's fully programmable through midi. Find a site with DX21 or DX100 patches and a SYSEX dump utility. Don't try programming it unless you know how to do it or have a manual...

Goofy-ass keyboard! Polyphony? Seems like there's some on it! Don't know how many voices though. Keyboard action? Have you EVER SEEN one of these? They're tiny! I mistook it for a beginner Casio or PSR when I first saw it. The lady at the shop had to direct my attention to it as I completely blew it off! I thought it was one of those ones your put your voice on and plays that aweful 'blah-blah blah blah' crap. Supposedly this one was owned by the guy from P-Funk (I'm in atlanta) and I actually know and trust these people, so, I'm fairly confident that was true..
I don't know what to say about this really. CHEEZ city. But it sounds so novel! I liked it immediately, and bought it. It has only mono out... so make sure you have a mixer for it. It makes very nice effects and such.

It's a 4-op FM synthesizer. It's goofy. It sounds like cheese-soup. It's very strange, most cool, and so damn small. It's at it's best making bizzare FX sounds to be mixed way off in the background. I'm under the impression it has velocity, but, I think it's only via midi.

?? Gig with this thing? I'd be laughed off the stage! They'd think I'd be using a cheap-o casio voice keyboard until I hit a note and let it roar!

I bought this used many years after it was out of production. I'd bet they could still be fixed by Yamaho but, dunno.

It's a very different kind of synthesizer. It's a Yamaho FM synth. I never used one before, so it's completely weird to me. If you're used to the DX stuff, you'd feel right at home with it. Personally I like monstrous analog vintage synths with knobs myself. You know, the ones that break down more than they work... the ones that sound like they're alive, not stillborn... the ones that need a second mortgage on the home to afford.. etc.. or a B3 :)
I like analog, but this one was very cool. It's small size is ideal for crowded studios (like mine). I like it a lot, but you have to tinker with how to shape the sound after it's out of the board (preamps, effects, etc). But then, you might actually LIKE the harsh digital tone.

You can strap this keyboard on, and it's got the pitch-bend and mod wheels just where you want them to JAM!!! The patch editing is so easy, you can transpose and change mod functions on-the-fly. I haven't even used the breath controller that I got with my latest one (4th one), but I was able to hot-wire the foot pedal to be modulation (wah on clav, vibrato, etc..) and it's my favorite keyboard!! (Selling one?????)

Features are identical to the DX-21. Only difference I know of is the DX-100 has snaps on the side for a standard guitar strap.

Incredible bass tones, great Clavinet, OK organs and pianos, best at funky tones and flutish sounds. The effects are great too, birds, helicopter, etc... If I spent more time I'd have some trademark sounds!

Just don't use the wrong power supply on it, and it'll last forever.

Ordered the service manuals, they were pretty helpful. Can't find people to fix them though.

Selling one? I want it! You will one day see me as the famous "wears 2 keyboards strapped on!" guy. Great as a beginning synth, and with the breath controller and programmability, it's ideal.