Yamaha DX-7

I have no idea of what software version I'm using since my DX-7 has been just a controller for the last 12 years. $2200 was a LOT of money in 1981, especially for a USED synth, but that is what I gladly paid for mine. I was one of the first in town to have one, and I actually made few bucks renting it out. I was blown away by the "crystalline" sounds, especially the electric piano ones. But, my quest at the time was for something that would approximate a grand piano sound, and I hadn't heard any synth (Prophet 5 included) that would even begin to allow one to "build" it. When I started dicking around with editing (and yes, I did go slightly insane as many others have), I began to see some possibilities. After 6 months of editing (2 hours a day, every day), I finally came up with what I thought was a passable grand piano patch (I listen to it now and cringe). I had heard other attempts at same from other DX-7 hackers and wasn't impressed. One guy in Nashville had gotten some notoriety from his piano sound. Mike Meros of the Beach Boys sent it to me and I thought it blew. I put an ad in Keyboard magazine, offering a detailed printed sheet of the parameters for $15 or programming any memory carts sent to me. I actually made about $200 selling my "Grand Piano" patch. The manual? What a joke........

I'm a guitar player, and MIDI wasn't something I cared about or bothered to learn until years later when I set up a production studio at home. I've always loved the action of the DX-7. It isn't "spongy" like alot of other synths, and has a very firm "down-stop" unlike most others as well. The biggest problem I am having now is with the velocity range, especially using it with GIGASAMPLER. The DX-7's velocity output is limited from 16 to 109, and is somewhat uneven throughout that range. You'll get increments of "1" from 16 to 29, then the increments increase by 4's, and finally 9's. GIGA users will tear their hair out, especially when trying to use REAL GIGADRUMS and the DX-7 as a controller. No effects, no sequencer. Polyphony is fine (from what I can tell). I never bothered with any expansion stuff, though the "E" thing was all the rage back then.

Hey, there's TWO "S"s in "EXPRESSIVENESS".........The DX-7 was one of the first to have "aftertouch", but I never benefited much from it. The presets were all very "bright" (digital M synthesis...). I especially liked the organ and electric piano sounds. some of the brass wasn't bad...for 1980!

My DX never gigged, so I can't comment on reliability. One time, I had a problem with the keyboard not responding from C-0 ( I think....) up to C-1. So, I took the thing apart. Anyone who has ever taken apart a DX-7 understands the true terror of such an undertaking, and I was convinced that mine would never work again after getting it apart. But lo and behold, there it was - one tiny wire that had been jarred loose from a PC board. I resoldered it, put the thing back together, and....it worked!!

Nada to all above

Don't know what I'd replace it with. I have been looking at other controller possibilities (and would appreciate any input from other GIGA users). again, I am not a keyboard player (thank God for sequencing). The only other keyboard I ever owned was a Rhodes suitcase model which I sold for $200 (and should have been shot for doing so). The DX-7 was the talk of the town in 1981. But when I heard the Prophet 5 a year later..well, I could never have afforded the $5000 that they cost. Overall, my DX-7 has served me well. It's helped me produce hundreds of jingles and msuic beds....paid for itself a thousandfold.

Some 10 odd years ago I bought a TX-7 and a Roland MKB 300 to complement a midi Gulbranson organ and our acoustic piano. I am a keyboard soloist, and at that time I previewed 1000 odd patches selecting selecetd 32 but confined my "playing" to about 8:
- a couple of Rhodes patches ... these are wonderful with some sustain (I do not have reverb)
- an e-Piano patches ....this can complement the thich Gulbranson "theatre organ,
- a Vibe patch ... not strong or realistic below middle C, an equalizer might help
- 2 Bass patches ... OK for effect and intro phrasing,
- a trombone patch that is great as a jazz band! and finaly
- a Jazz Guyitar patch ... this patch has GREAT potential ... but as the MKB-300 has very little "shock-absorption" hammering its keys for the "attack" abuses the finger joints !

No comment as I use an MKB-300

The Jazz guitar, e-piano, rhodes, and trombones are terrific, especially when layered with my Gulbranson. Here you can ripple a jazz riff or play 5 note chords with touch, sustain and tremolo that rival the big bands!

Well I stoped using my "stuff" about 8 years ago. For the 1st two years it was just fine.

Now I am starting up again with XP and USB-Midi.

I am habituated to keyboards and I find that many patches are not suited to a "player". That said, those that are, are no longer a match for the $500US sound modules that are available today.

As a player, I am looking for more reverb and reality in the instruments (patches) that I have mentionned above.

I will keep my TX-7 and MKB-300 uintil I win the lottery!

see others.

enough for that time.

no other choice.

oh yeah

The legand.The sounds of the 80's.kicked M1 and D50 alive on the road and studio producing numerious original sounding hits though it was older. I grew up in asia in the 80's.all the songs and solos are mostly done by DX7,(jupiter 8 and 4 for some exeption).In live every KB player wanted one.they were not satisfied when SY22 came out with sample playback idea.For the look ,it was hotter then hell even until now.Extremely pro looking yet stylish and giving you 'only pros can touch me' look.Those algorithms plate ,under keypad(cool green),the letters,pitch,mod wheel ,all were well done.thanks to design engineers. I've seen it alot on TV and live but my first experience was a knock out awesome.I was there to record and there were an Ensoniq(Mirage I guess),and a Korg Poly ,and DX kicked all of of them. If you have a chance to get one ,grab it. And if you are a pro KB player,have a DX and the racks rather than some funny looking Triton or keyboards from 90's.You will look like a pro and sound like one.Even all pro KB players will respect you. Enough said.

Original version.... early 1980s
Presets are kind of weak, but there are so many downloadable patches for these that really sound great, notably Rhodes and organs.. Download DX manager. It makes SYSEXing a breeze.

Polyphony... don't really remember. Keyboard action is really good. Semi weighted (synth action) keys. No built in effects. Can only take the original RAM and ROM cards.... the only way to get sounds in or out is via MIDI. No sequencer. They sold almost 200,000 of these, they're built like a tank. Even my girlfriend could not wreck it.

Rhodes and organs sound really good. Bass instruments (contrary to what vintagesynth.com sez) I think are weak. Subtereanean sounds get really warbly. Velocity and after touch are good!

Really really reliable. Would (and have) gigged it with no back-up. I'm primarily a bass player, use it for keyboard bass and some hits.

Only dealt with Yamaha customer support once, it's too old for them to support. Their support was HORRIFIC. Total jackasses.

I really like it, works well for a MIDI controller, although program changes do not transmit. Despite the keys being distractingly noisy, the feel is really good. After all, these sold for KING CASH when they were new. Easy to MIDI sounds to it, lots of people still use them!

No software - just buttons. Ya gotta know what yer doin'! Once you do it's a very happy world.

MIDI of course, is not "up to spec". It was one of the first...

It's a Real Synthesizer! Anything sample-based (almost everything, nowadays) is second generation sound, of course.

Had mine 20 years. No problems ever. Not even a battery replacement.

Pretty helpful. I had some questions when I was trying to decide between TX802/816 TG77.

It's a monster. It can do everything you'd ask from a true synthesizer.

Many specific details of this instrument have been covered numerous times, I'll spare you the redundant reading.

<c:

So what's so difficult about the user interface of the DX7? If you are patient and really interested in FM synthesis, you will begin to grasp the DX7 in time. It will take a bit longer to learn than some of the other digital synths out there, but if you love FM it's worth the learning curve. One big boost in learning FM with the DX7 is to commit yourself to load a patch manually, using a data sheet. There are approx. 140 parameters to enter for one patch, it takes awhile. However, I guarantee you will begin to understand the synth better if you take the time to do this.

For those who would rather edit and create patches on a computer screen, there are software editors available that make the synth more 'visual'. I'll rate the ease of use at '7' because each function is directly available on the keypad, so are the patches. Seems pretty intuitive to me.

The keyboard action on the DX7, among semi-weighted keybeds, is among the absolute best. A perfect 10 for playability (weighted keybeds are nice, but packing them around is not for me). Once you play an instrument with the Yamaha FS action (DX7, Korg M1, Triton Classic 61, Motif 61) most others feel lifeless and disappointing. Some of the Rolands (Fantom S 61, XP-60, D50) have great keybeds as well. For me, this is one of the most important features of a synthesizer... if it feels cheap or lifeless, I'm not going to be inspired to play it often. The DX7 needs an outboard effects processor. No need to spend a fortune, an Alesis NanoVerb for $99 is enough to give basic chorus, reverb, delay, and rotary speaker. If you play an assortment of decent DX7 patches for the first time, in mono, no effects... you will be uninspired. Now add effects, something simple, even if just a touch of stereo reverb, and play the same patches. Night and day difference. A bit limited as far as features these days, but hey - 20 years ago, nothing could touch it.

Between the sounds loaded on the synth when I got it, my editing, and loading banks via midi, I have a soundset that I'm reasonably happy with... I gig with a loud rock band and use the following types of sounds: piano (not great, but I've heard worse from newer instruments), electric piano (not the over-bright 'Fulltines', but a mellow, warm FM epiano), flute, organ, strings, perc synth and poly synth type leads, and (my favorite ) Wurlitzer patches.

Seems that some of my favorite sounds, which I would call 'warm' sounding, have a bit of aliasing noise... maybe the DX7 cannot sound warm without some aliasing. I may try a DX7 II someday to see if there is a difference in the aliasing noise.

Responds to velocity and atertouch like nothing else (except the models stated above).

Can you depend on it??? This thing is 20 years old and works like the day it left the factory. It is absolutely the benchmark for reliability, hands down, no contest.

I have to gig without a backup because I can't afford one and wouldn't want to pack an second board anyway.

Customer support? Never dealt with Yamaha, never needed to because they built this product right (as with all Yamaha products).

A product that never needs support... That, my friends, is the ultimate in customer support.

If lost or stolen I would buy another DX7 or DX7 II immediately, and ask almighty God to have no mercy on the soul who took my DX7.

Been playing keys off and on since 1986, recently got serious again and started gigging (primarily play bass, but migrating to half bass, half keys.)

In summary, if you use effects with the DX7 and are interested in FM, you will enjoy this instrument. Guaranteed.

I am not using any software. I am downloading FM-Alive as we speak to try it out. I like the programming structure. Once you visualize the waves in your head, programming becomes second nature.

Love the feel of the keyboard. Synth Action with aftertouch and velocity sensitivity. MIDI is a little slow for modern soft synths (does anyone know how to fix this?). very flexible if you know what you are doing.

Instruments?? I dont think it has 'instruments' its just waveforms made to mimic waveforms, not sample playback. OH yeah! Talk about the 80s. I may have not have lived to see the 80s, but I have heard LOADS of records with these sounds on them. Great stuff!!

EASILY!! This thing can fall from the stage and still keep on working. It can be dropped and still work. It is a tank. I accidentally knocked it against a brick wall. It marked the brick wall (but the white paint was still intact)
YES! My DX-7 is WHITE!!!!

Never worked with Yamaha. But there are HUNDREDS of people who can help with your DX-7. If it breaks and you cant get it fixed...get a new one on EBAY!!

Great board. I use the basses and analoge simulations for my music. Killer electric piano capablilites.


me: kajafan86@playful.com
yup, born in 1986..my DX-7 is older than I am by about 2-3 years

i own a first generation dx7 which i bought for a measly 175 EUR.
i was very surprised that editing patches is ... well, not as easy as on any old anlogue, but can actually be quite fun even for a novice to fm. the quality of many random results is rewarding in itself, and very inspiring. i have a manual but was too lazy to read much of it. my prime interest is to create interesting sounds and record them right away without midi.

since i don't use midi and g'have other gear for what the dx7 can't give me, i'm happy with what i have here...

with a little programming time it is possible to create breathtakingly beautiful ambient pads, drones, and percussion fx. when i use a preset, i try to at least modify it via "algorithm select", or tuning - and i can't complain it sounds cliched. i would be nice to have some realtime tweaking control, but most of the time i don't miss that very much.

yep i think it's sturdy enough for that.

haven't used it

i'd totally get one again.
apart from this machine i use yamaha cs -60, - 50, and -30, roland jupiter-6, -4, micromoog and miscellaneous small synths.

don't be fooled by people saying they are soooooo hard to program. that's not really the case. have fun with what it can do and - at the low 2nd hand prices - check it out.

IF YOU USE THE PRESETS, NO PROBLEM...IF YOU WANT TO PROGRAM IT--KILL YOURSELF!!!!

FEATURES ARE OK FOR 1983

HAS ABOUT 3 GOOD SOUNDS IN IT---ALL OTHER FACTORY SOUNDS ARE HORRIBLE, ESPECIALLY THE STRINGS....LIKE I SAID: FORGET ABOUT PROGRAMMING IT---IT'S TEDIOUS AND NOT VERY FRUITFUL!!
(DON'T USE IT FOR BASS SOUNDS OR LEAD SOUNDS--YOUR MIX WILL SOUND EXTREMELY CHEEZY)
BUY AN ANALOG SYNTH!!! SOUND GREAT, AND MUCH MORE FUN!

GOOD

OVERRATED. BORING. COLD-SOUNDING. STERILE. THIN, AND IMPOSSIBLE TO PROGRAM!!--GARBAGE!
DO YOURSELF A FAVOR AND GET A PROPHET-5 ( A REAL SYNTH )
WANT TO HEAR SOME OF MY TRAX, MADE WITH ANALOG SYTNHS??? GO HERE:
WWW.SPAZZOID.COM

REENO
SPAZZOID ENTERTAINMENT

The DX7 (IID is the one I have) is a great synth. For me, the best! Let me tell you something about sociology, since i am a sociologist. There is a phenomena called cognitive disonance, and its actually about this: check all this sites and you will find: the people who pay less money for something, tell it's crap, and the ones that pay a lot adore it! It's a known fact! So, the DX7 is NOT easy to use, but if U have a brain, you'll figure it out! Also, the two operators make great sounds and it's not difficult, you just squeezee the button and voila! I guess this is a feature of the IID, and not the first one but who cares?! When someone comes into my studio and sees every great thing from the 80's there, they know I mean bussiness!! Also, it's a synth used by Brian Eno (the only one!), Daft Punk, U2, Kraftwerk, and many others, so what are they, like, loosers?!?!?!?!

Personally, the only thing I don't like about the DX7 (but totally personal reasons) is the keyboard. Everyone adores it, but I guess they wanted to make a good piano-like keyboard, and I hate to play synth sounds from a piano keyboard, its really weird. Synths need to have softer keys, I think. But I use a evolution midi controller with it and the combo is incredible! Also, we tried to connect Native Instruments FM7 with the DX7 and you wouldn't believe those sounds. So, the people here talking about controllers are really funny! Want a controller?! BUY A CASIO! Or a real CONTROLLER like a Evolution or a Roland, MIdiman Oxygen 8 is good too, but the DX7 is all about SOUND!!!! I have a full cd with sysex, and you can find them anywhere on the web, there are a lot of sites about the DX7.

THE BEST! I was born in 1978., so I cry each time I play one particular patch and then use the pitch bend (for instance). You probably all know it: "Eyes without a face", Billy Idol. Every other song from the 80's was made with it, the best songs ever! And the IID is 16 bit 44100, cd-quality.

It's a tank!

Awful

It's simply a legend and there is a reaosn for that! I've compare it a lot, but it has no adversary! Contact me if you need software for it or sysex