Yamaha TX81Z

I didn't have a manual, but worked my way around the system readily enough. The menu structure and front panel are a little fiddly (seems typical of mid-80s Yamaha rack modules), but there is a cool workaround. Since the sysex architecture is a superset of the DX27 and DX100 keyboards, I can use my DX100's parameter buttons (and data slider!) as a remote to change most TX81Z parameters, which makes life a lot easier. It also accepts patch dumps from the DX100. The LCD display is nice and bright!!

Not much to add to what's been already said, except to repeat that the "effects" are MIDI effects, NOT audio, and that the multitimbrality works by assigning certain numbers of voices to channels and key zones, which prevents note stealing but is inefficient and a pain to manage.

It is early 80s synthesis technology, so don't expect totally realistic sounds, especially of resonant instruments like strings, brass or pads, which analogue does better anyway. However, in my opinion FM synthesis still can't be beat for creating metallic sounds from scratch, such as bells, gongs, or wacked-out drones and clankings, which can be created with just a couple of operators. It's also great for creating organ sounds, using the four operators like drawbars. I'd recommend it for industrial or hard-edged techno, or if you wanted to add a bit of metallic grit to ambient music (Eno still uses a DX7...) One point-it seems to have a lowpass filter on the outputs, which takes a lot of the digital noise out compared to my DX100, but also removes a bit of high-end brightness as well. Take your choice...

Very reliable-I've never had trouble with either of my Yamaha synths.

I have found Yamaha Australia to be helpful when I've ordered spares and manuals for other gear.

I guess the bottom line is that despite its age it can do things that none of the shiny 64 voice GM/GS sample playback units available today can-give me total start-from-scratch creativity, AND an alternative to analogue. I definitely would like to keep some kind of FM synth as part of my kit. The only major gripe is the lack of a pitch envelope, which I believe the DX11 (the keyboard equivalent) has.

I'm not sure what software version, but I assume it to be the oldest. The internal presets sound fairly good, especially Bank D, which has some really interesting noises and special effects. It really takes some practice to be able to program sounds, but if you fool around enough you'll doubtlessly encounter some bizzare and cool sounds.

The "effects" are are pointless expect maybe the pan feature. 8-note polypony, 8-part multi-timberal. Responds to breath control, mod wheel and aftertouch can be set up to act like breath contol.

I use mine for industrial and dance, it's really excellent at bizzare industrial noises, like whooshs and pops, but for the dance crowd, don't expect dance ready drum sounds, but has a selection of synth percussion I find useful for dance tracks, and the basses are good, and you can program some fairly good synth beeps without to much effort

I don't move mine off my desk, and it has had no problems.

Only contact I have with the company was to order the manual.

I love mine, but find the drums lacking, some bass sounds you can get but others remain elusive, overall I'd give it high marks for industrial music and medium high marks for dance/techno.

FM presets- which means ok electric pianos, decent organs and clavs, lame brass and strings. If you don't understand the basic mechanics of FM synthesis, this is a decent place to start, but plan on a computer-based editor if you don't want to endlessly scroll through menus. It's certainly not impossible to program from the front panel though-the buttons respond well, and there's a handy little pullout card stored in a pocket underneath the synth. The manual is better than most by Yamaha, but by no means excellent.

8-voice polyphony with four operators per voice. No keyboard-this is a rackmount. Effects are not DSP based, but rather use manipulation of the voice parameters. The "echo" function is interesting, but effects are only usable in performance setups, not patches. no sequencer or arpeggiator, but that's typical for a rackmount. Otherwise, the usual MIDI functions are here, but so are the very limited modulation routings that plague most older Yamaha synths.

Surprisingly good sounds, especially the electric bass. Not overly flubby or tweezy--unlike early FM models. Don't go looking for realism in the instruments though. Velocity sensitivity is quite hard to dial in, it usually ends up being full on over-bright high amplitude or excessively dull low amplitude, with little range in the middle. Having a variety of waveforms for the operators is a welcome touch, and helps to achieve a six-op type sound. It's hard to pinpoint what kind of music this synth works best for, since FM is so out of favour these days. I'd guess that mid-eighties synth pop is a good candidate. Duran Duran anyone?

Its a Yamaha, which means it'll last forever with nary a breakdown. I can't find any faults.

Considering the pittance which it cost me, this synth is very good indeed. FM sounds good run through a fuzzbox, so it can be ideal for guitar and EP sounds. The paradox is this: programming it is more difficult thann your average analog synth, yet it gives fewer options for programmablilty due to it's limited modulation routings. Typical for old Yamahas: a full whack of presets, but only one bank of five is user editable. It's main competition would be the CZ-101 and -1000, but they both have keyboards and are far more intuitive to use. If you like the sound, little else will matter, but make sure the sound suits your tastes, or else you'll be stuck with an expensive paperweight.

The TX is an amazing keyboard if you want VERY digital sounds. From what I've heard of other synths I'd say it was the best for digital basses. Programming is a little tricky but once you've done something you like you remember which parameters you changed.

Somebody has mentioned the built-in effects. I find them lame and would recommend external effects. I wish the polyphony was higher than 8 but for it's time this ruled.

I rarely, if ever, use presets except as starters for programming. If you program music with rapid fire digital bass lines. I use mine for electronic dance music with digital bleeps and fast bass lines.

The most reliable unit I own.

For its purpose in my set-up, this module is fantastic.

This is a couple of corrections for the current cuomments on the Yamaha TX81Z:
The TX81Z is NOT 16-part multi-timbral; it is 8-part multi-timbral. The unit DOES respond to aftertouch.

The TX81Z DOES have a few effects although they aren't utilized by a true effects processor. There is a "digital delay" in multi timbral mode which can be adjusted from .01 to 1.27 seconds and 1 - 7 repeats; Pitch shifting is also available in the delay section; you can set up the repeats to shift -24/+24 notes from the original note. Note that the pitch shift will climb in increments of the pitch shift settings if you have more than one repeat - this can be useful for special effects. The delay relys on the TX81Z's available POLYPHONY, hence you can never go beyond 8 simultaneous notes.
There are also LFO "effects" available in the performance section as well as a function where you can set up the TX81Z to play different types of chords with the touch of single note. (This effect is also POLYPHONY-reliant).
And finally in the programming parameters you have something called a "psuedo reverb". Basically what this does is extend the decay of the release rate.
Note that I personally feel that the Delay is the only real useful of these effects - the others are just novelties more than anything.

VERY RELIABLE MACHINE!!!

I really like this unit becuase it can do things that the 6-op units cannot. The reason is the TX81Z (and its DX-11 keyboard counterpart) offers 7 different types of waveforms besides just plain old sinewaves (the other 7 have certain harmonics enhanced and/or cut). It is very useful for percussion sounds, and sound effects. One can also create some very spacy sounding pads, etc. with this machine.
My only wish: 16-note polyphony would have been nice. One can get around this problem by getting two TX81Z's and setting one for odd notes and the other for even, more or less giving you 16-note polyphony (and two TX81Z synth engines).

This unit can be tricky to program but that's the nature of FM synthesis. The presets are good starting points for your own sounds. The manual is clear but doesn't provide that much insight.

This unit has got 8 note polyphony, is 16 part multitimbural but has no effects (it's old). I've seen a 5 times memory expander and some other goodies available for it in the back of some keyboard mags. Good MIDI implementation for when it came out. You can create your own non-standard tunings as well.

FM sounds are great for cold industrial textures. I love my TX81Z but I wouldn't recommend it if you are looking for "realistic" sounds. It responds to pitch bend, modulation and breath control (and possibly aftertouch - I don't remember).

This rack is totally dependable.

C'mon, it's old! =)

A totally cool unit if you like making messed up sounds.