I absolutely adore the Yamaha FM sounds. So much so that last year I went insane and bought a Tx81z, Tx802, SY99 …AND the FS1R! I have a lifetime of exploration ahead of me, and I’m enjoying it 😊
I own the original DX7, DX7IIFD, PLG150-DX card, and FS1R. Love them all! The Kronos sounds incredibly nice as well, didn't know that any emulation would come so close. If your comparison would be with the original DX7, it would probably be very easy to figure out which one was the real DX, as it has a very warm, rich and brittle character to it, which all the other ones are lacking. Because of this, it is my go-to DX, and I use it the most (got a Supermax expansion for it).
I also love original DX7 sound. So dynamic and raw, despite being 12-bits (it uses some technics to make it feel like more than that). No other FM synth have that exact character (except direct siblings like TX7). Also, it looks so cool with that characteristic design and dark brown color. And keybed is still feels great… and it has breath controller input… Recently got SuperMax, but not installed it yet.
I had and still have one of the original DX7s. Got it brand new from a store in Atlanta GA. around 83 or 84. Paid $1695 for it. I have a KX88 Yamaha controller that is weighted and it is my favorite key bed, but the DX7s key bed is by far my favorite non weighted keyboard I've ever played. It's not weighted, but it's not plasticky either. Somewhere in between. I haven't fired it up in a while now because I mainly record in my studio and no longer tour. I use the DEXED plugin and I'm quite happy with it not to mention managing thousands of patches is very easy with it and I would challenge most anyone to tell me if it's real or plugin in a mix. Very close. I also can play it with my KX88 and it responds to the full 127 steps of midi. But this was groundbreaking at the time and it's my understanding it is the best selling synth of all time, even today. I played hundreds of gigs with it. Never a moments problem.
Great nostalgic video for me. My first synth was the Yamaha DX-7 II FD and since it was in the days before computer DAW's, the E! upgrade combined with the floppy drive was huge because I could use the DX-7 II as my sequencer to play complete songs by splitting the 16 voices up across tracks, and send MIDI tracks to my drum machine and other rack modules. That E! upgrade combined with the storage capabilities essentially made it a workstation for me.
Yamaha kind of blew it with DX7II by not making it multitimbral from the get-go and adding a digital delay and chorus - both not only technically feasible (at probably the same price, if they weren't stingy) but would have made it a much bigger success AND much more resilient against the D50, which wasn't multitimbral. They waited till next year (1987) to release the TX802 multitimbral DX7II rack module. I guess the impressive SY77/TG77 made up for it, but Yamaha still somewhat overlooked the importance of ease-of-use that Korg made a priority with the M1 and beyond.
Yamaha kind of blew it with DX7II by not making it multitimbral from the get-go and adding a digital delay and chorus - both not only technically feasible (at probably the same price, if they weren't stingy) but would have made it a much bigger success AND much more resilient against the D50, which wasn't multitimbral. They waited till next year (1987) to release the TX802 multitimbral DX7II rack module. I guess the impressive SY77/TG77 made up for it, but Yamaha still somewhat overlooked the importance of ease-of-use that Korg made a priority with the M1 and beyond.
I bought an original DX7 from Japan last year off Reverb. The condition is a new as to perfect as you could ever expect for a 40 years old synth. And works perfectly as well. I even got an original Yamaha case all for 550 USD including shipping. A great deal. I would really appreciate a video with some of your insights of how you use the DX7 after 35 years of ownership.
Thanks for sharing. I believe I said in the video that I rarely use the DX7 anymore, but I could never sell it. It's nostalgic for me. I love playing it and reminiscing. When I was using it, it was mostly for pop songwriting, usually for the EP, bell, clav, and some bass sounds. I still think of it as relevant, but when composing now or songwriting, I'll use FM8, if I'm looking for a sound that is marque DX7. Appreciate the comment.
It really is amazing that the DX7, and it huge influence and shift on the sound of pop music, came out 1 year after the Commodore 64 computer. Think of the compute ability at the time! When I first heard the DX7 in person, I couldn't understand how it was making such complex, great sounding, evolving sounds. It seemed limitless, compared to my CZ-101.
Thanks, David. I agree, it's nice to see a digital synth get some love. For those of us who were players circa 1983 - 1986, the DX7 was the King. Appreciate the comment.
I haven't played Arturia's DX7, though I've played their analog recreations, which are good. I do have Dexed. It's good, and since it's free, that's even better. I have never used Dexed on a track, since I have the hardware and software I mentioned in the episode, but for those that want the sounds without the price, I'd say, "go for it!".
I notice the most difference between implementations with the aliasing behavior. Some patches can really push the aliasing foldback effect hard to get bright noise and ringmod types of sounds, the train patch you presented here demonstrating them very clearly. Thanks for putting this shootout together.
I've got mine (MK1) in 1987. It built like a tank. Last week, after 37 years battery fails. Its the first malfuntion in 37 years, and It is easy to fix. I LOVE It.
I was just commenting on another post about the amazing battery life. My DX7IIFD battery made it 35 years. Not as impressive as yours, but it is truly amazing how long these batteries have lasted despite a 5-year specification.
Another enjoyable episode.I traded my DX7 with grey matter for a DX7 2D and something else can't recall now.Would not sell my DX7- 2.With loopers available now one can do multi voice layers .I am a hardware lover. One of my favorite CDs is Dave and Don Grusin's Sicks and Stones( I think that album was done using DX7s and RX5 tones.) As usual best wishes
The DX7 is indeed an amazing synth but the Grey Matter E! expansion installed on my DX7II FD became infected with mold within a year after installation, apparently due to poor ventilation, as E! unfortunately is not sealed with clear vanish. The glue the tech used for the holder apparently attracted mold additionally because especially there it's very visible. Those bacteria also reflect in functionality. Since then, I have to load banks any time to use the device at all. However, it doesn't matter because the DX collection in my house (1x DX7 II E! FD, 2x DX7 II D, DX5 (=2x DX7.1), FS1r (=2x DX7 II & DX200 (=1x DX7S)) results in 8 like TX816 though I've admittedly never tried that elaborate MIDI connection to sync them in a TF-way. I definitely understand your passion for that groundbreaking instrument. You eventually could've mentioned Yamaha's FM test balloons GS1, 2, CE20 & CE25. To be clear, I just use GS 2 and CE25. Other than DX7.1 those are the epitome of pad machines, even with Ensemble button OFF. Tubular bells and DX Rhodes still were already introduced with those brute & warm sounding "digital pianos & kb" in '81 &' 82 (CE20 does without convincing Tub. Bells & Rhodes, but CE25's are marvellous). The latter I very recommend since it sounds incredibly warm/smooth & the famous ens effect is even mixable.
I was able to pick the DX7IIFD out in 7 of out 10 examples, and FM8 has a particular way it "handles" that data that often doesn't seem to yield accurate results. The DX7IIFD was my first "real" synthesizer back in 1994, when I was 11 years old...I had that manual pretty much memorized within a year and had made a whole bank of my own patches, mostly just me blindly stabbing at trying to recreate Moog sounds I'd heard on records. That one got passed around in my family over the years and I'm not sure whatever became of it. I sure would like to have those patches, for nostalgia's sake! I've bought and sold a ton of DX-series synths over the years, but something happened to me in 2021, I reconnected with my Yamaha-soaked childhood and started buying up every piece of vintage Yamaha gear I could afford! I ended up with over 180 pieces in my collection before I pared it down a little. I'm about to do another purge, actually...But yes. DX7. I could talk about it all day! Thank you for this, it was fun!
Good workstations for their time- still useful today. Native FM support, so I understand why you'd want to call them a "DX." Really a souped-up DX series. Kind of expensive when released, especially the SY99.
I used one for about two decades creating pop demos, and then I purchased an M1R. Wish I had kept it for the sentimental value. The guy I recorded demos with still has it. I'll see if he'll let me borrow it.
In 1986, I remember seeing a band in Austin, TX, where the keyboardist had a convincing DX-7 acoustic piano patch! That would be an interesting topic - early piano sounds for gigging musicians.
I saw something similar related to the DX7. In early 84, I saw a band, and the keyboardist was playing a saxophone patch (remember all the songs with sax in the 80s?), and he was using a breath controller with the DX. At the time, I thought it sounded very convincing. Thanks for the comment.
Thanks for the content. Wonder how close the Korg Volca FM2 measures up. That and DEXED are the only “DX7” I probably will ever own. I also own the Yamaha Reface DX and Yamaha SeqTrak which has a four operator FM engine. They can get close enough for fast work. For me, the DX7 changed the game. Roland came and show us all how digital can be sweet with the D-50. If I could only own one, D-50. The closest I got is owning a D-05.
Have you ever imagined what would people's reactions be like IF you were having a Kronos played to them in 1983? Makes you appreciate it more, doesn't it?
I've played Dexed. It's on one of my computers. I thought it sounded good, had a nice GUI, but I never dug into it, since I have FM8, the Kronos, and a real DX7. "Free" certainly makes it attractive.
Back in 1988 I had a Grey Matter E DX7II FD and I didn't like it (I don't recall why) so I ran an ad in the Recycler offering my DX for a _stock_ DX7II FD. Right away someone showed up and we made the trade. BTW, back then I took an FM programming class with Bo Tomlyn, who IIRC came up with some of the factory DX7 patches. Good times...I still have a TX802 and a TG77...
@@JeffreyScottPetro I saw in another of your posts that you loved the NSX. Another thing we have in common (but I haven't sold mine)! Keep the instruments and the cars, everything else can go! 😉👍 I'm sub'ing!
The M-1 is sleek and sexy, while the DX-7 looks like it was designed by a blindfolded toddler with a crayon, but a toddler that also has a PhD in rocket science just to navigate that maze called a user interface, blindfolded, only to dial up patches that sound like a dying cat being dragged across a chalkboard. 😂Just kidding I love the DX-7 more than KORG's ROMpler. 😏
DX7's main fault was its success -- impossible to avoid, all over the radio, until your ears got sick of it. I never want to hear a major seventh chord on a DX7 again ;) Meanwhile: Brian Eno made it sound wonderful on his Apollo album, and the band band Shadowfax were never the same after they hired David Lewis with his DX7/TX7. Listen to "Another Country" and "The Dreams of Children" today, and it's like an announcement that the DX7 had arrived
Sorry to correct, the centennial is a standard dx7-2fd but 73 flurescent keys, silver housing and wheels and all buttons/sliders 24k gold. And only 100made in 1988 for the 100y anniversary of yamaha. Even less made than dx1
To be honest, I couldn't really tell the differences. Although I'm kinda listening and working from home at the same time. I got myself a broken TX802, which is the multi-timbral module version of the DX7-II. It's probably just the power supply that needs to be fixed, and €200 for the module and a memory cartridge was worth the risk. I still need to fix it, though, but I'm going to get myself some better tools first.
To me the DX7 sounds are much more bright and metallic than the Kronos and NI although you can download DX Sysex files to a Kronos I have both the Kronos 2 88 and the DX7II D which is in excellent condition.
Have to disagree that the DX7 cant make good drum sounds. Its percussive nature lends itself to being able to produce a vast array of percussive sounds. Including kicks and snares. Claves, Hi hats, toms etc. Check my demos. Especially Rise of an unknown. The entire track is all DX7 MK 1. Nice video. Though. Ive been a fan of the DX7 and FM since 1986. When I first got my hands on one. Its the greatest synth of alltime IMO.....
I believe I said percussion not drums, but then I did say kick, snare, and toms, so you're correct. I've been composing score for the last 6 years and using Damage 1 and 2 a lot, so that's what I was thinking of. Still, you make a great point that the DX series can make some good/interesting drum sounds. Thanks for the comment.
You hated the sounds you know. You wouldnt even know you were hearing a DX7 if you heard my music. No electric pianos allowed. For example I get asked what drum machine do I yes alot when I say the DX7. People dont believe it. Thats right the DX7 is the best drum maker ever. People just dont know it.
I absolutely adore the Yamaha FM sounds. So much so that last year I went insane and bought a Tx81z, Tx802, SY99 …AND the FS1R! I have a lifetime of exploration ahead of me, and I’m enjoying it 😊
Not insane, just gear crazy like the rest of us. Thanks for sharing.
Nice! I have a pss480 and a dx7 :) best pair of toys ive ever gotten myself
I own the original DX7, DX7IIFD, PLG150-DX card, and FS1R. Love them all! The Kronos sounds incredibly nice as well, didn't know that any emulation would come so close. If your comparison would be with the original DX7, it would probably be very easy to figure out which one was the real DX, as it has a very warm, rich and brittle character to it, which all the other ones are lacking. Because of this, it is my go-to DX, and I use it the most (got a Supermax expansion for it).
I also love original DX7 sound. So dynamic and raw, despite being 12-bits (it uses some technics to make it feel like more than that). No other FM synth have that exact character (except direct siblings like TX7). Also, it looks so cool with that characteristic design and dark brown color. And keybed is still feels great… and it has breath controller input… Recently got SuperMax, but not installed it yet.
I had and still have one of the original DX7s. Got it brand new from a store in Atlanta GA. around 83 or 84. Paid $1695 for it. I have a KX88 Yamaha controller that is weighted and it is my favorite key bed, but the DX7s key bed is by far my favorite non weighted keyboard I've ever played. It's not weighted, but it's not plasticky either. Somewhere in between. I haven't fired it up in a while now because I mainly record in my studio and no longer tour. I use the DEXED plugin and I'm quite happy with it not to mention managing thousands of patches is very easy with it and I would challenge most anyone to tell me if it's real or plugin in a mix. Very close. I also can play it with my KX88 and it responds to the full 127 steps of midi. But this was groundbreaking at the time and it's my understanding it is the best selling synth of all time, even today. I played hundreds of gigs with it. Never a moments problem.
I lusted after a KX88 in the eighties. I agree, the DX7 has a great action. Thanks for the comment.
Great nostalgic video for me. My first synth was the Yamaha DX-7 II FD and since it was in the days before computer DAW's, the E! upgrade combined with the floppy drive was huge because I could use the DX-7 II as my sequencer to play complete songs by splitting the 16 voices up across tracks, and send MIDI tracks to my drum machine and other rack modules. That E! upgrade combined with the storage capabilities essentially made it a workstation for me.
Great story, Chris. Thanks for sharing.
Yamaha kind of blew it with DX7II by not making it multitimbral from the get-go and adding a digital delay and chorus - both not only technically feasible (at probably the same price, if they weren't stingy) but would have made it a much bigger success AND much more resilient against the D50, which wasn't multitimbral. They waited till next year (1987) to release the TX802 multitimbral DX7II rack module. I guess the impressive SY77/TG77 made up for it, but Yamaha still somewhat overlooked the importance of ease-of-use that Korg made a priority with the M1 and beyond.
Yamaha kind of blew it with DX7II by not making it multitimbral from the get-go and adding a digital delay and chorus - both not only technically feasible (at probably the same price, if they weren't stingy) but would have made it a much bigger success AND much more resilient against the D50, which wasn't multitimbral. They waited till next year (1987) to release the TX802 multitimbral DX7II rack module. I guess the impressive SY77/TG77 made up for it, but Yamaha still somewhat overlooked the importance of ease-of-use that Korg made a priority with the M1 and beyond.
Thanks for all the interesting information. I love all the nerdy stuff and your delivery is nice.
Thank you, I appreciate that.
I bought an original DX7 from Japan last year off Reverb. The condition is a new as to perfect as you could ever expect for a 40 years old synth. And works perfectly as well. I even got an original Yamaha case all for 550 USD including shipping. A great deal.
I would really appreciate a video with some of your insights of how you use the DX7 after 35 years of ownership.
Thanks for sharing. I believe I said in the video that I rarely use the DX7 anymore, but I could never sell it. It's nostalgic for me. I love playing it and reminiscing. When I was using it, it was mostly for pop songwriting, usually for the EP, bell, clav, and some bass sounds. I still think of it as relevant, but when composing now or songwriting, I'll use FM8, if I'm looking for a sound that is marque DX7. Appreciate the comment.
It really is amazing that the DX7, and it huge influence and shift on the sound of pop music, came out 1 year after the Commodore 64 computer. Think of the compute ability at the time! When I first heard the DX7 in person, I couldn't understand how it was making such complex, great sounding, evolving sounds. It seemed limitless, compared to my CZ-101.
Brilliant video, nice to see some love for this classic synth. It was also Brian Eno's favourite synthesiser.
Thanks, David. I agree, it's nice to see a digital synth get some love. For those of us who were players circa 1983 - 1986, the DX7 was the King. Appreciate the comment.
Thank You for some great DX7 Info, I was able to find a II FD Model on Reverb at a good price from a person who represented it accurately.
Awesome. I hope you enjoy it as much as I have enjoyed mine. Appreciate your comment.
Would love to hear your thoughts on Arturia DX7 and the free Dexed..
I haven't played Arturia's DX7, though I've played their analog recreations, which are good. I do have Dexed. It's good, and since it's free, that's even better. I have never used Dexed on a track, since I have the hardware and software I mentioned in the episode, but for those that want the sounds without the price, I'd say, "go for it!".
Dexed is spot on 100%.
I notice the most difference between implementations with the aliasing behavior. Some patches can really push the aliasing foldback effect hard to get bright noise and ringmod types of sounds, the train patch you presented here demonstrating them very clearly. Thanks for putting this shootout together.
I've got mine (MK1) in 1987. It built like a tank. Last week, after 37 years battery fails. Its the first malfuntion in 37 years, and It is easy to fix. I LOVE It.
I was just commenting on another post about the amazing battery life. My DX7IIFD battery made it 35 years. Not as impressive as yours, but it is truly amazing how long these batteries have lasted despite a 5-year specification.
Best emulation is Plogue’s Chipsynth OPS7. Beats everything else, hands down.
Have you considered Plogue's OPS7? It's $25 on Black Friday!
OPS7 is supposed to be very very close to the original mk1 DX7 (but with 2 x engines) similar to a DX5.
I haven't tried it. I have tried Dexed, which is free and very good.
Interesting that FM8 seems to have LFO per voice for that Train patch. IIRC, DX7 LFO is global. Or was that some other issue?
Another enjoyable episode.I traded my DX7 with grey matter for a DX7 2D and something else can't recall now.Would not sell my DX7- 2.With loopers available now one can do multi voice layers .I am a hardware lover.
One of my favorite CDs is Dave and Don Grusin's Sicks and Stones( I think that album was done using DX7s and RX5 tones.)
As usual best wishes
Thanks for sharing...appreciate the comment.
The DX7 is indeed an amazing synth but the Grey Matter E! expansion installed on my DX7II FD became infected with mold within a year after installation, apparently due to poor ventilation, as E! unfortunately is not sealed with clear vanish. The glue the tech used for the holder apparently attracted mold additionally because especially there it's very visible. Those bacteria also reflect in functionality. Since then, I have to load banks any time to use the device at all. However, it doesn't matter because the DX collection in my house (1x DX7 II E! FD, 2x DX7 II D, DX5 (=2x DX7.1), FS1r (=2x DX7 II & DX200 (=1x DX7S)) results in 8 like TX816 though I've admittedly never tried that elaborate MIDI connection to sync them in a TF-way. I definitely understand your passion for that groundbreaking instrument. You eventually could've mentioned Yamaha's FM test balloons GS1, 2, CE20 & CE25. To be clear, I just use GS 2 and CE25. Other than DX7.1 those are the epitome of pad machines, even with Ensemble button OFF. Tubular bells and DX Rhodes still were already introduced with those brute & warm sounding "digital pianos & kb" in '81 &' 82 (CE20 does without convincing Tub. Bells & Rhodes, but CE25's are marvellous). The latter I very recommend since it sounds incredibly warm/smooth & the famous ens effect is even mixable.
I love FM, but programming a TX7 with a software was so unsatisfying. I need to get some other FM synth that has a nicer interface, maybe a Korg?
I was able to pick the DX7IIFD out in 7 of out 10 examples, and FM8 has a particular way it "handles" that data that often doesn't seem to yield accurate results. The DX7IIFD was my first "real" synthesizer back in 1994, when I was 11 years old...I had that manual pretty much memorized within a year and had made a whole bank of my own patches, mostly just me blindly stabbing at trying to recreate Moog sounds I'd heard on records. That one got passed around in my family over the years and I'm not sure whatever became of it. I sure would like to have those patches, for nostalgia's sake! I've bought and sold a ton of DX-series synths over the years, but something happened to me in 2021, I reconnected with my Yamaha-soaked childhood and started buying up every piece of vintage Yamaha gear I could afford! I ended up with over 180 pieces in my collection before I pared it down a little. I'm about to do another purge, actually...But yes. DX7. I could talk about it all day! Thank you for this, it was fun!
Great score. I created the quiz, and I don't think I could get seven correct. Thanks for sharing.
Whats your thoughts on the sy77 and 99?
They should have named them DX 77 and DX 99
Good workstations for their time- still useful today. Native FM support, so I understand why you'd want to call them a "DX." Really a souped-up DX series. Kind of expensive when released, especially the SY99.
Looking forward to a potential Korg M1 synth lore episode in future!
I used one for about two decades creating pop demos, and then I purchased an M1R. Wish I had kept it for the sentimental value. The guy I recorded demos with still has it. I'll see if he'll let me borrow it.
In 1986, I remember seeing a band in Austin, TX, where the keyboardist had a convincing DX-7 acoustic piano patch! That would be an interesting topic - early piano sounds for gigging musicians.
I saw something similar related to the DX7. In early 84, I saw a band, and the keyboardist was playing a saxophone patch (remember all the songs with sax in the 80s?), and he was using a breath controller with the DX. At the time, I thought it sounded very convincing. Thanks for the comment.
Thanks for the content.
Wonder how close the Korg Volca FM2 measures up. That and DEXED are the only “DX7” I probably will ever own.
I also own the Yamaha Reface DX and Yamaha SeqTrak which has a four operator FM engine. They can get close enough for fast work.
For me, the DX7 changed the game. Roland came and show us all how digital can be sweet with the D-50. If I could only own one, D-50. The closest I got is owning a D-05.
I did take a look at DEXED, and I thought it was pretty good. I still have a D-550. I just need to fix it. Thanks for the comment.
Have you ever imagined what would people's reactions be like IF you were having a Kronos played to them in 1983? Makes you appreciate it more, doesn't it?
Thanks for the video. And what's your feeling about Dexed?
I've played Dexed. It's on one of my computers. I thought it sounded good, had a nice GUI, but I never dug into it, since I have FM8, the Kronos, and a real DX7. "Free" certainly makes it attractive.
Your statement is spot on. 100%
Thanks, John.
Hypersynth released modern cartridge for DX7 that allows to store thousands of patches, so patch storage is not issue.
I did some research on it. Looks cool and affordable at about $200.00 with 400 banks of 32 sounds. Thanks for sharing this info.
The DX7 keyboards always have some noticeable characteristic noise in the background.
Back in 1988 I had a Grey Matter E DX7II FD and I didn't like it (I don't recall why) so I ran an ad in the Recycler offering my DX for a _stock_ DX7II FD. Right away someone showed up and we made the trade. BTW, back then I took an FM programming class with Bo Tomlyn, who IIRC came up with some of the factory DX7 patches. Good times...I still have a TX802 and a TG77...
Great story, especially about Bo Tomlyn. He was in Keyboard Mag a lot back in the eighties. Thanks for sharing.
@@JeffreyScottPetro I saw in another of your posts that you loved the NSX. Another thing we have in common (but I haven't sold mine)! Keep the instruments and the cars, everything else can go! 😉👍 I'm sub'ing!
Thank you for this. 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
My pleasure, sir. This is one I really enjoyed. Thanks for the support.
DX7 is a powerhouse, even today. I still have my OG Japanese 100V version with SuperMax. I play and record it more than my Prophet.
Very cool. Thanks for the comment.
The M-1 is sleek and sexy, while the DX-7 looks like it was designed by a blindfolded toddler with a crayon, but a toddler that also has a PhD in rocket science just to navigate that maze called a user interface, blindfolded, only to dial up patches that sound like a dying cat being dragged across a chalkboard. 😂Just kidding I love the DX-7 more than KORG's ROMpler. 😏
if you need references to original manual, packaging, i have all still. dx7 has the best keybed with channel aftertouch.
DX7's main fault was its success -- impossible to avoid, all over the radio, until your ears got sick of it. I never want to hear a major seventh chord on a DX7 again ;)
Meanwhile: Brian Eno made it sound wonderful on his Apollo album, and the band band Shadowfax were never the same after they hired David Lewis with his DX7/TX7. Listen to "Another Country" and "The Dreams of Children" today, and it's like an announcement that the DX7 had arrived
Sorry to correct, the centennial is a standard dx7-2fd but 73 flurescent keys, silver housing and wheels and all buttons/sliders 24k gold. And only 100made in 1988 for the 100y anniversary of yamaha. Even less made than dx1
Appreciate the info.
To be honest, I couldn't really tell the differences. Although I'm kinda listening and working from home at the same time.
I got myself a broken TX802, which is the multi-timbral module version of the DX7-II. It's probably just the power supply that needs to be fixed, and €200 for the module and a memory cartridge was worth the risk. I still need to fix it, though, but I'm going to get myself some better tools first.
Nice unit, hope you get it working.
To me the DX7 sounds are much more bright and metallic than the Kronos and NI although you can download DX Sysex files to a Kronos I have both the Kronos 2 88 and the DX7II D which is in excellent condition.
I got 6 / 10. D-... I'll take it.
Have to disagree that the DX7 cant make good drum sounds. Its percussive nature lends itself to being able to produce a vast array of percussive sounds. Including kicks and snares. Claves, Hi hats, toms etc. Check my demos. Especially Rise of an unknown. The entire track is all DX7 MK 1. Nice video. Though. Ive been a fan of the DX7 and FM since 1986. When I first got my hands on one. Its the greatest synth of alltime IMO.....
I believe I said percussion not drums, but then I did say kick, snare, and toms, so you're correct. I've been composing score for the last 6 years and using Damage 1 and 2 a lot, so that's what I was thinking of. Still, you make a great point that the DX series can make some good/interesting drum sounds. Thanks for the comment.
Japan got 110 volts
Not sure if that is a question. Japan uses 100 volts main power.
I've always hated the sound of the DX7. CZ101was cheaper and sounds better to my ear.
You hated the sounds you know. You wouldnt even know you were hearing a DX7 if you heard my music. No electric pianos allowed. For example I get asked what drum machine do I yes alot when I say the DX7. People dont believe it. Thats right the DX7 is the best drum maker ever. People just dont know it.