Yamaha DX7
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| W × H × D (mm) | 101.8 × 10.2 × 32.9[1] |
|---|---|
| Weight | 14.2kg[1] |
| Type | 6 operator FM Synthesizer[1] |
| Keyboard | 61 Keys with initial and aftertouch sensitivity[1] |
| Manufacturer | Yamaha |
| Release date | 1983 |
| Parts | 1 (Monotimbral) |
| Max polyphony | 16[1] |
| Normal presets | 32[1] |
| Expansion | DX7 Voice Cartridge[1] |
The Yamaha DX7 is a 61-key 6 operator FM synthesizer keyboard created by Yamaha in 1983. It's one of the most famous synthesizers ever made. It was incredibly successful and especially popular in the 1980's. Many of its tones appearing in popular music and productions of the time. Many of its sounds (Such as the unique glassy rhodes tone, its very distinctively harsh digital bass sounds, and many more) to this day are still production staples, having been sampled in countless sample-based synthesizers and most notably in the General MIDI spec, as the Electric Piano 2 program.
It employs 6 operator FM synthesis as its main source of sound generation, with 32 algorithms. The DX7 comes with 2 sound cartridges, with the first 32 preset voices of the first one loaded in internal memory.[2]
FM Synthesis
[to do: someone who actually knows about FM synthesis please do this]
Oddities
- The DX7 was made very early on when the MIDI protocol was still new, so its implementation has quite a few oddities and quirks such as:
- The DX7 Manual has an error on page 1 that states the keyboard is expandable up to 128 preset voices when it can only interface with up to 96 when considering the 32 Voice Preset Internal memory and an external 64 Voice cartridge.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 DX7 Operating Manual, pg. 27
- ↑ "..the first 32 sounds on the first cartridge are already loaded into the machine. If I put the cartridge with 64 sounds in as well, this gives me access to 96 memories in all. The first 32 in the DX represent a general selection of the 128." - Dave Bristow, from "Dave Bristow on the Yamaha DX7" by Mike Beecher, Sound On Sound July 1983 Issue
- ↑ "the standard factory DX7 always transmits on MIDI channel 1" - Expand your DX by Martin Russ, from Sound On Sound January 1987 Issue
- ↑ "Early DX7s also had a problem with aftertouch being used as a controller, but this has since been cured by a software update." - Expand your DX by Martin Russ, from Sound On Sound January 1987 Issue