Yamaha DX and TX synthesizers

Yamaha DX Synths

In 1983 Yamaha beginning with the release of DX-7 first truly digital programmable algorithm synthesizer based on the FM synthesis technology. DX-7 became great commercial success with over 180,000 sold units. The DX7 use a type of synthesis called "Frequency Modulation" developed by Professor John Chowning at Stanford University in the 1970s. Yamaha DX synthesizers use "operators" to generate sound Instead of VCOs, VCAs and VCFs known from the subtractive analogue synthesizers. An operator is basically a digital sine wave generator combined with an complex envelope generator that can be used alone or in combination with other operators. A combination of operators is called an "algorithm". The operators can be connected "horizontally" so that each contributes its own pitch to the sound (additive synthesis), or "vertically". In vertically connected configurations, the upper operator modulates the lower operator at a precisely controllable frequency ratio, resulting in highly complex waveforms that are the key to the DX system´s incredible sound. Some operators even permit the application of feedback so, effectively, they can be made to modulate themselves. Further, the sophisticated envelope generators incorporated in each operator make it possible to produce time-based timbre variations as well as level variations. The DX7 was one of the first synths with a full complement of MIDI ports. It also has a unique breath controller input port. This device allowed the user to manipulated the instruments timbre using breath pressure via a mouth held tube. DX/TX series were available either as a 6-operator or 4-operator synths.

....well and James Bond will come back in SY-99 /77, TG-77 and most recent FS-1R ....

	YAMAHA CX-5M	YAMAHA MUSIC COMPUTER - Built-in programmable 4-operator 8-algorithm digital FM tone generator - 46 internal preset voice - 8-octave range, 8-note polyphonic output - Full-color video display capability - Casette interface for storage and retrieval music and other data - Internal MSX BASIC language provided - SFG-05 FM Synthesizer unit adds another 4-operator synthesizer - YRM-101/501: FM music composer I and II - MIDI sequencer - YRM-102/502: FM voicing programs I and II - control over the CX-5D voice generator - YRM-103: DX-7 Voicing program - YRM-301: MIDI Recorder program - YRM-302: RX Editor - editor for RX-11 and RX-15 digital rhythm programmers - Compatible with FD05 Micro Floppy Disk Drive, PN101 Printer and MU01 Mouse

	YAMAHA DX-1	THE TOP OF THE LINE - Dual programmable 6-operator 32-algorithm digital FM tone generators - Independent 8-parameter envelope generator for each operator - 32-voice x 2 internal RAM memory - 64 internal RAM performance memories, each storing a combination of voices and performance functions - Dual cartridge slots for ROM cartridges containing 64 voices or user-programmable 32-voice (made by Yamaha) or 32-128 voice (made by third party companies) RAM cartridges Programmable 6-operator 32-algorithm digital FM tone generator. ROM or RAM cartridges storing data for the 64 performance memory locations can also be used - Independent audio outputs for each tone generator channel - Single, Dual, and Split play modes - 73 weighted wooden keys with key velocity and polyphonic aftertouch sensitivity - 32-note polyphonic output in single mode - Sustain footswitch, portamento footswitch, volume and modulation controllers, and breath controller inputs. - MIDI IN/OUT/THRU terminals - MIDI send and receive channels independently programmable for each tone generator channel

	YAMAHA DX-5	- Dual programmable 6-operator 32-algorithm digital FM tone generators - Independent 8-parameter envelope generator for each operator - 32-voice x 2 internal RAM memory - 64 internal RAM performance memories, each storing a combination of voices and performance functions - Dual cartridge slots for ROM cartridges containing 64 voices or user-programmable 32-voice (made by Yamaha) or 32-128 voice (made by third party companies) RAM cartridges Programmable 6-operator 32-algorithm digital FM tone generator. ROM or RAM cartridges storing data for the 64 performance memory locations can also be used - Independent audio outputs for each tone generator channel - Single, Dual, and Split play modes - 76 keys with velocity and aftertouch sensitivity - 32-note polyphonic output in single mode - Sustain footswitch, portamento footswitch, volume and modulation controllers, and breath controller inputs. - MIDI IN/OUT/THRU terminals - MIDI send and receive channels independently programmable for each tone generator channel

	YAMAHA DX-7	THE FIRST AN MOST FAMOUS - Programmable 6-operator 32-algorithm digital FM tone generator - Independent 8-parameter envelope generator for each operator - 32-voice internal RAM memory - Cartridge slot for ROM cartridges containing 64 voices or user-programmable 32-voice (made by Yamaha) or 32-128 voice (made by third party companies) RAM cartridges - Programmable function memory for real-time performance effects - 61-key velocity and after-touch sensitive keyboard - 16 character two line non-backlit display - 16-note polyphonic output - Sustain footswitch, portamento footswitch, volume and modulation controllers, and breath controller inputs. - MIDI IN/OUT/THRU terminals - DX-7 Homepage

	YAMAHA DX-7IID / DX-7IIFD	THE ONLY DIFFERENCE BETWEEN D AND FD IS BUILT-IN 3,5" FLOPPY DISK DRIVE - Programmable 6-operator 32-algorithm digital FM tone generator (improvements include enhanced MIDI support, stereo panning, 6 envelope generators and enhanced 16-bit circuitry) - Independent 8-parameter envelope generator for each operator - 64-voice internal RAM memory and 32-performance memory - Split and Layer mode - Microtonality - Random patch shift allowing slight pitch changes - Fractal scaling - Cartridge slot for ROM and RAM cartridges - different type than the original DX-7 (64 voices capacity) - 61-key velocity and after-touch sensitive keyboard - 40 character two line backlit display - 16-note polyphonic stereo output - Sustain footswitch, portamento footswitch, volume and modulation controllers and breath controller inputs. - Additional slider controler - MIDI IN/OUT/THRU terminals

	YAMAHA DX-7S	ANOTHER 16-bit UPGRADE - Programmable 6-operator 32-algorithm digital FM tone generator (improvements include enhanced MIDI support, 6 envelope generators and enhanced 16-bit circuitry) - Independent 8-parameter envelope generator for each operator - 64-voice internal RAM memory and 32-performance memory - Microtonality - Random patch shift allowing slight pitch changes - Fractal scaling - Cartridge slot for ROM and RAM cartridges - different type than the original DX-7 (64 voices capacity) - 16-character 2 line backlit display - 61-key velocity and after-touch sensitive keyboard - 16-note polyphonic mono output - Sustain footswitch, portamento footswitch, volume and modulation controllers and breath controller inputs. - Additional slider controler - MIDI IN/OUT/THRU terminals

	YAMAHA DX-9	BUDGET SYNTH - Programmable simple 4-operator 8-algorithm digital FM tone generator - 20-voice internal RAM memory - Built-in tape interface - 61-key non-sensitive keyboard - 16-note polyphonic mono output - Sustain footswitch, portamento footswitch, volume and modulation controllers and breath controller inputs. - MIDI IN/OUT/THRU terminals

	YAMAHA DX-11	ANOTHER 16-bit UPGRADE - Programmable 4-operator 8-algorithm digital FM tone generator (enhanced 16-bit circuitry) - Up to 8 different waveforms as a operators, 2 LFO and a Vibrato Generator - 128-voice internal ROM memory and 32-voice RAM memory, 24-performance memory - Microtonality - 13 scales (2 user programmable and 11 preset) - Pan, Single Note Chord, Transposed Delay, Pseudo reverb effects - Memory cartridge RAM4 64 patches and 64 performances - 61-key velocity and after-touch sensitive keyboard - 8-note polyphony, 2 mono outputs - 8-multitimbral - Sustain footswitch, portamento footswitch, volume and modulation controllers and breath controller inputs. - MIDI IN/OUT/THRU terminals

	YAMAHA DX-21	- Programmable 4-operator 8-algorithm digital FM tone generator - Independent 5-parameter envelope generator for each operator - 32-voice internal RAM memory - 128 voices programmed into internal ROM - Built-in cassette interface for voice data storage - Single, Dual, and Split play modes - 32 performance memories can be programmed with voice combinations and other performance parameters - Built-in chorus effect - 61-key keyboard - The DX21´s keyboard itself does not have key velocity, but its tone generator accept key velocity data from an external MIDI source - Sustain footswitch, volume foot controller and breath controller inputs - MIDI IN/OUT/THRU terminals

	YAMAHA DX-27/27s	THE ONLY DIFFERENCE BETWEEN DX-27 AND DX-27s ARE BUILT-IN SPEAKERS - Programmable 4-operator 8-algorithm digital FM tone generator - Independent 5-parameter envelope generator for each operator - 24-voice internal RAM memory - 192 voices programmed into internal ROM - Bank Play mode permits direct access to 96 voices, programmable in any order - Shift mode permits access to another 96 voices - Built-in cassette interface for voice data storage - 61-key keyboard - The DX27´s keyboard itself does not have key velocity, but its tone generator accept key velocity data from an external MIDI source - Sustain/portamento footswitch and breath controller inputs - MIDI IN/OUT/THRU terminals

	YAMAHA DX-100	- Programmable 4-operator 8-algorithm digital FM tone generator - Independent 5-parameter envelope generator for each operator - 24-voice internal RAM memory - 192 voices programmed into internal ROM - Bank Play mode permits direct access to 96 voices, programmable in any order - Shift mode permits access to another 96 voices - Built-in cassette interface for voice data storage - 49-key mini keyboard - The DX-100´s keyboard itself does not have key velocity, but its tone generator accept key velocity data from an external MIDI source - Sustain/portamento footswitch and breath controller inputs - MIDI IN/OUT/THRU terminals

	YAMAHA TX-216/816	- 8 TF1 digital FM tone generator modules in a rack-mountable system - Each TF1 contains a 6-operator FM tone generator with 32 RAM voice memories - Each module contains 32 function memories corresponding to the 32 voice memories - Independent MIDI IN and THRU terminals for each module - Common MIDI IN/OUT/THRU terminals - Independent balanced XLR audio outputs from each module - All voice and performance memories can be programmed via an external 6-operator DX synthesizer - TX-216 is a two-module version of the TX-816 - Individual TF1 modules were available for expansion of the TX-216

	YAMAHA TX-7	DX-7 WITHOUT KEYS - THIS IS NOT RACK MOUNTABLE DEVICE - Programmable 6-operator 32-algorithm digital FM tone generator (programmable via computer or external DX-7) - Independent 8-parameter envelope generator for each operator - 32-voice internal RAM memory - 32 function memories corresponding to 32 voices stored in the DX7 synthesizer used with TX7 - Cassette interface for voice and function storage - 16-note polyphonic output - MIDI IN/OUT/THRU terminals

	YAMAHA TX-802	RACK MOUNT VERSION OF THE DX7II SERIES - multi-timbral 6 operator FM sound module - 16 voice polyphony can be assigned to up to 8 midi channels - 128 preset patches are included along with 64 user programmable voices. - Additional 64 voices could be stored on RAM-4 cartridge - Microtuning - each note can be tuned individually

	YAMAHA TX-81z	RACK VERSION OF DX-11 - Programmable 4-operator 8-algorithm digital FM tone generator (enhanced 16-bit circuitry) - Up to 8 different waveforms as an operators, 2 LFO and a Vibrato Generator - 128-voice internal ROM memory and 32-voice RAM memory, 24-performance memory - Microtonality - 13 scales (2 user programmable and 11 preset) - Pan, Single Note Chord, Transposed Delay, Pseudo reverb effects - Tape interface for saving and loading data - 8-note polyphony, 2 mono outputs - 8-multitimbral - MIDI IN/OUT/THRU terminals - TX-81z Homepage

	YAMAHA FB-01	- 4-operator 8-algorithm digital FM tone generator (programmable via computer) - 96-voice internal RAM memory (loaded from computer) - 240-voice internal ROM - 8-note polyphonic - 8 multitimbral - MIDI IN/OUT/THRU terminals

	YAMAHA V-50	WORKSTATION - Programmable 4-operator 8-algorithm digital FM tone generator (enhanced 16-bit circuitry similar to DX-11 but with some improvements) - Up to 8 different waveforms as a operators, 2 LFO and a Vibrato Generator - 99-voice internal RAM memory, 99-performance memory (99+99 on cartridge) - Microtonality - Programmable effect processor - 3,5" disk drive - 16-note polyphony - 8-multitimbral - Drum samples in memory - 61 sounds in 1 drum kit - Sequencer - MIDI IN/OUT/THRU terminals

	YAMAHA YS-100	- FM synthesizer (4-op), 8 note polyphony, 8 part multitimbral - Easy edit controls for basic editing operations and job mode (to make FM more acceptable for subtractive synthesizer users) - Programmable effect processor (10 built-in effects: reverbs (hall, plate, reverse, gated), delays (mono and stereo) and distortion coupled with either delay or reverb. There is very limited control over the effects other than time (up to 10s on some reverbs, 300ms on delays) and wet/dry mix.) - Velocity sensitive keyboard - Breath controller input - 100 internal preset voices, 100 internal user programmable voices, 100 voices on the card - MIDI IN/OUT/THRU terminals

	YAMAHA YS-200	- FM synthesizer (4-op), 8 note polyphony, 8 part multitimbral - Easy edit controls for basic editing operations and job mode (to make FM more acceptable for subtractive synthesizer users) - Programmable effect processor (10 built-in effects: reverbs (hall, plate, reverse, gated), delays (mono and stereo) and distortion coupled with either delay or reverb. There is very limited control over the effects other than time (up to 10s on some reverbs, 300ms on delays) and wet/dry mix.) - Velocity and after-touch sensitive keyboard - Controls include modulation, breath controller and foot pedal - 100 internal preset voices, 100 internal user programmable voices, 100 voices on the card - MIDI functions to use as a master controller - 8-track sequencer - MIDI IN/OUT/THRU terminals

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There are many other devices using FM tone generators. Either keyboards (portable, preset synthesizers, etc.) or computer cards. Here you can find some of them. If you have such a machine or any information please contact me to list them here.

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YAMAHA CE-20

- FM preset synthesizer
- 14 high-note-priority monophonic preset voices (piccolo,flute,oboe,clarinet,saxophone,trumpet 1 (classical),trumpet 2 (jazz),trombone,violin,contrabass 1 (bowed),contrabass 2 (pizzicato), electric bass 1 (mellow), electric bass 2(funky)
- 6 8-note polyphonic voices for backing (brass,horn,organ,electric piano,harpsichord,strings)
- Velocity and aftertouch sensitive 49-keys keyboard
- LFO control
- Slide control

Yamaha DX-5

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YAMAHA CE-25

- FM preset synthesizer
- 14 high-note-priority monophonic preset voices (piccolo,flute,oboe,clarinet,saxophone,trumpet 1 (classical),trumpet 2 (jazz),trombone,violin,contrabass 1 (bowed),contrabass 2 (pizzicato), electric bass 1 (mellow), electric bass 2(funky)
- 6 8-note polyphonic voices for backing (brass,horn,organ,electric piano,harpsichord,strings)
- Velocity and aftertouch sensitive 61-keys keyboard
- LFO control

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YAMAHA GS-1

- early FM piano style instrument

Yamaha DX-5

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YAMAHA GS-2

- early FM piano style instrument

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FM Synthesis - A complete description of Frequency Modulation synthesis.

	YAMAHA CE-20	- FM preset synthesizer - 14 high-note-priority monophonic preset voices (piccolo,flute,oboe,clarinet,saxophone,trumpet 1 (classical),trumpet 2 (jazz),trombone,violin,contrabass 1 (bowed),contrabass 2 (pizzicato), electric bass 1 (mellow), electric bass 2(funky) - 6 8-note polyphonic voices for backing (brass,horn,organ,electric piano,harpsichord,strings) - Velocity and aftertouch sensitive 49-keys keyboard - LFO control - Slide control

	YAMAHA CE-25	- FM preset synthesizer - 14 high-note-priority monophonic preset voices (piccolo,flute,oboe,clarinet,saxophone,trumpet 1 (classical),trumpet 2 (jazz),trombone,violin,contrabass 1 (bowed),contrabass 2 (pizzicato), electric bass 1 (mellow), electric bass 2(funky) - 6 8-note polyphonic voices for backing (brass,horn,organ,electric piano,harpsichord,strings) - Velocity and aftertouch sensitive 61-keys keyboard - LFO control

		FM Synthesis - A complete description of Frequency Modulation synthesis.