Trend price : 300€
The DX7 was the first affordable synthesizer implementing FM synthesis designed by John Chowning.
Overview
(weight: 15 Kg) 61 keys with velocity and aftertouch. The main panel features a 16 X 2 lines display , 42 buttons, 2 sliders for volume and data entry.
Rear panel terminal connectors:
-
mono out
-
Midi interface
- headphones out
- breath controller input
- 4 footswitch inputs
Sound
main core 8-bit CPU Hitachi HD63A03X manages 16 digital voices based on FM synthesis. The IC YM2128 generates 6 syncable sinewave oscillators or operator each with individual volume settings and detune.
DX7 synthesis
there
are 6 sinewave operators organized as algorithms, assigned as carrier
or modulator, linked between them on different
pathways interacting on their harmonic contents depending on the
varable feedback strength.
- carrier: defines the amplitude and the spectral frequency
- modulator: sets the sound timbre and the relative harmonic contents.
DX7 offers 32 different combinations algorithms with frequency ratio or fixed frequency: the output is fed back to its input with 7 different levels feedback, as general rule, high values feedback results in richer harmonic contents.
LFO
2 digital modulators with adjustable start delay and sync retrigger:
- PMD modulates pitch
- AMD processes the amplitude
Both LFO offers 6 waveforms : sine, triangle, saw up/down, square and sample & hold.
Envelope
IC YM2819 generates 7 envelopes:
- 1 EG pitch: 4-segments structure + 4 time levels.
-
1 EG for each operators: 4-segments structure + 4 time levels
Memory
-32 RAM patches
Audio demo:
Video Clip:
Review
OK: raw sound / cult / FM concept
NOT : key dynamics / edit / weight
"We are here in front of the history! Massive sound, raw-powerful... hard to tame!"
Text , review, special demos copyright polynominal.com / Eric Pochesci