YAMAHA RX-17
Digital Rhythm Programmer (1987)

Budget programmable digital drum machine with 26 PCM samples.

DRUM MACHINE main panel features a 16 x 2 lines LCD display, 27 rubber buttons, 13 pads (no velocity) and 2 sliders.

Back panel terminal connectors:
- Midi interface
- tape interface
- headphones
- main signal out.


Power supply external PSU 9-12 V DC with negative in center (original is PA-1).

TECH main 8-bits CPU HD6030 manages 6 voices polyphony.
STRUCTURE main sound generation is based on plain PCM samples coded at 12 bits resolution generated by IC YM2154 rhythm generator (also found on RX11 and RX15) + DAC YM3012.

WAVETABLE pure rompler machine with a 2 MB ROM wavetable that contains 26 PCM samples at 12 bits. Internal PCM sounds cannot be really edited but only 2 parameters: volume set and stereo panning.

PERCUSSIONS Up to 2 samples are assigned to each pad which is split into 2 banks "A/B", here's the full list:

A Hi-hat open Hihat- close cymbal (x2) Cowbell Claps Timbale (x2) Bass Drum Snare Drum tom (x3) B Conga (x2( Bongo (x2) High Agogo(x2) Whistle Shaker High Cuica (x2) Tambourine rim shot High Conga (x2)

EDIT INTERFACE rubber pads and many controls keystroke functions with "job" button

 

SEQUENCER notes can be recorder in 2 modes:

- step in mode entry - real-time with various quantisation levels 1/8, 1/16, 1/32, 1/12, 1/24 or 1/48. HEAR sequence with synth

The sequencer features some edit functions such as Delete, Copy, Clear, Repeat, Punch-in or tempo change. Of course it is also possible to trigger sounds by MIDI, and each sample can be assigned to a different MIDI note that cannot be remapped.

SYNC tempo can be set internally (range 40-240 BPM) or synched to Midi clock or tape sync.

MEMORY:

- 10 songs - 999 patterns. Songs and patterns can be saved to magnetic tapes ("CAS") or by Midi exclusives dumps.

BATTERY REPLACEMENT: memory system works with a CR-2032 battery soldered to the board.

MODIFICATION the RX-17 is one of the most circuitbent drum machine of all time and this for 3 common reasons: it is now so cheapand you can afford to smoke one, it is easy to modify, and finally it sounds good if you like digital glitches I personally did a little on-the-fly connector 10 X 2 matrix points - connected to PCM IC with some bending on the fly HEAR test

8Bit Collective Mobius band Ebay

 

RELATED RX FAMILY:

RX11 first of the series	RX15 improved rx11	RX21 budget version with different soundset	RX21L same as RX17 but with latin-oriented sound
RX5 flagship with mixer less sounds than RX7	RX120 a preset pattern version of 21	RX7 less features than rx5 but more PCM	RX8 first with 16 bits sample

GALLERY:

mimì the synthcat	custom rx7 ebay	with DX100	Custom from ebay	hires