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The greatest synth architecture of all time. There have been better successive synths that Yamaha has produced that utilised the DX 7 architecture, espcially the FS1r and DX 200. Programming is very difficult, but a computer editor and a strong will is very useful.
Whereas you are quite limited with a two oscillator synth, the DX 7 allows one to take a simple sine wave and modulate it to create timbres from the unnatural to the natural. Using the algorithms that have two or three operators you can have two or three seperate timbres split across the keyboard.
The DX 7 is most famous for its organs, bells, and sometimes basses and leads, but I can make it fart like an old time Moog Modular. The key is knowledge on what effects what. FM programming is difficult because it can be a slippery fish to hold, plus if you have no editor your best bet is to visualise the sound. It is a most zen synth.
Also, the parameters go well beyond what an analogue can do, making the DX 7 more acoustic-like. The keyboard has a break point where the modulation can be heavier or lighter. Yes, it is primitive, but exremely effective.
The big analogue hype is almost over, and I cannot wait until Yamaha comes out with a super DX 7 type synth. I have been into synths for the past ten years now, and I regret to see such excess with Romplers, or imbicilic virtual analogues (save the Nord Lead Modular, Virus C and Q+) when there could be some more riskier hardware synths out there that utilise FM and Additive. If you want a Yamaha FM synth, you can't do no wrong with an FS1r, but if you want that classic 80's sound- and a synth that can surprise you at every turn- pick up the DX 7.
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