Yamaha DX-7II User reviews -Page 11

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Average rating: 4.5 out of 5

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a hobbyist user writes:

The DX7 MKII FD is such a great and versatile synth. No where near has hard to program as many people make out. There are loads of complex guitar and piano patches out there (thats where the intricate programming lies). Making FM bases, leads and pads is easy enough IMHO. I cannot fault the MKII FD....its superb.

The thing I love most about it is that you can create all kinds of complex waveforms which analog and VA synths can't do. I like to process these complex waveforms through analog filters and FX. What more could you ask for? Its incredibly versatile.

Spend time with it. Look at how your favourite factory presets were made. Make a note of the EG settings for pads, bases and leads. Make a note of the various operator tunings...and after a while (1 week in my case) you'll quickly grasp just how those kinda sounds were programmed. For me, its not about trying to make analog type sounds....I love the sound of all out FM. Very 80's and very out-there at the same time.

Try the DX7 MKII FD...you'll love it for its uniqueness. A synth that really did puch the bounderies.

5/5 from me

Rating: 5 out of 5 posted Monday-Sep-26-055 at 13:22

Steve a part-time user from USA writes:

Hey - it's a classic.

I've always loved the dynamic responsiveness of even the "typical FM" electric piano sounds - from very mellow to really hard and biting. Capable of far more interesting sounds than the sampple-playback wave that followed...some of the sounds are as involving as playing an acoustic instrument (especialy some of the complicated plucked sounds)!

Also capable of some surprisingly fat lead tones with the unison poly mode (add some portamento and wail!)

Rating: 5 out of 5 posted Tuesday-Sep-13-055 at 19:12

andrew lund a part-time user from australia writes:

I just want to add a few things to my other review of the DX7. In the DX7II at least, there's a string sound that is virtually identical to the string sound used by Vangelis (film composer) in the 1981 hit movie, "chariots of fire". Its called WarmStrngs(patch 1 and 49). The sound is used at least in the "Olympic hymn" in the movie (the Olympic theme song)It only sounds good if you play it slow (legato), one note at a time (with just a little overlap between notes perhaps) This sound alone is worth the price of the keyboard, or the FM7 software. I think Vangelis had a early DX7 prototype in the early 80's, was it called the GS1 or something? I must also say the clavi sound is great (patch 22). Vibraphone is TOTALLY REALISTIC (patch 18)EbonyIvory is cool (patch 9) Trumpet (24) is fantastic. CongaDrum (26) sounds realistic (very african) if you play it around D2 for the lower drum and about 3 keys (intervals) up for the higher conga sound. Ensemble (19) sounds like very fat anolog strings. Play a low note and feel the warmth. My Juno 106 sounds a little warmer than this with the CHORUS ON! Turn the chorus off and you'll find the DX is fatter! I wonder what the DX would sound like through a anolog chorus unit (bloody good, I rekon) I hope I've pointed you towards a DX7 purchase, or FM7 software. The myth of this keyboard being rubbish is just a ridiculous fashion. I've just covered SOME of the better presets. There are many more, and that's before you've even downloaded the THOSANDS of sounds on the net. But some form of this syth now, whether you prefer the orginal hardware unit (get a DX7II, not just a plain DX7 though) or the software only FM7 DX7 software simulator. The only modern snth that can compare withe the DX's tremendously realistic expression (the sound changes dramatically as you play softer and louder) is perhaps the Korg Z1. I would'nt mind one of those, either. A Korg phopecy might do. Other modern stuff I rate include the YAMAHA AN1x, CS1x. Actually I like pretty much all the Yamahas and Korg's! Roland is great but not the only good synth maker around.

Rating: 5 out of 5 posted Tuesday-Jun-24-033 at 10:28

andrew lund a part-time user from australia writes:

As a owner of a Roland System 100 (modular), Juno 106, Oberheim Matrix 1000, Yamaha CS1x, Casio CZ3000, Moog Micromoog...ect I feel I'm in a position to compare the DX7 to these other "classic" beasts. First thing I want to say is that when I was a little kid (15years ago) The DX7 was considered to be THE synth. I remember that in the music shop how people would complain of the "brightness" "tinnynes" "Thinness" of anolog! The DX7 was supposed to be the ultimate, and anolog for the gargage bin. It all seems a bit ridiculous now, but now I feel the "anti" DX7 feeling has become the same kind of bull argument used against anolog back then. For a start, a lot of the presets in the DX7 suck- that is for sure. But a look on the net at 1000's of sounds programmed by top synth programmers will cure this! I have also programmed myself ultra realistic double bass (better than samples) harpsichord, reasonable strings (supposed to be impossible) The acoustic piano sounds very strange, almost like its a sound coming off a wax cylinder! Now I would have said that sound was unusable, because play a chord and the sound is terrible. But I noticed that at the end of the Nine Inch Nails song, "closer" (You know- I wanna f**k you like a animal) this odd piano sound is there- and it actually sounds really good! This just shows you that it pays to fool around with sounds sometimes WHILE your song is playing. You may be suprised how odd or thin sounds sound great "in the mix". And that is a good rule for any synth. Overall, the DX7 is a VERY powerful synth, and if you download/program your own sounds, it does'nt even sound dated. Bass, brass, woodwind (clarinet) sounds are much more realistic than ANY hyped synth that has been released since. I consider it a kind of stable, weird digitar modular synth- in fact I like it even more than my anolog Roland System 100. That might be against the fashion of the minute to say that, but who gives a s**t!? Its now up to the young kids to show those old keyboardists how they threw away good keyboards for stupid low prices.

These kids will show them all again just like they did with the TB-303 in the late 80's. At that time the TB was considered a odd little box that produced too few notes (1), did'nt sound like a bass guitar (like it was supposed to), lacked midi, had a "out of date" sequencer and sounded too "synthetic" and 70's!

Don't forget too the new FS7 "soft" DX7. Sounds good and you can download a free "cracked" version from WINMX or whatever. I still have my DX7II though for now. Its much better to gig with, and the softsynth does'nt come with the world's best action synth keyboard!

Rating: 5 out of 5 posted Friday-Jun-20-033 at 13:52

DCA a hobbyist user from Turkey writes:

I bought a dx7-II fd for 150 usd. It is mint condition and works well. I love this keyboard and its rich sounds. Electro pianos sysnth pads and bass patches are perfect. It has a touch of 80s. With excellent keyboard structure it is my still favourite. I can hear all those old sounds from best music pieces ever done.It always got the 5.

Rating: 5 out of 5 posted Wednesday-Jan-15-033 at 15:28

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