This video, via Power DX7, is a detailed comparison between the Yamaha DX7 and a variety of DX7 emulation apps, VSTs and hardware.
The video features a side-by-side comparison of six DX7 alternatives:
- FM Player – This is not a FM synth, but a DX7 sample player.
- KQ Dixie – This is an iOS app that is design to emulate the DX7 MK1 faithfully, with additional features, like a filter and effect.
- Dexed – This is a free DX7 emulation VST for your Mac and Windows.
- Native Instrument FM8 – This is a powerful FM synth VST that can import DX7 patches. It is far more feature rich than Dexed and its a unique FM synth in on its own. For this test drive, the focus is on its DX7 patch compatibility.
- Arturia DX7 – V: This is a new VST that claims to have faithfully emulated the DX7 MK1, with added features.
- Korg Volca FM – A hardware FM synth that is DX7 compatible. It has built-in sequencer and an effect as well.
Check it out, and share your thoughts in the comments!
Are they all VST or are soft synths that have VST versions?
I generally appreciate videos like this – but this one isn’t necessarily looking for the best FM sound, but rather the one that sounds most like a DX7.
Tediously at that.
I do appreciate the effort, but you need to be a huge DX7 fan to sit through this!
I appreciated this. I’m a huge fan! What’s better that a DX7? How about 8 of them! TX816!!!!
or a Sy77
DXed is good enough and free and runs on a puter not a phone…perfect
DX V is also great but adds a nice UI and extends the capability
no yamaha montage FM
no yamaha reface FM
He’s loading the same sysex into each synth for a direct comparison. Montage and Reface don’t allow DX7 sysex
Yes, that’s what I did, loading the same patches and see how they perform across a wide range of notes. You need to do this, because each synth can sounds very different across notes.
no love for the preenFM?
I don’t own PreenFM, so I have to check it out.
Good work.
Thanks for watching my comprehensive review of DX7 wanna be’s! I hope you learnt something new from the video. Cheers, Power DX7.
Thanks Synthtopia for posting my YouTube video here, really appreciate it. I know it’s a long video, but I made sure to make a comprehensive, detailed and accurate video so that people can see clearly how each VST, app and hardware compares to the original DX7 MK1. In the world of photography, you see a lot of comprehensive reviews of cameras, lenses and accessories, but not necessarily in the world of synths. So that’s the reason why I spent a lot of time comparing each carefully and diligently. Thanks again for your support.