Polyphonic shared this video essay, looking at the synthesizer that defined the sound of the ’80s, the Yamaha DX7.
The video covers some of the history of FM synthesis, but focuses primarily on some of the DX7’s key presets and how they were used in the music of the ’80s.
I still prefer the Casio CZ-1 and the Roland D-50.
I think What’s Love was done on a DX9 according to a Classic Tracks article in SOS. Still… same technology. I would also say there is an argument that the Kronos has a more powerful FM implementation, as does the FS1r, which pairs the Montage engine with some interesting noise and formant stuff.
I loved the video but agree there are a few inaccuracies. The overall vibe is great and it was put together with love, no doubt.
Very interesting synth.
The dollar had twice the value of our currency those days…it was about $2500 or so. I could only arrange 1250,- as teenager (and i wasnt spoiled with having rich parents). Otherwise i would have one in the 80’s instead of a DSR1000.
Yep it was my bread and butter in the 80’s, it and a Jupiter 8 sitting underneath it.
Ohh .. one more thing, the Whitney Houston example in this video is using a DynoMy Fender Rhodes .. not a DX7 .. just sayin …..
Corrections to incorrect information: 1) John Chowning did not license FM to Yamaha. Stanford University, Chowning’s employer did. 2) The DX-7 was NOT the first programmable synthesizer. It was the first made by Yamaha. The New England Digital Synclavier 2 had FM and was out years before the DX-7.
Also, The Casio 1000p came oit before the DX7, not FM….but digital and programmable albeit extremely limited.
I didn’t quite state it correctly. The DX-7 was not the first programmable FM synth. Not only was the Synclavier out years before the DX-7, but Yamaha themselves brought out the DX-1 before the DX-7.
I haven’t had any experience with a DX7 until I used Rockrelay Synth FM (Android app), which simulates the DX7. And the sounds are all more easily programmable.