Musique des années 80 : pourquoi les styles et sons font un retour ...
En plus des grandes émissions de télé et des films que les années 80 ont produits, c'est la musique qui a vraiment élevé cette période iconique ...
Yamaha DX7
En entrant dans l’ère numérique des synthétiseurs, il est impossible de ne pas mentionner le <anchor>Yamaha DX7</anchor>. Il s’agit de l’un des premiers succès dans le domaine des synthés numériques. Le son de piano électrique doux et agréable que l’on peut entendre dans de nombreux hits lui est dû. Des artistes comme Michael Jackson, Kenny Loggins, Whitney Houston et A-Ha ont tous utilisé le DX7 dans des chansons populaires. Alors que d’autres synthétiseurs étaient qualifiés de « chaleureux », celui-ci était surtout « brutal » et « cristallin », et produisait un contraste sonore puissant. Si vous êtes un fan du film Top Gun, vous connaissez le tube absolu « Danger Zone » de Kenny Loggins. Ces cinq premières notes de basse provenaient du préréglage « Bass 1 » de ce synthétiseur.
Yamaha DX7 | Vintage Synth Explorer
Toggle navigation

## Main navigation

Search

## Yamaha DX7

Yamaha DX7 Image

VSE Rating

- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5

User Rating

- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5

One of the most popular digital synths ever was the DX7 from Yamaha, released in 1983. It featured a whole new type of synthesis called FM (Frequency Modulation). It certainly is not analog and it is difficult to program but can result in some excellent sounds! It is difficult because it is non-analog and thus, a whole new set of parameters are available for tweaking, many of which seemed counter-intuitive and unfamiliar. And programming had to be accomplished via membrane buttons, one data slider and a small LCD screen.

Still the sounds it shipped with and that many users did manage to create were more complex and unique than anything before it. Percussive and metallic but thick as analog at times, the DX7 was known for generating unique sounds still popular to this day. The DX7 was also a truly affordable programmable synth when it was first released. Almost every keyboardist bought one at the time making the DX7 one of the best selling synths of all time! It also came with MIDI which was brand new at the time - Sequential had already released the first MIDI synth, the Prophet 600. Roland had just released the JX-3P with very basic MIDI implementation, and wouldn't get around to adding full MIDI for another year with the Juno-106, and it would be three years before Roland can counter the popularity of the DX7 with a digital synth of their own, the D-50.

Yamaha DX7 Image

The DX7 has been used by the Crystal Method, Kraftwerk, Underworld, Orbital, BT, Talking Heads, Brian Eno, Tony Banks, Mike Lindup of Level 42, Jan Hammer, Roger Hodgson, Teddy Riley, Brian Eno, T Lavitz of the Dregs, Sir George Martin, Supertramp, Phil Collins, Stevie Wonder, Daryl Hall, Steve Winwood, Scritti Politti, Babyface, Peter-John Vettese, Depeche Mode, D:Ream, Les Rhytmes Digital, Front 242, U2, A-Ha, Enya, The Cure, Astral Projection, Fluke, Kitaro, Vangelis, Elton John, James Horner, Toto, Donald Fagen, Michael McDonald, Chick Corea, Level 42, Queen, Yes, Michael Boddicker, Julian Lennon, Jean-Michel Jarre, Sneaker Pimps, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Greg Phillanganes, Jerry Goldsmith, Jimmy Edgar, Beastie Boys, Stabbing Westward and Herbie Hancock. Pretty impressive for just a partial listing!

Following the monaural DX7 came the stereo DX7 mkII - just as popular and much more advanced. Its unique sounds are very popular for industrial techno type music as well as ambient and electro. The TX-7 is essentially a desktop module form of the DX7 but is even harder to edit or program since it requires external editors or software. The monolithic DX1 and DX5 models which packed two DX7 synth engines into one instrument were the epitome of the DX line of synths created by Yamaha. There have also been a few budget spin-offs like the DX9, DX100, DX21 and DX27. FM synthesis has also made its way into the TX-81Z & TX-802 and software synthesizers like Native Instruments FM7.

Still the DX7 has remained the all around best and most popular DX synth due to its affordable price, professional features for studio and live performance and its excellent range of sonic possibilities and extensive programmability. In fact the reason the DX7 is always so affordable (usually under $500 second-hand) is because there are so many of them out there, still being used and traded! And they are reliable, still functioning well over 20 years later unlike older analog gear.

## Related Forum Topics

### YamahaDX7 Weird Sound

Hi everyone, hope somebody can help me out! I’ve been using my DX7 MKI for the past couple of decades as a midi controller (I’ve had it since 1985 and can’t bring myself to ... | Read more...

by Toby CMon Oct 18, 2021 4:36 pmForum: HELP!Views: 2646

### "new" YamahaDX7 II keys don't work, but external midi will trigger sounds

Greetings everyone - My 'new' (to me) Yamaha DX7 II D has a major problem; they keys don't trigger any ... | Read more...

### YamahaDX7 Unwanted Explosion Distortion?????

In summary, I can't hold more than 3 keys down at a time. If I hold 4 or more keys down on any of the voice presets, the note that plays sounds like an explosion that's supper distorted. Whe... | Read more...

by dxcultmasterSun Sep 20, 2020 1:12 amForum: HELP!Views: 2662

### YamahaDX7 no sound

Hello there I just bought a Yamaha DX7 MK1 with additional JME SPX v1.6. I tried to load the original ... | Read more...

by mrd15c0Wed Jun 24, 2020 9:00 pmForum: HELP!Views: 4009

### YamahaDX7 - issue with key

Hi folks. Was using my Yamaha DX7 and playing fine until a piano key (E below Middle C) acted ... | Read more...

by DougSun Jun 07, 2020 1:17 amForum: HELP!Views: 5056

## You Might Also Like



## Demos & Media

Embedded thumbnail for DX7 &gt; YouTube

Yamaha DX7 | demo

by

WC Olo Garb

Audio Clip 1Get a taste of the sounds a DX7 can generate.

Your browser does not support the audio element.
Get a taste of the sounds a DX7 can generate.

Manual Download the original owner's manual here.

## Specifications

Polyphony - 16 Voices

Oscillators - 16 bit Digital 6 operator FM.

#Instruments - (1) Monotimbral

LFO - Sine/Square/Tri/SAW up/SAW Down/Random

VCA - 6 Envelope generators 8 parameters each

Keyboard - 61 keys (w/ velocity and aftertouch)

Memory - 32 Patches

Control - MIDI

Date Produced - 1983-87

## Websites of Interest

## Resources

Copyright © 1996-2024

All images, audio, downloadable media, logos and registered trademarks are property of their respective owners.