I've been suggested to jump on a DX-7 by some fellow slutz,..for some aggressive industrial sounds, and I've been checkin' 'em out on junkbay.
My question is,..What's the difference between the DX-7 and the DX-7 II?
Which one is better?...I would guess the DX-7 II,..but, unfortunately I've never heard either one.
Any reply about these synths is appreciated.
Thanks


HYPNOTIK
INFEKTED
BLOODLINE
APOKOLYPTIK RESONANCE

The original DX7 is an 16 voice monotimbral synth.
The DX7-II is bitimbral and can produce layers and splits.

The DX7 has a pretty poor MIDI implementation but the MK-II has
an excellent MIDI spec. The DX has a 12bit DAC and the II has a 16bit
DAC.

All round, the II is a much better synth. More so, if you can get an E!
expansion board. Both DX and II have E! boards you can fit. The DX
just improves the MIDI a bit and gives you better control over some features
and expanded patch memory, but the E! for the DX-7 II turns it into something a bit like a Korg M1 with a phrase sequencer, enormous xyclon like arpeggiator, pattern sequencer and awesome MIDI control. I have a DX7-IIFD with E! I got in the late 80's and I was lucky enough to be able to pay off the synth in instalments while using it and then I fitted the E! myself. It is a terrific synth and I "retired" it as my main controller in about 2006.

The keyboard of the II is excellent - it's the best keyboard on a synth I ever used.

When buying one, note the following things for a MKII:

Power supply - the power supply WILL die. Some of them die early,
others die later, but it will go. Mine went in about 1993 and I got it and the
battery replaced. It will work fine after this. So ask the seller if it ever
had the power supply replaced.

Button matrix - the buttons on the II are different to the cell buttons on the
DX. They get quite sticky and need to have a good clean on an old one.

Display - the II has a luscious LCD that you will love. It's awesome. It is also expensive to replace. Make sure the display is bright and no dead pixels.

Controller sliders - These get very jumpy after a while. The OK/Yes/No
buttons get worn out etc since they are used all the time.

If you can get II you will love it as a keyboard as much for the sound.
If you get an E! board for the II, you can produce a whole suite with it.

The DX7 MK-II-FD with E! is like a fizmo, but with sine waves.

Mine is packed away in the garage - if I had room it would still be here
but I like my analogues too much.....


rachel

That`s really great info, I`ve been looking at getting one myself and wasn`t sure of the differences.

Thanks a lot rachel!!

I prefer the original DX7 myself, sound wise. Yamaha fixed the MIDI issues with a special ROM upgrade, if you can find one I would suggest that. They will produce pretty much the same sound.

You are looking in the right place if you want industrial bass sounds!

don't forget the TX-7 which is a tabletop DX7 with the original 12 bit converters!

Native Instruments FM8 does it for me.

I love the DX7 - always did. It was THE defining synth of the early and mid 80's. Incidently, FM8 (as did FM7) - has the entire preset banks from the original DX7. It's not terribly expensive - but it is host based VI.

If you are performing that's another story. If it's composition - check out FM8.
cdlt

Might I suggest a Yamaha TX802?

It's rackmount DX7II. It sounds exactly the same but it's 8 voice multitimbral. It even has a separate output for each voice.

They can be picked up very cheap these days.

Of course this is irrelevant if you need the keyboard.

I've got a DX7 and love it. Probably the Mk II would be better but I like the original DX7 more. It's probably because the original is so much simpler than the Mk II and with a few compromises it gives you all the FM goodies from the Mk II, including splits and layers if programmed to do so.

I love simple synths with plenty of character. That's the DX7. I haven't heard a sound that I really liked from the later revisions and NI FM8 that I couldn't recreate on the original DX7.

The more advanced revisions are nice but too complicated. FM8 is the most complicated Yamaha style FM synth I've played. What I get in 10 minutes on the DX7 requires hours of tweaking on the VSTi. A matter of familiarity, I suppose.

I have an original DX7 and a DX7IIFD here. The II will be of more use.

But it's noisier than the original, though it feels good. Personally I'm a big fan of the Fatar TP8-S as found in the Virus B, C and TI keyboards.

Also, the II has unison, and some patches that use this sound very D50-ish. It's a really peculiar sound and heard so little on most FM synths that it's almost a revelation.

The output of the later DX7II series is much better than the original or tx7 or the 802 outputs. another solid FM tool for industrial is the tx81z. I still use a sampled drum kit I created for it a decade ok.
maybe i need to buy one again...

Funny you mentioned the TX802,..I had one and traded it in on a Yamaha band EQ a couple years back,...I'm kickin' myself for it now!

Thank you to everyone,...there is some very informative info here.
I appreciate it!

The DX7 II can sound really lush (and the TX802 is a very cool module for no money these days). If you like the industrial DX sounds, the DX7 is where it's at due to the grungier outputs (not lo fi just a bit grittier!).
I had a DX7II with E! and it was very cool (2 patches layered you could really get some nice warm pads even), but I prefer my TX816 for some reason. More direct and punchier but that could just be how I perceive it

Can't go wrong with Yamaha DX series...

Hello

Owned, gigged and recorded (and programmed) a DX7 then a TX7 for nearly ten years. Sold.

I have Kore and the FM8 Transient Attacks soundpack. You can get the soundpack on its own and use it with the free Kore player.

Live - I remember the DX7 (and TX7) really cut through well in a live band situation with double beater mayhem and two guitar crazies with loud Marshall stacks.

Studio - The FM8 sounds great recorded - you'll need a software host to run it live (and the nerve to gig with a laptop and cope with an onstage crash).

Good luck.

For me that is the DX series' strength and one many overlook when just playing one. It sits in a mix nicely and cuts through.
The mainstays in my setup have been the ARP 2600, TX816 and Serge. The TX just compliments the other stuff perfectly in a mix.

Agreed, It has such a unique tone due to the 12-bit convertors, if played among 16-bit equipment its a perfect contrast and shines.

Imo, if you get the DX7II your getting a similar tone to every other 16-bit digital sampler out there. It still sounds better than a lot of the new synths, imo, but it doesn't have that warm/fat tone that the original DX-7 has. Plus, the originals are cheaper heh, so its a win-win.

I paired the DX-7 with an MPC 2000. One of the best synths, with one of the best sampler/sequencers all for about $750 used. Thats less than what a used "Big 3" workstation would cost, with far superior sound, imo.

I must say, the IIFD has an AMAZING keyboard

but the dx7 looks so cool!

Was the updated ROM available for the TX7 also? MIDI spec on the module seems all the more important.

So how is the TX7 to work with? I actually own one, which I bought cheaply from the classifieds here, but haven't got around to using it yet.

Cheers,

Oli

And then you want a really realistic piano or a soft set of strings without that nasal edge and you're out of luck. Unless you've already sampled it, but the MPCs aren't exactly suitable for studio-style sample playback.

These days you can buy a used GM module for those sounds for nothing.
Then again, I wish people would use synths for original sounds rather than replicating existing sounds. That's where a DX series is a REAL synth.

You need a software editor like MidiQuest to work with it efficiently! The sound is just amazing...!

and don't forget the SY77/99

same awesome keybed and superb FMsynth

I hear what your saying, but the realistic pianos are about the only thing worth paying for on the newer digital synths imo, and if I'm going to pay a grand, I might as well buy a real grand, lol.

I personally think the Alesis QSR "True Stereo Piano" is one of the most realistic piano samples out there, and the racks go for about $150-200 used on ebay. Its strings are very realistic too. I play guitar so if I need to add some realism to a song, that works, and more realistic than any sampled piano.

Do you (or does anyone) happen to know where I can get a replacement power board for my DV-7IIFD? As you state, they do die, and my did, in deed, it died... That's just fun to say.

TIA

What about the DX9? What was new/improved(Back when it was released) about that model?

The DX9 was the first 4-operator synth if I recall correctly. It's got no similarities except the color scheme and the membrane buttons - all later DX synths got regular pushbuttons. Given the choice between the 7 and the 9, pick the 7 - or go for a really cheap 4-op module that can do better than the 9 (TX81z).

+1 on the tx81z...worth having if only for the lately bass preset heh

I finally ran into (or should I say stepped in shit) a DX7 today for $75.00 USD. I'm assuming this is a really good price compared to what I see them going for on _bay.
I'm picking it up in a couple hours from now, tonight.
I'm sure I'll be back to ask some questions to those of you who already own one or have in the past.

Hello,

I've recently purchased an YAMAHA dx7II FD synth. It came with a E! Grey Matter Response. I can't fint the the E! card user manual for dx7II. I did found the E! card user manual for dx7 - the old version, but they are incompatible. Can anybody help me with a E! Grey Matter Response user manual (a service manual if available) for dx7II? My e-mail is: [email protected]. Thank you

Hi everyone,
I was given a Yamaha DX7 IID. The GreyMatter E is installed, which is is a additional sequencer (correct me if im wrong please). It seems to be in a super condition.

My Questions:
1. Unfortunately I came without a cartridge. I cant find any preset sounds on it, are these all on the cartridge or am just not looking for them in the right place?

2. Searching on the internet for cartridges, I cant find any for the dX7IID. Are there any others I could use, DX7 ones maybe?

3. How much does the "grey Matter E" Change int the synth itself? Following the manual to get to know this rather complex machine, Im realizing several functions do not follow up as the should be according to the Manual.

I would be gratefull for advice!

Thank you.

DION

Congratulations on your windfall.


The RAM backup battery may be flat in which case it would have lost all its patches. You can find the DX7 (I) original patches on Dave Benson's website. These will also work on the DX7 II.

The DX7 II factory patches are elsewhere, I forgot where but if you search the forum you'll find references to a site hosting them. (and Dave's site as well)

You'll need to dump the patches via a comp & MIDI interface, sysex librarian or Midi-Ox should be OK. You may need to fiddle with transmission speeds etc. There's a procedure on the DX7 you'll need to follow in order for it to accept dumps. It's been discussed here already so search should reveal the general way to accomplish this. One potential caveat are MIDI interfaces, some of them don't work properly with sysex dumps.

Once you switch off the synth it'll probably lose its patches again until such time as the battery (assuming it's flat) has been replaced. I soldered a CR2032 holder from an old PC motherboard onto mine and popped in a standard 2032 coincell instead of using the official replacement part.

I think they're different, could be wrong. It's convenient to have but not essential assuming you have a comp & midi interface.