Yamaha DX1

DX1

Yamaha DX1
Manufactured by	Yamaha
Dates	1984 to 1985
Price	US$ 10,900
Technical specifications
Polyphony	32 voices in single or split mode 16 voices in dual mode
Timbrality	Monotimbral Bitimbral in split mode
Oscillator	6 operators
LFO	1
Synthesis type	Digital Frequency modulation
Filter	none
Attenuator	6 envelope generators
Aftertouch	Yes
Velocity sensitive	Yes
Memory	two sets of 4 banks of 8 voices (A and B channel, total 64), 8 banks of 8 performance combinations
Effects	none
Hardware	2x YM21280 (OPS) Operator chip 2x YM21290 (EGS) Envelope Generator
Input/output
Keyboard	DX-1: 73 with velocity and polyphonic aftertouch DX-5: 76 with velocity and channel aftertouch
Left-hand control	pitch-bend and modulation wheels
External control	MIDI

The Yamaha DX1 is the top-level member of Yamaha's prolific DX series of FM synthesizers. It featured two sets of the same synthesizer chipset used in the DX7, allowing either double the polyphony, split of two voices or dual (layered) instrument voices. In addition, it contained twice the amount of voice memory as the DX7, resp. it has an independent voice bank for each of two synth channels (engines). Each of 64 performace combinations can be assigned a single voice number, or a combination of two voice numbers - one from channel A and one from channel B.

It included a handmade Brazilian rosewood case, a 73-key weighted wooden keyboard with polyphonic aftertouch, comprehensive backlit LCD displays for instrument programming, and solid push-buttons as opposed to the membrane buttons on the DX7. There were only 140 of them ever made.

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  DX1 front panel

The Yamaha DX5 was a derivative of the DX1, introduced in 1985 with a list price of US$3,495. It has the same synth engine, but lacked the DX1's aesthetics (rosewood case and wooden keyboard) and user interface features (parameter displays). It included 76 keys with channel aftertouch and slightly improved MIDI features.

Programming instruments on the DX1 is a little easier than on a DX5 because of extensive parameter displays but both have an advantage against a DX7, because they have dedicated buttons for some programming tasks and bigger display, so programming is not so tedious as on DX7.

Notable users

• Brian Eno
• Depeche Mode
• Dire Straits Money For Nothing
• Elton John
• Herbie Hancock on the Village Life LP (with Foday Musa Suso)
• Jan Hammer
• Jean Michel Jarre used a DX1 on live concerts
• Kitaro
• Kraftwerk
• Michael McDonald
• Pet Shop Boys as seen playing a DX1 in their videoclip[1]
• Tangerine Dream
• The Beach Boys on the album The Beach Boys (album)
• John Dulik of Relâche (musical group)
• Grzegorz Ciechowski

External links

• Yamaha DX1 Worldwide Information Center DX1 and DX5 info site, including owner's club and technical specs.
• Vintage Synth Explorer Site Information
• Sonic State Site User Reviews
• Yamaha DX5 page