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Yamaha DX1

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DX1
Yamaha DX1
ManufacturerYamaha
Dates1984 to 1985
Price

JP¥ 1,950,000[1]

US$ 13,900[2]
Technical specifications
Polyphony32 voices in single or split mode
16 voices in dual mode
TimbralityMonotimbral
Bitimbral in split mode
Oscillator6 operators
LFO1
Synthesis typeDigital Frequency modulation
Filternone
Attenuator6 envelope generators
Aftertouch expressionYes
Velocity expressionYes
Storage memorytwo sets of 4 banks of 8 voices (A and B channel, total 64), 8 banks of 8 performance combinations
Effectsnone
Hardware2x YM21280 (OPS) Operator chip
2x YM21290 (ES) Envelope Generator
Input/output
KeyboardDX-1: 73 with
velocity and polyphonic aftertouch
DX-5: 76 with
velocity and channel aftertouch
Left-hand controlpitch-bend and modulation wheels
External controlMIDI

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 performance 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.[3]

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 fully weighted keys, polyphonic aftertouch, 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 a DX7.

Notable users

References

  1. ^ Yamaha LM Instruments (brochure) (in Japanese). Yamaha Corporation. 1985. pp. 3.
  2. ^ "Yamaha DX1". Vintage Synth Explorer. Although the DX1 may seem like a better buy than the more popular DX7, remember that the DX1 is expensive. There were only about 140 of these synths made and the retail value of a DX1 during its production year in 1985 was $13,900. ...
  3. ^ Gordon Reid (September 2001). "Sounds of the '80s Part 2: The Yamaha DX1 & Its Successors (Retro)". Sound on Sound. Retrieved 29 June 2011.
  4. ^ http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/mar05/articles/classictracks.htm

Further reading

  • "[Chapter 2] FM Tone Generators and the Dawn of Home Music Production". Yamaha Synth 40th Anniversary - History. Yamaha Corporation. 2014.
    The development outline of Yamaha FM sound synthesizer; especially, the prototypes of GS1 (TRX-100), DX series (PAMS: Programmable Algorithm Music Synthesizer), DX1 (prototype DX1), and these tentative programing interfaces are seen.

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