Yamaha DX1
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| DX1 | |
|---|---|
 Yamaha DX1 | |
| Manufacturer | Yamaha |
| Dates | 1983[1] to 1985 |
| Price | |
| 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 expression | Yes |
| Velocity expression | Yes |
| Storage 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 (ES) 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 features 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 contains 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 includes 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. Only 140 were produced.[4][dead link]
The Yamaha DX5 is a derivative of the DX1, introduced in 1985 with a list price of US$3,495. It has the same synth engine, but lacks the DX1's fully weighted keys, polyphonic aftertouch, aesthetics (rosewood case and wooden keyboard), and user interface features (parameter displays). It includes 76 keys with channel aftertouch and slightly improved MIDI features.
Programming on a DX1 is a little easier than on a DX5 because of extensive parameter displays, but both are easier to program than a DX7 because they have dedicated buttons for some programming tasks and bigger displays.
Notable users
- Aphex Twin
- The Beach Boys on the album The Beach Boys
- Brian Eno
- Grzegorz Ciechowski
- Depeche Mode
- Dire Straits' Guy Fletcher used a DX1 for the Brothers in Arms album (especially "Money for Nothing") and tour
- Elton John
- Europe used a DX5 on The Final Countdown and DX1 in the video for the 1988 version of "Open Your Heart" [1]
- Roby Facchinetti
- Herbie Hancock on the Village Life LP (with Foday Musa Suso)
- Jan Hammer
- Jean-Michel Jarre used a DX1 in live concerts
- Kitaro
- Kraftwerk
- Michael McDonald
- Minoru Mukaiya of Casiopea used a DX1 in 1984
- New Order's DX5, notably on "True Faith" and "1963"[5]
- Pet Shop Boys used a DX1 [2]
- Steve Porcaro of Toto
- John Dulik of Relâche
- Michael W. Smith
- Tangerine Dream
References
- ^ Yamaha Synth 40th Anniversary - History, 2014
- ^ Yamaha LM Instruments (brochure) (in Japanese). Yamaha Corporation. 1985. pp. 3.
- ^
"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. ...
- ^ Gordon Reid (September 2001). "Sounds of the '80s Part 2: The Yamaha DX1 & Its Successors (Retro)". Sound on Sound. Retrieved 29 June 2011.
- ^ Buskin, Richard (March 2005). "CLASSIC TRACKS: New Order 'New Faith'". Classic Tracks. Sound On Sound.
{{cite magazine}}:|chapter=ignored (help); External link in|chapterurl=|chapterurl=ignored (|chapter-url=suggested) (help)"When New Order commenced working with Stephen Hague, they brought an interesting array of gear into the studio: a Yamaha QX1 sequencer, a rackmounted Octave Voyetra 8 polyphonic synth, a DX5 that provided most of the bass sounds and which Hague succinctly describes as "Yamaha's attempt to put two DX7s under one roof — it weighed a ton," and an Akai S900 sampler."
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.
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