Mainstage and Yamaha DX7

[pianoartist]

I am currently looking for a way to find the original 32 DX7 sounds for use during a musical I'm doing. I am searching everywhere trying to find a way to make this work. I am willing to buy samples or to use the free Syx files I can find online if I can find a way to tell these little 4kb files how to sound in mainstage? Does anyone have advice on how to get this to work or other forums I could use to find these sounds. We are doing a musical set in the 80's that specifically wants this type of sound.

[desmond]

Well, you need a virtual DX7 instrument plugin (samples won't really do it, as a notable trademark of DX patches is how velocity sensitive and dynamic they are, which can't really be replicated easily by samples without extensive multisampling).

If you buy something like Native Instrument's FM8, then you can load the syx files into it and you have as many virtual DX7's as you want, which can load and play all the DX sounds available.

[gcoudert]

FM7 would be even cheaper.

[commodorejohn]

There's also the TX7 desktop module - the real deal in a compact form factor, and inexpensive to boot!

[madtheory]

NI FM8 does the 32 presets exactly like the original DX7. It loads sysex from all of Yamaha's FM synths. Best option for mainstage integration IMO.

[db0451]

FM7/8 load the presets, but they don't sound "exact". Envelopes especially are not very precisely emulated. Other things are a bit different too. Close enough in a pinch, but FM7/8 are a tribute, rather than an emulation.

[madtheory]

Yes it's not always exact with every patch, but I think with the presets it is.

[gcoudert]

I used to have a DX7, TX7 and FM7 at the same time and couldn't tell the difference.

[vcs3]

Try this:
http://www.failedmuso.com/blog/dexed-fr ... librarian/http://www.failedmuso.com/blog/dexed-fr ... librarian/

[pianoartist]

This looks very interesting. Does this work in Mainstage? Any idea of where to load that for application to recognize it?

[Big Gnome]

Not very comfortably--Mainstage is strictly AU, so you'd need something like Blue Cat Patchwork (highly recommended regardless!) in order to host VSTs. I say FM8 is the way to go--it loads DX7 sysex, it's very CPU efficient, it has a sensible UI given the amount of parameters present in a full-featured FM synth, and it sounds awesome; I was able to distinguish it from the hardware when I had a DX5 (I also owned a DX7 for a few years before that), but the emulation really is 95% there--I personally prefer FM8's sound of the three anyway.

[madtheory]

Blue Cat Patchwork

Hi Big Gnome. Did you try DDMF Metaplugin? In my setup I found it to be better than Patchwork. Easier to use, more stable and cheaper.

[Big Gnome]

No, I hadn't heard about it--thanks for the heads up. I've found Patchwork to be quite reliable myself though. YMMV, I guess?

[analogholic]

Trying to get DEXED to work with MainStage.

Downloaded the DDMF Metaplugin, but don´t understand how to get it work together?

[JeEA]

I run metaplugin and use dexed. Mostly in my apple GarageBand.
I should be possible to just open metaplugin and load dexed into that. Remember to connect the 2 sound vires and midi vire all are virtual vires Then it should work. I guess You use a midi kbd to control it.
By the Way dexed is free. Most other dx7 emulators are not and You Can load all the 4 KB sysex data into it