TX7 or TX81Z?

[Sealed]

Go for TX7 if you don't edit them. TX81Z has more waveforms and the multi-mode, but TX7 has more patches to download.

[i_watch_stars]

I would just want to load sounds and have as minimal editing to do (since there are thousand patches to be downloaded from the web) on whichever one I end up with.

Are there sounds I can have/do with the tx81z that cannot be done on the TX7? I know that by the specs it seems to offer a bit less that the tabletop module (4op/8voice instead of the 6/16) but is there something more to it or are they basically the same thing.

Dude, just look at the specs of each synth on VSE, they'll tell you everything you need to know.

They are both Yamaha FM, but totally different. The tx81z is 4 op, has waveforms other than sine you can use, is 12 bit quality. The TX7 is basically a DX7 in a rack which means its 6 op sine based FM engine, 16bit.

The tx81z was designed (I guess) to be a "poor man's FM", but ironically, the tx81z is still preferred by some over the DX7-line of synths because it has 4 ops which makes it easier to program (supposedly), and its lower 12bit quality and other complex wave forms available gives it a more "aggressive" sound. It also has one of the most famous bass sounds on it; "Lately Bass".

There are tons of patches for the DX7 6op FM engine though....

[evening]

go with the 81z - if only because it's cheaper & multitimbral

[Altitude]

Tx81z all day long, much more usable than the tx7. Personally, i like the 4 op sound almost better than the 6 op

[Ryan]

The DX7 and Tx81Z both have 12bit DACs. It is possible to emulate Dx7 sounds on the TX81z with careful programming. The TX81z has 4ops as opposed to 6 but the 4 ops have several different waveforms allowing you to create complex modulation without additional operators.
The TX81z is famous for the "Lately bass" sound. Strap together 2 tx81z
and you have a 16 note polyphonic 16 part poly-timbral machine!
Each opperator and timber is individually detunable and according to the manual this can "...out analog the analogs."

2 TX81zs will give you a HUGE sound if properly programmed.
Not to mention I've seen them for so cheep - from $50 - $150 Canadian!

Edit - I would also like to mention the great editor for the TX81z
by Matt Gregory http://the-all.org/tx81z/programmer.html

[micahjonhughes]

Someone should mention the fact that the TX7 is notoriously noisy.

I really like my TX81z. It makes the best noise.

[Martin P268]

Personally, i like the 4 op sound almost better than the 6 op

There should be no difference in sound between 4 op and 6 op FM.
You can still do the 4 op synthesis on the 6 operator architecture.

With 6 sine wave ops you can easily have other waveforms as modulators. If you use cascade operator systems, i.e at least three operator system with ops stacked to modulate one another in line, you can use two higher ops to generate any complex waveform (square, rectangle, saw, noise, etc.) to modulate the carrier on the bottom.

[DX]

Are all of you sure about tx81z has 12bit DAC?

[nathanscribe]

At current prices, the TX81Z has to be worth it. There are 96 parameters per sound, so if you did want to edit your own, be prepared to spend some time pushing those up/down buttons. It sounds OK though, great for bass tones with a woody/metally quality, and noisy percussion. I don't use mine enough these days, but it used to get a regular airing. They are only 8-not poly no matter how many mutliple parts you use though - you could set a mono bass, duo lead, and 5-note pad sound for example. It also has 2 outs, set as stereo or 2 monos.

[i_watch_stars]

Thanks for responding.

That's a great point I should have added: aggressivness.
Am I then to assume that this aggressive sound is achieved by layering patches, thus the multitimbral part+detuning or is this equally possible to be had on preprogrammed voices for the dx7/tx7?

I'm striving to get as close as possible to the sounds of arcade and Sega Genesis games, notably Bare Knuckle/Streets of Rage...but also want the more common tones found throught music of the last two decades.

Both modules are quite affordable. In the case of the TX7, i can get one tomorrow for 60$.

h**l yes! I love Streets of Rage's OST, one of my favs. That was done with Sega's 4 op FM engine. It has that low quality gritty sound too. Both of these things mean you should get a tx81z! Get one now!

And be sure to post you FM style techno music when your done with it!

[adsr]

what about the FB-01. its 4-op / 8 part multitimbral and is dirt cheap. just another option...

[rockmanrock]

what about the FB-01. its 4-op / 8 part multitimbral and is dirt cheap. just another option...

A bit cheaper than the TX81Z but it uses sine-waves only and the operator tuning isn't as fine as on the newer TX. Still worth grabbing at the right price though!

[Ryan]

The FB-01 is another little fantastic sounding black box!
The 10bit DAC gives it a very gritty sound - pretty unique sounding.

Congrats on the TX7 purchase Koa!

[analogue wings]

My Tx81z was about my 6th hardware synth.

My best mate's TX7 was his first.

I think we both made the right call. I already had workhorse synths - I wanted to add fm sounds, weird noises, cool monosynth leads and more voices of multitimbrality (for my all-hardware setup).

He got a superb, rich, all-round instrument with thousands of patches available online.

Also he paid half what I did - about $US50! The buyer said the "original tape" was missing, and I think he thought this impacted the resale value

[nathanscribe]

I think the right price for an FB01 is if it comes free in a packet of coco pops. Nasty, cheap sounding doorstop-level tat IMO. On the other hand, it doesn't surprise me there's a market for them. Crappy instruments are getting their own back these days.