Woo! Picked Up A TX7! Great Little Synth...

[MIDI_Thru_Kid]

I got it at my local Sam Ash for 50 bones, plus manual and TRS cable (HOSA, brand new, 7 feet). I think I scored! It came with an impressive set of custom patches loaded in, they DEFINATELY aren't presets...

This thing is huge. Big bass. Lot's of sound.

There's like a chunk of plastic missing from the side, but nothing big, thus far everything seems to check out.

Interesting observation, it seems that the plastic is actually mixed with strands of copper wire?? For extra durability/ground?

Anyway, great sound. I'll post up pics of that chunk, and of my particular unit.

There are the preset banks available online, right? Yup just checked. Not many of them are free, though...

[th0mas]

It has same patch format as dx7, there's thousands available online

[springrhubarb]

Congratulations on the great synth. The DX/TX instruments pack a lot of synthesis power for the little money they cost.

[D-Collector]

Not many of them are free, though...

There are *millions* of DX7/TX7 patches online, and almost all of them are free..

Anyway, here is a nice bank that Yoozer (who is also on here) posted at the Harmony Central forums. It's the Hypra Rom DX7 banks, you should find some nice sounds in there:
http://acapella.harmony-central.com/att ... 1235938528

The unofficial Yamaha DX7 resource centre:
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/steve.sims/index.html

The patches section of Dave Benson's DX7 site:
http://www.maths.abdn.ac.uk/~bensondj/h ... ml#patches

Tim Conrardy's DX7 excellent resources:
http://tamw.atari-users.net/dx7.htm

This is a zip with two banks of my favourite DX7 patches:
Best of DX7.zip

Here is a good little (windows) librarian for the DX7/TX7:
MIDI-Lib.zip

By the way, congratulations!

As for "discovering" and making your own sounds on the TX7, that is not exactly simple as the TX is more of a playback module. You can't program directly on it. And even with a PC editor, it is tedious and time-consuming. I believe most of the sounds that CAN be made with the DX7 has already been made...

[nathanscribe]

I'm currently reading Howard Massey's book and it's very clear and steadily delivered. There's another DX-7 book by Yasuhiko Fukuda but it's not as good. You do get a complete transcription of the presets on paper though.

[rschnier]

Interesting observation, it seems that the plastic is actually mixed with strands of copper wire?? For extra durability/ground?

That was likely an attempt at electromagnetic shielding, similar to what they'd get if they had used a (more expensive) metal casing. Foil lining was another technique.

[MIDI_Thru_Kid]

Thanks everyone! This thing is huge!!

And hey thanks for those links, D. I knew they were out there, I just wasn't looking hard enough. I'll swipe up some of those here shortly. And the thought of having some more classic DX7 sounds intrigues me bunches.

I keep forgetting to post pics. I'll prolly post in the "Pics of Your Setup" forum, as I have re-organized a bunch of s**t lately...

Thanks again for those links!

[D-Collector]

You're welcome! We gotta help each other out, that's what the forum is for (:

[colorbars]

I'm glad to hear some positive things about the TX7 i've been seriously considering getting one or a TX802, as i've already got a DX-21 and really don't have room more boards but i love those DX7 sounds!

[wildpaws]

I'm glad to hear some positive things about the TX7 i've been seriously considering getting one or a TX802, as i've already got a DX-21 and really don't have room more boards but i love those DX7 sounds!

Go for the TX802 which is the rack version of the DX7II series. I had one years ago, a very nice rack unit with great sounds available, though not as good as the TG77 which was the rack version of the SY77.
Clyde

[Artmuzz]

Yeah the whole Yamaha DX and TX line of synths are fantastic instruments. I am a proud owner of the DX7, DX7S and DX100. I really do enjoy programming my own sounds on those synths as the results can be unexpectedly surprising and rewarding. I also love my TG77 to bits.

If you like your TX7 then try Casio's VZ line of synths as they are sort of 8 operator compared to the DX7's 6 operator.

Art

[MIDI_Thru_Kid]

... If you like your TX7 then try Casio's VZ line of synths as they are sort of 8 operator compared to the DX7's 6 operator. --Art

Yeah, those Casio's are also REALLY nice! And realitively cheap, too if I'm not mistaken.

The DX/TX stuff is quite nice, but if Sam Ash had a TX7 and a TX802, and I had to choose between the TX7 and a TX802, I would have to get the TX802, merely because it's MULTIPLE DX7's combined, and INDIVIDUAL OUTPUTS as well. Plus better MIDI, and it's MULTI-TIMBRAL

Save up your pennies and get a TX802, especially if you have a comfy MIDI controller. Later, you can add on modules if you need more sound, starting with say a TX81Z, and if you are REALLY tight on a budget (me) you can't beat $60 for say an FB-01. Don't underestimate it because it looks like an alarm clock: it's an 8-part multi-timbral, 4 operator FM synth. If you want the big boys, get a TX816. 8 DX7's!

Anyway, I just had to snatch this up because it was a steal. I generally HATE the people at my particular Sam Ash, because they're assholes along the lines of "You touch that knob on that Synth/Amp and I'll kick you outta the store, faggot." Ugh. But this dude hooked me up! One year warranty (eh, maybe if something CATACLYSMIC happens, lol), manaul, and 10 feet of quality HOSA cabel, TRS, even!

Anyway, thanks all for the congrats! I just gotta get into this thing. I'm making a song entirely out of it's own sounds as we speak. Sorta like one of those corny synth demos on a Casio or something...

Yay!

[Virgule]

I had alot of fun with mine as it was my first FM machine. I ultimately wanted more of the same but multitimbral so I sold it to another musician who got tired of lugging his DX7 for only a few presets.

Also, there was an exact replica of Solid Bass stored inside when I got it.

[projectwoofer]

TX7 is a very nice synth with warmth and grit that the TX802 hasn't! It sounds so "vintage digital" to me!

TX802 is multitimbral but is ultra-clean and the sound is a bit different. Both are nice but I prefer the TX7.

Casio VZ-1/10m kick Yamaha's a*s actually!

[Ashe37]

Was in my local Guitar Center the other day and they actually had a used DX7...