I've read a lot about the DX-7 Rhodes patch, and how it was ubiquitous in the '80s. I know what a real Rhodes EP sounds like, but I'm not sure I would recognize the DX-7 Rhodes if I heard it.
But I suspect this might be an example. Sure, in the video Sergio Mendes is playing a real Rhodes, but to me, the actual audio doesn't sound like a real Rhodes. What do you think?
And by the way, what's he playing on the solo? It looks kind of like a Korg Polysix.
P.S. I love how Sergio insisted on being smack-dab in the center of the stage, between the two singers. I'll bet he warned them not to stand between him and the camera!
Real Rhodes, heavily chorused ... just like he's "playing" in the clip. Song's from '83, the DX-7's birthyear. Tracks like this and Madonna's "Borderline" were pretty much the last time you'd hear real Rhodes on the radio for quite a while. If you're wanting a DX-7 electric piano example, I was gonna say Whitney's 'Saving All My Love For You' but I think that's real Rhodes ... try the "Doogie Howser" theme.
walkathon wrote:Real Rhodes, heavily chorused ... just like he's "playing" in the clip. Song's from '83, the DX-7's birthyear. Tracks like this and Madonna's "Borderline" were pretty much the last time you'd hear real Rhodes on the radio for quite a while. If you're wanting a DX-7 electric piano example, I was gonna say Whitney's 'Saving All My Love For You' but I think that's real Rhodes ... try the "Doogie Howser" theme.
Sounds like the Rhodes is a little more "plinky" sounding, perhaps? It's thinner, less warm. That's my take-away from listening to the "Doogie Howser" theme. Although "Borderline" sounds awfully close to that, too.
walkathon wrote:Sergio's rockin' a Prophet 5 for the solo, FYI.
Nice! Notice how they used to cover up the logos in those days?
Saving all my love... is regarded as the premium example of the El.Piano1 DX7 sound, actually. Not a real rhodes. There is an easy trick to fatten up the stock DX7 sound and make it chorused, just by changing a few parameters.
Bitexion wrote:Saving all my love... is regarded as the premium example of the El.Piano1 DX7 sound, actually. Not a real rhodes. There is an easy trick to fatten up the stock DX7 sound and make it chorused, just by changing a few parameters.
Yes, I think Withney Houston is the best example. She built a whole career on the DX7 sounds. She also had "pianobells" appearing in her songs.
Didn`t we almost have it all:
Run to you:
Where do broken hearts go (with DX7 pianobells):
How will I know (DX7 pianobells at 1.15)
Chicago has used a lot of DX7 rhodes:
Hard habit to break. DX7 mixed with real piano sound:
"Stay the night" with the DX7 rhodes played at very hard velocities:
Your the inspiration , sometimes DX7 alone, other times mixed with real piano:
I have a lot of respect for the DX work on Withney Houston albums. The playing is both complicated and well arranged. I have always liked that sound. Dont know why so many people hate it.
It's not that people "hate" the sound itself, just that it's been so overused on so many hit songs, it's kind of used up.
The DX7 excels at these kind of acoustic reproduction sounds. And everyone sold their fat analogs to get these new fangled digital synths when they were all the rage. But noone figured out how to program sounds on them, since FM is a completely different mindset than subtractive synthesis. Thus, most users just used factory presets. Or bought patch banks from companies that sprung up around the digital synth industry. They'd sell cartridges with patch banks for a few dollars.
This is why today is such a great time to own a DX7. There are literally hundreds of soundbanks transferred from cartridges, all in sysex format, and available for free in big zip files. Just download and try out soundbanks in seconds.
Heh, funny (ironically?) enough, there's a real rhodes in Whitney's vid at the :13 mark
Still doesn't quite sound like typical DX7 rhodes to me ears - almost quintessential Dyno-My-Piano tones - but I guess that's studio magic at play. The DX7 was definitely ubiquitous by then though, at least.
Also, an obscure but really frustrating use of the DX7 piano is all over Marcos Valle's hard to find '86 album. Valle's truly one of my faves, and the DX (of which, I'm not a DX hater) ruins that album in one fell swoop.
This is my favourite video. It is the "best of DX" bank on the Yamaha synth released after the DX7, the heavy SY77.
This video shows a very important thing about the DX synthesizers: No else synth responds as good - the velocity works magic and brings the instrument to life. Yamaha synths has always attracted real players. And the key scaling is remarkable, the engeneers cared a lot about how a should changes from the lower to the upper key ranges.
If you do, get a DX7S. They have a better front interface (black sturdy plastic buttons instead of those worn-out membrane buttons) with white print everywhere. They also cleaned up the menus so you don't have to do so much clicking, like they moved all the envelope settings on the same menu page instead of having to click through each phase of the envelope. Lots of little things. But the engine is the exact same as the first DX7. No changes to D/A converters or anything else. It's just easier to use than the original.
It's a kind of "in-between" the DX7 and DX7II. The II is a different beast altogether though.
The DX7 was my first synthesizer. It's true, the classic FM electric piano sound was overused but you have to put it in context. A real Rhodes is heavy, has to be tuned and maintained, and oh yeah it's heavy! A DX7 was lightweight, touch sensitive, and digital FM synthesis can be programmed to respond incredibly dynamically to velocity. It's like playing Pianoteq or another modeled piano simulation vs a digital piano. The sound may not be better but the response... it feels and reacts like a real instrument.
That sample clip is great. I alway skipped over it thinking it was a demo of the stock SY77 presets, so I'm watching this for the first. I don't know why I never thought of using converted DX7 banks with my SY. I gotta get to it. wow
Bitexion wrote:Saving all my love... is regarded as the premium example of the El.Piano1 DX7 sound, actually. Not a real rhodes. There is an easy trick to fatten up the stock DX7 sound and make it chorused, just by changing a few parameters.
Actually, you've got the wrong song. "Saving All My Love For You" is actually a real Rhodes.
The song on Whitney's debut album that does use the DX-7 Electric Piano is "Greatest Love of All." The differences are striking: the EP on "Greatest Love of All" is much sharper, clearer, and more crystalline than the EP on "Saving All My Love For You," the latter of which sounds mellower and more rounded. Compare it to the Rhodes sound on fellow album track "All At Once," as well as the song that started this thread: Sergio Mendes' "Never Gonna Let You Go."
If you're wanting a DX-7 electric piano example, I was gonna say Whitney's 'Saving All My Love For You' but I think that's real Rhodes ... try the "Doogie Howser" theme. 
Notice how they used to cover up the logos in those days?
