Yamaha DX7 alternatives?

General Gear Discussion - effects, synths, etc.

Moderator: Ghost Hip

User avatar
nevada
experienced
experienced
Posts: 763
Joined: Mon Sep 09, 2013 2:09 pm
Location: Cleveland

Re: Yamaha DX7 alternatives?

Post by nevada »

Nice! You won't regret it.

I play everything with my MPC, so I don't have any good keyboard recommendations. Earlier last week there was some MIDI keyboard talk in the GAS thread. Might be good info there.
Good deals with PumpkinPieces, hazelwould, PetZounds, Steelyeye, DannDubbleEwe (x3), skullservant (x3), ChetMagongalo, leaves turn, Helter, EvilCatBucky, OddKnowledge, vanderholm, Phengren Oswald, Uncle Grandfather, decomposing, MrNovember, multi_s (x2), smallsoundbigsound (x2), Dandolin, Strangle Tales who is a good dude
User avatar
trace
experienced
experienced
Posts: 569
Joined: Mon Feb 14, 2011 7:43 pm
Location: Tappahannock VA

Re: Yamaha DX7 alternatives?

Post by trace »

Moustache_Bash wrote:Now I just need to buy a keyboard MIDI. Any special considerations I should take into account?
Just make sure it has an actual MIDI out jack. Many newer ones (especially the smaller / compact ones) only have a USB output, which means you would always have to have a computer in between your kb and your synth. As long as it has an actual midi out jack it should be plug and play with your synth.
User avatar
ancientbones
committed
committed
Posts: 347
Joined: Wed Nov 13, 2013 11:04 pm

Re: Yamaha DX7 alternatives?

Post by ancientbones »

I've heard a lot of cool things about the Yamaha FB-01. It's a rack module FM synth. There's an editor floating around that really unlocks some hidden things in it, but if I remember right it was designed for the Atari ST called "Caged Artist FB01 Editor." So if you wanted to use that editor you'd have to load it up through an Atari ST emulator. It sounds stupid, but it's worth it for what you can do.

here's a couple demos showing off some sounds made using the editor
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qd7OU66XE6c
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-mp8GL2Z-0

You can still buy these things for like $30-$50. I'm kind of surprised more people haven't caught onto this thing, but then again DX7s and DX100s have gone down in price.
Post Reply