DX7 II or DX5?
Thomas Hopf
I want to buy a used synth from Yamaha's DX line.
I don't want to use any external sequencers etc. but a good ability
for live performance. Is a DX7 II or a DX5 the right thing for me
(also in regards of sound quality, layering sounds, splitting the
keyboard etc.)?
Thanks,
Thomas
JamesBRey
jr
UKB
waveforms (not just sine), resonant filters and you can use ROM sampled
waves to modulate operators.
It is also a workstation with FX, 16 track sequencer and 16 part
multitimbral. Prices are rock bottom especially for the SY77 - comparable to
the price of a DX7 II. Crazy but true!
Thomas Hopf <Thoma...@web.de> wrote in message
news:898badd4.02011...@posting.google.com...
Yala
> DX7 II! Should be perfect for you and better sound quality than DX5.
Not really... They should be the same sounding!
DX-5 actually has 2 DX-7 engines and is good for splits and layers (as
originally wanted).
However, the DX7 mkII is newer (perhaps easier to get sounds for it) and
has an improved midi spec (better for use as controller).
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Malte Rogacki
> JamesBRey wrote:
> > DX7 II! Should be perfect for you and better sound quality than DX5.
>
> Not really... They should be the same sounding!
Not exactly. The bit resolution of the DX7 II is different; it also has
a few parameters the DX5 is missing (fractional scaling, microtuning
etc.).
> DX-5 actually has 2 DX-7 engines and is good for splits and layers (as
> originally wanted).
Right. The DX-5 is really two complete DX-7 in one box (including two
cartridge slots) which also means twice the polyphony. In addition, it
has a 76-key keyboard. If memory serves me well, it also has XLR
connectors.
> However, the DX7 mkII is newer (perhaps easier to get sounds for it) and
> has an improved midi spec (better for use as controller).
The sounds from the "old" Dx-7 can be loaded into it without problems.
HellPope Huey
says...
>>DX7 II! Should be perfect for you and better sound quality than DX5.
I'd mostly agree with that. The II was a nicely upgraded DX that addressed
several users' major complaints. If I recall correctly, the velocity sensing was
brought up to the 127 standard and MIDI channel selection was brought up to
speed from a mere ONE to the full 16, among other things.
The 5 is basically TWO old DX7s interconnected in one unit with a tougher
keyboard, more piano-like. Now if you're a real FM-head, that could offer some
interesting potential, but its quite dated now, I'd say. The II was a real hit,
so your odds of being able to keep it healthy are better than with the 5, IMO.
It will also be CHEAPER to do so! Solid selling point.
HellPope Huey, hellpo...@subgenius.com
Lord High Mayor of Funkville,
The Happiest Place on Earth
"Don't start gettin' lazy, you gotta kick for me."
- "Boston Public"
"The main difference between men and women
is that men are lunatics
and women are idiots."
- Rebecca West
"You think you're so great,
just because you have God-like powers."
- "The Sim
HellPope Huey
says...
>
>The SY77/99 is a leap forward again from the DX series. It has extra
>waveforms (not just sine), resonant filters and you can use ROM sampled
>waves to modulate operators.
>>It is also a workstation with FX, 16 track sequencer and 16 part
>multitimbral. Prices are rock bottom especially for the SY77 - comparable to
>the price of a DX7 II. Crazy but true!
OH yeah, WAY better idea. Also has effects and will read DOS disks, if I
recall. Its also more current; you see the TG77 in a lot of pro racks still.
I'm a big fan of those extra waveforms, as with the Korg MS2000 having the 64
added waves of their DWGS bank for the old DW8000, which was a nice synth too.
Always buy UP when you can; its rarely a bad idea.
HellPope Huey, hellpo...@subgenius.com
Lord High Mayor of Funkville,
The Happiest Place on Earth
"Don't start gettin' lazy, you gotta kick for me."
- "Boston Public"
"The main difference between men and women
is that men are lunatics
and women are idiots."
- Rebecca West
"You think you're so great,
just because you have God-like powers."
- "The Simpson
Maurizio De Cecco
> JamesBRey wrote:
> > DX7 II! Should be perfect for you and better sound quality than DX5.
>
> Not really... They should be the same sounding!
AFAIK, the original DX-7 engine was a 12 bit engine, while the
DX-7II (and TX802) was a 16 bit engine; this explain the difference
in quality.
I a my be wrong, anyway :->
Maurizio
Thomas Hopf
II?
How are the keyboards in comparison? DX5 has 76 keys, do the feel the
same or different?
Thanks,
Thomas
Yala
Since the DX-5 is 2 DX-7's, it was manufactured for split and layer. I
can't remember for the DX-7mkII...
From memory, I recall the DX-5 having a very nice keyboard touch. Mind
you, it was a very expensive synth (in them days). I mean, the DX-7 was
fine and dandy but it was a standard model. OTOH, the DX-1 was their
rolls-royce model (the best that they could make... for lots of money).
The DX-5 doesn't have the weighted wooden keys like the DX-1 but it was
like Yamaha's next best thing! I'm not sure if the kybd is semi-weighted!
I just remember drooling a lot!
About the bit resolution thing... I personally don't think it makes that
much difference! On the old DX-7, I remember that playing certain bass
sounds on B or Bb (one octave down from middle C), you could hear some
sort of tiny fizz-crackle which I guess is aliasing! But if you thicken
the sound (like detuning the carriers a bit), it becomes hardly
noticeable... Of course on a DX-5, you just layer 2 sounds.
Thomas Hopf
> recall. Its also more current; you see the TG77 in a lot of pro racks still.
I looked around at ebay and I can afford it, so I'll go for the SY 77 ;-)
Thanks,
Thomas
jay_vaughan,_ampfea.org
>you, it was a very expensive synth (in them days). I mean, the DX-7 was
>fine and dandy but it was a standard model. OTOH, the DX-1 was their
>rolls-royce model (the best that they could make... for lots of money).
>The DX-5 doesn't have the weighted wooden keys like the DX-1 but it was
>like Yamaha's next best thing! I'm not sure if the kybd is semi-weighted!
>I just remember drooling a lot!
The DX5 is like a DX1 with a cheap, cheesy plastic keyboard (similar to the one used in the DX7). It has the equivalent of *two* DX7 FM synths in it, and supports split and layer.
One caveat with the keyboard on the DX5 is that it only transmits velocity sensitivity from the range of 0 - 100. This is *not* the full range which MIDI supports, and so it'll be a bit of a lame addition if you plan to add any modules in the future. I've heard there is a new updated OS for the DX5 which fixes this problem, but good luck trying to get that from Yamaha: mission impossible. Oh, unless you're Stevie Wonder or something, I guess ...
:)
My advice: get a second-hand SY-generation synth instead of the old DX'es. You won't regret the sound and the versatility of the SY series compared to the antiquated FM in DX5/7/etc...
j.