.png)
Yamaha DX7 Fully Digital FM Synthesiser
The Yamaha DX7 Digital FM Synthesiser change the landscape for synthesisers.
The synthesisers that were created before this synthesiser relied on analogue oscillators to generate signals that were passed through analogue filters that shaped the sound until it was released through the synthesiser outputs to the public normally using vinyl as the medium.
These analogue synthesisers were temperamental, you had to dial in sounds as they weren't recalled at the touch of a button and the tones created changed as the instrument warmed up.
But the digital revolution was coming!
The Yamaha DX7 wasn't the first mainstream synthesiser to incorporate digital controls. The Yamaha SK series before it worked on digitally controlled analogue sound creation. The Yamaha GS1 which was also before the DX7 was the first truly digital FM synthesiser, but this instrument was not what you would classify as portable.
Other manufacturers were also playing in this space the Roland JX-3P and Roland Juno-106 were also digitally controlled.
Why was the Yamaha DX7 considered the game changer?
It was the first affordable, portable, digital FM synthesiser. Keyboard players, once they understood FM synthesis could create the sounds they needed, store them to memory cartridge. Put the DX7 in a flight case. Travel to the gig or studio. Plug in. Switch on and be ready to play.
The Yamaha DX7 made synthesisers available to touring bands that might not have made it big but wanted to embrace the modern keyboard as part of their sound. It came to market in May1983 and was immediately incorporated into the music being made during the 1980's.
In America in 1986 it was estimated that 40% of the records in the Billboard 100 each week contained the sound of a DX7.
The first Yamaha DX7 has since become known as the Mk1 with the Mk2 being launched in late 1986. In my opinion the Mk2 is the better instrument. I own two. The first is a Yamaha DX7 Mk2 D (Dual) which I have owned for about 20 years and the second is a Yamaha Mk2 FD (Floppy Disk) which I have owned for 5 years.
