Summary of the content on the page No. 1
YAMAHA
AUTHORIZED
PRODUCT MANUAL
DX7
DIGITAL PROGRAMMABLE
ALGORITHM SYNTHESIZER
Summary of the content on the page No. 2
YAMAHA Digital Programmable Algorithm Synthesizer OPERATION MANUAL
Summary of the content on the page No. 3
PRECAUTIONS Location Cartridge Care If The Sound is Too Quiet Avoid placing the DX7 in direct sunlight or close to a The RAM (user programmable) and ROM (factory Check the FOOT CONTROL. There are two foot con- source of heat. Also, avoid locations in which the instru- preset) cartridges have no moving parts, other than their troller jacks, VOLUME and MODULATION. Two addi- ment is likely to be subjected to vibration, excessive memory protect or bank selector switches, nor do they tional jacks are
Summary of the content on the page No. 4
INTRODUCTION The DX7 is the world's first fully user programmable offered to the public, providing greater control over the voices 1-32 in Bank A or 1-32 in Bank B — access for sound than large or modular systems. playing, editing, or loading into the synthesizers internal and preset FM digital synthesizer. If you're used to con- ventional synthesizers, one look at the DX7 will tell you The DX7 keyboard is fully polyphonic with 16-note memories. Before the DX7 is shipped, 32 of the 128 simultane
Summary of the content on the page No. 5
Summary of the content on the page No. 6
NOTE FOR SYNTHESIZERS SOLD BY THE U.S.A. 2 Internally, the DX7 generates signals in the radio frequency spectrum. If the instrument is installed in the immediate proximity of some types of audio or video devices (within ten feet), interference may occur. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Rule Part 15, Subpart J, establishes design and manufacturing standards that will provide a reasonable level of protection against the possibility that two electronic devices, operating simultaneously, mig
Summary of the content on the page No. 7
HOW THE DX7 CREATES SOUNDS 23 THE INTERNAL AND CARTRIDGE MEMORIES 49 INTRODUCTION Inside front cover Operators 23 Memory Protect 49 PRECAUTIONS Inside front cover Storing individual voices to RAM cartridge 49 Carriers, Modulators and FM 23 Saving all 32 internal memory voices to RAM cartridge 49 Algorithms 24 Loading all 32 ROM or RAM cartridge voices to internal CONVENTIONS 3 The relationship between algorithms and the sound 24 Feedback is available in every algorithm 25 memory 49 "QUICK" BASIC
Summary of the content on the page No. 8
CONVENTIONS illustrate two or more adjacent panel buttons, whereas Nearly every button on the DX7 has several functions. changes to suit whichever of the button's several func- 3 in other cases we illustrate just one; the multiple buttons Typically, the editing parameters are labeled in violet, tions is under discussion, yet the button is always illus- the overall instrument functions are labeled in brown, are to help you identify the one button we are discus- trated the same way: sing. and yet
Summary of the content on the page No. 9
"QUICK" BASIC FEATURES 4 This section is provided for reference so you These are used for labeling voices, as explained in the For example, if the DX7 asks you "are you sure", you can reply [NO] or [YES] with the left and right buttons. can quickly locate a control or access a function. [VOICE NAME] button description. It is meant more for review than as a learning If you want to turn the glissando or some other pro- NOTE Refer to the illustration in the foldout front tool. If this is your first
Summary of the content on the page No. 10
Summary of the content on the page No. 11
PMD 6 and light brown characters below the buttons for FUNC- ALGORITHM This lets you set the Pitch Modulation Depth. This is TION mode parameters. A brief example for two buttons In EDIT mode, this button activates the [DATA is shown here, with the specific references for these two ENTRY] section so its controls can be used to select any the amount of modulation that will be applied to shift the pitch of whatever notes are played (according to buttons noted in parentheses: of the 32 available al
Summary of the content on the page No. 12
PITCH 7 FREQUENCY FINE simulations. Extreme settings can also be used for "split This lets you set the sensitivity of the voice to LFO This lets you make small changes in the current keyboard" effects. pitch modulation from no sensitivity (0) to maximum operator's frequency With this control, the maximum (7). One setting affects the overall voice. available increase in frequency is just under the next available "Coarse" setting (1.99 times "F COARSE"). AMPLITUDE This lets you set the sensitivity
Summary of the content on the page No. 13
8 KEYBOARD RATE SCALING press that key fast, and you'll get the maximum so that middle C (C3) is 262 Hz. When you press [KEY In EDIT mode, this button activates the [DATA EN- output level you have set with [OUTPUT LEVEL]. If TRANSPOSE], the first key you then press becomes TRY] section so its controls can be used to program or the operator is a carrier, this function causes the the pitch which is produced when you play middle C edit each operator so its envelope rates become faster as notes to b
Summary of the content on the page No. 14
change, depending on whether the DX7 is in Poly or 9 POLY/MONO EDIT RECALL Mono mode. In FUNCTION mode, this button activates the [DATA This button activates the DATA ENTRY [YES] and ENTRY] section so its controls can set the keyboard to [NO] buttons so they can be used to recall a voice that play polyphonically (up to 16 notes simultaneously) or you had been editing in the event you inadvertently monophonically (one note at a time). leave the editing mode and select another voice to play To "re
Summary of the content on the page No. 15
10 voices into the DX7 internal memory and then format if RAM or ROM cartridge voices into the DX7 internal level with the corresponding modulation control you like.) You cannot format a ROM (factory preset) car- memories. Again, you have to answer [YES] twice (Foot, Breath, etc.). In this case, the LFO is not in- tridge. before the voices are loaded (which erases any exist- volved. Again, this will produce changes in brilliance ing voices in the internal memories). The actual or volume or "wah"
Summary of the content on the page No. 16
Keyboard Pitch Bend Wheel 11 This is a 61-key keyboard which has initial (veloc- The Pitch Bend wheel permits you to shift the key- board pitch up and down; ity) and after (pressure) sensitivity, although these parameters must be programmed into the voice in the range of this shift order to be useable. The keyboard has 16-note poly- depends on how far the phonic capability or can be switched to monophonic wheel is deflected from mode. The overall keyboard pitch produced can be the spring-return
Summary of the content on the page No. 17
SETUP goes into the BREATH CONT. jack on the front of the After all connections have been made, turn down the 12 NOTE: Do not turn power On until all other connections mixer or amplifier volume as a precaution. Then turn DX7; DO NOT plug anything else into this jack. have been made. ON the POWER switch located at the rear of the instru- Audio Output ment (on the right side viewed from the keyboard). The MIDI Connectors display panel will look like the illustration here for a few The DX7 has a bu
Summary of the content on the page No. 18
Additional Technical Installation Notes The nominal output level is -20 dBm (77.5 mV), 13 When connecting the DX7 to an amplifier or mixer, a although the actual level depends on the voice, the maximum unbalanced cable length of 20 feet will VOLUME setting, and how many notes are being played reduce susceptibility to hum, noise, and high frequency at once. The OUTPUT jack will drive low impedance losses; if a longer cable is needed, utilize a "direct box" (600 ohm) or higher impedance inputs. Ma
Summary of the content on the page No. 19
PLAYING THE FACTORY PRESET VOICES 14 Playing the Internal Voices NOTE Don't worry if you try to play a chord and the 1. If the DX7 happens to be on, turn it off. Then turn it keyboard acts monophonically rather than polyphoni- back on while observing the display window. This cally This simply means the synthesizer is in mono- phonic mode, and the change to polyphonic mode is will let you see the initial displays we are about to Set the VOLUME so described in the following section of this manual.
Summary of the content on the page No. 20
FUNCTION MODE: SETTING OVERALL PERFORMANCE PARAMETERS IMPORTANT NOTE NOTE Yamaha reserves the right to continue to refine [DATA ENTRY] 15 and update factory preset voices. For this reason, In order to provide meaningful examples as we explain A slider and two buttons at the left side of the control the various buttons and functions on the DX7, we will some ROMs may have this voice in a different loca- panel are marked [DATA ENTRY]. This group of con- tion, or may have a different voice altogethe
