Bad Gear - Yamaha TX81Z

[@AudioPilz]

Audiopilz: *slaps roof of YT channel* Full Tracks, Extended Jams, Sample Packs: www.patreon.com/audiopilz

[@DetroitMicroSound]

The matterhorn bit had me rolling 🤣

[@Novalarke]

Up until 2007, I had both a TX81z and a DX11 in my arsenal. Programming the TX81z was a breeze if you had an Atari 1040ST running Dr.T's 4OP Deluxe. It had a randomisation feature that was amazing - every parameter had a checkbox as to whether or not you were going to randomise it. So, you just go click click click and within a minute you had some seriously crazy sounds. Then you just tweak them a bit and you're done. The lack of FX I see as a feature, not a bug. Most synths then that had built in FX, the FX were shite. I had an SPX90 and a MIDIverb, so I had that covered. The TX81z was, in one respect, better than the DX7, if just for those extra waveforms. Overall I really dug that 4OP joy joy. Especially the DX11. The keyboard on it was very nice and responsive and it had a feature or two the TX didn't have. The TX was not bad gear, at all. If you listen to my music right up to 2000, it was always buzzing around the mix. I stopped using it because I ditched the Atari. Dr.T had folded shop, so there was no way to easily program the beast, so I bought other synths (CS2x, Motif, etc.)

[@vjrei]

You are going to love this kzbin.info/www/bejne/qomvoINvnriIa7s

[@Spudcore]

Roof slaps are essential for optimal functionality of the youmtubes.

[@TheHatMusic]

The description of the operator waveform shapes is absolute gold!

[@AudioPilz]

Thank you!!!

[@menhirmike]

Definitely looking to get a squeezed Matterhorn with Reflection oscillator for my next synth!

[@raistaparta]

Gotta get me a squeezed Matterhorn waveform for my PreenFM2

[@tscanlonesq]

I really wish I was drunk in the Alps.

[@1_of_4]

Matterhorn fo lyfe!!

[@brandonharris9160]

On an unrelated note, this thing is awesome, very direct and to the point, simple, powerful sounds. This channel is changing the instrument world and forcing musicians and producers to make do with what they have. Some of the greatest records in the world were made with undesirable equipment and because the artists had to fight with the machine to make it the best it could be, it ended up sounding unique and original

[@AudioPilz]

Thank you so much!!!

[@odmusicman]

Amen. I toured with one 1989-1993. Loved it.

[@Dartagnan65]

Plus, fully multitimbral! I've used this thing for 6 bada$$ patches at once!

[@JozeatTxb]

Spot on. The best music is often the simplest, and also because it takes exceptional talent to do. The sounds of thse instruments, most may forget, are themselves- by being stand-alone never-heard-before creations - veritable works of genius , even by today's standard. Just imagine them being heard FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE WORLD in the 80s.All that merits respect.

[@lairdkilbarchan]

My main (only) instrument used to be a Yamaha DX11 - a keyboard adorned TX. FM drums, bass, a lead sound and enough luxurious multitimbral polyphony left over for the occasional minor triad.. Ah, those happy, simpler, less complicated and totally frustrating days...

[@AudioPilz]

Keeping a multitimbral FM ready is still totally worth it!

[@sub-jec-tiv]

An absolute must for those times when you need 4 separate layers of Lately Bass in your live jam

[@lairdkilbarchan]

@@sub-jec-tiv Exactly. 😁

[@raysubject]

FM synthesis is just amazing .. it shows when you start adding more and more fm sounds into mix and they still doesn't competite between each other but rather perfectly fit and shine ine mix ...

[@AudioPilz]

Agreed! Blows my mind every time!!!

[@hardwaresecuritymodule]

I was sitting impatiently after the second jam, waiting to weigh in about how I use it for sharp, percussive bass noises and squares and then you absolutely nailed it in the techno underground at the end - how could I have ever doubted you? Forgive me, my prince

[@AudioPilz]

Thank you so much!!!

[@joakimbertil]

To be honest, those are the sounds that won me over.

[@cassildaandcarcosa294]

TX81z is amazing. I use that still on a bunch of my tracks. It doesn't sound the same as other FM synths, it has this dirty quality that I love.

[@AudioPilz]

Agreed!!! Quite unique sounding

[@yeahright73]

That frequency modulated inter-dimensional man-machine gateway to a dark realm of ice-cold underground techno arenas was slamming, I really didn't anticipate those sorts of textures from the TX! Kinda makes me want an FM synth again...

[@AudioPilz]

Thank you!!! Yeah, it shines in a real production environment

[@2ndattention]

Bought one a couple of years back for $180. Along with a nice delay/reverb and a software editor this thing makes some of the lushest pads I have heard. And yeah, lately bass is a perfect sound. It’s rare you get a preset that doesn’t need any post-production at all. Loved the waveform descriptions btw haha

[@AudioPilz]

Agreed! Thanks!!!

[@ropeburn6684]

Brotip: run lately bass through some kind of note triggered enveloped filter in your DAW. Instant SONIC BOOM

[@singingcookie5945]

Yet another piece of Bad Gear I have added to my wish list. Thank you!

[@AudioPilz]

Always a pleasure, thanks for watching!!!

[@SlaserX]

It's here! The Lately Bass episode!

[@AudioPilz]

Finally!!!

[@Rompler_Rocco]

I sure hope the Opsix has a Squeezed Matterhorn Reflecting in Water (since Korg just forced every single US resident to purchase one)🤞

[@AudioPilz]

I thought you get those with the green card?

[@thb-music]

I look forward to these episodes as the way to ring in the weekend. So damned happy.

[@AudioPilz]

Have a nice weekend!!!

[@howardanderson3061]

Best channel, always entertaining and never boring. I can only imagine the time it takes to do one show is hours upon hours of editing, writing and tweaking. Thanks for doing what you do!

[@AudioPilz]

Thank you so much!!!

[@dcall7830]

Literally the only channel where I push the like button before I watch the vid. Love Saturday mornings with a coffee watching the new Bad Gear upload after a groggy Friday night in the studio stuck in loopland cul de sacs

[@AudioPilz]

Thank you so much!!!

[@mixourband]

I still have my TX81Z I bought in the early 90s just for the Lately Bass. I don't use it much now but still nice to have in the rack.

[@calzaronezerozeroone8670]

So happy you did a video on this synth! one of my all time faves! : D

[@AudioPilz]

😀😀😀

[@dfreeman120]

Fantastic video as always. Love the Yamaha FM sounds in a track. I don’t think of sounds being dated, they either work or they don’t.

[@AudioPilz]

Thank you!!!

[@zachariahpoltergeist4516]

Being drunk in the Alps sounds like a great time, not gonna lie!

[@AudioPilz]

Recommended!!!

[@CKT1138]

Fun fact, the DX11/V2 (I have the V2 myself, and I love it! Apart from the laughably small number of user savable slots) has one noteworthy advantage over the 81Z. It actually has pitch envelopes!

[@AudioPilz]

Yeah, there are some improvements over the TX

[@l8sk8r86]

Lately Bass>TB-303! Thats right you heard it. TX81Z was the floor shaker, room quaker gateway to the Acid Box! Bass Bins Beware! Trust me I was there!

[@rundtomrasmus]

The quality of this page keeps impressing me! That last jam was a fucking banger, and once again my mind is baffled by, where the hell you find these visuals

[@AudioPilz]

Thank you!!! There's a lot of Doom fan art around...

[@lo-firobotboy7112]

"Matterhorn Reflecting in Water"....I'll have to watch the rest of the video later when I get the tears of laughter out of my eyes.

[@AudioPilz]

🏔🏔❤️❤️🏔🏔

[@testohtoby]

I have the 81Z since November 2020: it's sooooo good and it sound so warm even for an fm synth. It might be due to the crunchy 12 bits DAC, it really does punch holes in the wall and the brass patch is 🤩

[@AudioPilz]

Love old converters!!!

[@joonglegamer9898]

Well you manage to test my bass even at low volumes, But no Hatsune Miku colorscheme is a total dealbreaker for me (J/K), hm... can we have too many FM synths? Have 3 already. The answer might surprise you.

[@AudioPilz]

I'd say 3 is the absolute minimum!!!

[@dykodesigns]

That Matterhorn! I dig that pad sound that you used in the demo with the space echo.

[@AudioPilz]

Thank you!!!

[@alanshewitt]

Not surprising the Roland Space Echo dramatically improves the sound of the patch. Surprising, the Alesis drum machine sounds great still after all these years.

[@AudioPilz]

Yeah, the RE-201 is a classic!

[@matthewcassette]

I can hear the sega games in each preset already. Great video, it's so awesome to see it in action

[@AudioPilz]

Thank you!!!

[@DragonGrafx-16]

Ah yes the Lately Bass machine. I bought mine for $90US BTW. Other than Lately Bass I love the SynStrings2 preset. It's the perfect electro strings sound.

[@AudioPilz]

Absolutely!!!

[@DragonGrafx-16]

@@AudioPilz I messed up... it's just Strings 2

[@MazeFrame]

Was kind of hoping for the second jam to be "Generic video game soundtrack nostalgia trip for non existent game"

[@AudioPilz]

1st jam was close, wasn't it?;)

[@MazeFrame]

@@AudioPilz It really is so close I had to listen again to remind myself what it was. Full on video game soundtrack moment.

[@synthnerd4539]

I had one of these for 20 years before 'upgrading' through the DX7s, TX7, and SY77... but I ended up getting a DX11 in the end. Needed that specific crunch back. 8 voices with 8 part multitimbral over 2 outputs might seem tight, but all you need to do is make 2 complementary bass patches, layer 4 of each with panning and detune, and you've got a monster.

[@AudioPilz]

DX11 is tight!!!

[@timandtheocean]

yeah love my DX11

[@MGMan37]

Only upgrade you can do from here is Yamaha V50. Same chip but with 16 polyphony, and can set oscillator fixed frequency down to 0hz. Also has onboard FX, a sequencer, and a basic drum machine.

[@MusicianParadise]

||: Lately, I've been thinking of getting the TX81Z just because of that bass preset called :||

[@AudioPilz]

Lolz

[@AndersEngerJensen]

Haha, great video. They are a bit bland and boring if you don't dive deep into them with an editor. That's for sure. But I find good use of the TwelveStr, Pizzicato, Lately Bass and a few other presets though. And if you have two, detune them slightly, pan them L-R and slap on a few good effects... you got some nice FM goodness going on. :D

[@AudioPilz]

Thanks for the great picture!!! You are the God of rack synths!!!

[@YouTubeSupportTeams]

Oh boy, i knew it wouldn't be long before that sweet legendary 'Lately Bass' patch would get mentioned :D

[@AudioPilz]

It was about time!!!

[@Psychlist1972]

My favorite part of the TX81Z is the buzzy transformer inside. You can fix it if you want, but it also adds a nice "I think something is broken in my rack" background sound.

[@AudioPilz]

Funny, mine is close to being unusable and still dead silent

[@slaterslater5944]

I have the pleasure of owning a US voltage TX 81. It came with a step-down transformer which seems to turn those extra European electrons into heat and noise. No chance of hearing anything from the tx over that.

[@keithroberts9869]

Funny you mention that because when I first got mine, and turned it on for the first time, I thought "oh sh***t". Now, I'm like "love that transformer buzz!"

[@akseltech]

what an outstanding Show :D you make me giggle pilz.

[@AudioPilz]

Thank you!!!

[@Flat8G]

Great video as always! My first synth was the very rare Yamaha DS-55 which featured the same sound engine, but in a keyboard format with added chord styles and what i think was an analogue BBD delay effect. 😀

[@AudioPilz]

Wow, didn't know that one!!!

[@Flat8G]

@@AudioPilz I very much doubt you can find one, there was likely a very good reason why it sold less than anything reviewed here. :)

[@AlexBallMusic]

Set it to Lately Bass and then glue all the dials. No point trying to better thar.

[@AudioPilz]

Lately Bass is unparalleled!!!

[@opipik1650]

Finally an episode on a synth I actually own (and actually played today!) I personally love it, but I'm a fan of FM - after all the first actual "synth" I played was an old Yamaha 2op FM keyboard. The presets are decent, but there are a few ones I particularly like - Guitar 1, ElecBass 1, BaadBreath, Hi/LoTine81Z, ThinClav (this one actually sounds like some old baroque clavichords!) and the 60s/70s organ emulations (6 Tease and Farcheeza). It, however, "comes alive" with some chorus (and probably also reverb, but the only FX unit I have rn is the Korg Triton LE (which functions as a FX unit with the sampling expansion, which adds 2 audio inputs), which doesn't have good reverbs - I bought a Yamaha SPX990 but haven't set it up yet so we'll see - I was thinking about getting a SPX90 but that seems to only be good for drums, so you should definitely review it).

[@AudioPilz]

Love SPXes!!!

[@slaterslater5944]

SPX 90 is great for much more than drums. Kevin Shields created a whole genre with a guitar through the reverse reverb setting.

[@binarysoldier]

Those demo tracks are straight bangers

[@AudioPilz]

Thank you!!!

[@populvuh]

I love using my TX81z with the #Stereoping controller. The brass and organs(run thru delay/reverb) are great for dub techno.

[@AudioPilz]

Nice!!!

[@mishaoosterhuis5260]

That Death Grips reference. Perfect!

[@AudioPilz]

Thanks!!!

[@raistaparta]

It's another one of those "I remember when you could buy these for X€ and I can't believe what they're going for now!"

[@AudioPilz]

I think you can still get them for under 200 bucks almost everywhere but the super low prices are most probably over

[@raistaparta]

@@AudioPilz it’s funny, I feel like these things reach insane prices exactly when there’s so much better new options to chose from. We’re suckers for nostalgia.

[@ElGuatequero]

All we want are synths and memes. Good Job!!!

[@AudioPilz]

Thank you so much!!!

[@uamee]

Bad Gear on the original donk machine? Count me in!

[@AudioPilz]

Donk!!!

[@NigelMarston]

I found an almost-mint one recently, with the pull out card, no scratches or rack-rash, so I paid maybe a little over the odds for it. No idea what I'm going to use it for but I felt like I needed to preserve something from my late teens (along with a Kawai K4r and a Roland JV-880). I've got far more kit/gear than any normal person needs but at least my kids will have fun with their inheritance.

[@AudioPilz]

Great find!!!

[@djlocodoc]

Those Jams!!So tasty! That Space Echo is beautiful. My TX81Z was bought in the late 80's and it is not going anywhere for the reasons you listed. This little beast has been my secret weapon for decades! Great video sir!

[@AudioPilz]

Thank you!!!

[@hollywood4834]

@@AudioPilz Space Echo for the next episode?

[@mareikemacinnes7764]

The Matterhorn reflecting in water! Ich schmeiß mich weg, lang nicht mehr so gelacht. Danke Grüße aus Norddeutschland

[@AudioPilz]

Besten Dank!!!

[@matsewunderlich]

This is the LATELY BASS C-15 - oh no...I am wrong :) the name of this synth is TX81z 😎 - still in use in my setup 👍

[@AudioPilz]

😀😀😀

[@marcthenarc868]

It was my FIRST SYNTH. I was a guitarist with a GR-700 but wanted to contribute to the band's growing pool of synths and purchased mine back when it hit the market (wondering if I would go for the FB-01 instead). I got even more triggered to see this in "Bad Gear" than my newly purchased DFAM. Its display is so iconic to me that, as a DIY synth guy, I purchased a few 16x2 displays for my homebrew stuff. Great review and jams as always.

[@AudioPilz]

Thank you!!!

[@tonyisyourpal]

Try a Korg Z3 - it’s basically the synth engine of the TX81Z with the GR700’s 24 pin guitar interface - but way more playable than that makes it sound…

[@maxspencerkarinen6463]

My latest diy project is minidexed, which is basically a tx81z running on a raspberry pi, with just a little lcd 16x2 display :)

[@mrz80]

@@maxspencerkarinen6463 Details? :D

[@volkerwiedersheim]

Had one, know it well (the presets that is). Portrait is spot on! Well done🎉

[@AudioPilz]

Thank you!!!

[@matrix12x]

This synth is actually great for making evolving pads.

[@AudioPilz]

Agreed!!!

[@richsackett3423]

That synth sounds like Paul Hardcastle, which is weird, I'm sure you'll agree. EDIT: Turns out in SEP 1991 SOS, he said this about his, "great for little clavs and so on".

[@AudioPilz]

great for little clavs and so on😂😂😂

[@dvdny]

It's Friday, so that means I have to watch YT with spacebar so I can read the memes. Always excellent commentary and tunes to match. 👏👏

[@AudioPilz]

Thanks! Have a nice weekend!!!

[@lennyg47]

Finally, bad gear I recognize. Oh, I'm old :(

[@AudioPilz]

Not old, vintage!

[@Mamiya645]

One very very rare time where the opening theme done with the gear in question sounds so mm mm MMM good it gives me an unstoppable smile. Not sure if there's a free java programmer for it like the FB01 has but if there is - I'd recommend this one. Can probably be tweaked for cleaner sharper output by component replacing.

[@AudioPilz]

There's a really nice Max4Live editor that is quite affordable

[@ruscular]

@@AudioPilz There is a "Patch Base" editor for this on the Ipad or Iphone. This remind me to ask if you consider reviewing using the Ipad foer the synth, seems like more and more synth are offering a screen connection to them. I use the Ipad as a editor for my Aerophone wind controller, Verselab MV-1, Yamaha VL70m, and the JV1010.

[@hillie47]

Korg marketing department after today's episode: "RELEASE THE VOLCA RACK!!"

[@AudioPilz]

Korg, DO IT NOW!!!

[@jcjrock]

Great video. I have a tx81z and love it for what it is. Add some effects and some tones really pop through. Definitely a great complimentary Rackmount.

[@AudioPilz]

Thanks!

[@aksen303]

there was one of these in a second hand store back in the mid-90s, when i first got a part time job and was on the hunt for cheap gear. every time i walked in, it was there, often the only bit of music tech that wasn't a guitar pedal. every time i walked in, i wondered what it was exactly, as the internet was not useful for information on it. every time i walked in, i walked out without buying it. i THINK i made the right choice.

[@AudioPilz]

I'm afraid the times of second-hand store finds of legendary synths are over...

[@miamha]

Virgin subtractive user: I need 100+ knobs to sculpt my sound and it still sounds bad Chad FM user: I have 8 buttons and all my sounds are iconic

[@AudioPilz]

Don't Chads use presets?

[@secretelitemusic]

@@AudioPilz Chads curate presets.

[@dallon5]

I had been scoping these several weeks ago as a companion for my JV-1080. Both excited to see your review as you really bring out the great sounds gear can make, but worried that the prices are gonna go bonkers! Guess I better buy one before I can't 😅 Seriously though you do a great job making jams bringing out the best from shunned equipment

[@endlesspresident]

I have the jv1080 and tx81z. They are both very deep programming playgrounds. Each uniquely digital, although on the TX81z I also enjoyed programming to sound like a subtractive synth.

[@AudioPilz]

Thank you! Great combination!

[@wendelynmusic]

When I was graduated college I owned one of these. I loved it. I had a Kurzweil K2000S for getting crazy. with the TX I would find a preset I liked and then tweak for my purposes and use it that way. I also had an Oberheim Matrix 6. and a soundblaster sound card in my computer that was all run by Cakewalk. I was a beta tester for them. They weren't free back then. but I loved it...

[@AudioPilz]

Nice!!! Classic setup!

[@totomhavehat]

As a swiss person, this video video makes me proud

[@AudioPilz]

❤️❤️❤️

[@crisoliveira2644]

I own one. My piano teacher back then gave it to me because he found no use for it. I then programmed a bunch of patches and showed them to him. He said he almost regretted giving it to me after listening to my patches. Haha!

[@AudioPilz]

Seems like you were the teacher there;)

[@gonzinigonz]

Thanks for clearing up the confusion with the waveforms, they've been a mystery for me since i brought it back in the early 90's 🤣 I love mine, its a keeper.

[@AudioPilz]

😀😀😀

[@MatthewChristianMurray]

The SY77 and SY99 (maybe the 22 and 33 too?) took that feature and ran with it. Six-op FM with sixteen waveforms and 45 algorithms, plus 100-some samples, and you could combine and cross-modulate (RCM) the two synthesis types within a patch. The 77 was the first synth I ever bought, and I highly doubt I will ever part with it.

[@mixn5919]

wow you got some really tight sounding basses from this one! the dancing doomguys and chungus mancubi made me incredibly happy as well. great stuff as always!! side note: staying on the 80s synths theme, I'd love to hear what you can do with an akai ax60. the filter resonance on that thing is batshit crazy. highly recommend :)

[@AudioPilz]

Thanks! Great suggestion, I'd love to have one of these

[@DSPKills]

The TX81Z is still a steal in the market. The grungy top-end is ace. I own two.

[@AudioPilz]

Agreed!!!

[@TimWrightDJ]

I had a DX100, and sold it before I knew what it was. I was in the market for a DX a few months ago, and tried to find a TX81Z, but couldn't find one at the right price. I ended up getting a Reface DX, which was nice and good enough until I got the Volca FM2. Now I'm selling the Reface, as the Volca is great.

[@DSPKills]

@@TimWrightDJ I’m a bit of an FM head. I’ve got a DX7, TX816, TX802 and the two TX81Z’s. Korg OpSix on the way. The 7 and 816 were both purchased dirt cheap and I needed to repair them. One of the 81Z’s was partial payment for repairing a friends Oberheim Matrix 1000.

[@Pablo668]

Awesome content as always. I got an Arturia keystep pro today. I’m still figuring it out.

[@AudioPilz]

Thanks!!! Nice, love that machine!

[@RyanGoldenVO]

I just bought this synth too! Love it!

[@AudioPilz]

Nice!

[@RyanGoldenVO]

@@AudioPilz Yup! Gonna be using it for New Jack Swing. That Lately Bass patch do be kinda funky tho

[@tristancaver4836]

As a Texan, I can attest to the majesty and sheer brilliance of the BBQ smoker when utilized properly. Also, as a proud owner of a DX11, I can most assuredly attest to the strength of this little beast when utilized properly as well. However, don't get the two confused. One is for cram-packing pure gold into the next smorgasbord and the other is guaranteed to satisfy, whatever the occasion, depending on how many beers you've had.

[@AudioPilz]

So, I shouldn't smoke FM?

[@mastercylinder1939]

How’s about reviewing some of Emu last rack mounts, the proteus 2000 for example,

[@AudioPilz]

Great idea, thanks!

[@nickfbatombrew1436]

A brilliant episode and an impressive rack.. I dropped some codeine for some knee pain before watching the episode and the bass in my headphones met in the middle brilliant.. The FB01 sound set is just as good and the lately is still tweekable. I for one would certainly push for the rack unit revival…👍☢️

[@AudioPilz]

Rack unit revival FTW!!! Get well soon...

[@dnaldoog3114]

What an excellent video!😊

[@AudioPilz]

Thank you!!!

[@MallardGryph]

Woah, this seems right up my street!! 👀👀👀 Couldn't agree more on racks being due a comeback, they're absolutely my particular poison... but I'm not sure I'd want them to have one, as they're one of the cheaper and more accessible avenues of synth collecting right now!

[@AudioPilz]

It's kind of an investment;)

[@64north20west]

This unit took the intro tune to a departure from most other bad gear, if you don't mind my opinion. If a club DJ wanted that 90s sound that would get people on the dance floor., this may be her ticket. You would need to lend her that Roland Space Echo LOL! Thanks for un-badding this gear!

[@AudioPilz]

Match made in heaven!

[@bayradionews415]

The doom guy dancing is amazing 🤩

[@AudioPilz]

Thank you!!!

[@lukeimontv7086]

I came here to say this! 😆

[@alexwest909]

Ahhh was hoping you would compare lately on TX81Z vs Volca

[@AudioPilz]

Volca FM is 6OP, I think the FB-01 is closer to the TX

[@arpalaser]

The Lately and solid bass patch are worth the price of the instruments alone. Good thing I have both patches ported to my DX7II !

[@AudioPilz]

Nice!!! Didn't know the DX7II has the waveforms of the TX

[@arpalaser]

@@AudioPilz it does not. But it is possible to recreate the patch using DX7II algorithms.

[@seanluke3052]

@@arpalaser It's impossible to recreate Lately Bass on the DX7II. You can more or less do *Solid Bass*, as it uses all sine wave operators. But this is not the case for Lately Bass. And they are qualitatively different.

[@arpalaser]

@@seanluke3052 I have both patches in my DX (i did not programed them). I had the DX100 and the DX7 SOLID BASS sounds exactly the same, and may be for the reasons you point out. I'll try to record a sample of the LB DX7 version an post it , but It sounds pretty close to my ears!

[@arpalaser]

I am away from my instruments for the weekend. During the week I will do an A:B comparison to be able to hear what is different.

[@Bod8998]

I Complement you sir excellent standard as usual

[@AudioPilz]

A pleasure!!! Thanks!

[@thedeepblueskys]

Killer baseline on the techno track. FM has been my thing lately. Just bought a new OpSix from the Korg Warehouse for $329. Crazy deal, but it was for US only. Still the FM itch can be scratched with this Yamaha. Not too shabby! Also I’m with ya on the Rack Mount gear. EuroRacks older brother lol

[@AudioPilz]

Thanks! Heard about that deal, nice!!!

[@thedeepblueskys]

@@AudioPilz you welcome, Yeah that price is crazy low. Last thing I need is another synth, but how could anyone pass that up? It has equity from the get go lol.

[@Jamesjimjimmy]

Lol did they refund you yet?

[@thedeepblueskys]

@@Jamesjimjimmy no, mines in the mail with tracking. In Attica KS to be exact.

[@thedeepblueskys]

@@Jamesjimjimmy although I did hear about how the website glitched out and was selling them when they ran out. I had that happen with reverb before.

[@secretelitemusic]

My big thuddy basses in that era came from Roland and Kawai rack boxes. I had unlimited access to a TX816 (with an editor) in a shared studio, which sounded vast and bulbous at all times, but unfortunately it made other DX/TX synths sound a bit thin in comparison. And a nightmare to tweak enough sounds for a user bank. I owned an FB01, back in the Iron Age, and rinsed the hell out of that bass sound, which became ubiquitous as house music morphed into an overly busy homogenous blob over the next 15 years. I imagine it sounds fresh to the younger synthusiasts, but I'd rather goof around with the Operator FM synth in Ableton, or Dexed/Opsix in other DAWs, for the range of original sounds I can rapidly create and layer without bursting a braincell. I do have a liking for racksynths, for real estate reasons, but my heart rate doesn't accelerate when I see a Yamaha rack synth from that era on the fleabay, unless it's a TX816 costing multiple kidneys.

[@AudioPilz]

Yeah, TX816s have become super expensive!

[@bitsmasher101]

That bass is just ... **chef's kiss*

[@AudioPilz]

😍 🥰 😍 🥰 😍 🥰

[@OverDriveOnline7921]

I only had my TX81Z for a few weeks before it developed a fault and had to be sent back. Unfortunately it was lost in the postal system, never to be seen again and as I was only on a training scheme wage, this was an expensive loss for me! Despite this, I learned it’s idiosyncrasies and quite liked it. Sadly never got another one, but what I learned came in handy for later synth life with devices like the SY77.

[@AudioPilz]

👍👍👍

[@OMG_so_Nerdy]

First😅🔫

[@AudioPilz]

Nice!!!

[@mattdavids3357]

Ah, now I know what LatelyBass is. Thanks man.

[@AudioPilz]

Always a pleasure;)

[@karol_p]

Why this sounds so much better than Opsix to my ears? Inborn disco gene, or probably it is better actually

[@AudioPilz]

Maybe we are just used to the sound of this one?

[@3D6Space]

I just signed up for your Patreon page so I can get access to your music. Please check my message, and thank you for being so awesome!

[@AudioPilz]

PM;)

[@isaac.anthony]

very glad for FM on a touch screen now, i hated those LED menu.

[@isaac.anthony]

i am not smart enuf to remember 3 screens ago, maaaaaan

[@AudioPilz]

That makes it A LOT easier!!!

[@fatkev1983]

Yet again... another piece of gear I own and love! Haha keep up the good work.

[@AudioPilz]

Thank you so much!!!

[@fatkev1983]

@@AudioPilz for a future video... I now have an Arturia MatrixBrute as well.

[@ChristopherOrth]

Would love to see you do one on the Emu Morpheus.

[@AudioPilz]

This channel is seriously under-E-MUed! Thanks for the suggestion!

[@GrootsieTheDog]

Looking forward to your Yamaha ZY058X697YYW0000 LE review.

[@hiatoi]

TX81Z is the best gear. I wish Opsix was multi-timber.

[@AudioPilz]

Yeah, great feature!

[@Frozirra]

Pro tip: You can use the twisted electrons MegaFM as a controller for the Tx81z because it uses similar enough midi ccs Mayne!

[@AudioPilz]

Nice, didn't know that. Thanks for posting!

[@gavinholt2768]

Good video 👍 would love to see you review one of the old zoom drum machines

[@AudioPilz]

Thanks! Great suggestion!

[@cooptrol]

One of my fav synths!!!! Still have one but nowadays I am lazy and use the Digitone for such 4op tasks. TX81z's front panel isn't as slow as one would think!

[@AudioPilz]

I didn't think it's so bad either

[@damiensargeant2432]

Humour helps me understand love it 😻

[@Funkl_Berg]

Oh man instagram introducing a 19” friendly ratio, that cracked me up. Final jam made me crank up the volume to near max by the way, loved that sound!!!

[@AudioPilz]

Thank you!!!

[@xnonsuchx]

I had a "wintage" DX21 for a while. Didn't totally hate it and I made ONE custom patch (a "DIGIORGAN" I rather liked), but ended up trading it towards something else within 6-8 mos.

[@AudioPilz]

Nice one!!!

[@JeffyG]

That makes sense to me. I’d get one, if it was

[@jasefosTV]

NEXT EPISODE - please do the Arturia Origin! It ticks ALL the boxes!

[@AudioPilz]

Great suggestion, thanks!

[@jasefosTV]

I don't think I've hated demonstrating a piece of gear more in my career (p.s. massive love for everything they've done from the MiniBrute and beyond - PolyBrute is among the finest synths ever).

[@unkatom]

Yes! The old “Rack Years”… when we were all convinced that buying a kitchen-refrigerator sized assortment of these high-quality 19inch wonders was the way to unbridled success! My small 6u rack was (well, still is) a tight network of precisely measured 1/4 inch cables… the whole idea was to arrive, drop the box, plug in the power & outputs and DOMINATE! ⚒⛓🔧🔩⚙️

[@AudioPilz]

Way to go!!!

[@unkatom]

@@AudioPilz It weighs well over 50 lbs… I struggle to lift it, especially these days. It mainly holds one synth with a mixer & FX… a Kurzweil K2500r (My 2020 M1 MacBook Air is much easier to tote around… the U-he plugins weigh zero 😁)

[@mudsh4rk]

@@unkatom Use the rack gear to make stuff at home, use an Octatrack and one or two little tesktop modules to perform remixes of your own material. Or an MPC and a rack sampler if you already have them and the Octatrack is too modern. Best of both worlds either way.