The Iconic Sound Of A 14-bit Synth - Yamaha DX27

I was minding my business one day when Ruben, the maintenance person of my apartment complex gifted me a Yamaha DX27. A style of synth I had my sights on for many a years.
So incredibly grateful!
This keyboard has so much potential. It's unapologetically fierce, gritty and thick. With equal parts soft, delicate and mystical. I go through a few presets and end up plugging in a small pedal chain to create psychedelia.

[@Gaby_Gaby702]

Nice! Shout out to my Uncle Ruben for the keyboard

[@vvundertone]

Yes!! We love Ruben!

[@HOUSEWARMING]

I feel like my DX27 just got gentrified

[@Samplers]

This video has everything I could want in a synth video; genuine passion, humour, great production, tasteful playing, and a lamp. 13.5 out 10. Subscribed.

[@vvundertone]

🤣 I am glad you noticed the most important piece of the puzzle! Lamps!

[@eliabtorres1548]

The DX27 sounds ethereal with all the effects

[@vvundertone]

Excited to try some different chains. Got some new stuff coming in the mail!

[@orzelda9955]

Mega Drive tones all over this. Lovely!

[@oiiiich]

totally

[@vvundertone]

They really SLAPPIN'

[@agiabone2000]

The way you play so effortlessly and freely with music is inspiring

[@vvundertone]

Thank you, that really means a lot!

[@daccrowell4776]

The "Detroit DX". Actually, this along with its shrinky-dink version the DX100 have a lot to do with that sound. Derrick May especially used these on tracks such as "Nude Photo". Kevin Saunderson, also...the DX27/100 is the source of the infamous "Reese Base". It's worth noting that these two synthesizers make for easier Chowning FM programming and, due to their "thinner" sound, they process and sit in a mix very well. If you're thinking about going with some of Yamaha's FM sound, I think this or the circuitry-identical 100 are a best bet.

[@vvundertone]

Amazing. I am so honored to have such a stable in that scene. Listening to "Nude Photo" now and hearing all these sounds! Also your right about the programming. I started modifying a few presets and was able to achieve some great sounds quicker than I thought.

[@npartridge12]

Excellent video, great playing and lovely laid back vibes. My first ever synth back in the late 80s was the DX21, it had the same sounds but you could layer 2 of them and there was also a great built in analogue chorus effect. I spent many happy hours playing and programming that synth and it always sounded great live too. It was the DX 21 that started my love of synths and sound exploration which is still continuing some 40 years later. Thanks for bringing back the sounds from my youth.

[@vvundertone]

Dang that sounds nice. Layering is so fun, and every synth should have a chorus!! Thank you for watching and reminiscing 🤝🏼

[@dovydasgrigas441]

Video came just in time as I'm fixing my DX27 right now. Bought it as my first synth for €100 and it sounded so beautifully aliased. If you make an FM saw with it and sent that through any modulation the high pitch noise moving around will sound so goooooood. It doesn't even reach 14bit, its a 10bit synth with 2bit oversampling (12bit) which is why I think it sounds so different to the 14bit DX7 (other than being 4op).

[@vvundertone]

I will give that a try! thank you! Oh wow I guess I'm over selling it! 🤣 12BIT!

[@CR-sj7xd]

well the original Dx7 is mono and 12 bit

[@alanredversangel]

I sold my DX27 thinking that FM7 was just as good. Nothing beats hardware. The timpani patch on this has inspired so many songs for me. And of course solid bass.

[@jonpaulhollingsworth4732]

Had the dx 21 for years, nice synths so cheap! Great videos keep up the good work!

[@vvundertone]

Love the sleepers! Affordable and inspirational! Thank you!

[@Subtronik]

My first synth was a Yamaha DX27 and I spent many months on it. I learned how to make extremely wild watery metallic sounds with it. It’s such a wonderful instrument to experience FM synthesis on.

[@vvundertone]

I want to hear this watery metallic sound! FM synthesis is so fun, once I realized the goal isn't to make a realistic violin out of sine waves, I just subtly manipulate presets into new random things and its so satisfying!

[@Subtronik]

@@vvundertone I just uploaded a video clip for you of a watery metallic preset that I made on that exact Yamaha DX27. It’s the only video in my ‘Shorts’ section.

[@vvundertone]

@@Subtronik just checked it out, so cool! would be curious how you did it!

[@Subtronik]

@@vvundertone getting that type of sound took me a month of learning by doing. I bought that synth for $100 used and it came with no manual. I’ll revisit FM architecture with Arturia’s DX7 asap to try to recall exactly how I achieved that watery metallic sound.

[@Subtronik]

@@vvundertoneoh and that preset you affected at 6:50 sounds gnarly!

[@rayanb.2578]

Love this video man! From the camera work, the editing, the playing and how you process the sounds, you did a really good job. I have a DX7II that I got for a great price. I barely used it, never gelled with it and it has been accumulating dust for quite a while. Not for long though thanks to you. Cute dog btw!

[@vvundertone]

TY!! When in doubt toss some pedals in the chain and you will find the sonic promised land!

[@_OopsieDaisies]

wonderful playing and sound selections :) i love yamaha fm sounds so much! i have a couple of the 80 consumer hobbyist keyboards, one even has 2 user patches that is a 2 operater fm that is wonderful! i eventually bought the new reface dx to have a more modern version of those and can get fairly close to dx7 and 27 sounds. i also bought the mega synthesis from sonicware which is pure sega gensesis/mega drive heaven

[@vvundertone]

TY! Yes Yamaha is amazing, especially those 80s consumer keyboards. I used to scoop them up from Salvation Army whenever I could but suddenly the price even at thrift stores has sky-rocketed! Luckily I have a modest stable of battery powered inspiration. That mega synth looks interesting, love some Sega tones.

[@ekummel]

My first synth was a DX27. When I got my DX7 IIFD, I stuck the DX27 in it's case and put it up on a shelf....I gotta pull it back down now...that and my FB01!

[@vvundertone]

its really amazes me just how many variations exist of this iconic synth line! stack them up so you can play baselines and lead!

[@tyler_]

Love this, man! Such a great synth and just love the creativity of your videos! I just really like how you will use anything and figure out how to turn it into a cool, modern sound. However, the most impressive part of this video is the speed/thickness at which you can grow a mustache. Didn’t take you for a facial hair kinda guy, but your razor must be sharp.

[@vvundertone]

🤣 Yes I love all things music, not a purist by any means. I like to try all the tools and find a usable sound!

[@mattKerpan]

I hope you and Rueben are friends irl. You guys look like sweet friends. Also, very nice photography

[@Gaby_Gaby702]

😂 knowing my Uncle Ruben, they probably are good friends

[@mattKerpan]

@@Gaby_Gaby702 That's your uncle? Lucky! haha seems so cool

[@Gaby_Gaby702]

​@@mattKerpanhe's a twin 2 peas in a pod, best Uncle's in the world ❤

[@vvundertone]

Ruben is the man! We are! He shines a bright light on this neighborhood when he comes around. I was still suffering from chronic loss of voice when he gifted me this, it brought me so much joy and helped me escape the fear of never being to speak again! A extremely kind soul indeed.

[@abundzufreddy]

The "solid bass" sound is an all-time classic, heard on tracks like Inner City - Good Life and Saturday Night by Whigfield. It's a staple of classic house and Ian Pooley for example still uses it to this day.

[@vvundertone]

Love leaning the history, thank you!

[@TayWoode]

On later Yamaha synths and modules it’s called “lately bass” coz it was first used layered on “what have you done for me lately” by Janet Jackson and became popular through that so they modified it slightly and renamed it

[@C1c4da]

I believe in FM superiority.

[@chriswareham]

I've got a TX802, which is basically a DX7II in a rack unit. The early FM synths are a nightmare to programme, but there are some amazing sounds in there. Love your video editing skills and presentation by the way.

[@vvundertone]

Ty! 🙏🏼 Love a rack synth! A nightmare indeed, but when you get something good so satisfying!

[@e3-po405]

That's why, despite owning a TX-816, I also have a DX100 (soundwise identical to the DX27 except that it has mini keys and is one octave shorter). That low resolution FM sound has a special "something"... Also, my first synthesiser was a DX21.

[@vvundertone]

I had no idea the military industrial complex designed synths! I looked up your TX-816 and I am blown away! So wild!

[@susanutter7208]

You had a touch of Berlin-Riding on the Metro going for a sec. You get so many sounds outta one instrument. Love the photography mixed in. What can’t you do?

[@vvundertone]

😉

[@roseutterback5755]

More synths please

[@peteytwofinger]

that synth found its home

[@vvundertone]

And i'll always remember Ruben when I play it. I love when instruments have stories tied to them rather than, "It was payday, I was drunk on reverb"

[@OVERSSG]

Vvvunderful

[@vvundertone]

🙏🏼

[@calvin808]

Great synth - Great video. Like/Sub

[@vvundertone]

🫡

[@kniferideaudio]

favorite FM style synth is Casio CZ series. Phase Distortion is almost the same thing. Real sleeper.

[@vvundertone]

I borrowed one of those and agree. Very fun. This era of synth was very special.

[@kentaccordionist]

Try adding a phaser and a touch of reverb to the strings.

[@christdolphin69]

sold!

[@johnnybeats777]

Could You, please explain how to: connect the pedals, rout them, what cables, what else do You need to use their effect in the daw. I had pedal once, but could not get the effect within daw. That could be really helpful video. Greetings

[@soysos.tuffsound]

You just use 1/4 unbalanced cables, output of the keyboard >> input of the pedal >> output of the pedal(s) >> input of your interface and record. Experiment with levels, a crackling static-y sound usually means means the input somewhere is too hot. Experiment, have fun, commit to the sound and don't over think it.

[@johnnybeats777]

@@soysos.tuffsound how many inputs should interface have?

[@CallumBarnham]

​@@johnnybeats777 You only need one line input on the interface that the pedal's output goes into. If you have your gain set correctly it should work just fine.

[@johnnybeats777]

@@CallumBarnham cheers pal

[@vvundertone]

The process is different than how a plugin works. Its about picking a sound, routing the pedal and then "printing" it back in the DAW in real time. There is another way to use "Aux" channels in your DAW. Depending on your interface there are different ways to do it. That way you are sending and Aux signal out of the interface into the pedal and back into another channel.

[@wildberriesherbaltea]

Ideally for making a Travis Scott type sounds 😅

[@MysteryCircles]

wavy

[@vvundertone]

Gotta love a mod wheel.

[@manuscriptrecords]

Can u tell please how called 3rd pedal in this video? Thank u!

[@vvundertone]

That is a Boss DD-6 and I was using the reverse echo setting and looping function

[@kniferideaudio]

HA! DUNE @ 6:50!

[@vvundertone]

Soundtrack? Hans?

[@shuplitz2257]

corn pillows

[@vvundertone]

The dog loves them 🤣

[@theallseeingarmpit5519]

Dawn of the Dead @3:36

[@markus6409]

Your Dog:"Kill me!"😄

[@ndk703]

Model name of the cat??

[@vvundertone]

Shes a rare slept on FM hybrid semi modular polyphonic “Chonchi” ☺️

[@Undead1963]

Can you play a song ? Or anything the same way twice ? lol

[@markus6409]

Bating heaven!😄😄 Oh, that 14 bit, digital, VInTAGE instrument which people spend month (😆) creating over time ripens. Oh this sweet sound.... Its old and people put thoughts in it. Its iconic. You are a casper. If you guys would spend tgat time in making music than thinking about it. Masturbating to something imaginary in your head you maybe would be what you so much desire.

[@vvundertone]

Thanks for your opinion! Remember that those few seconds you dedicated to my honor you can never get back, and later on in life when you really need them please remember you used them to hate. ☺️