The Yamaha DX7 II FD D Video Manual by The N Y School of Synthesis

[@TheMagiAlexander]

Table of contents, thanks to a fellow youtuber. Storing Individual Patch 14:30 Formatting a RAM cartridge 30:40 FM Synthesis 46:25 Initializing a voice 48:22 Algorithm Select 1:01:36 Feedback Level 1:02:16 Oscillator Sync 1:03:27 Transpose 1:05:08 Voice Name 1:06:08 ENVELOPE GENERATORS 1:07:56 EG Copy 1:18:20 Keyboard Level Scaling: Normal/Fractional 1:22:06 Fractional Scaling 1:28:58 Sensitivity 1:34:45 LFO 1:36:32 Pitch EG 1:48:16 Edit Compare/Edit Recall Utility Recap 1:54:53 Pitch Bend 2:00:29 Portamento 2:02:54 Random Pitch 2:06:24 Performance Controllers 2:07:11 Foot Controllers 1 & 2 2:10:47?

[@matrixsynth]

Thank you!

[@coenlouie684]

I guess Im asking randomly but does anybody know a tool to log back into an instagram account?? I somehow forgot the login password. I would love any assistance you can give me.

[@doriancrosby6850]

@Coen Louie Instablaster ;)

[@coenlouie684]

@Dorian Crosby i really appreciate your reply. I found the site on google and I'm trying it out now. I see it takes a while so I will reply here later with my results.

[@coenlouie684]

@Dorian Crosby It did the trick and I finally got access to my account again. I am so happy! Thank you so much, you saved my account !

[@Zettaiz3r0]

As a new and proud owner of a Yamaha DX7 Mark II FD , I find this to be invaluable knowledge. Seriously after digging in the carts for months, nothing came up but an operation guide of the DX7. This video clears a lot up.

[@unfa00]

46:20 - FM synthesis and creating your own patches starts here. Jump there if you want to learn how to design your own sounds.

[@ElegantJP]

thanks~:D

[@goodtimesandalpines5442]

Thank you so much

[@jmajmajmajma]

Every DX7 owner should watch this. It's a shame most rely only on the presets, which are good, but this instrument offers a far wider spectrum of sound. The synthesis part may be confusing at first, because there's no knobs for every parameter, and instead you have a calculator-like display and multi functional buttons. After watching this video i feel far more comfortable with it's interface.

[@dvamateur]

Excellent video. The most comprehensive DX7 demo I've seen online. Only three hours, and you get very good explanation of most of the functions. That's like hundred times quicker than reading Howard Massey book and going along trying all the exercises there yourself. Such a gem of a video, and such a knowledgeable presenter. In a way it's a big shame that he's probably better known as a one hit wonder than an accomplished synthesist. That clearly shows that synthesis is such a niche market, that only very few are interested in. FM synthesis is quite brilliant. Sort of like a bridge, or shortcut between additive and subtractive synthesis. If one is knowledgeable in additive synthesis, he or she would probably be super excited about how much quicker is to build sound with FM. On the other hand, the subtractive types (i.e. cutoff/resonance knob twiddlers) might find FM super complicated. You know who you are :)

[@powerdx7383]

That's a very good explanation about the DX7 FM synthesis engine. It has a 'additive' like synthesis characteristics, yet very efficient and effective. If you only know about analog synths, then it's going to be challenging......

[@mercuryinoverdrive]

Incredible! This DX7II God knows this synth inside and out and has a great, simple and instructive teaching style. You can actually follow everything he is saying. Nothing is too confusing the way he explains everything. Highly recommended.

[@monsterjazzlicks]

Yes, DF is a magical tutor for sure !!

[@bricago2302]

Thank you for uploading this, matrixsynth! This guide has yet to be surpassed by any other DX7 instruction. I found that setting the playback speed to 1.5x steps up the pace a bit. Another great resource for Yamaha DX products and programming is the After Touch Magazine archive, available via a web search.

[@powerdx7383]

A very good intro video for the Yamaha DX7 and its FM synthesis. I've learnt ins and outs of the DX7 in a hard way since 1986, mostly by trials and errors........

[@Johngengelbach2]

I just bought myself one of these I'm glad I found this video. Thanks for putting this video up.

[@blackeyedtoys]

Thank you for this old school gem

[@AdamTheAd-vanc3d]

Best Dx 7 manual you can have . Makes so much more sense seeing it in real-time. Excellent post :-)

[@matrixsynth]

Thanks Adamski A.! Been following your channel and builds for a while now. :)

[@monsterjazzlicks]

Would have been good if DF made a whole video dedicated to the MIDI side of the DX7II/FD as well.

[@NLind]

Great Video and thanks for the upload! I'm getting one of these very soon and will be referencing this video often.

[@monsterjazzlicks]

i have not actually watched this video yet but i am about to !! i know it is going to be almost 3 x hours of amazing tuition and inspiration. Thanks so much for uploading this and, of course, thanks to DF !!

[@guitarvideos777]

THANKS FOR POSTING THIS!!!!

[@lolKbgTgm6621what]

NY SoS was so hip, they were already on the vaporwave aesthetic in 1988

[@unclemick-synths]

2:15:49 I'm looking forward to setting up my Roland AE-30 wind synth to control parameters this way. The AE-30 can be configured easily to use its breath, motion sensors, and thumbpad to send MIDI CCs.

[@rg2027x]

i really like my II-FD

[@RetroGamerVX]

Dam, I want a video like this for the original dx7 :o)

[@samuelrowe7]

definitely recommend watching this at 1.25 speed to speed up the process

[@Jobotubular]

OMG, this guy is slow, with lots of pauses -- and the sometimes near-legalistic phrasing. But man is he thorough

[@freestate6200]

Fully, did that as well.

[@hittingnote75]

Cool info since i am considering buying a dx7

[@monsterjazzlicks]

When BACKING UP your floppy, DF mentions you can't complete this procedure in a single execution. Does this mean you have to do it INDIVIDUALLY for each and every FILE (Internal and Cartridge)?

[@Shaunybish]

It's really well done but a real shame the read out screen on the video is completely blurred and unreadable ! is there a clear version out there ?

[@matrixsynth]

Unfortunately that's all I have. If you are following along on a DX7 you should be able to see it clearly on your screen though. So this video is more for those that have one.

[@monsterjazzlicks]

So you can 'dump' all the 64 Presets from the Internal Memory to a RAM Card, and also the 64 Presets from a ROM Card to the Internal Memory ?? For instance, if you purchase a ROM Card and prefer all the sounds on it to the DX7 factory Presets, you could wipe the Internal sounds by installing the 64 Presets from the ROM Card ??

[@monsterjazzlicks]

As well as 'Fractional Level Scaling', is there such a thing as 'Fraction Rate Scaling' ??

[@monsterjazzlicks]

Do you only ever FORMAT the RAM cartridge once (ie. when you first buy it) ??

[@zackhartmann]

just scored one of these today for $160. steal

[@laserquant]

Very good video. Unfortunately, the camera was from the 80ies, too. However, thank you for sharing your knowledge!

[@carriersignal]

Great video man, thank you!!!

[@ytpremium7649]

All this and not once did he show us how to make a fabulous piano sound

[@richardalexander7303]

Any chance that the original (4:3, uncropped) version of this video can be found somewhere on the internet? I haven’t had any luck finding it myself.

[@foxyr4bbit]

1 disk = 44 cartridges amazing

[@TVstudio]

This thing is so easy to program! Who needs knobs!

[@unfa00]

+TVstudio Are you trolling?

[@TVstudio]

Nah I was just being sarcastic lol. Seriously though, nothing beats real time knobs.

[@Todd63790]

Do you know if you up load a floppy with sounds will that overwrite the original pre sets ?

[@monsterjazzlicks]

@2;35, why would you have Transmission/Reception of all ODD or all EVEN numbers ?? Seems a bizarre concept to me ??

[@ReyPerez]

This would come in handy when polyphony was limited. You could use 2 synths through midi to double polyphony by having them split the work, one playing only odd notes the other playing only even notes.

[@monsterjazzlicks]

Rey Perez cheers, oh so you would have 32 x polyphony ?? Do you think many people actually did this ??

[@verve92]

FM is a bizarre concept overall....

[@monsterjazzlicks]

It probably was when it first came out and pianists had to learn how to play and program these newly invented digital synthesizers.

[@monsterjazzlicks]

Why is changing BANKS on a ROM far more complex than changing BANKS in the INTERNAL memory or on a RAM cartridge ??

[@drjoeshmoe]

Will this synth play without any cartridge or disk? Came in to one in very good physical condition, but for the life of me can't get any sounds out of it. I just connected the output to a small amplifier. I have no experience with using one of these.

[@mrpotatofaceman]

drjoeshmoe same problem find any leads?

[@Jobotubular]

@@mrpotatofaceman -- no expert here, but I believe this simply indicates need to replace internal battery. Potential bargaining point for buyer.

[@Jobotubular]

@drjoesmoe -- yes, the DX7 plays without cartridge or disk. Samplers require external storage to play because they generate no sounds of their own, but a synthesizer (like the DX7) generates its own sounds. The cartridge or disk supplies additional sounds but is not necessary.

[@yvannevidallo6563]

Help... I just want to do a factory reset... Please

[@larryclair2195]

Thank you!

[@marieto1]

When does he talks about "Storing New Sounds"?

[@caughy]

I recently bought a mark 1 but for some reason it sounds supper wobbly when I play chords on the lower end? I asked the seller and they said the person who refurbished it set some kind of "split LFO" but I have no idea how to fix this?? Does anyone know how? Please let me know, any information would be appreciated thank you!

[@adamharris7775]

This video is from probably 1986.

[@balobahamonde728]

Hello, how are you ?, I commented that I have a Yamaha DX7 II FD but I can not find the cartridges, please can you help me, which are the cartridges that I must buy? And I can make it work to the fullest potential, thank you very much

[@ryanbates362]

Are you trying to talk to Dean himself?

[@irnjelly]

2:07:06 How’r’y’ doin’ folks? chefs kiss emoji.

[@durion6]

Great video for all of us using this machine. At 38:50, i missed the point of saving all the internal to the floppy disk in one file (New FILE on video). I managed to save each one sound because when i save sysex banks by PC to internal, there is a last button enabled selected, the one i chose before. Anyone can help how can i save internal to floppy in one file?

[@durion6]

I found it by luck. Saving a sound on floppy, it saves the system information as well (in this case, all the bank). When you load a sound from floppy, if you select when ''load without system'' with ''no'', it will be loaded with system information, that means, whole the sysex bank (32 sounds). It's useful for me, when i will save whole bank with one characteristic (Piano, Brass e.t.c.) as one file on the floppy!!!

[@monsterjazzlicks]

Gee, it's a long video and lot's of information to take in !! i have watched 2 x hours so far. DF leaves no stone unturned !!

[@monsterjazzlicks]

Does the DX7II/FD have more letters/characters than the Mark 1, please ?

[@cgereu]

+monsterjazzlicks Yes it does.

[@monsterjazzlicks]

cgereu Cheers man. I have to keep ABBRV. all of my titles! lol

[@АлексйУваровъ]

My DX7 II FD has E! Matter installed. Actually can’t use all the functions .

[@moliver_xxii]

35:00 the value of memory in the eighties. when it was natural that one thousand bytes is a lot.

[@monsterjazzlicks]

Is the only difference between the FD, 'Regular' and 'S' versions the fact that the former has a disk drive ??

[@dvamateur]

The "S" version doesn't offer bi-timbriality or double mode. Think of the DX7s as a DX7 mk1 with 16-bit DAC. Kind of like a cut down version of the "D" and "FD". The "D" in the DX7IID, I think it actually stays for "double", the ability to play to voices at the same time, which was big concept, starting with synths like Jupiter-8.

[@monsterjazzlicks]

Hi Andrew, Thanks mate. Yes, I wonder if you are correct about the 'D' standing for 'Double' ! I never thought about that. Obviously in 'FD' it stands for 'Floppy Disc'. Paul

[@dvamateur]

monsterjazzlicks Maybe the 'D" stands for "dual". Who knows. Or maybe the "II" in DX7 stands for dual. But then what would the D stand for? As far as the "F" goes, I think in those days F was sufficient for Floppy, like on the Atari 1040STF, the "F", meant built in floppy. There was no need for 1040STFD, although there was a need for 1040STFM, for RTF modulator. Naming conventions are maybe not perfect, but pretty much any name from the past is cooler than "GAIA", or Lucina.

[@monsterjazzlicks]

I am sure that the 'II' means 'Mark Two' (ie. 'DX7 Mark 2').

[@dvamateur]

monsterjazzlicks Makes sense. I am sure though that the DX7s came after the two DX7II variants. I believe the DX7II was to compete with the D-50, which was bitimbral, and had a concept of dual tones, called upper and lower in Roland speak. It only makes sense Yamaha went the same route to be competitive, and also included larger 40x2 character backlit LCD, just like the D-50. Shortly after, the M1 offered what everyone was looking at that time, which was 16-bit samples. The rest as they say is history. And even ROM players acquired mixed rapport, including the derogative "ROMpler" term, I still thing that the M1 was excellent. It had a lot of programming parameters, and the presets made by Korg were truly excellent, courtesy I believe Jack Hotop. Eric Persing speaks his style through the D-50. I wonder if Dave Bristow was still involved with DX7II presets.

[@KUPHSER]

Anyone know the other 80s sound design tutorials that were done by this guy (dean) there was a whole heap of them. Wish I could remember what the title was.. I used to always share them with ppl who were getting into sound design. Some of the most clinical tutorials out there still to this day. If anyone knows what they’re called let me know! Thanks

[@neilkendall5499]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/l6XZpXV7a9lnbq8

[@marcospintor1333]

“The new Dx7”

[@aly-aly]

He use RAM Cartridge?

[@zedster911]

this takes me way back to the mid 1980s... LOL

[@quasarulas3968]

confusing the way he refers to patch settings "voices"

[@ricomajestic]

That is what Yamaha calls them!

[@miamigroove]

2:10:50 No Shooz

[@KUPHSER]

why does his head come into the screen sideways?

[@Chanffara]

hes lucifer dude

[@kgbinfo]

his eyes haunt my dreams

[@freestate6200]

Bit of a Syd Barrett there

[@toomuchtoofast4533]

Good song title lol

[@bernyvid]

Wow his mouth noises are painful 😬 but such a good tutorial!

[@ChruthFabian]

Thank you Dean Friedman for the instructional...it has been very helpful to me, and I often refer back to it. If you guys like this, check out my DX7iiFD jam with a Yamaha BC1 breath controller: kzbin.info/www/bejne/m6u7i6GMnLaEac0

[@hektekbeats]

🎹💥

[@bandademusica1564]

Brasil thanks

[@monsterjazzlicks]

No idea why anyone would give this video 2 x neg ratings?!

[@creekster5241]

It's a shame the video quality is poor.

[@yahnsolo]

Well, vintage VHS, what did you expect... At least it's not the worst quality we can have sometimes on vintage videos

[@creekster5241]

yahnsolo I know it's not the uploader's fault. It was just an honest statement. It IS a shame that the video quality is poor. It would be helpful to be able to read the displays and functions. It was a great video in it's time.

[@yahnsolo]

creekster52 my apologies, but it's true that nowadays lot of people have become accustomed of SD or HD content and tends to forget what VHS quality was (even worse with NTSC)... I agree that it's frustrating!

[@djkoelkast2]

yahnsolo Could be a lot better with the right equipment (which I do own). If the tape were sent to me I would be able to make a way better version out of this material.

[@yahnsolo]

i agree, at least good digitalization could be a big improvement (TBC), and also post-processing (also for audio)

[@marieto1]

1:55:56 lol

[@Chanffara]

catstevance converted to synth

[@SPAZZOID100]

Watching this had confirmed something for me--that my decision to sell my dx7 was the correct one.

[@dvamateur]

I sold my iPad. Never been more relieved.

[@dvamateur]

***** I used to like Apple computers in the '90s. Once they went translucent iMac and USB, Apple products started to get very silly. Now, their OSX and iOS are very manipulative as you are tied to the iTunes account with everything, and they track all your activity. In my opinion, once you pay for products, the manufacturer should stop bothering for constant upgrades. You should upgrade when you feel like, not when manufacturers wants.

[@dvamateur]

+James Reeno Likewise, my decision to sell the Voyager OS was the correct one. The instrument was intriguing at first because it could produce pure sine tone. Sort of like the DX7. But the Voyager's bad aesthetics, poor quality Lego-like switch gear, cheap overlay sticker front panel. It just didn't grow on me. I gave into a fad, and it was a mistake. I am not planning to buy an analog again. However, I am still enjoying the DX7, TX816, DX7IIFD, and TX802. They are all fantastic, instantly playable, powerful, well built, and look beautiful as musical gear. And FM synthesis is such a great complement and antidote to the ubiquitous subtractive synthesis, which I like too by the way, in form of the D-50.

[@SPAZZOID100]

+Andrew Piatek sorry but synths with knobs are not a fad. All the Japanese companies are releasing or reissuing them now. And virtual analog is in full swing. People want good interfaces, not menus and data sliders.

[@dvamateur]

James Reeno To me, both the DX7 and DX7II, as well as the D-50 interfaces are excellent, as well as are those instruments capabilities. And they are very musical. Especially the D-50, it's so instantly playable in live performance situation on stage; it's not only a great sounding synthesizer, but also a great keyboard instrument. I suggest you watch Dave Bristow lecture about the Yamaha FM synthesizers or David Bryan rocking his CP80, KX88, and TX816's. They are both so enthusiastic abut those instruments. Most people prefer cutoff and resonance knobs, I prefer to vary timbre with keyboard velocity. I like to have both hands on the keyboards at most times, so I find knobs quite irrelevant. Also, having knobbed interface for something like the DX7 would look like total overkill. Jellinghaus DX programmer was an example in bad taste in industrial design. Who needs that? It looks ridiculous.

[@lacusumbo]

39:10

[@KWANTSOUND]

такой дикий хиппи с босыми ногами лол ))