What is a Yamaha TX7 and why you should buy one over a DX7

If you are looking for classic 80s vintage synth sounds, then you are instantly going to think of the Yamaha DX7. It's one of the most iconic and influential synths of all time and used on countless eighties hits. Think A-ha, Kenny Loggins, Phil Collins and Brian Eno. However, before you hit ebay or Reverb searching for the DX7 you should consider its little brother: the TX7.
UPDATE: The demo song is now availbe on Spotify
open.spotify.com/track/0oFIli...
Download my patch bank:
thedigitallifestyle.com/w/mus...
The TX7 is a desktop module version of the DX7. It has the same sound engine as its big brother, with 6 operator / 32 algorithm FM and 12bit Digital to Analog converters.
In this video I look at what the TX7 can do, how you can edit sounds on a TX7 and why should look at a TX7 over a DX7.
Chapters:
00:00 Intro • What is a Yamaha TX7 a...
01:27 What is the difference between the TX7 and DX7 • What is a Yamaha TX7 a...
02:44 Sound Demos • What is a Yamaha TX7 a...
05:26 Editing sounds on a TX7 • What is a Yamaha TX7 a...
07:31 Conclusion • What is a Yamaha TX7 a...
08:57 Demo song • What is a Yamaha TX7 a...

[@PhrygianPhrog]

Great tune and video demo of the TX7.

[@IanDixonTDL]

Thanks for your kind words!

[@waltscott5]

Nice. Your demo song at the end is great.

[@IanDixonTDL]

Thanks! Now available on Spotify and other streaming platforms

[@adamharris7775]

The Yamaha TX7 patch "Electric Piano 1" was heard in the Kids Incorporated version of the song "Two Souls".

[@M80-]

Nice demo song, I like the toms.

[@IanDixonTDL]

Thanks, straight from the RX5.

[@M80-]

@@IanDixonTDL Thanks, I already wanted to ask.

[@Vim-Wolf]

Yup got mine ages back, £30 on eBay and it turned to to be a local seller so went and got it same day. Upgraded the firmware chip and the display, now replacing the switches. Works a treat, and as you say sounds just like a DX7 without taking up all that space. I also picked up (car boot sale) the multitimbral FB01 but for my money the TX still sounds better.

[@IanDixonTDL]

I still have a DX100 which is 4op like the FB01 and the TX7 sounds much more alive

[@Asmuk]

Thanks, it was very helpful.

[@IanDixonTDL]

You're welcome!

[@boogiefunkproductions2368]

Got mine probably 10 years ago for 40 bucks on ebay. Such an amazing synth I’ll never sell it

[@IanDixonTDL]

yes, it really sounds great. I have a DX100 and always wanted a 6 op device

[@felippeboulderdash8453]

👏 yeah, cool stuff!

[@huntergalloway3944]

The RX5 is my favorite drum machine! Especially when you add the RX5USB and can add your own samples. It really is a drum synth.

[@IanDixonTDL]

It's a complex beast!

[@MrNiniko]

Subscribed

[@ClearColorCloud]

I’m probably going to pick up one of these for use with my guitar midi controllers.. I’m not a keyboard player anyway so synths without the keyboard are perfect for me.

[@IanDixonTDL]

yes it should be good for that. FM sounds respond well to velocity.

[@ClearColorCloud]

@@IanDixonTDL yeah, so I’ve heard! Debating picking up a Yamaha G10 or a Linnstrument as well..

[@Niles7787]

Thanks for this video! The patches from 02:44 til 05:28 did you load them into the TX7 or are they original patches? They don't match with my unit's patches (which I think were reorganized by the previous owner) but also don't match the ones listed in the manual. Also what's the benefit of using DX Manager over Dexed, does it do things Dexed can't?

[@IanDixonTDL]

I loaded them in, over time I have loaded ones from various banks. I prefer the UI of DX Manager and it also works with my DX100. BTW My sounds are available from thedigitallifestyle.com/w/music-tech-downloads/

[@Niles7787]

@@IanDixonTDL Thank you, much appreciated!!

[@Shred_The_Weapon]

This module was played on the 1986 Don Dorsey release *Bachbusters* (along with the larger-scale TX-816). Those guitar sounds, the bass and the bells can all be heard on different tracks from that album, along (I suspect) with the xylophone sound. I also think it made its way onto the followup, *Beethoven or Bust.* I just had a thought. I haven’t yet purchased a DX or TX model (although there was an FB-01 module floating around where I currently live when I got here). I do own a Roland JX-8p whose front panel was modeled after the DX7 front panel. Any chance the JX-8p can be used to edit patches on a TX7?

[@IanDixonTDL]

Thanks for the tip, I will check them out. The JX will not control the TX7, the TX used sysex and not MIDI CC.

[@Shred_The_Weapon]

And, thanks for your own tip,@@IanDixonTDL. I think I already learned that before, but I felt like double checking.

[@JoelEverettComposer]

MIDI Question on the TX7 - I know the DX7 is limited to 1 MIDI Channel; since the TX7 is slightly later - can you play back on all 16 MIDI Channels at the same time? i.e. playing back a bass patch, a ep patch, and a guitar patch at the same time? Thanks!!

[@IanDixonTDL]

No, it will only play back on one channel at a time. To do what you want you would need something like the TX816 which was 8 DX7s in a rack, or the cheaper TX81Z which is a 4op version.

[@andrewweeks448]

Can I use my DX7ii into this with a midi cable? It has all of the dx7 stock presets?

[@IanDixonTDL]

yes, you can. You can load it any DX7 sound banks.

[@cuttingedge1987]

Do you find any difference between the dx7 and the tx7 ? Because I have both and I find that there is less bass on the dx7 electric piano (I have changed the cap in it), but the tx7 has higher output level

[@IanDixonTDL]

I don't have a DX7 so i can't say but the TX7 does have a digital volume level where as the DX7 has a slider

[@cuttingedge1987]

I guess it might change a little

[@moonvals]

Because i dont know anything about computers, how do i get the sounds from the computer to the TX7 ?

[@IanDixonTDL]

You need to get a usb midi cable and the use software to transfer it over.

[@cxc3559]

Hey - can you change the algorithm from the front panel, as you can in a DX7?

[@IanDixonTDL]

no, you need to use another DX or PC/Mac. I use DX Manager on the PC

[@cxc3559]

Thank you, you're a hero!

[@IanDixonTDL]

BTW I have just recorded another video on the TX7, it wil be out next week

[@amonster8mymother]

Sounds better than my dx7. Perhaps my dx7 has a problem. ❤

[@amonster8mymother]

Can you get dxed on mac?

[@IanDixonTDL]

Yes you can

[@worldmusicarchives7950]

Does it contain sounds from DX7IIFD?

[@IanDixonTDL]

You can upload them but the DX7II has extra parameters like unison mode that make them slightly different.

[@worldmusicarchives7950]

@@IanDixonTDL Okay, so I will need...a DX7IIFD disk?

[@IanDixonTDL]

You can find all the DX7 patches including DX7IIFD on the internet so no need for the original disks. You can send them from a PC to the TX7 via midi. Checkout my video of DX Manager kzbin.info/www/bejne/pKLce2esacqjpdU

[@worldmusicarchives7950]

@IanDixonTDL Okay, cool. As long I have a midi USB, it can work well with logic pro x?

[@IanDixonTDL]

It should work fine.

[@amonster8mymother]

So you can do dx5 sounds with a dx7 amd a tx7 together?

[@IanDixonTDL]

Yes, exactly

[@amonster8mymother]

@@IanDixonTDL I think I'm gonna buy a tx7 as well to get the dx5 strings.

[@IanDixonTDL]

Which patches would you use? I would like to try it on my TX7 and Op6

[@amonster8mymother]

​@@IanDixonTDLI'm not sure. I would use analog strings to start. I'm just listening to mine and it doesn't sound so good theu the stereo output.

[@amonster8mymother]

I think the dx5 has a sound with both synth engines together and I think you can tell by watching dx5 videos it's got a roar you cant get with the dx7tx7. Possibly stereo output. ????

[@amonster8mymother]

Im guessing but i think theres some reverb chorus and phaser.

[@IanDixonTDL]

Any part? I can check.

[@amonster8mymother]

@@IanDixonTDL so you put the reverb first or last?

[@IanDixonTDL]

@@amonster8mymother The intro track has chorus and reverb, no phaser. I normally apply chorus first.

[@amonster8mymother]

@@IanDixonTDL I'm using korg A3

[@amonster8mymother]

Sounds good i dont hear aliasing.

[@longdongsilver4719]

How could a FM synth have aliasing?

[@amonster8mymother]

@@longdongsilver4719 foldbaxk.

[@amonster8mymother]

From above 44.1 khz

[@longdongsilver4719]

@@amonster8mymother BS.