Yamaha DX7 Repair and Wobble / FM Bass Sounds

In this video we look at an unusual Yamaha DX7 which has been painted white. Allegedly it used to belong to Larry Graham... or Prince...highly unlikely! In any case its Broken, common battery issue, damaged keys, dodgy mains power cable, damaged volume pot and its filthy. Then we attempt to make some EDM wobble bass noises.
I touch on a bit of history of this legendary 80s synth but there are already tons of great DX7 video's and info on the internet, which cover all of that.
If you enjoy this video please leave a comment or thumbs up, also consider subscribing for more nonsense!
Find me on Spotify here - open.spotify.com/artist/3Ftlr...

[@ngle]

"No, actually I’m a plumber" : D

[@bucknaked1267]

Had a DX7 back in the late 80s. Wish I would have held onto it. 😢

[@VibeXplorer]

A hugely satisfying video to watch, especially to the "cleaning and refurbishing" circuits in my brain! If that synth was indeed owned/used by Prince, then what a find! Love the white finish. Well done on the soundtrack, too!

[@bonzomusik]

a very satisfying comment and kind words, thankyou!

[@KUPHSER]

Dx7 can easily make modern sounds. They are not as hard to program as people make out. Once you understand general fm, how its algorithms work with operators, and how to access parameters it’s fairly easy. I think the hardest part to get used to with a dx7 are the envelopes.

[@bonzomusik]

totally agree, although Im not sure I personally have to much patience for the tiny lcd display anymore! I do remember getting reasonably quick at doing though.

[@KUPHSER]

@@bonzomusik I went through an obsession with dx7 owned a few. I would really have to concentrate so hard to shape envelopes , if I were to get the dx out again I bet they would confuse me 😂 good way to learn fm tho, especially how the operators are all sine waves, and there are no filters, and the small display and no knobs you are forced to learn if you want to create sounds you are thinking. These days I use the modx and also also always loved FM8. Thanks to the dx7 they are a breeze. I also have a FS1R which I have barely touched. That one is intimidating

[@LondraCalibro9]

agreed, I love the old fm synths and have a TX7 and TX81z - I use the free Edisyn app to edit them. FM can be learnt to a reasonable level quite easily - after an initial steep curve it's pretty easy. The best way is to build patches step by step with a tutorial - either old magazines/books or YT videos - madfame is a great resource.

[@chinossynthesizer705]

@@KUPHSER I've been trying to learn fm synthesis how do you make cool sounds?

[@MrQmason]

@@bonzomusik Are there modern computer programs to make programming the DX's simpler ? thanks

[@timpullen4941]

As a Yamaha tech, I used Oryx solder sucker (silver model) this prevents board damage. Not only DX7 but other equipment as well, desoldering a battery will remove the voltage from the RAM chips and then it might be an issue getting the synth reprogrammed. My workaround if you have a spare coin battery with wires soldered, it is a good idea to solder the temporary battery to the 3V circuit tracks and only then remove the old battery and replace it. Then remove the piggyback battery. The piggyback battery has saved me lots of pain and suffering.

[@bonzomusik]

I've never had that issue with a DX, just reloaded the patches after swapping the battery, no probs but will bear it in mind next time! The solder suck is actually my go to for desoldering, I use one with a heated tip which maybe a bit aggressive. I've just been told by many techs that solder wick is more gentle on delicate pcbs

[@sw6188]

I hear what you are saying but every keyboard I have worked on has the firmware and sounds stored in ROM, so removing the battery doesn't cause any trouble. Otherwise you would lose your sounds and the keyboard would stop working every time you switched it off.

[@steveearthey5190]

Ok so from the Yamaha tech it appears as if the sounds are stored in RAM backed up by the battery which is why you need to reload them after the replacement. The parallel battery would only be useful if the original battery still had some life left, this example indicated a completely exhausted battery hence the need to reload the sounds.

[@timpullen4941]

@@sw6188 If the keyboard has editable patches those edits are not stored in ROM but stored in static RAM. Static RAM retains its data as long as there is enough voltage to keep the RAM alive.

[@timpullen4941]

@@steveearthey5190 as long as you want to load the bog standard factory settings. Many DX7 owners set their DX7 keyboards with their own choice of sounds. There are other settings like midi channels that are stored in RAM in an edited form. This is why we piggy back the other battery with a temporary battery. When the Yamaha products detect the battery voltage has dropped below the 3V a warning comes up on the screen. Even after the warning is on the screen there is still going to be enough voltage to rescue the bespoke data. I don't mind how you do this. I know what works

[@Mizzdr111]

nice job bringing the old girl back to life. I love that stuff, It's like going back in time to its glory days.

[@bonzomusik]

it will live another day! yamaha did a good job making a durable synth. I think people will be playing around with FM synths for years to come

[@lundsweden]

That demo song sounds like department store ad music from the 80s! 😅

[@bonzomusik]

nothing like a cheesy fanfare to sell stuff in the 80s

[@irishmusico]

That is a great video. I am beginning to repair the plastic bits on my synths. This is a great all rounder and good advice for the pitfalls to look out for. I was listening to the music which is cool, and thinking no way is this a DX7. But it is. Nice video pal.

[@bonzomusik]

Thanks so much, glad you found the video useful. The music is a combination of real DX7 and the Arturia recreation which adds quite a few more sound possibilities.

[@stuffnuns]

That DX7 most have been abused by demons. DX7 were famous back in the ‘80’s & ‘90’s for being, along with Boss pedals, almost indestructible tanks. I’ve never seen the thing disassembled before. Btw, I think several synth other makers soldered the battery to the board. . .??? I must say, too, that the keyboard on the o.g. DX7 was terrific. A bitch to program, but felt good to play.

[@bonzomusik]

It pretty much is a tank apart from the plastic end cheeks which do seam to be a weak point. defo a cost saving measure to solder the battery to the board, so im sure many other synths did the same. The keyboard does have a nice action (not that im actually much of keys player though!)

[@robfriedrich2822]

With the YS100 they made programming easy, it was comparable to the parameters of an analog synth.

[@pigknickers2975]

It played beautifully I think.

[@framax67]

Love the dx7 mkI. Fabulous white DIY édition 😁 but some issues to fix.

[@bonzomusik]

It's a classic!

[@adamharris7775]

The DX7 was owned by Prince.

[@bonzomusik]

I can't be sure but ya know, probably ;)

[@davypelletier]

Never seen anyone in Larry's band use a dx7 and Prince didn't spray paint his gear. Source. I was there. You got had.

[@bonzomusik]

Prince of course got somebody else to paint it, possibly Rick James. Allegedly this DX7 contained a patch that Prince programmed blind folded that sounds exactly like Larry Graham's bass. Of course that has been lost due to the battery issue... Other sources suggest that the DX7 actually belonged to Status Quo who also had a thing for white gear.

[@davypelletier]

@@bonzomusik wasn’t around status quo but that’s a far more likely story.

[@timpayne7676]

Soundtrack is really good 👍

[@bonzomusik]

cheers bud, coming soon, Casio MT40, Red strip and Caribbean food.

[@NicolasMelis]

cool!

[@ErgoBoom]

"The history of the DX7 is widely available on the internet so I won't go Into that here" proceeds to name very hit song and which preset they used 🤣

[@bonzomusik]

haha fair point, but you could and people have done entire videos on well know records that use a dx7 or FM synthesis etc.

[@evoelias6035]

Nice video, but the background music is waaaaaay to loud! 😕 on my iPhone your voice is barely distinguishable

[@bonzomusik]

you know what they say, if the music is too loud your getting old 😉thanks for the feedback/ comment

[@evoelias6035]

@@bonzomusik yes we are all getting older every day indeed… you are welcome 😎👍👍

[@janbeille]

11:22 OYEAAAAAAAAAAH That came from the bottom of this genius’s heart

[@bonzomusik]

you have to celebrate the small victories 😉

[@Info-Ark]

wow your amazing how you worked on this. Your welcome to repair my alesis fusion volume knob.. as it crackles.

[@Mind-your-own-beeswax]

It’s great to see old synths brought back to life. I did the same with a Roland D50 many years ago. Just one minor niggle for me is the music is far too loud.

[@bonzomusik]

I probably got a bit too enthusiastic with the compressor

[@Mind-your-own-beeswax]

@@bonzomusik 😂😂

[@carlosfernandes8919]

CLASSE A , MUITO BOM MESMO .. PARABÉNS... MEGA STAR...YOU DX7...BRASIL

[@bonzomusik]

Thanks!

[@dougie6897]

Narration from look mum no computer…. 11 20 secs a nice touch

[@bonzomusik]

it was actually LMNC 😉

[@sw6188]

Seen a few DX7 keyboards over the years but never a white one. I think someone has painted various parts of yours which would explain why there's no longer any labels on the sockets at the back. Great resto.

[@bonzomusik]

its defo a diy job but done quite well, also painted over the images on the top of the algorithms etc

[@WarrenPostma]

@@bonzomusik All that algo diagram stuff vibed hard, it's sad that it's gone. Nevertheless this unit looks cool as it is.

[@WrvrUgoThrUR]

Just boughta DX7. Looking at this…I’m like “hey, I could do this!”. Then my next thought is….”I probably shouldn’t do this!” 😁 but makes me want to scope out another unit just for parts.

[@bonzomusik]

The battery thing is pretty essential if its gone flat. These old synths are designed to be serviced though so a bit of care and attention and you'll be fine

[@cristianbaldeon9295]

uuuuu increible , yo tengo un dx7 que esta guardado , esta en un muy muy buen estado , no lo uso por que es pesado y bueno algun dia le hare un upgrade

[@bonzomusik]

they are built like tanks!

[@andyfin990]

I had one early 80's, sold it to a band from Liverpool called the Real thing..

[@garyseymour6319]

I'm guessing the battery was a CR2032 which was typical of the time and usually lasted five years. Totally pointless soldering it on to the motherboard even then!

[@bonzomusik]

yep, they did tend to last around 20 years +. I dunno why they didn't make it easier to replace though.

[@LondraCalibro9]

It is the bane of vintage synths.

[@timpullen4941]

@@bonzomusik Every single component in a musical instrument adds a cost. I worked for a Japanese musical instrument company and the engineers want nice things like battery holders, the accountants want nothing to do with battery holders. The accountants always win.

[@bonzomusik]

@@timpullen4941 ain't that the truth

[@VictorNamba]

Nice work! One question. How you connect the monolog to dx7? Thanks

[@bonzomusik]

Thanks! Audio out from the dx7 goes to the monologue which has an audio in for injecting a signal into the vcf and vca. Then send midi out from the dx7 to the monologue for triggering the vca envelopes etc. You can turn the vco volumes down on the monologue so your only hearing the dx7 through it

[@patriciaoudart1508]

Just seen the Juno 60 video, but I have also a DX 7 a TX 7 and a DX 21. I'm to put them in a wood box with a MDI CME UF 70, and a computer for sysex plus eurorack for modular adds. The DX 7 had a liquid soap damage I presume and the metal box is too destroyed to be reused, so big work to do and the fact is that I unmounted all fives years ago, moved to an other country and did not had time to rebuilt my studio. The Tx double the Dx 7 line, like DX 1, seems to be. The keyboard is complete but like yours, metal pieces have suffered. I fave to design a new visual on wood the plastic design were partly destroyed, and not sure that will be horizontal buttons, mostly they will face me, because I'm to perhaps add a second midi keyboard. The computer will be integrated to provide sysex, use a software to program the DTX and co, and why not use a virtual FM synthesis. Hope this will works, answers not before next year😱🙀 I make all my studio easy to move in few minutes, all in boxes, six/seven keyboards, expanders computers, mixers,and integrated racks for modular in the covers, only close the box and go. I take metal because of the weight but also to avoid CME induction, some plastics are better than metal for this, and very short cables, no ground, which also is a problem with old synths having integrated heavy power supply. In the particular DX TX they have the same power design, so I will simplify all this, my goal is to use solar power, so for now I will take outside the power supplies, will see later to use 19v from solar panel regulator and display it in the correct amp and voltage. For now I have my three Wood boxes to build , lot design before having finished.

[@bonzomusik]

Sounds like a project and a half, good luck!

[@WrvrUgoThrUR]

A white DX7 is sacrilegious.

[@bonzomusik]

It's kinda given it a 90s vibe

[@WrvrUgoThrUR]

@@bonzomusik that’s like giving ‘Citizen Kane’ a a 2023 vibe.

[@bonzomusik]

@@WrvrUgoThrUR Blues Brothers 2000?

[@matthewgaines10]

A synth with a sketchy past gets a overhaul. If it was owned by someone of note, it was worth it. If it wasn’t, it was just a parts donor unit.

[@bonzomusik]

The white paint job has definitely devalued it

[@gabiwoody]

It’s no small job! Congratulation! But at 7:17 the music isn’t from Grease, unlike the listing... 😀

[@bonzomusik]

Haha! Grease sound track played on DX7s would be funny

[@chinossynthesizer705]

@@bonzomusik the music sounds very fm synthesis did you make it ?

[@bonzomusik]

@@chinossynthesizer705 yeah, its all DX7 (apart from the drums) using a combination of real DX7 and the Arturia DX7 plugin, which is just easier to programme especially for the EDM sounds which really need the lo pass filter that doesn't exist on a real DX7 - sorry I know its cheating ;)

[@chinossynthesizer705]

@@bonzomusik yeah I get it because the dx7 programming interface wasn't the best

[@bonzomusik]

@@chinossynthesizer705 I had a lot more patience for it back in time!

[@psyolent.]

dude, you left the RIFA exploder cap on the AC line. that should go too.

[@bonzomusik]

the best sound a dx7 makes is when that thing blows up ;) I didn't actually spot it in there! makes me jump when they explodes, sometimes they give you a bit of a warning stink first.

[@psyolent.]

@@bonzomusik thats gold. the best sound :D yeah you can normally smell that smell prior to them popping. but when they do go the smell (and the mess), its the gift that keeps on giving ;)

[@sw6188]

@@bonzomusik Commonly known as the RIFA time bomb. You never know when one of those will go BANG! and let the magic stink out. 🤣

[@psyolent.]

@@sw6188 nah Replace Immediately, Fire Ahead

[@WarrenPostma]

Every bit o used kit I buy comes with a fake story, no extra charge. I got me a pedal that was played by a guy who once dated Prince's sister.... Or so I'm told.

[@arieltekman]

Please reupload the video without the loud music.

[@chinossynthesizer705]

The music is fire what do u mean it's fm synthesis too

[@percaros]

just lower the volume

[@squishmusic]

Can you explain what you mean by the 'solder sucker tool' damaged the board? From what I can see (brown point) there was damage there already...and using a solder iron directly is more prone to damaging the board, no?

[@squishmusic]

okkk pads. GTK!

[@bonzomusik]

@@squishmusic yep basically the sucker can pull the pads away from the pcb (as I did in the vid) solder wick with some flux is often the preferred method for removing old solder.

[@squishmusic]

@@bonzomusik thnx. so on a point of learning, when would one use a sucker tool?

[@bonzomusik]

@@squishmusic 95% of the time I've not really had an issue with one, just maybe best to avoid when working with something that has small delicate traces/pads or old vintage valuable stuff.

[@squishmusic]

@@bonzomusik thnx GTK :)

[@arpmuless_official]

Hello, what grease did you use?

[@bonzomusik]

I used Lithium grease, silicone based would also be suitable. TBH though its prob not really needed.

[@arpmuless_official]

@@bonzomusik I've heard lithium degrades plastic over time, and is usually used in metal. Silicone is said to be plastic safe. I just don't want to damage my DX-7 :)

[@bonzomusik]

@@arpmuless_official petroleum based grease are not advised for use with plastics. white lithium grease is (was) commonly used in plastic gear mechanisms for VCRs cassette decks etc.

[@delscoville]

I wish the keyboard was that easy to remove in my Motif 6. I had to repair a couple keys on it and had to take the Motif half apart it seems.

[@bonzomusik]

The DX7 is defo from an era of making things easy to service!

[@moliver_xxii]

16:46... putting the keys back is really a risky tasks... do it wrong, and the velocity won't work properly.

[@whotrickedyou]

I dissembled the korg M1 to change one key very annoying and time consuming.

[@timpullen4941]

Loosen the leaf spring contact assembly first (loosen not take out) the assembly moves down about 3 mm from the frame and the plastic acutator on each key does not touch the contact. Easy.

[@timpullen4941]

@@whotrickedyou Korg M1 and T3 and 01W use the same key action made by Yamaha. Yamaha had some financial shares in Korg for a few years.

[@robfriedrich2822]

In my opinion, DX7 was limited. I couldn't understand, that it had no key split or the option to layer sounds. And for setting the rotary speed, you had to go into the editor.

[@bonzomusik]

pretty sure the DX7 mk2 does all of that and was released a couple of years later. Other later model DX synths have options for allocating polyphony over different patches for multitimbral operation.

[@pigknickers2975]

DX21, 27, 100 fixed that, plus the Mark II I think

[@bonzomusik]

@@pigknickers2975 The DX11 was the first one I ever owned and was multitimbral, could layer sounds etc. Only 4 operators though but I think it had different waveforms to select from.

[@pigknickers2975]

@@bonzomusik Just looked that up, it completely passed me by. It's the keyboard version of the TX81Z, v nice. I used to have a TX too, way better than the DX21. The waveforms thing was quite exciting at the time, plus it had a better bottom end.

[@argumentchannel]

@0:45 IT USESES "PM" NOT "FM" AS EVERYONE THINKS. JUST LIKE THE SYNTH BEFORE WHO USED THE ORIGINAL ALGORITHMS "SYNCLAVIER II"

[@bonzomusik]

Alright, no need to shout. Confusingly, Yamaha implemented FM synthesis digitally by actually using phase modulation but still call it 'FM Synthesis'. Perhaps the marketing department though it sounded better. In reality the DX7 is a digitally synth so there is no physical modulation happening, it just working out the maths for the output waveform.

[@argumentchannel]

sorry dident mean to shout, im at work and everything has to be in upper case for legal reasons. yes i know about the DX7 being one of the first programmers to get one@@bonzomusik

[@bonzomusik]

haha, I'm only joking about the shouting, old school internet etiquette n all that! - your comment is spot on about the FM PM thing @@argumentchannel

[@AndrewTSq]

actually that a keyboard have belong to someone famous is not that uncommin. Roland samplers used by Hans Zimmer were sold out really cheap on ebay (not under his name, but then one of his old coworkers here on youtube talked about it, and hey how common is it to see someone selling 20+ roland S760 samplers in same ad :D ) , We have Alan Wilders sampler sold out (and thats why we have lots of Depeche mode samples out there now I guess for our Emu systems samplers), We have The Prodigy Liams Roland W30 now belonging to a fellow youtuber, Ive also seen Fairlight CMI's with the original pet shop boys tracks on it :)

[@neverknowit11]

I would have used Dioxit instead of wd40. Why not a computer coin battery holder? Most of which don’t leak.

[@bonzomusik]

Its EC-90 - similar looking tin but actual contact cleaner. The battery holder is just to make future replacement easier, especially as it has the after market board on top of it. also found that conventional pcb mounted holders seam to have a different pin spacing.

[@charliea697]

Shame about the row in the background.

[@mariyaakigawa8351]

What song played from 0:30 to 1:15?

[@bonzomusik]

It is clearly Sandstorm by Darude. TBH not sure, its a track from an early promotional demo tape, if you search on youtube for DX7 demo record / cassette you should find it

[@marcbrasse747]

And you didn't end up with some infection?

[@bonzomusik]

I did not

[@alexlifeson8946]

I got a plugin that's 20 of these DX7's in 1. At 1/1000 the price

[@bonzomusik]

Software vs hardware, pros n cons to both really but also personal preference. Generally speaking software always wins on price, there are some great DX7 plugins out there that are totally free such as Dexed. What are you using?

[@alexlifeson8946]

@@bonzomusik I'm saying the DX7 is a historically awesome keyboard. However at 1/1,000 the price, why not enjoy it with a really nice plugin?

[@bonzomusik]

​@@alexlifeson8946 yeah I agree, there is some great plugins out there, the DX7 is after all is a fully digital synth so sound wise not a lot in it really and the plugin versions are much easier to program! That said, its nice to preserve a bit of history (not that they are in anyway rare) and play around with the real thing even if it has been painted!