YAMAHA DX7 II FD - The FM Hammer That Crushes the Mix

Yamaha DX7 II FD is an enhanced version of the legendary DX7, bringing significant technological improvements over the first generation. With 16-voice polyphony, modern 16-bit converters, and the ability to store sound programs on RAM cards or 3.5" floppy disks, it became a powerful instrument for studio and live production.

Sound Architecture of Yamaha DX7 II FD

DX7 II FD utilizes six-operator FM synthesis, enabling complex harmonic spectra and rich sound structures. Compared to the first-generation DX7, it offers cleaner sound thanks to 16-bit converters, which minimize noise and improve dynamic range.

Key Features:

•  Polyphony: 16 voices
•  16-bit audio converters – a major improvement over 12-bit converters in the first-generation
   DX7.
•  Ability to store sound programs on Yamaha DX Data Cartridge RAM cards or internal 3.5" floppy
   disk drive.
•  MIDI In/Out 5-pin DIN connectors – allowing easy integration into studio and live setups.
•  Expansion option via Grey Matter Response E! Board, adding multitimbrality, extended
   memory, and advanced features.

Sound Programming – Jellinghaus DX Programmer and Dtronics DT-7

One of the biggest challenges in FM synthesis is the complexity of sound programming. Fortunately, hardware programmers significantly simplify working with DX7 II FD.

Jellinghaus DX Programmer

•  Vintage programmer made in Germany in the 1980s.
•  Dedicated knobs for all FM synthesis parameters, enabling fast and intuitive sound editing.
•  MIDI In/Out/Thru connectivity, allowing seamless integration with other devices.

Dtronics DT-7

•  Modern hardware programmer, providing knobs for each FM synthesis parameter.
•  Firmware updates via MIDI, ensuring long-term support and expansion of functions.
•  Compact design, easily integrating into studio setups.

These programmers make the DX7 II FD far more intuitive, enabling quick sound editing without complex menu navigation.

Grey Matter Response E! Board – Expanding DX7 II FD’s Capabilities

The Grey Matter Response E! Board is an internal expansion card, significantly enhancing DX7 II FD’s features.

Key Features of E! Board:

•  Multitimbral mode – allowing simultaneous playback of multiple sounds on different
   MIDI channels.
•  Extended memory – up to 256 user sound programs and 128 performance presets.
•  16-track MIDI sequencer – enabling direct MIDI recording and editing within the DX7 II FD.
•  MIDI mapping – the ability to assign various parameters to individual MIDI channels.

Thanks to E! Board, DX7 II FD becomes a fully-fledged studio instrument, bringing advanced sound design and MIDI integration capabilities.

Differences Between Yamaha DX7 and DX7 II

Yamaha DX7 was a revolutionary FM synthesizer, defining digital synthesis in the 1980s. Despite being a groundbreaking instrument, it had certain limitations, which were addressed in the DX7 II’s second generation. Below are the main differences between both models:

Sound Quality and Converters

•  DX7: Used 12-bit DAC converters, leading to subtle digital compression and slight
   roughness in sound, giving the instrument its characteristic texture.
•  DX7 II: Transitioned to 16-bit DAC converters, significantly improving clarity, eliminating
   noise artifacts, and enhancing dynamic range.

As a result, DX7 is nevertheless often preferred for its characteristic and unique "classic" FM sounds, which can be described as gritty, clangy, or even harsh, while DX7 II generally offers a cleaner, more detailed and natural tone.

Polyphony and Bi-Timbrality

The main difference in polyphony between the Yamaha DX7 and DX7 II FD is that the DX7 is 16-voice single-mode, while the DX7 II FD is 16-voice bi-timbral, allowing for layering or splitting two distinct voices simultaneously, effectively doubling the polyphony for certain configurations.

Storage Options

•  DX7: Allowed storing sound presets only in internal memory or on Yamaha DX
   Data Cartridge.
•  DX7 II: Added the ability to store sounds on an internal 3.5" floppy disk, increasing
   storage capacity.

This change significantly simplified sound archiving and allowed easy transfer between different systems.

Control and Sound Programming

•  DX7: Used membrane buttons, which were less durable and had poor tactile feedback.
•  DX7 II: Introduced mechanical buttons, improving user comfort and increasing durability.

Another major improvement was the ability to connect external programmers, such as Jellinghaus DX Programmer or Dtronics DT-7, dramatically accelerating sound editing.

Expressive Control and Live Performance

•  DX7: Did not have aftertouch, limiting expressive possibilities during play.
•  DX7 II: Added mono aftertouch, enabling expressive modulation of parameters while playing.

Another innovation was micro-tuning, allowing fine-tuning of notes, expanding possibilities for experimental music.

Expansion via Grey Matter Response E! Board

DX7 II allowed installation of the Grey Matter Response E! Board, adding:

•  Multitimbral mode – enabling simultaneous playback of multiple sounds on different
   MIDI channels.
•  Extended memory – increasing the capacity of user sound banks.
•  16-track MIDI sequencer, allowing internal recording and manipulation of MIDI data.

These expansions pushed DX7 II to a new level in studio and live performance usage.

Yamaha DX7S – The Enhanced Variant of the Classic DX7

Yamaha DX7S was a special version of the original DX7, bringing several enhancements while retaining a simpler architecture compared to DX7 II. This model was designed for musicians who wanted better sound quality and improved control, but didn’t need advanced bi-timbral features.

DX7S vs. DX7 II – How Do They Differ?

DX7S was an upgraded version of the original DX7, but did not include some of the advanced features of DX7 II FD, such as:

•  The internal floppy disk drive integrated.
•  A larger, two-line, 40-character per line illuminated LCD display, offering significantly
   more information at a glance and making editing easier.
•  Bi-Timbral mode, which allows layering two sounds.

Yamaha DX7 Centennial Edition – Exclusive Limited Edition Celebrating Yamaha's 100th Anniversary

In 1987, Yamaha celebrated its 100th anniversary, leading to the creation of the exclusive limited edition Yamaha DX7 Centennial Edition. This model was a significantly upgraded version of DX7 II FD, introducing unique aesthetic and technical elements that make it one of the rarest FM synthesizers ever produced.

Technical Specifications and Upgrades Compared to Standard DX7 II FD

DX7 Centennial Edition was distinct from the regular DX7 II FD, featuring several major improvements:

•  Polyphony: 64 voices, a fourfold increase compared to the original DX7.
•  76 keys with velocity and aftertouch – compared to the 61 keys of the standard DX7 II FD, this
   edition added an extra octave, allowing greater range for live performance.
•  Expanded memory – the internal memory contained 64 voices and 64 performance presets,
   double the amount compared to the standard DX7 II FD.
•  Illuminated keyboard – the keys were fluorescent, meaning they glowed in the dark after
   exposure to light, creating a visually striking effect on stage.
•  Exclusive design – the body was silver, while the buttons, sliders, and wheels were plated
   with 24-karat gold, giving the instrument a luxurious appearance.

Limited Production and Price

Yamaha DX7 Centennial Edition was an extremely limited series, with only 300 units produced. This model was significantly more expensive than the standard DX7 II FD – its original price was approximately $5000, nearly twice the cost of a regular DX7 II FD.

Today, DX7 Centennial Edition is a highly prized collector's item, with well-preserved examples reaching values of up to $15,000.

Historical Significance and Collectible Value

DX7 Centennial Edition is one of the rarest FM synthesizers, not only celebrating Yamaha's 100-year milestone but also introducing technological enhancements unavailable in any other DX7 model.

With its exclusive design, expanded polyphony, stereo output, and illuminated keyboard, it has become an iconic instrument, highly sought after by collectors and musicians.

Howard Jones and His Experience with the Yamaha DX7

Howard Jones was one of the pioneers of 1980s synth-pop, with DX7 playing a key role in his music. In an interview for Sound On Sound, he stated that DX7 was an essential instrument for his iconic hits, including "What Is Love?", where he used its distinctive FM bass sound.

Although DX7 was difficult to program, Jones appreciated its preset sounds, which gave his music a unique character. Thanks to DX7, his compositions gained crisp digital textures and solid bass lines, defining the sound of synth-pop during that era.

Depeche Mode and the Yamaha DX7

Depeche Mode was one of the bands that heavily utilized Yamaha DX7 in their 1980s productions. DX7 appeared on albums such as "Some Great Reward" (1984) and "Black Celebration" (1986), where its metallic digital tones helped define the band's dark and atmospheric sound.

How Did Depeche Mode Use DX7?

•  Alan Wilder used DX7 for deep bass lines and synthetic pads, adding a dark electronic
   atmosphere to their music.
•  DX7 was part of the band's concert setup during the "Some Great Reward" tour, where it
   was combined with Emulator II and Oberheim OB8.

DX7 thus became a key instrument in Depeche Mode's early electronic production, contributing to their legendary sound.

Vince Clarke and His Perspective on the Yamaha DX7

Vince Clarke, the founder of Depeche Mode, Yazoo, and Erasure, is known for his precise synthesis and unique sound design. Although Yamaha DX7 was one of the most important digital synthesizers of the 1980s, Clarke had a specific view on it.

DX7 as a Major Shift in Synthesis – But Not Necessarily a Revolution

In an interview for MusicTech, Clarke mentioned that moving from analog synthesizers to DX7 was pivotal, as this instrument introduced an entirely new sonic character, impossible to achieve with analog oscillators. Unlike classic subtractive synthesizers, DX7 utilized FM synthesis, generating sharp, clean, and digital sounds.

However, Clarke added that the real revolution wasn’t DX7 – it was sequencers, which enabled structured and precisely synchronized compositions.

The Challenge of FM Synthesis – Why Sound Designers Didn’t Favor It

Clarke openly admitted that FM synthesis was frustrating for him. Unlike analog synthesizers, which offer immediate visual control over sound parameters, FM synthesis relied on mathematical operators. This meant creating custom sounds was much harder and less intuitive. Instead, Clarke preferred analog systems, allowing instant tweaking of filters, oscillators, and envelopes. Therefore, he used DX7 mainly for specific sounds, such as percussive FM textures, but never as his primary instrument.

Musicians and Bands That Used Yamaha DX7 and DX7 II

Yamaha DX7 was popular among many musicians who utilized its FM synthesis. Some of the notable users include:

•  Brian Eno – Legendary producer and composer, who used DX7 for ambient textures and
   experimental sounds.
•  Chick Corea – Jazz pianist, who played DX7 for sophisticated synthetic piano sounds.
•  Jean-Michel Jarre – Electronic music pioneer, who integrated DX7 II into his epic synthesizer
   arrangements.
•  Howard Jones – 1980s synth-pop icon, using DX7 for distinct bass lines and bright digital tones,
   which defined his signature style.
•  Toto – A band known for its rich synthetic textures, where DX7 II played a key role in their
   production.
•  Phil Collins – Used DX7 II for iconic electric piano sounds, which featured in his solo works.
•  Depeche Mode – Experimented with DX7 and DX7 II to craft dark and atmospheric electronic
   sounds.
•  Erasure – Vince Clarke utilized DX7 for experimental FM tones, percussive textures, and
   synthetic sequences.

Conclusion

Yamaha DX7 II FD is a powerful digital FM synthesizer, evolving from the legendary DX7, while introducing significant technological enhancements.

With 16-bit converters, advanced memory options, the E! Board expansion, and intuitive programming via Jellinghaus DX Programmer or Dtronics DT-7, it is an ideal instrument for electronic and experimental music production, and live performances.