Yamaha • DX-100
The DX-100 is a small and portable budget DX synthesizer from Yamaha. Like all DX's it uses (FM) Frequency Modulation synthesis. It's not the easiest form of synthesis to program but can result in some excellent sounds. The DX100 is not as flexible nor powerful as a DX7, but it does have some cool sounds. It is most renowned for its great analog bass sound (Patch #01) that is awesome for techno, house, jungle, and acid music styles; it's very gritty, the bass tone with gristle! However, any other preset sounds that you'll find in the DX-100 are pretty bad and require editing for anything else useable.
The DX-100 has mini-keys and only 49 of them. No filters, arpeggiators, effects or programmable controllers are available either. Small pitch and mod wheels in the upper left and guitar strap pegs make this synth usable for live use if you're feeling whimsical. If you mess around with the settings on Parameter 13, even if you don't know anything about FM, you can get some seriously twisted sounds out of it. If you're willing to spend a little time with it, it has a lot more potential than just that one bass sound that people will eventually get sick of. And at its currently low street price, it just might be worth getting. It is used by Orbital, Scanner, Jean-Michel Jarre, Autechre, Laurent Garnier, and countless other house and dance artists.
If you're going to buy an FM synth just to get that "Roger" sound, just get a DX11 for like $200. At least that has a super-comfy keyboard and the "FM for Dummies" programming section. Hell, if you really have $400 burning a hole in your pocket, get a DX7 II.
It's not that this is a bad synth, but it's no better than a DX11 or even a DX21 or DX27. And it's no better for talkboxing than any other FM synth, or 90% of other synths in existence. And if you really need the strap pegs, just get a CZ-101. They're usually under $100.
Some of the presets are bad but some are amazing, not to mention the cool mod wheel and pitch bend which are easily programmable.
This is a classic synth that is in demand. The DX 100 deserves a new review!
I mean seriously - Kraftwerk! On a DX-100...sweet
You cannot speak for everyone. It's not polite, nor is it respectful of others with different opinions. Sam, you hit the nail on the head. A keyboard DOESN'T have to have ultra-realistic, perfect presets to compose scores and songs that will make a person melt upon the first note.
DOes anyone else here but me also notcie that the synths that sound the most realistic VSE gives a near perfect, or perfect rating?
They can be, and are useful. You just don't seem to have the knowledge to realize that. To top it off, you never said "in my opinion" or I feel". Instead, you are claiming to state your opinion as fact, as if they ARE bad, and as if NO ONE will find use for them, which, is false.
They definetly not bad, thin or brittle. They can be useful, and not to mention, come from a unique style of FM synthesis, something that was quite original.