A consumer level DX synth that sounds just like the DX100 - thin and brittle. Following the DX model this synth also uses FM synthesis which is difficult to master. You will need to program this synth to get better sounds because the presets are only moderately useful. It's capable of a good string, bass and droney-pad sound as well as industrial sound-effects and metallic like sounds.

Still it makes a better option than a DX27 or DX100 because it has the capability of layers and splitting the keyboard and there is a chorus effect. Portamento and a Unison Mono-Mode are also nice features for screaming lead synth performances. For a cheaper source of DX sounds with moderate programmability, check out the DX21. It's been used by Hardfloor, Level 42, Brother Beyond, Astral Projection, Technotronic, Vangelis, and Norman Cook (Fat Boy Slim).

49erkid

May 4, 2012 @ 2:44 pm

The DX21 does have 128 patches built in, 32 accessible from panel buttons, the other patches can be loaded in groups of 8 or 16 from ROM into the RAM, and I believe another bank of 32 user instalable is available for custom made patches. This thing is built like a tank, very durable. It sounds incredibly good when you hook it up to a decent 12 bit effects unit.

Matt

April 25, 2012 @ 10:04 pm

Just tooled around with this at a Music-Go-Round today and wasn't too impressed. Granted, I used the presets rather than programming, but only a few of them sounded good to my ears. I could only find 32 of them as well, which was a bit disappointing---although this specifies that it has memory for 128 patches, so maybe I just wasn't able to find the bass or brass sounds. I'll take my SY77 over this any day, but I'm sure it's capable of a lot more than the presets show. And yes, the picture's right---it really is brown.

Kitkat

July 22, 2011 @ 10:09 pm

This thing is awesome! Great for bass sounds, metallic and weird sounds. The onboard dopplereffect is pretty convincing too. I think FM synthesis gets a bad rap from people who aren't patient enough to learn it.

Wardell Brown

April 10, 2011 @ 6:56 pm

The Manuel can be found on the Japanese Yamaha Site!

http://www.yamaha.co.jp/manual/english/result.php?div_c ode=


I Love mine,
I paid $100 and at first was put off by the programming and was going to sell it.
Them I found another site that helped with the Programming.

It is a great lead synth and a valuable instrument.

http://www.burp.nl/dx/
This site brings out some points that the Manuel Misses!

Enjoy!

niklas

March 27, 2011 @ 10:56 pm

I picked up the DX21 from some guy who lived in the woods and needed someone to haul off his huge, ancient broken mixing boards.
I was pretty excited, until i plugged it in.

At full volume, the output is barely audible!
Does anyone have any clue as to why, and what I could possibly do to solve this issue?

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