Vintage Synth Explorer

the common rumour is DX9 = crap, that's not really true! There are a lot of limitations but you can't exactly rebuild the sounds on a DX7 or TX81Z.
I don't know the secret, perhaps it is an advantage of the technical limitation. Compared with DX7 the distortion by Feedback value 6 or 7 is earlier, you can get more sharpness in sound.
I bought my DX9 in 1985 for 750€ (=1500DM, DX7 was by 2000€ in that time), 1987 i bought the TX81Z and two years later a used DX7.
I had spent a lot of time with FM-synthesis and trials to rebuild my favorite custom made sounds from DX9 to DX7 or TX81Z. By about 50% it was no problem, but there are some special patches i never got exactly in shape. A reason for still keeping the DX9!

Okay...just how many times exactly have you mentioned the "difficulty" of FM synthesis? Have you even tried it? It's not as difficult as you are trying to make it sound, plus, all you're doing really is repeating yourself, page after page.

Besides, with FM synthesis at least one can program their own sounds, and not have to be stuck with the same presets, like on so many of today's keyboards. It makes a better option for those who wish to create teir own presets, and isn't as bad as everyone claims.

Bought mine in 1990 and still going strong! Oddly like this synth, the parameters are "upside down" compared to the other 4-op synths, but you can derive some interesting sounds from it, probably due to it's inherent limitations. Quite like the key response on it too. Used to trigger sounds on a Poly-800 from it, the warmth of the 800 and the typically FM sounds on the DX-9 used to combine quite well. Am sure one of the guys from Toto used to use one?

A great, inexpensive option for fm synthesis. The limited architecture makes programming sounds way more manageable than on the dx7 (that's the point of synthesizers right? programming your own sounds?). I do wish it had a bit more memory for patch storage and velocity sensitivity though. Even still, a very worthwhile synth.

I have to say that I like this synth, this is maybe due in part to it's under-dog tag it seems to have acquired. After saying that there are one or two sounds which I've never been able to re-create on any other FM synth. There is nothing more I can really say about it other than if you come across one, buy it, you may be pleasantly surprised and as it's getting rare there will be a 'need to have' collectors rush to have them soon. Often to be found in very good condition as they were not much use as a live/performance synth.