The TX816 is a monster of DX and FM digital synthesis. It is a unique system in that it is a rack unit that could take up to eight TF1 modules. A TF1 module is basically a DX7 condensed down to a single circuit board with almost no front panel controls. Definitely designed for use with external hardware and software controllers the TX816 allows you to easily carry around up to eight DX7s! Software such as MOTU Unisyn, Emagic SounDiver, or even another DX7 can be used to program the sounds in each module via MIDI.

Each TF1 module consists of a 16-voice, 6-operator digital FM synth engine. So a complete TX816 with all eight TF1 modules would offer up to 128 voices and 48 operators! Each TF1 also features an indepednent audio out (XLR) and MIDI I/O for a total of eight audio outputs and MIDI I/O's. It also has one global MIDI in/out port with 8-part multitimbrality, but no common stereo or mix output.

The TX816 was designed for demanding live use where portability, polyphony, and lots of outputs are a must! The TX816 is fully compatible with all other DX synthesizers including Native Instruments FM7 software-based plug-in. You can use the TX816 like it's eight seperate DX7s or mix and pan each module together to layer your sounds into one monsterous DX powerhouse! It has been used by Kitaro, Chick Corea, Michael Jackson, Europe, and Scritti Politti.

In the early eighties these sold for anywhere between $2,000 to $5,000 depending on how many TF1 modules were installed (from two to eight typically). Luckily for today's musicians you can get a software plug-in like FM7 for ten times less money and you still get everything the TX816 could do, and much more too!

Randy

June 27, 2010 @ 2:44 am

While it's always possible that the sound of the D-A converters alone could account for the differences people claim to hear in the earlier comments, it is hard for me to believe it could make THAT much of a difference -- especially the claim that the Yamaha DX/TX/TF converters result in a substantially warmer, better-quality sound than what today's high-end D-A converters can provide.

It would be useful and very interesting for someone to perform a true "double-blind" comparison -- where neither the person doing the listening or the person switching between the two, knows which is the Yamaha hardware and which is the FM8/audio interface hardware.

That said, I have nothing against owning lots of hardware -- hardware is always cool.

Micke

May 9, 2010 @ 9:31 am

Also used by Alphaville, BBC Radiophonic workshop, Howard Jones, Ken Freeman, Harold Faltermeyer (soundtracks),
Hans Zimmer (soundtracks), John Massari (soundtracks),
Billy Currie/Ultravox, Mic Michaeli/Europe, Amin Bhatia, David Bryan/Bon Jovi, Alan Holdsworth, Alan Parsons Project,
Wally Badarou, Jens Johansson/Yngvie J. Malmsten, New Order, Chick Corea, Kraftwerk (?), Tangerine Dream, Bil Wolfer, Moskwa TV and others...

Knarf

April 13, 2010 @ 2:23 am

Wally Badarou used one, coupled with a Synclavier, during the recording of his marvellous "Words of mountains" album.

Miraz

March 27, 2010 @ 1:41 am

An elegant instrument. Capable of immense sounds. Couple it with a DX5 and a TX802 and some programming. Amazing.

IO_MADNESS

February 2, 2010 @ 12:21 am

I had a professor once who bought a tx816 that had been left outside for years, and it was working still working fine. This synth must be pretty tough.

<987654321>

 

Post Comment!

Your Name: (Required.)

Email Address: (Required, not published.)

Image verification: (required)

Message:

 

Posting Rules:
Please keep your comments relevant! Do not post requests for help, do not use for sales, do not post unless you have something interesting to say about this instrument, or we may delete your post.

I have read and understand the posting rules.