Vintage Synth Explorer

Yamaha • TX81Z

Yet another FM synthesizer from Yamaha, this one comes in a compact, multitimbral, 1-unit rackmount module and is basically a key-less version of the DX-11. It has far more professional features than its relative, the FB-01. The TX81Z features great FM type synth sounds similar also to the DX-21 and DX-27. It's still not as good as the classic DX-7, but it's an inexpensive source of those sounds with lots of programmability. Eight voice polyphony, 128 preset sounds, 32 user and lots of functions hidden behind 11 push buttons.

The TX81Z features a new ability to use waveforms other than just a sine wave. There are eight voices that can be split, layered and detuned. Also onboard are pseudo-effects including delay and reverb. These features can be stored as performance setups. The effects are simply envelope and re-triggering effects. The TX81Z works great as a sound-module for any live or studio production. It's got a wider range of sounds than the DX-7, may not be quite as warm or 'classic' sounding, but at its low price and with the excellent MIDI implementation it makes a great alternative or backup synth for percussive, punchy FM synth sounds. It's used by Fluke, Roni Size, Astral Projection, Squarepusher, Jimmy Edgar, Future Sound of London, and Josh Wink.

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Level One

Posted 7 days ago

I love DVA i have thier logo tattoed on my arm! great band! Audi is the man! saw them live twice! great show!

channelstepper

Posted 19 days ago

This synth was used extensively by CLOCK DVA on their albums 'Buried Dreams', 'Man Amplified', 'Digital Soundtracks' and 'Sign'.

license

Posted 143 days ago

A beautiful sounding machine, its architecture is surprisngly flexible. It can sound very digital and, with patience, quite warm and analog-like. And it's cheap as dirt. It's not as hard to edit as it's often made out to be, but there's a nice editor for Windows that opens it up. Its biggest drawback is the almost complete lack of parameter control via CCs, most likely due to its pea-brained MIDI buffer.

A couple tricks:
-CC#2 (breath control) can be set to modify the amplitude of a set of operators. Handy for instant LPF-cutoff-like control over spectral content.
-Fixed mode operator frequencies go as low as 8hz. Depending on the algorithm, such an operator can serve as an LFO. Handy, since there's 1 LFO per patch maximum and 3 total in performance mode.
-Depending on waveform, slight frequency (and thus phase) differences between 2 operators can create a beat which can also serve as an LFO.

guyzer

Posted 175 days ago

The DX-7s is 16 bit.

a u r i s

Posted 205 days ago

As I understand it the TX-81Z has a 14 bit dac, not 16. I believe the other 4-OP synths such as the DX21 have a 12 bit dac and the venerable DX7 has a 10 bit dac. The 81Z is known for its Lately Bass preset. I use it primarily for Pads. I'd like to find another one so I can take advantage of the 16 note polyphony (you can chain 2 units together) I also own a DX21. It seems to me the TX81Z has less aliasing in the low end. The extra waveforms are very (very) handy compared to the DX21s sine wave only setup. The 8 part multitimbral performance mode is very useful. As the manual put it you can "out analog the analogs." with an 8 part unison. Fun stuff! All in all a great synth with a mean low end! I love it and will be buying additional units for backup and to use the alternate note thingy to extend the poly to 16.

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