Programming a DX7 made easy

[RockPianoman]

When you look at the algorithms listed in the diagrams on the top edge of the synth, look at the blocks.....these are operators.....they are stacked in different arrangements......look at them as if they are different floors in a building.....every block on the bottom or "first floor" is a carrier and every block on any higher floor is a modulator......when you adjust a parameter on a carrier, it does just what it's supposed to do, for example, output level makes it get louder......if you adjust a parameter on a modulator, it changes the sound's harmonic structure or timbre as you change it's settings.....one algorithm is all carriers and to adjust the output level on this, you have to adjust them evenly to preserve your sound.....

 

Output levels on carriers for any algorithm need to be adjusted evenly to preserve your sound......adjusting output levels on modulators will drastically change your sound

 

Bottom line: Remember when you adjust any parameter on a carrier, it does just what it's supposed to do, for example, output level makes it get louder......if you adjust a parameter on a modulator, it changes it's harmonic structure or timbre as you change it's settings

 

Anything in purple are sound edit parameters.....pressing the purple edit button makes anything printed in purple available

 

Anything in brown are functions (like pitch bend range).....pressing the brown function button makes anything printed in brown available

 

Press PLAY to exit edit or function

 

This is just the most basic beginning of understanding FM, but it will help a lot......the internet is flooded with more information and you can Google "Yamaha Manual Library" for free manuals for these synths...

 

The DX100 Owners Manual is excellent to learn how to program FM......the DX100 only has 4 operators where the DX7 has 6, but it is much better written to learn with.....here's the link:

 

http://homepages.abdn.ac.uk/mth192/p.../dx100-man.pdf

 

Definitely get the DX7 manuals too and study those as well.....

 

How To Program The DX7

http://homepages.abdn.ac.uk/mth192/p...s/prgrmdx7.pdf

 

(That's funny....June 1985)....the first DX7 was released in 1983 (the same year MIDI was introduced)...

[rockfan]

Thanks for making understanding the DX a little easier.

[WDMcM]

Here is a link to a nice article describing how various ratios between the carrier and modulator create the additional harmonics (sideband frequencies). I always loved programming the DX7 because you were staring from the ground floor so to speak as opposed to masking upper or lower harmonics with filters as in subtractive synthesis.