Yamaha DX7

  • Thread starter Thread starter mixmkr
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mixmkr

mixmkr

we don't need rest!!
First...I'm a guitar player and a keyboard OWNER.

I can pick up a DX7 totally working for about $100. I have an older Roland XP50 with 4 expansions and all of the VSTi that come with Sonar7pe...like Dim. Pro, Rapture, etc.. plus FM7 and some other less expensive ones. I don't need it for live use.

Is the DX7 purchase a waste of $100 then? Realizing it was a "ground-breaker" back then.... what's it worth nowadays?
 
mixmkr said:
First...I'm a guitar player and a keyboard OWNER.

I can pick up a DX7 totally working for about $100. I have an older Roland XP50 with 4 expansions and all of the VSTi that come with Sonar7pe...like Dim. Pro, Rapture, etc.. plus FM7 and some other less expensive ones. I don't need it for live use.

Is the DX7 purchase a waste of $100 then? Realizing it was a "ground-breaker" back then.... what's it worth nowadays?
Click to expand...

I have a DX7S (second gen DX7), and I love the synth action on it, but sound wise, it doesn't hold the same "wow or cool" that it did when I first got it in the late 80's. I used it up until about 1993 or so, and then got into the "new" synthesis stuff like the Korg M1, etc. I did use it as a midi controller for a bit, but not long.

Is it an original DX7 you're interested in? The original ones had the brown metal case and membrane buttons.

I think you'll have everything you'll need if you're using soft-synths. In particular the FM7 does a great job at emulating the DX sound, perhaps better sounding than the original at times.
 
warble2 said:
I think you'll have everything you'll need if you're using soft-synths. In particular the FM7 does a great job at emulating the DX sound, perhaps better sounding than the original at times.
Click to expand...

That's kinda my initial feeling too.

I have a good friend that's kinda a keyboard junkie...and likes the older stuff.....maybe a good gift?
 
mmmmmm.....80's FM synthesis goodness.
I remember how friggin' hard those things were to program, I mean, get right into the guts of....or maybe I was just stupid, and still am.
Those sound cartridges came in haaaaaandy.
 
mixmkr said:
That's kinda my initial feeling too.

I have a good friend that's kinda a keyboard junkie...and likes the older stuff.....maybe a good gift?
Click to expand...

To the Gear Hounds like myself it would be a perfect gift :D
 
While $100 seems a reasonable price - the sounds of a DX7 simply are not all that good compared to all that is now available (although as indicated, they did have decent keyboard action).

Maybe a gear junkie or someone who collects old synths would want an old DX7 - I suspect you would not use the sounds much (unless layered with other sounds). However, if you need a controoler with decent action it may be worth it (although the MIDI control options would be weak compared to modern controllers).
 
If you have library software there's a lot of good DX7 sounds on the web - some really fat and non-DX sounding. Like any old gear you need to do some work with effects to get it to sound really cool but that's at least half of the fun of it.
 
Whys sell it for $100 when you can get $600 on ebay for it!:)

Whys sell it for $100 when you can get $600 on ebay!:eek:

But as a gift it would be perfect.

...mind you maybe its not that good at all?:DMaybe I could take it off your hands for $5:D??But you'll have to deliver it:D ....

R
 
I have the rack mount version. One good thing is you can find oodles of sounds for them on the web and there is a good freeware pc interface for it. I'd never try to program it. Didn't own one or care to when they came out (why give up my trusty ARP?) but now find it fairly useful. I wouldn't use it for string type sounds, but basses or bell like tones is OK.
 
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