- very rare programmable 8-operator FM synthesizer expander released in 1988
- 64 editable parameters - 22 direct + 42 with DOS based editor
- DSP - 11 effect algorithms Stereo-Chorus, Stereo-Pan, Symphonic, Phaser, Flanger, Delay, Tremolo, Digital hall, Celeste and Wah.
- 5 LED dsplays + levelmeter
- 4 x 8 voice blocks (4 part multitimbral)
- 248 ROM, 248 RAM presets, 16 performances
- 2x MIDI IN (front and back), 2x MIDI OUT (front and back), MIDI THRU, Headphone OUT, Aux OUT Stereo, Main OUT Stereo, Main In Stereo Cinch, Main Out Stereo Cinch, Aux In Stereo Cinch, Aux Out Stereo Cinch, Pack Port
- 14 Buttons + 1 Coarse, 4 endless controllers, 1 Main Out volume knob, 1 Aux Out volume knob, 1 headphone Out volume knob
anyone know where you can get the editor?
ReplyDeletecheck the yamahablackbox list in yahoo??
ReplyDeletehttp://www.sonicstate.com/synth/yamaha_fvx-1.cfm
ReplyDeleteRen? Schardt (Scooby@worldmail.nl) writes:
The FVX-1 was originaly released back in the early eighties as a voice expansion module for the Electone HX series organs. It is based on a new FM Tone Generator using 8 Operators, giving a total of 63 Algorithm Patterns. Up to 4 parts (8-voice polyphonic each!) can be played simultaniously with a (simple) FX-unit on each of the parts. The FVX-1 holds a total of 504 patches: 248 in ROM and an additional 256 in RAM. And all settings for the 4 parts including MIDI-settings and controller-settings can be stored in one of the 16 available Performances (or like the manual says Registers).
These specs were very very sofisticated back in those days. And that was the reason why it was overpriced. As a result of the high price the module never got sold. It's a shame because it's the best sounding FM-module I ever heared (with an excellent phaser in the FX-units!) and it's the best looking module I ever saw. With a stereo levelmeter and handles on the front to pull your module out of the 19" rack, it almost looks like it is worth a $4000. But actualy, believe me, it's not. The biggest problem of this module is yet to come.
Not every parameter in the FM-system can be accessed. Instead, Yamaha developed a software editor to gain all access. And here the problem comes: because of the poor sellings of the FVX-1, the software never got sold. It got lost. And even people at Yamaha Japan cannot help me to find the software. So now I'm stuck with an incredible machine, sounding very good in terms of FM synthesis, and all I can do is alter the presets for just a little bit. Luckily enough I didn't pay the full price, but got it in a very special bargain!
http://homepage.mac.com/synth_seal/html/dx7d.html
YAMAHA used FM synthesis in their Electones, too. HX electones and FVX-1 module were 8-Operator FM synthesizer that seems to use 12-bit D/A, and it could have been the evolution of DX7 I series.
http://www.usersmanualguide.com/yamaha_audio/electronic_organs/fvx-1
Download
FVX-1
pdf user manual
http://matrixsynth.blogspot.com/2006/06/yamaha-fvx-1.html
5 Comments:
Anonymous said...
Wow! Here's me thinking I'd seen it all, and then this comes along. I've *never* even heard of this before. They don't tell you about this in YamaFM history class...
3:20 PM
matrix said...
Yeah, I think I heard of it in passing once before but totally forgot about it. I love surprises like this. Almost like myth becoming reality. Reminds me of all those synth dreams where you see something you never heard of before and try to grab it before you wake up.
4:20 PM
the world of next tuesday said...
Yamaha has made all sorts of stuff that only winds up in select markets. You generally don't hear about stuff unless your market has been selected ;-)
6:13 PM
loscha said...
Manual
http://www2.yamaha.co.jp/manual/pdf/emi/english/ele/FVX1E.PDF
No-one ever mentioned this in the YamahaBlackBoxes group!!!
http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/yamahablackboxes/
12:34 AM
phloem said...
Wow an 8-op two rack space Yammy! Better for real vintage FM than the FS1r? Equal to a fully loaded TX816?
9:18 AM
http://www.ex5tech.com/ex5ubb_cgi/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=21&t=000005
What about the rare and illustrous Yamaha FVX1?
A 4 part multitimbral 8Op FM synth with FX per part. A FS1r avant la lettre.
http://www.synrise.de/user/fvx1.htm
(german)
I've seen one for real yesterday. The owner told me he was looking for software to edit the baby. It's now a preset expansion without the possibilty to edit it. Actually its one of the best FM synths out there but it's not 100% usable because of Yamaha corp didn't have proper backups.
http://web.quick.cz/a.tom.x/fvx.htm
Someone at SonicState claimed that the FVX was built as an expansion unit for Electone series organs. That might explain why it doesn't appear on Yamaha's own "History of Products - YAMAHA Electronic Musical Instruments" page.
You CAN, however, find an owner's manual online at the Yamaha Japan owner's manual site IF you look in the "Electronic Organs" section. The owner's manual covers not just the FVX-1 ("FM Voice Expander"), but also the AVX-1 ("AWM Voice Expander"). The manual makes it quite clear that these products were indeed intended as expanders for the Electone series organs. There is no information in the manual to confirm that the FVX-1 was sold in 1988.
Other than the owner's manual, I was not able to find even a single reference to the FVX-1 on ANY of Yamaha's web sites, including those for the Electone organs.
http://www.sonicstate.com/synth_reviews/_inc/user_comments.cfm?id=990&print=1
alex27 from Germany writes:
Hi there, i own a Yamaha FVX-1 with english and german manual. Also a MBS-10 Midi-daterecorder for the FVX-1. The FVX-1 sounds great, because he has the soundchips and effects from the best e-organ of the world: the great HX-1, but the HX-1 has 3x 8-Operator FM,2x 4-Operator FM,2x 16-Operator !!! FM,2x WM/FM digital Drawbars like the CVS-10,3x AWM Tongenerators.
I would absolutely love to buy your FVX-1 if you still have it! please shoot me an email at: jrpenno@ilstu.edu
DeleteI would love to make some sort of deal with you!
Hi alex27
DeleteDo you have the 'pack port' cable that connects the FVX-1 to the MBS-1?
If anyone is interested I have the software that will edit the FVX-1 voices.
MacDonell1@bigpond.com
Hi Alex27, please contact me; drepalla.attt.yahoo.com
ReplyDeletereally now? (a) that was not a post by alex, only a quote pasted in by frederich as he collected comments from other site/s (b) alex never said he wanted to sell it, so assuming he did is extremely presumptuous and really quite desperate
ReplyDeletei want one
ReplyDelete