"Yamaha came out with the DX7 in 1983, which used a new type of synthesis technology at the time called "FM synthesis". It was the first widely used FM synthesizer and it turned out to be the best selling professional synthesizer of all time. These synthesizers featured six sine wave operators that could be routed in 32 different arrangements, which are called algorithms. They produced a few different models using this synthesis engine, including the DX1, DX5 and TX7. They also produced a line of four operator synthesizers, like the DX9, DX100, DX27, and DX21. These were less expensive and a little more limited than the six operator synths, since the operators also produced only sine waves. But in 1986 they introduced the four operator TX81Z, which was the first FM synth that could use different operator waveforms. The TX81Z's operators can each be configured to use one of eight different waveforms and this is what gives the TX81Z the ability to make sounds that the six operator synths aren't capable of making (although the converse is also true)."Click here for the website. via Iso-topic in the comments of this post.
If only someone could tell me where to find replacement switches for it. My tech tried to find some for a while and no one seems to have anything close to the original switches...
ReplyDeleteAnyone ?
The TX-81Z was my first synth, I got it for $40, cheaper than lunch for two ....shoulda kept it ...nostalgia is cruel...sigh
ReplyDeleteI don't have a Tx-81z, but I do have a WT11, which I understand uses the same engine. I usually just had it to interface a WX11 with other gear, but I may have to look into programming with it after seeing that FM tutorial video...
ReplyDeleteThis is a good site, i have it bookmarked. I finally got another TX a few months back after not having one for some years. Lovely synth!
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