via this auction
"The TX816 is the big boss of all FM synths. It is a rack with eight TF1 modules which are Yamaha DX7 synthesizers condensed down to a single circuit board. Designed for use with an external controller and patch editor, the TX816 allows you to easily play eight DX7s. There are 3 levels of Yamaha TX816 expertise. Level 1: how to use the TX816, Level 2: which software claims to emulate it well, and Level 3 why none of them does, but can sound great layered to it. If you are reading this listing, I guess you made your way to Level 3 already, congratulations. It's nice to be between professionals.
Although one can use the TX816 like it's eight seperate DX7s, mixing and panning each module together to layer the sounds into one monsterous 128 voice and 48 operator DX powerhouse is where it truly shines. The TX816 has been used by Kitaro, Chick Corea, Michael Jackson, Europe, and Scritti Politti between others. In the early eighties the unit cost $5,000. Each module also features an indepednent audio out (XLR) and MIDI I/O for a total of eight audio outputs and MIDI I/O's. It also has one global MIDI in/out port with 8-part multitimbrality, but no common stereo or mix output.
The unit I'm selling works, I just played all 8 modules separately to verify. It has two minor issues: the last module flashes a low battery error though it still holds patches (I'm out of TX816 batteries) and the back of the enclosure has a small ding on the left. It doesn't show if the TX816 is mounted in a closed rack. So instead of the $1600 what some people listed their mint unit on eBay, you can have mine for $999 with the one memory error and case ding."
I have yet to ever see someone play a fully-outfitted TX-816, nor hear these purportedly phenomenal sounds. As a former TX-802 owner, I am very curious about how this actually sounds in the hands of a skilled synthesist.
ReplyDeleteHoward Jones, I believe, used this machine to create an incredible Accoustic guitar emulation on one of his 12-single B-sides, unless I am mistaken. The sound and realism is stunning. I could be wrong, but I was convinced by info from somewhere that a TX816 was the instrument he used to produce the result. It's worth finding. When I get to my record collection next I will see if I can dig it out.
DeleteHi. I don't know if you've seen this, but if you go to youtube & type in "Yamaha Tx816 demo" there's a fairly recent demo with mind blowing sounds of all 8 cylinders firing at once. You are looking for upload by Blake Foster. I also commented on it. Cheers, Dave Simons.
DeleteMay or may not be what your are looking for, but check out Barry Schrader's Triptych here. Notes on the track are included. Also do a search for TX816 in that post. There's some mention of it further above. But yes, I can't recall any other demos fully showcasing all eight DX7s as one patch, but whatever you can do with eight DX7s doing their own thing at the same time, you can do with this. That said, eight layers of any combination of synths can be interesting.
ReplyDeleteI was lucky enough to own one of these many years ago, I had it all sub-mixed to its own mixer. It was utterly great for strings and acoustic guitar with it all stacked, they would stand up against a lot of acoustic samples at the time. Although in terms of programming, it was obviously easier to have an editor or a dx7, but it took a lot of time to sync up all the modules over midi. I ended up selling it after getting an SY77 at the time. There is still something said for the original dx7 sound though, with its earlier 12bit I think it was output.
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