Most Famous Synth Sounds

video upload by Nicolas Melis

"Most Famous Synth Sounds

A collection of some of the most famous synth sounds ever made, recreated using the synths I currently own
From the iconic DX7 electric piano to classic sounds from the D-50, M1, Minimoog and more — these are the tones that shaped countless records.
All sounds were played and recorded live. Some patches include a bit of reverb and delay.

0:00 Yamaha DX7 E.PIANO1
0:15. Roland JUNO60
0:26. Korg M1 Piano
0:43. Roland D50 Pizzagogo
0:54. Moog Minimoog Bass
1:01. Yamaha DX7 Full Tines
1:11. Roland JX8P Stab Brass
1:24. Korg M1 Organ 2
1:33. Roland D50 Staccato Heaven
1:49. Roland D50 Fantasia
2:07. Korg M1 Universe
2:24. Roland D50 OK Chorale
2:35. Roland D50 Shakuhachi
2:47. Yamaha DX7 Harmonica
2:55. Yamaha DX7 TUB BELLS
3:03. Yamaha DX7 Marimba
3:08. Moog Minimoog West Coast Whistle
3:19. Moog Minimoog Lead
3:30. Roland JX8P Sync Lead
3:37. Moog Minimoog Pop Corn
3:46. Yamaha Dx7 Bass 1
3:52. Roland D50 Afterthought
4:02. OB6 Jump brass
4:16. OB6 Sawyer Bass"

Famous Yamaha DX7 Sounds & The Songs That Made Them Iconic

video upload by RetroSound

"🎹 The Yamaha DX7 is one of the most iconic synthesizers of all time—and the sound of the entire 1980s. In this video, we break down the most famous DX7 presets like E. Piano 1, Marimba, and Bass, and the legendary songs that made them unforgettable, from Toto to The Police. If you want to know why the DX7 changed music forever and why its sounds are still everywhere today, this video is for you. The Yamaha DX7 shaped the sound of the 80s like no other synthesizer. These sounds defined pop, rock, R&B, and film music.

The DX7 song list:
0:06 Dire Straits
0:22 The Police
0:36 The Commodores
0:50 Bryan Adams
1:05 Chaka Khan
1:20 Toto
1:33 Kenny Loggins
1:42 H. Faltermeyer
1:55 Chris Rea
2:06 Dirk Michaelis

(c)2007-26 by RetroSound
supported by UVI: http://bit.ly/retrosound-uvi

synth tees: https://retrosound.creator-spring.com
Donation: https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/9N..."

Yamaha DX7 - the best (arguable) digital synth ever! Part III (2nd)

video upload by Sebastian Galassi

"The third track on my EP, made almost exclusively with Yamaha DX7 (for the synthesizer part) and a handful of drum machines. As mentioned, this track also features an electric guitar solo, played by Sharad Shakya, which fits perfectly with this unmistakably '80s vibe. Stay tuned."

Yamaha DX7 - the best (arguable) digital synth ever! Part IV

video upload by Sebastian Galassi

"And here's another snippet of the track, created entirely with the Yamaha DX7 and the TX802 FM Tone Generator (a rack-module version of the DX7mkII with full 8-part multi-timbral operation). It also includes the electric guitar solo played by Sharad that enriches the second part of the song."

Sebastian Galassi DX7 posts

DiscoDSP Releases Retromulator Based on The Usual Suspects dsp56300 Engine

via DiscoDSP

[Note: although DiscoDSP gives credit to The Usual Suspects, it's my understanding TUS is not happy about it. From a forum:

"He basically took our source, put his own wrapper on it and is trying to sell it and use it to promote his own business. Can't prevent it, but frankly this is reprehensible IMHO.

Yes. He knows he cannot legally "sell" it due to the licensing model our code is published under. Therefore he sells "support" of "his development efforts" to include difficult things like "git clone" and other Arcane and extremely difficult stuff. sigh... I'd strongly advise anyone using it not to actually pay him for it, but that is just my opinion.]

What isn't clear is whether the UI is just the player above or includes the full editors by The Usual Suspects. I'm hearing it's just the player, which in effect might be an upsell for the full editors by The Usual Suspects.

That said:

"Retromulator brings legendary hardware cores back to life through authentic low-level emulation. The virtual analog synths are powered by a faithful recreation of the Motorola DSP 56300 processor, the Yamaha DX7 runs a full emulation of its original chip set, and the Akai S1000 sampler plays your SF2, SFZ, and Bliss sample banks with studio-quality interpolation. Each core runs its actual firmware or sample data — delivering the unmistakable character of hardware that defined electronic music from the early 80s through the 2000s.

Unlike traditional software emulations that recreate synthesizer behavior by approximation, Retromulator emulates the original integrated circuits at the hardware level. The virtual analog synths run on a cycle-accurate Motorola DSP 56300, the Yamaha DX7 runs a full emulation of its Hitachi HD6303R sub-CPU and Yamaha YM21280/YM21290 EGS/OPS chip set, and the Akai S1000 sampler runs on the SFZero v3.0.0 engine with 8-point sinc interpolation supporting SF2, SFZ, ZBP, and ZBB sample banks. Each core executes its authentic firmware or sample data exactly as intended.

Load the ROM firmware from your own hardware or sample banks from your library, place them in the designated folder, and Retromulator takes care of the rest. The result is not an approximation — it is the real hardware running inside your DAW.

Retromulator is built on Gearmulator, an open-source synthesizer emulation project by the dsp56300 team. We are grateful for their extraordinary work in bringing these classic instruments back to life."

You can find demos of the dsp56300 engines in previous posts here.

Featured synths:

CLICK FOR MORE »

RetroSound Studio Tour: Vintage Digital Synthesizers

video upload by RetroSound

"RetroSound Studio Tour:
Legendary Vintage Digital & Hybrid Synthesizers of the 80s and early 90s

In this episode of RetroSound Studio, I explore classic digital synthesizers that revolutionized electronic music production during the 80s and early 90s. From FM synthesis and wavetable synthesis to vector synthesis, PD synthesis, vitual analog and Roland’s LA synthesis, these instruments introduced a new generation of sound design and defined the sonic identity of an era.

The Yamaha DX7 became one of the best-selling synthesizers of all time, defining FM electric pianos and metallic digital textures. The PPG Wave pioneered wavetable synthesis, laying the foundation for modern digital sound engines. The Sequential Prophet VS introduced vector synthesis, allowing dynamic blending between digital waveforms. The Roland D-50 shaped late-80s pop and film scoring with its LA synthesis architecture, while the Roland JD-800 brought hands-on control back to digital synthesis in the 1990s.

These digital synthesizers shaped genres such as synth-pop, new wave, ambient, house, techno, trance, and film music. Today, they remain highly sought after by producers, collectors, and sound designers researching vintage digital synthesizers, 80s keyboard sounds, virtual analog, classic FM synthesis, and wavetable history."

The Digital & Hybrid Synths:
0:07 Sequential Prophet VS
4:39 PPG wave 2.2
10:36 Yamaha DX7 II FD
14:56 Yamaha DX11
16:39 Casio CZ-101
19:29 Casio VZ-1
21:21 Roland JD-800
26:40 Roland D-50 / D-550
28:00 Korg Wavestation EX / SR
31:24 Korg DW-8000 / EX-8000
32:42 Roland M-VS1
35:57 Kawai K5000R
38:57 Waldorf Microwave
39:44 Waldorf Microwave II XT
41:15 Clavia Nord Modular
41:59 Yamaha AN1x
44:36 Roland JV-1080
45:33 Ensoniq SQ-80
46:23 Quasimidi Raven Max
47:42 Korg Z1

Full Studio Tour playlist:

Yamaha DX7 Digital FM Keyboard Synthesizer

via this listing

Additional Perfect Circuit listings

CLICK FOR MORE »

Bizarre Love Triangle/New Order (Circuit Tracks & MiniDEXED version)

video upload by Guinan

"‘Bizarre Love Triangle’ from 1986 is first off the rank for my ‘New Order February’ recreations.

I love this perfect slice of dance-synth-pop and I was keen to get the DX7 bass intro as close as I could. Earlier this week I’ve been showing the tiny $75 Raspberry Pi synth, MiniDEXED, that I built to add this vital ingredient. If you are interested check out the video showing more details, • I made a synth for $75* ! (*excluding tar... [posted here]

A couple of very clever folk identified what I was cooking up!

The MiniDEXED was sequenced from the MIDI tracks on the Circuit Tracks and routed into the audio in to add effects from the Tracks. All that you hear was programmed into the single Circuit Tracks and no further additional synths or processing were done to the sound – it’s straight audio out recorded direct into a Zoom L6.

The arrangement was taken from several versions posted on Musescore and compressed into the 4 melodic tracks and rhythm. Thanks to everyone who posts their transcriptions there.

I hope you enjoy the track as much as I did making it. Stay tuned for more New Order recreations and reworkings for the rest of this month.

(Ableton Move version coming in just a couple of days...I'll post a link here when it's live).

CLICK FOR MORE »

Yamaha DX7 ROM Set "Bo Tomlyn" RARE

Note: links to listings are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this eBay listing

"Set-(2) of Yamaha DX-7 Synthesizer cartridges. . . 1-ROM / 1-RAM . . . RAM is the super rare "4-Bank" other is a ROM. . . . Please VIEW All photos & ASK Questions before purchase. Both are in "LIKE NEW" Condition"

CLICK FOR MORE »

Recreating a Prince Sermon: LM-1, DX7 & Juno-60 Breakdown

video upload by Nostalgic Explorer

"Today I am exploring an amazing track and how Prince turned this song into a sermon—blending faith, message, and sound. The spiritual meaning behind the music and the production tools that shaped it. And I am recreating this track in my studio using the Yamaha DX7, Juno 60 and Linn LM-1 drum computer."

00:00 – Intro
00:21 – The Story Behind “Let’s Go Crazy”: A Song or a Sermon?
01:50 – Recreating “Let’s Go Crazy” Drums with the Linn LM-1
02:50 – Recording the Organ Parts on the Roland Juno-60
04:56 – Yamaha DX7 Breakdown: Recreating the Final Section
05:47 – Juno-60 Bassline: Building the Groove
07:09 – Final Mix: “Let’s Go Crazy” Recreation by Prince
09:02 – Final Thoughts: Why “Let’s Go Crazy” Still Matters

Source used for this video:
https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/story-be...

Small Town Boy/Bronski Beat (Circuit Tracks version)

video upload by Guinan

"Feeling a bit of 80’s nostalgia ('Stranger Things' anyone?) I thought the time had finally come to try and give this classic electro-pop anthem the Circuit Tracks treatment. Released in 1984 (40+ years!) it’s too easy to forget how ground-breaking the song (and it’s subject) was in the political climate of the Eighties.

The song itself is a simple but almost perfect pop song. It was programmed on an MC-202 Microcomposer and is reputed to have started life as an electronic disco version of the Sex Pistol’s 'Pretty Vacant'!

Yamaha DX7 is used heavily on the track (notably the presets ‘Harp1’ and ‘Bass1’), and additional Sequential Pro-One, Memorymoog and Linn drums. I managed to simplify the arrangement to program everything and the vocals into a single Novation Circuit Tracks. Everything you hear is being played and recorded live from the Tracks.

I'm pleased at how close to the spirit of the original I managed to get this time. I hope you enjoy the track and it brings back some memories for you too."

"More details for synth nerds
BPM 135
I don’t own a DX7 (sadly!) but the closest thing I have is emulation. The repeated ‘Harp1’ DX7 line (and the ‘Marimba’ break) was sequenced on the Tracks MIDI 1 and sampled as 4-bar loops from the internal MicroDEXED emulator in an M-Vave SMK-37 Pro keyboard. Each sample was then triggered (like a drum sound) at the required point in the song using the Drum 3 track.

CLICK FOR MORE »

Yamaha DX200 Desktop Control FM Synthesizer w/ Printed Service Manual

Note: links to listings are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this eBay listing

"Yamaha DX200 Desktop Control FM Synthesizer DX7 PLG150-DX with PSU"

CLICK FOR MORE »

Yamaha DX7 Digital FM Keyboard Synthesizer SN 94268

Note: links to listings are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this listing

Additional Perfect Circuit listings

CLICK FOR MORE »

Yamaha DX7 Repair & Overlay Replacement

video upload by Synthesizer Keith

"In this video I replace the overlay panel on a Yamaha DX7, and do routine repairs and maintenance.

00:00 Play In
00:09 Introduction
02:32 Disassembly
03:05 Grey Matter E Upgrade Board Removal
03:39 Battery Replacement
04:54 Grey Matter E Upgrade Board Re-installation
05:32 Tact Switch Replacement
07:42 Overlay Panel Replacement
10:39 Switch PCB Shims
11:26 Keyboard Cleaning
12:20 Mod and Pitch Wheel Cleaning
12:48 Re-assembly
13:19 Conclusion
13:48 Play Out"

Ultra-Rare Sound Logic DX7 Cartridge – MusicPack MR-2 (YAM128)

Note: links to listings are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this eBay listing

"Fully working tested with DX7 mk1

Original Sound Logic MusicPack MR-2 ROM cartridge for the Yamaha DX7, complete with its original gold Sound Logic sleeve. Early third-party DX7 cartridge that rarely appears on the market, especially with original packaging.

Details

MusicPack MR-2
YAM128
Yamaha DX7 ROM cartridge
Made in USA
Gold-plated contacts
Original sleeve included

Condition
Cartridge in good vintage condition
Packaging shows authentic age wear
Contacts clean
Genuine early FM expansion and a hard-to-source piece for serious DX7 collectors."

CLICK FOR MORE »

Yamaha DX Series FM Synthesizers CATALOG, 12 page, DX1, DX7, full color, vintage

Note: links to listings are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this eBay listing

"Yamaha DX Series Polyphonic FM Synthesizer CATALOG only. 12 full color glossy pages. Includes the DX1, DX7, DX9, KX1, KX5. Early 1980s publication in English. Very Good condition. Vintage original, does have punch holes, no writing, no highlights, no stains, USED. Time keeps on slipping into the future."

CLICK FOR MORE »

Dtronics DT-7 Yamaha DX7 Programmer

Note: links to listings are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this Reverb listing

"Dtronics DT7 – controller for Yamaha FM synths such as DX-7, DX-5, TX-7, TX-802 & TX-816.

Functions and layout are modelled after the legendary 1980s Jellinghaus controller.

This unit is new, tested years ago and not used (studio activities stopped) Complete original set. Comes with its PSU."

CLICK FOR MORE »

Yamaha DX7 Voice Data Book by David Bristow for Keyboard Magazine in Japanese

Note: links to listings are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this Reverb listing

"Ultra Rare Voice Data Book by the great David Bristow, Japan only release!!

Full of unique patches to program into your amazing DX7.

Never offered on Reverb and Ebay before, ever, grab your chance to own this very sought after DX7 historical item."

Addtional posts mentioning David Bristow.

CLICK FOR MORE »

The Cars: Drive - 80s Vintage Synth Recreation

video upload by RetroSound

"(c)2007-25 by RetroSound
supported by UVI: http://bit.ly/retrosound-uvi

One of my favorite tracks from the mid 80s.
Drive by The Cars from the album Heartbeat City (1984)
Written by Ric Ocasek

Drive is a classic 80s ballad known for its beautiful, melancholic synthesized atmosphere.
Featured the Roland JX-3P and Yamaha DX7 II Synthesizer

https://retrosound.creator-spring.com

This cover song series contains my own recreations of my favourite songs from the last 50 years. The original music from which I take inspiration belong to their respective owners. I recreate tracks only for personal passion and to pay homage to these tracks."

Yamaha DX7 - All in one - EP Track 02

video upload by Sebastian Galassi

"Another small snippet from my upcoming EP, made almost entirely with the Yamaha DX7 and a handful of other Yamaha FM synths."

Yamaha DX7 - All in one - EP Track 01
video upload by Sebastian Galassi

"A small snippet from my upcoming EP, made almost entirely with the Yamaha DX7 and a handful of other Yamaha FM synths.

Equipment List:

Synth: Yamaha DX7
Drums: Roland TR 626 (upgraded with HKA Design ROM)
Reverb: Art DR-1
Reverb: Lexicon LXP-15
Delay: Roland DEP-3
Chorus: Digitech Studio 400"

Note: links to listings are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this Reverb listing

"The K4 from Kawai can be thought of as a warm and fuzzy digital synthesizer. A sample-based digital synth, its sounds are those typically weird industrial type sounds that can still be useful in lo-fi, big-beat and trip hop music styles. The sounds are 16-bit preset PCM samples of acoustic instruments. However, unlike its predecessor the K1, the K4 adds a welcomed digital filter section. This truly makes the K4 more flexible, fun and useful for today's filter tweaking music effects!

The XD5 is an awesome drum synth module that has 256 waveforms, four of which can be combined to create a drum sound. It also has great resonant lowpass filters and envelopes for shaping the sounds and is excellent for techno, electro and industrial drums. For effects, a delay type effect is possible as well as a ring-modulator. It also has stereo outputs plus 6 individual outs for the studio pros. Mouse On Mars might use it.

The MM16 is a multi-purpose MIDI data processor with 17 front panel faders. Each of the sliders can be assigned for continuous controller information over any one of 16 MIDI channels, a "velocity mode" that uses the 16 sliders to become a "graphic EQ" for velocity data, and a system exclusive mode for transmitting system exclusive information to control individual synthesizer functions. Setups are included for Kawai K1, K4, K5, Yamaha DX7, and Roland D50. The MM16 can merge two MIDI signals, and can perform MIDI channelizing. You can also use it as a control surface for DAWS"

CLICK FOR MORE »