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."
