Yamaha DX7s - User Manual

Contents 1 Section 1: Playing the DX7s 3 Getting Started 6 Setting the ROM Cartridge Banks 8 Exploring the DX7s Performance Library 12 Exploring the DX7s Voice Library 16 The Play Modes 17 Using Controllers with the DX7s 19 Section 2: Creating and Storing New Sounds 21 Creating New Sounds 26 Saving ...

Getting Started Connecting the DX7s to a single input amplifier. Using stereo headphones with the DX7s. You can begin to enjoy your DX7s immediately, without poring through a lot of complicated electronic theory. All you have to do is take the instrument out of the box and proceed as follows: Making...

The DX’s “welcome” display. The DX’s next initial display. Turning on the DX7s After you have made the audio connection of your choice, turn the DX7s on by pressingthe power switch located on the right side of the back panel. This is the first display you will see on the main panel: After a few seco...

Setting the Volume Slider Since the volumes of the various voices differ, start with a setting in the middle of theslider’s range; adjust later to suit your taste, depending on the voice or voices being played. Volume Slider - 5 -

Setting the ROM Cartridge Banks The ROM Cartridge supplied with your DX7s actually contains several sets of data — called “banks.” These banks can be selected from the front panel. In order to hear all of the Voice and Performance data, you will need to set the Voice/Performance bank to 2. Also, cer...

Selecting the ROM Banks This is the Set Bank LCD display with Bank 2 of the ROM cartridge selected for Voice & Performance data. This is the Set Bank LCD displaywith Bank 3 of the ROM cartridge selected for Fractional Scaling data. - 7 -

Exploring the DX7s Performance Library The Performance Mode is a completely new feature for the DX7s. It allows a number of useful performance-oriented features to be stored and recalled instantly. These features will be explained in detail in Sections 2 and 3 of this manual. For now, though, just f...

These are the Performance Memories loaded into the DX7s when it is shipped from the factory. Since these memories can be adjusted, your DX’s Internal Memory may contain different data. If so, reload the Internal Voice & Performance data from bank 4 of the supplied ROM cartridge (see page 70). Th...

Selecting the Cartridge Performance Memories The LCD display will show the number and name of the selected Performance m e m o r y . - 1 0 -

Bank 4 of the supplied ROM cartridge contains the Voice & Performance Memory loaded into the DXs Internal Memory when it is shipped from the factory. Bank 2 contains an entirely different set of Voice & Performance data. The Cartridge Performance Memories Performance Voice Voice Name No. Nam...

Exploring the DX7s Voice Library The voices in the DX7s were created using techniques like those used on the original DX7. There are a number of new features available in Voice Mode (most of them extensions of the Function Mode in the original DX7). All of these features will he discussed in detail ...

These are the Voice Memories loaded into the DX7s when it is shipped from the factory. Since these memories can be adjusted, your DX’s Internal Memory may contain different data. If so, reload the Internal Voice & Performance data from bank 1 of the supplied ROM cartridge (see page 70). The Inte...

Selecting the Cartridge Voice Memories As explained on page 6, the DX7s ROM cartridge contains several banks. To hear thecartridge voices, make sure that the Voice/Performance bank is set to bank 2 of the ROM cartridge (see page 7 for instructions on how to change the cartridge banks). The LCD displ...

1 SuperBass 33 Analog-X Bank 4 of the supplied ROM cartridge contains the Voice & Performance Memory loaded into the DX’s Internal Memory when it is shipped from the factory. Bank 2 contains an entirely different set of Voice & Performance data. The Cartridge Voice Memories 2 S t r i n g B a...

The Play Modes Now that you have an idea of some of the sound possibilities of the DX7s, it is time to take a closer look at how the various Play Modes operate. Read on: Voice Mode and Performance Mode The DX7s has two different play modes: Voice Mode and Performance Mode. As you have just seen, the...

Using Controllers with the DX7s - 17 - The DX7s is designed to operate with many controllers, each of which can be set to perform one of a number of different effects. The settings for these controllers can be different for each Voice memory or Performance memory. To begin your exploration of the ex...

Foot Controllers 1 and 2 The Foot Controllers plug into the two Foot Controller plugs on the back panel of the DX7s. They can give you continuous control over a number of aspects of the sounds. Tryusing Foot Controller 1 with Cartridge Performance #25 or Internal Performance #12 (from bank 2 of the ...

Contents 2 1 2 1 2 2 2 3 2 3232 4 26 2 62 6262 7 27 Creating New Sounds Editing and Edit ModeEntering Edit ModeEditing Performance and Voice DataUsing the Cursor Buttons and the Data Entry Buttons/SliderEdit/CompareEdit Button Quick Reference Guide Saving New Sounds Memory Protection Turning Memory ...

Creating New Sounds The Voices and Performance setups in the DX7s are stored as digital information in a computer-like memory. And, like computer memory, the memory of the DX7s can be altered for different uses. In other words, voices do not exist as unchangeable presets (as they do in electronic or...

In the Edit Mode, you can edit both Voice and Performance parameters. Entering Edit Mode In the above procedure, the Edit Mode is entered after the Edit button is pressed in step #1. At that time, you can push any or all of the buttons indicated as many times as necessary to make the desired edits. ...

The cursor buttons and the data entry slider/buttons. The Edit/Compare LED display. Editing Performance and Voice Data After entering one of the Edit Modes, use the number buttons to access the parameterwhose value you wish to change. Each number button calls up a variety of parameters, often throug...

Voice parameters are discussed in more detail in Section 4. Voice parameters are discussed in more detail in Section 4. Edit Button Quick Reference Guide - 24 -

Contents 3 1 Performance Edit Buttons 3 1 Button 27 LCD Displays 3 1 Button 28 LCD Displays3 2 Button 29 LCD Displays 3 3 3333 34 3535 3 6 Performance Controllers 36 Sustain Footswitch (FS 1) 36 Footswitch 2 (FS 2)3 7 Continuous Sliders 3 7 FM Parameters Assignable to CS1 and CS2 3 8 3 8 3 8 38 Basi...

Performance Edit Buttons All of the Performance Mode parameters are adjusted via the LCD displays called up using buttons 27 ~ 29. All of the these buttons call up multiple LCD displays. The charts below show all of the displays called up by each button, and provide a complete list of parameters and...

Basic Performance Parameters Accessed using buttons 28 and 29, these parameters determine the basic voice relationships in Peformance Mode. Total Volume This parameter allows you to set an overall volume for each Performance memory. If youdesire, you can use this setting to balance the levels of you...

Under normal conditions, the DX’s envelope acts this way. Using the EG Forced Damping parameter, the envelope is forced to retrigger itself for each new note played. EG Forced Damp Even though the DX7s is a 16-voice synthesizer, these voices can be used up quickly when you use a Sustain Footswitch p...

Performance Controllers The DX7s features a greatly expanded set of controller options. The settings for Footswitches 1 and 2 and Continuous Sliders 1 and 2 are adjusted in Performance EditMode, using button 27. (The other controller settings are accessed in voice parameters.) Sustain Footswitch (FS...

The Continuous Sliders provide a new avenue for exploration of real-time timbral control. Continuous Sliders The two Continuous Sliders give you access to real-time control of FM voice parameters. There are a total of 103 different possibilities: FM Parameters Assignable to CS 1 and CS2 DATA ENTRY s...

Micro Tuning The new DX7s contains eleven preset Intonations, which provides you with a good introduction to alternate intonation schemes. Micro Tuning is another new feature for the DX7s. It offers the possibility of performingmusic using tuning and intonation systems other than Equal Temperament (...

Contents 43 Voice Edit Buttons 43 Button 7 LCD Display 44 Button 8 LCD Display 44 Button 9 LCD Display 45 Button 10 LCD Displays 46 Button 11 LCD Display47 Button 12 LCD Display 48 Button 13 LCD Display 48 Button 23 LCD Displays 49 Button 24 LCD Displays 50 Button 25 LCD Displays 51 Button 26 LCD Di...

Voice Edit Buttons All of the Voice Mode parameters are adjusted via the LCD displays called up using buttons 7 - 13 and 23 - 26. Many of the these buttons call up multiple LCD displays. The charts below show all of the displays called up by each button, and provide a completelist of parameters and ...

Button 11 LCD Display Key Velocity (0 ~ 7) Amplitude Modulation Sensitivity (0 ~ 7) Pitch Modulation Sensitivity (0 ~ 7) - 46 -

Button 12 LCD Display LFO Wave (triangle, saw down, saw up, square, sine, s/hold) LFO Speed(0 ~ 99) LFO Delay (0 ~ 99) LFO Mode (single, multi) LFO Pitch Modulation Depth (0 ~ 99) LFO Amplitude Modulation Depth(0 ~ 99) LFO Key Sync (off, on) - 47 -

Button 13 LCD Display Pitch Envelope Octave Range (1/2, 1,2,8) Pitch Envelope Velocity(off, on) Pitch Envelope Rate Scaling(0 ~ 7) Pitch Envelope Rates 1 ~ 4 (0 ~ 99) Pitch Envelope Levels 1 ~ 4 (0 ~ 99) Button 23 LCD Displays Key Mode Assign (polyphonic, monophonic, unison poly, unison mono) Unison...

Button 24 LCD Displays Pitch Bend Mode(normal, lowest, highest, key on) Pitch Bend Range (0 ~ 12) Pitch Bend Step(0 ~ 12) Portamento Mode (Poly: sus-key, p retain, sus-key p follow) (Mono: fingered porta, full time porta) Portamento Time (0 ~99) Portamento Step (0 ~ 99) Random pitch (0 ~ 7) -49-

Button 25 LCD Displays Aftertouch EG Bias (0 ~ 99) AftertouchPitch Bias (-50 ~ +50) Modulation Wheel Pitch Modulation Depth (0 ~ 99) Modulation Wheel Amplitude Modulation Depth (0 ~ 99) Modulation Wheel EG Bias(0 ~ 99) - 50 -

Button 26 LCD Displays Foot Controller 2EG Bias (0 ~ 99) Foot Controller 2 Volume (0 ~ 99) MIDI Controller Pitch Modulation Depth(0 ~ 99) MIDI Controller Amplitude Modulation Depth (0 ~ 99) MIDI Controller EG Bias (0 ~ 99) MIDI Controller Volume (0 ~ 99) - 51 -

Basic Voice Editing Functions Voice editing is easier on the DX7s, thanks to the direct operator access provided by buttons 1 ~ 6 and 17 ~ 22. Operator Select The parameters accessed using buttons 8 ~ 11 are adjustable for each of the six operators. While editing Voice data, buttons 1 ~ 6 provide a ...

New Voice Parameters Maximum Pitch Range C h a n g e R a n g e 1/2 6 semitones 1 1 octave 2 2 octaves 8 8 octaves Representative Pitch Enselope Generator shape. The basic voice of the DX7s is almost exactly the same as that of the ori,ginal DX7, assuring complete compatibility between the old and ne...

Key Modes The DX7s offers two Unison Key Modes, which create “fatter” sounds. Since these new Modes use more than one note of the DX’s sixteen-note capacity, they will affect the totalnumber of notes available at any one time: - 54 - K e y Number of M o d e N o t e s Polyphonic 16 Monophonic 1Unison...

Voice Controllers Pitch Bend Modes on the DX7s. The DX7s features an expanded set of controller options. The settings for Pitch BendWheel, Modulation Wheel, Aftertouch, Breath Controller, and Foot Controllers 1 and 2 are adjusted in Voice Edit Mode, using buttons 24 ~ 26 (The other controller settin...

Pitch Bias With the new Pitch Bias feature you can use After Touch or the Breath Controller tocontrol the pitch of a voice. When Pitch Bias is set to 0, there is no pitch change. Positive Pitch Bias settings result in an upward bend, while negative Pitch Bias settings cause thepitch to bend down. Th...

Fractional Scaling Fractional Scaling allows you to adjust the output level of each operator for three-note groups. Entering Fractional Scaling Edit Mode One of the most important aspects of DX7 voicing is Level Scaling, which allows adjustment of each operator’s output over the range of the keyboar...

Contents 61 Utility Buttons 6 2 Button 14 LCD Displays63 Button 15 LCD Displays 64 Memory Types 64 Voice & Performance Memory 65 System Setup Memory65 Micro Tuning Memory 6 5 Fractional Scaling Memory 65 Initialized Memory 65 Current Play/Edit Memory 6 5 Compare/Recall Memory 66 Memory Storage T...

Utility Buttons All of the memory functions (and related utility functions) are adjusted via the LCD displays called up using buttons 14 and 15. Both of the these buttons call up multiple LCD displays. The charts below show all of the displays called up by each button, and providea complete list of ...

Memory Types The chart below is a graphic representation of the way all the different DX7s memoryareas interact with one another. Since there are many facets to the memory layout of the DX7s, it may look intimidating at first. Once you become more familiar with the instrument, though, you will fjnd ...

Memory Storage Types The RAM4 cartridge can be used to store one of three possible kinds of data. In addition to having a number of distinct types of memory, the DX7s offers a number of ways to store these various memories. To understand how the various memory storage possibilities interact, read on...

The supplied ROM cartridge holds a number of different kinds of DX memory. ROM Cartridge The supplied ROM cartridge contains 4 banks, which can be accessed using button 15 inEdit Mode: The first two banks are Cartridge Voice and Performance data. The third bank containsFractional Scaling data, and t...

Basic Utility Functions Most of the basic Internal Memory Utility functions are accessed using button 14 in Edit Mode, as follows: Master Tune This sets the tuning of the DX7s relative to its internal A-440 reference. Recall Edit These functions can be used to recall Voice, Performance, or Micro Tun...

Cartridge Memory Functions LCD display indicating that required Fractional Scaling or Micro Tuning data is not available. When the needed data is supplied via a RAM cartridge, these displays disappear. RAM cartridges are useful storage centers for Voice & Performance data. To understand the basi...

Contents 73 MIDI Buttons 73 Button 31 LCD Displays74 Button 32 LCD Displays 75 System Setup 7 5 Transmit Channel7 5 Receive Channel75 Omni Mode75 Local On/Off 75 MIDI IN Control Number75 CS 1 and CS 2 Controller Numbers 76 Note On/Off 76 Program Change Transmission76 Program Change Memory 76 After T...

MIDI Buttons All of the MIDI functions and parameters are adjusted via the LCD displays called up using buttons 31 and 32. Both of the these buttons call up multiple LCD displays. The charts below show all of the displays called up by each button, and provide a complete list of parameters and value ...

System Setup Since the use of many basic MIDI functions might depend on the contents of a specific set of Voice & Performance data, the DX7s provides a special memory location, System Setup Memory, to store basic MIDI parameters and orher data in conjunction with a Voice & Peformance Memory ...

MIDI System Exclusives If you use the DX7s as part of a MIDI system, there are a number of advanced MIDI functions available for your use: MIDI Device Number If the DX7s is connected to another Yamaha product, this parameter must be used to set a Yamaha System Exclusive Device Number for MIDI System...

Immediate MIDI Program Change Out This function allows you to send a program change number to an external MIDI tone generator without changing the program number on the DX7s. If you wish to send a quick MIDI Program Change Message to an external MIDI unit, use the following procedure: In either of t...

Appendix 1: Supplemental Information As mentioned at the outset, this manual has not attempted to cover all of the functions ofthe DX7s in exhaustive detail. To do so would have required a manual of large scale and density, one in which it would have been very difficult to locate specific informatio...

Appendix 2: Bibliography Many of the basic functions of the DX7s are the same as those of the original DX7. Sincethere is a wealth of material available on the operation of the original DX7, this manual has focused on the new functions and features. For more information on the parameters and feature...

M I D I D A T A F O R M A T 1. Transmission Requirements A d d - 1

SPECIFICATIONS K e y b o a r d 61 keys (C 1 ~C 6 ), with Initial/After touch Tone Generator FM tone Generator (6 operators 32 algorythms) Simultaneous Note Output (Reverse priority) 16 notes Internal Memory 64 voices/32 performances, 2 micro tunings, 1 system set-up External ROM Memory 128 voices/64...

IMPORTANT SAFETY AND INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS INFORMATION RELATING TO POSSIBLE PERSONAL INJURY, ELECTRIC SHOCK AND FIRE HAZARD POSSIBILITIES HAS BEEN INCLUDED IN THIS LIST. WARNING – When using electronic products, basic prec- autions should always be followed, including the following: 1. Read all ...

FCC INFORMATION While the following statements are provided to comply with FCC Regulations in the United States, the cor- rective measures listed below are applicable world-wide. This series of Yamaha professional music equipment uses frequencies that appear in the radio frequencyrange and if instal...