Yamaha TX7 FM Digital Synth Module Used

Used in a smoke free composer's studio. In excellent condition.

The TX7 is essentially a non-rack-mountable desktop module form of Yamaha'sDX7 FM synthesizer. Editing can not be done from the front panel, but must be accomplished externally via MIDI using either a DX7 keyboard, the PR-7 programmer or a computer. Software such as SoundQuest's MIDIQuest can be used to edit the parameters of the TX7. There are only 32 patches for storing any sounds as on the DX7. It's probably better to collect patches from the internet to expand your library of sounds since FM patch-editing is difficult enough on a professional DX synthesizer. Aside from its limitations, the TX7 is an affordable way to get your hands on original DX7 sounds. It has been used by Genesis, Human League and the producers behind the Spice Girls.

Tone generation in the TX7 is based on linear frequency modulation synthesis (FM), based on research by John Chowmning at Stanford University. The TX7 was known for precision and the flexibility of its bright, digital sounds, which were much clearer than those of the analog synthesizers that were available before it. The DX7 is well known for its electric piano, bells, and other "struck" and "plucked" sounds which emphasize complex attack transients. It is capable of 16-note polyphony. While the instrument is only capitible of playing one sound at a time  it is notable how the sound of a single TX7 patch can change either subtly or wildly along the length of the keyboard or when played with different velocities. The TX7 features 32 algorithms, each being a different arrangement of its six sine wave operators, allowing for a great deal of programming flexibility.