After owning a DX7 for almost a year, I decided to get a SY-77 and now it's kind of overwhelming how many choices I have when making my sounds. It's almost like, perhaps I thought I knew FM synthesis better than I really do. Because AFM seems way more complicated. The SY-77 can make some cool sounds though. It's like having the Yamaha answer to the Korg M1 and the Roland D50, but with FM synthesis built in!
This is starting to make more sense after making a few AFM patches from scratch. Its kind of overwhelming, but it really just takes the concepts from the DX7 and improves upon them. I still think the DX7 has better presets than the SY77.
I like the Yamaha sounds, they've grown on me over the years. While the DX7 had some awesome sounds, some were kind of lame. The SY77 has some really warm sounding pads and more natural instrument sounds due the sampling. It's like the missing link between the DX stuff and the XG stuff that came out in the 90s. I think the SY77 and SY99 were the best of them all. The TX81Z was cool also, it had some character too.
I just bought a SY77 and a D50, used to own a DX7 MK1. You just made me appreciate all of them more. You sure translate a deep understanding of FM to really musical, even emotional experiences. Hats off to you!! Subscribing right away!!
Thanks, it's a combination of sounds, and its technical specs, highlighting key differences between the DX7 and SY77/ TG77. I hope that I got the balance right!! Cheers, Power DX7.
Awesome DX7 & TG77 sounds orientated video ! Hat off & thanks for this great musical & visual moment... TG/SY77 & SY99 big brother really are wonderful, incredibly powerful programming & performing machines ! Excellent weekend to you with new projects ! ;-))
The same to you Synth Colors. What I like about SY77/ TG77 is that they have such a great digital filter. It can sound so analog, and it can self-oscillate!!!! Perhaps, Yamaha should have released them as a replacement of the DX7 MKI in 1987, instead of releasing the DX7 II. That would have made a killer synth for sure!!! Have a nice weekend too!!!
Yes, due to these filters & also the FM operators waves possible...far beyond just the sine ones... added to internal effects section !!! Maybe Yamaha could have released them in 1987, but, the DX7ii was a great improvement & as you've said ... just 6/7 years after the DX7 mk1 ... the SY/TG77 arrived !!! ;-))
I saw your video of the SY77 demo with real-time programming! You have such a great knowledge in various synths. What I like about your video and channel is that: 1. Your unique keyboard skills with 'Ninja' style (Ninjas in Japan were basically a special force (like Navy Seal, stealth approach in darkness) 2. You unique collection of synths, and you know how to bring their unique characters 3. Knowledge of synths that you have, not those people who only collects synths and create demos for getting views, but have no idea about its synthesis and all functionalities Looking forward to see more of your unique demos!!!
Thanks a lot... I've tried to share my way of programming in real-time as people were wondering how these personal sounds were born... to fully share this "sounds addiction" ... The ninja style... quite true as a "discrete way" of focusing on synths rather my hands ... doing my best to offer people smooth performances... Collection of synths built over the years... thanks to great opportunities ...being very, very patient ... Modest knowledge ... more passion I would say as you have for yours, especially the Yamaha FM synths (we've got very clore tastes for FM synthesis & synths tastes) ... As you do, we are making videos, modestly sharing advices, tips & even samples / sounds... if that was just "to get lots of views", showing synths / sounds... without sharing a bit of these wonderful machines, I'm sure that you wouldn't have created your channel too ... ! ;-)) Also looking to see more of your great, unique tutorials / sounds & musical videos ! ;-)) Take care ! ;-))
Thank you. Now I have 4 iconic digital synths from the 80's, DX7, D-50, M1 and SY77/ TG77, I can compare them. What I found is that, despite the DX7 is the oldest and far less functionalities, it can stand in it's own right. That's why I just love the DX7 MKI so much!!!!!
I have 10 SY77 machines and a large amount of work still to be finished from 1990 to 1997. The idea of working with another machine isn't something I'd be happy with
You explained more about the SY-77 than what I found out while owning it😂 It seems a bit tedious to program, though. I spent days and days with my first synth, a DX7.
I choiced the great SY77 for my home studio. It include even two instances of the upgraded DX7II with a stereo sound (I can easily import the original SysEx from the DX7), very nice filters and effects. More over, SY77 can work as 16 independent synths. And looks great and have a very-very nice keyboard.
Great you're moving to the SY77/99 stuff. I have a SY99 and I love it, but the programming is different from the DX7, so I wasnt able to follow your great tutorials. Please share with us some explainations about the 77/99. It would be great if you could make some 77/99 tutorials from stuff you already did with DX7, so the 77/99 guys can join the party:))
This video is more of an introduction to more advanced FM synthesis with SY77/ TG77. More I learn about the DX7 FM synthesis, the more I get some interesting ideas for AFM in SY77/ TG77. Sure, there are many differences, but fundamentally the DX7 FM synthesis and AFM in SY77/ TG77 are the same. Once you know how to make great sounds on the DX7, then you are set to go with SY77/ TG77. If there is enough demand, I'm happy to make some tutorial videos for advanced FM synthesis. Cheers, Power DX7.
Thanks for prompt answering. If enough time spend having a knack for these boxes, sure you can bridge the gap. But most people arent and suffering from a lack of proper video tutorials to shorten the learning curve. The 77/99 community will praise you, for sure. Best Regards, fench.
I used to make some patches on my TG77 in the late 90's, but I stopped doing music stuff for a while in the early 2000 and got back to my DX7 in the late 2015. I used to use my TG77 for like a sharp and solid E.piano, soft and warm pad and sawtooth pads, but now I can use my DX7 to do that. I've learnt so much from my DX7 MKI and I will be applying my knowledge to AFM synthesis later.
SY/TG77,99 is a beast of a FM engine. Even the Montage is a puppy compared to the scope of what the SY/TG and do. The only limitation is the polyphony count. Imagine if you could expand this.
Thank you for this video! I've always wanted a dx7. I've used arturias vst version, but I have finally found a real dx7!! I should have one soon. I think I will pick up the 77 next.
You're FM genius. I really suggest you try Casio VZ-1 or VZ-10M. I have both, and they are amazing. Think of a DX7 with sine and several saws as basis, and 8 operatos (called modules in the VZ) that can be routed by you, not by pre-set algorithms. And in addition to phase modulation between the modules, you can also use ring modulator. When I was young and had VZ-1 brand new back in 1990, I underestimated the synthesizer. Casio brand was simply not in fashion. Which was a mistake. Now I have a lot of appreciation for the VZ-series. I would go ahead and say it's better than the DX7 in sound capabilities. However, the DX7 has more logical interface, and gives you better directions with pre-set algorithms. I suggest of course to master DX7 first (which you already did admirably to expert level) before going to the VZ-1. I think VZ-1 sits somewhere in between the DX7 and TG77 in sonic capability. But with the phase/ring/mix modulation, and 8-stage envelopes, VZ-1 is rather unique, still. You can make sounds evolve on the VZ-1 like something I haven't heard on any other synthesizer. I think other interesting synthesizer is also Kawai K5. It's an additive synthesizer with 126 programmable harmonics, each with its own envelope. Casio FZ-1 is a semi-additive synthesizer and sampler. In other words, there were a lot of interesting developments in between 1983-1988, before everything went gaga with PCM samples as basis for sound creation.
I really love the Casio VZ-1 and VZ-10m. In fact I have a VZ-1 and two VZ-10 m's since they are my life. Possibilities are endless as far as programming and coming up with realistic sounds one can ever imagine. I sure thank you for bringing this up and sharing your thoughts about those wonderful machines Casio has ever made.
Interesting fact, Yamaha "FM" synthesis is actually using phase modulation not frequency modulation. Early on Yamaha learned that FM modulation created unpleasant sounding harmonics with certain frequency combinations and that using phase modulation eliminates the harmonic artifacts while creating the same waveform otherwise. (this is still different than Casio's phase distortion synthesis)
Awesome A/B comparisons. I dig them both, and I also dig the classic prog rock references. "Fanfare" is particularly fitting, since you're using Yamaha synthesizers which have a distant genealogical connection to the GX1 synth/organ hybrid Keith Emerson used for ELP's version. I've got to wonder exactly how close anybody ever came to programming a CP70 or 80 sound on the original DX7. Is that one thing which the DX7 can't do which the SY/TG models nailed?
I am a fan of progressive rock as I grew up listening to Yes, UK, King Crimson, and Rush (I discovered Rush in the early 90's, Subdivisions and The Big Money). 'Fanfare' is such great music. I watched the music video, and they play the music in a cold stadium. But, boy that trumpet sound is just brilliant. It's so real. The GX1 is just an amazing keyboard!!! I haven't really tried to create CP70 or 80 using my DX7, so I have to listen to its sound and I may try re-creating that using my DX7.
I'm also a big fan of progressive rock and play a lot of it. I've also covered many Rush songs. I have an Oberheim sounding patch on my Korg M1 from a 3rd party collection that sounds more like the studio recording of Subdivisions than what Rush has used on tour for the past 30 years. I have a couple Oberheim software instruments on my laptop, and have yet to be able to reproduce this common 80s sound as well as I have on my M1. This patch on my M1 is my most used sound of any sound I use in my bands, since I play mostly 80s/late 70s rock. A lot of songs in the 80s used a similar tone. Why is it so rarely reproduced well on most synths of the past 30 years? Fortunately I was able to load the patch into Korg's software M1 and it works pretty well. Seems easier to get decent levels for live performance out of the original instrument though. I use software instruments for most of my ProgRock lead sounds (Moog, Oberheim, ARP, Prophet, etc) these days. M1 still has a few good ones though.
That's a mindjob, that a Kotg modeler is better at emulating an Oberheim than an Oberheim modeler. And, you've already tried building the Subdiisions sound from the ground up using the software? Could it be little more than the implementation of a flanger?
I have not tried to build up that sound in the Oberheim modeler from the ground up. I'm better at finding a sound that is close, and tweaking it to my needs than starting from scratch. Seems if the modeler were capable, it would have been a preset. A preset demoing Subdivisions is included, but it's not that close, and it works even less for all the other songs I play using that sound. It has both synth brass & synth string tone to it. Also has a "Jump" patch that is included, but for some reason, the one in my Korg seems to fit work better for a lot of the other songs with a similar sound but just a tad different sound. Fortunately, the OB modeler did nail most of the other famous OB sounds & especially leads I was looking for. I think almost any keyboard or soft synth collection is always lacking just a few of those sounds your looking for, but excels at the rest. I use the M1's "Plus One" organ sounds as often as I use my B3 modelers. Having both options gets me the sounds I'm looking for. In one of my bands, I'm running all soft synths at practice so I don't have to carry much gear. Last night, I was using that Subdivisions sound in the Korg modeler. I don't have a great amp at in this band, so I can't expect perfect results. The other band I use my Korg, and I have one at home too.
Would be nice to include the functionality of the SY-77 into the Montage in a firmware update fashion. And the assertion that the Montage is a puppy in what it can do compared to the SY-77 displays an ignorance of the Montage Motion and FM engines.
Yes, it's a great machine, indeed. I used to own SY77, but replaced it with TG77 instead, as it is nice and compact. Unfortunately, Yamaha released it a bit late. If they released around the same time as Korg M1, then it would have been a huge success.
Hi, no, they wouldn't be a huge success because you probably don't see the big picture. The M1 was 8 part multitimbral and had 100 memory places to store them. The SY77 doesn't even come close to that and the newest model is just 8 parts multitimbral. As the M1 was almost 30 years ago.
The SY77 was 32 voices and 16 parts multitimbral and had floppy-disk storage so "infinite" place for patches. The M1 was only a sample-playback keyboard, not a full synthetiser . Not the same beast IMO....
Live on stage you don't have time to fiddle with floppies. The M1 had 100 Combies. These are 8 part multitimbral setups. And please, having a digital sample as a source doesn't disqualify any keyboard of being a synthesizer or full synthesizer. At the end of the eighties and in the first half of the nineties nobody cared about FM or VA or Analog anymore. But back to my point: the SY77 certainly wouldn't have been a huge success released at the same time as the M1 because the M1 was the better stage machine.
SY77 has 64 users patch memory and 16 multimbral setup user memory + you can add 2 cards with immediate access, so enough for live stage.... I mean only that it's still a very valuable hardware synth even now, the korg M1 can't even compete, no resonant filter and simple synthesis ...
I don't own SY99, but its AFM and AWM should be pretty much the same. I thought a lot of people necessarily know the true capability of SY77/ SY99, so I thought I could make a demo video highlighting its unique features, like its Advanced FM that can use sampled waveforms as a source waveform, as well as its unique envelopes with looping, assignable waveforms and feedback, pitch envelope and digital filters. I included the comparison to the DX7, so that people could see how far FM synthesis evolved since the DX7. If there is enough demand, I'm happy to make some tutorial videos, going over its key features in detail. Cheers, Power DX7.
I spend a lot of time with the sy99 user manual so I have figured a lot of it out..it's just that your videos are very well made, so it would be nice to have some for the sy99 :) Either way, keep up the great work!
Thanks, grad that this video was really helpful. If you want a more powerful FM synth, then SY77/99 or TG77 is right for you. This is a monster synth released before the 90's, and it's the most powerful synth (compared with the original DX7, D-50 and M1).
The SY77 is nice, and I play the same type of music as you do but I prefer the Korg M1. My 80s band played some shows together with another 80s band that uses the SY77. Both were great bands, but I think as for the tones of my sounds, I was more known for that. The magic of the M1 wasn't only specifications, but very clever programming in part due to the mass popularity of the keyboard. I have 2 M1's both equipped with the $500 after installation "Invision Plus One board" & many sound collections. I've had many keyboards over the years and currently have 10 keyboards, including MOTIF's, Rolands, ARP, etc. I switched 75% of my sounds to software synths, but the magical M1 patches I still use (such as the best tenor sax or electric guitar I've heard out of the keyboard) still comes from my M1. I have some fantastic Oberheim tones & Hammond organ stuff too I don't even get out of the appropriate software instruments. The M1 was ground breaking that it basically picked up after the very expensive Kurzweil K250 and made quality 16 bit samples & wavetable sounds more affordable, portable, reliable & easier. The D-50 was more of a sound effects instrument, but great too. SY77's greatest strength was it was newer, and given more memory dedicated to a better piano sound than the M1, the M1's greatest weakness was the lack of a decent grand piano sound. Despite the SY77's appearance, the M1 continued to be the best selling keyboard and is still the best selling synth of all time. And not for nothing.
Question; Have you ever got any animation on your sy77 screen...kinda like a esquimal or something like that? . I was using a borrowed sy77 long time ago and for some reason it gave me that animation . Haven't found out why but it was interesting.
Hi there, I haven't made a lot of SY77 patches. You may be able to serach and downlaod some freely avaiable patches on the Internet. If there is enough demand, I can cerate a few tutorial videos of SY77 sound design etc. Cheers, Power DX7.
@@powerdx7383 , I ask you if you have a collection of your DX7 sounds for sell. Also, I want to know if you can sell this same sounds but in SY77 format.
Extremely comprehensive. The SY77 is paramount! Nice back light on your TG and DX7 BTW. The KORG Wavestation, SY77, Kurzweil k2000 all used the same back-light...just saying.
what a pity, that filter resonance is only available in LOWPASS mode, not highpass or bandpass... and the filter resonance does resonate all the time unless you turn it back. A bug, which was never solved
I was thinking about TG77, but what I'm pretty looking for are DX7's electric piano with more versatility. Listening to the electric pianos comparison you made, it seems TG77 has not THAT character. In your opinion, can I get a more similar tone, better than the DX7's one, for the better synthesis engine inside TG77?
SY77/ TG77 E.piano was a factory patch using 2 AFM. I think it is a variation of FullTines, not the DX7 original E.PIANO 1. The DX7 electric piano is the beefed up version of E.PIANO 1 that I created. Definitely, SY77 AFM offers more possibilities than the DX7 FM, but I found that the DX7 FM is still great. I think it's all up to your imagination!!!
You can hear and watch theversatility of the DX7 electric piano with this video, Yamaha DX7 - 80’s Hits, Miami Vice, You Belong To The City, E.Piano, FullTines & Rhodes Demo ua-cam.com/video/LC08_OI9Mzw/v-deo.html
OK, thank you very much! I was looking for sound kinda like the ones in "Someone" by El DeBarge or "Versace On The Floor" by Bruno Mars (where Greg Phillinganes plays keyboards). In the last example I adduced, you can hear a less-transient tone, but still body-powerful and "crystal". Given that song is played by Greg Phillinganes (and given the overall quality of the sound), I suppose it's a DX7, but not the classic patches (E. PIANO 1, i.e., or the variations). What patch do you think it could be?
Thanks for your info. The original DX7 E.PIANO 1 is a mellow and soft electric piano. I have posted a live stream tutorial for making a new DX7 electric piano. You get make a beefed up version of the E.PIANO that has sharp and solid attack and it will have a soft and smooth chorusing effect on its sustained tone across key velocity range!!! Here is the link: ua-cam.com/video/C0EWa5Au2KE/v-deo.html Because of that I prefer the Power DX7 version much better than the original one. Should try it and see if you like it.
I would rate this video as 6. That is, 6 out of 5!
Thanks for your rating! G;ad you enjoyed Power DX7 comprehensive demo videos!
After owning a DX7 for almost a year, I decided to get a SY-77 and now it's kind of overwhelming how many choices I have when making my sounds. It's almost like, perhaps I thought I knew FM synthesis better than I really do. Because AFM seems way more complicated. The SY-77 can make some cool sounds though. It's like having the Yamaha answer to the Korg M1 and the Roland D50, but with FM synthesis built in!
This is starting to make more sense after making a few AFM patches from scratch. Its kind of overwhelming, but it really just takes the concepts from the DX7 and improves upon them. I still think the DX7 has better presets than the SY77.
My bassist friend has this keyboard and I'd love to dive in and make some patches
@@kevinr.3542 Good to know. Best regards to them bassist.
This is the way a video about synth comparison has to be done! One of the very best ones!👏👏👏
TG77 owner here, and I never knew about the resonance trick using the two filters tuned to the same cutoff. Thanks for that.
I like the Yamaha sounds, they've grown on me over the years. While the DX7 had some awesome sounds, some were kind of lame. The SY77 has some really warm sounding pads and more natural instrument sounds due the sampling. It's like the missing link between the DX stuff and the XG stuff that came out in the 90s. I think the SY77 and SY99 were the best of them all. The TX81Z was cool also, it had some character too.
FawltyTenor what are your thoughts on the SY55 and SY85?
@David Chatterton Yes, please.
I just bought a SY77 and a D50, used to own a DX7 MK1. You just made me appreciate all of them more. You sure translate a deep understanding of FM to really musical, even emotional experiences. Hats off to you!! Subscribing right away!!
As a new owner of the Yamaha SY77 this video was a good kick start.
Very interesting demo and great sound patches!
Thanks, it's a combination of sounds, and its technical specs, highlighting key differences between the DX7 and SY77/ TG77. I hope that I got the balance right!! Cheers, Power DX7.
Awesome DX7 & TG77 sounds orientated video !
Hat off & thanks for this great musical & visual moment...
TG/SY77 & SY99 big brother really are wonderful, incredibly powerful programming & performing machines !
Excellent weekend to you with new projects ! ;-))
The same to you Synth Colors. What I like about SY77/ TG77 is that they have such a great digital filter. It can sound so analog, and it can self-oscillate!!!! Perhaps, Yamaha should have released them as a replacement of the DX7 MKI in 1987, instead of releasing the DX7 II. That would have made a killer synth for sure!!! Have a nice weekend too!!!
Yes, due to these filters & also the FM operators waves possible...far beyond just the sine ones... added to internal effects section !!!
Maybe Yamaha could have released them in 1987, but, the DX7ii was a great improvement & as you've said ... just 6/7 years after the DX7 mk1 ... the SY/TG77 arrived !!! ;-))
I saw your video of the SY77 demo with real-time programming! You have such a great knowledge in various synths. What I like about your video and channel is that:
1. Your unique keyboard skills with 'Ninja' style (Ninjas in Japan were basically a special force (like Navy Seal, stealth approach in darkness)
2. You unique collection of synths, and you know how to bring their unique characters
3. Knowledge of synths that you have, not those people who only collects synths and create demos for getting views, but have no idea about its synthesis and all functionalities
Looking forward to see more of your unique demos!!!
Thanks a lot... I've tried to share my way of programming in real-time as people were wondering how these personal sounds were born... to fully share this "sounds addiction" ...
The ninja style... quite true as a "discrete way" of focusing on synths rather my hands ... doing my best to offer people smooth performances...
Collection of synths built over the years... thanks to great opportunities ...being very, very patient ...
Modest knowledge ... more passion I would say as you have for yours, especially the Yamaha FM synths (we've got very clore tastes for FM synthesis & synths tastes) ...
As you do, we are making videos, modestly sharing advices, tips & even samples / sounds... if that was just "to get lots of views", showing synths / sounds... without sharing a bit of these wonderful machines, I'm sure that you wouldn't have created your channel too ... ! ;-))
Also looking to see more of your great, unique tutorials / sounds & musical videos ! ;-))
Take care ! ;-))
Beautiful patches for both synths, congratulation!
Thank you. Now I have 4 iconic digital synths from the 80's, DX7, D-50, M1 and SY77/ TG77, I can compare them. What I found is that, despite the DX7 is the oldest and far less functionalities, it can stand in it's own right. That's why I just love the DX7 MKI so much!!!!!
@@powerdx7383.... The dx7 has a in your face quality.... Very powerful
I have 10 SY77 machines and a large amount of work still to be finished from 1990 to 1997. The idea of working with another machine isn't something I'd be happy with
You explained more about the SY-77 than what I found out while owning it😂 It seems a bit tedious to program, though. I spent days and days with my first synth, a DX7.
I choiced the great SY77 for my home studio. It include even two instances of the upgraded DX7II with a stereo sound (I can easily import the original SysEx from the DX7), very nice filters and effects. More over, SY77 can work as 16 independent synths. And looks great and have a very-very nice keyboard.
Could you please create more tuts about how to define synth parameters on SY77? There is not much material about that in the net...
Same
I would also really like that!
Great you're moving to the SY77/99 stuff. I have a SY99 and I love it, but the programming is different from the DX7, so I wasnt able to follow your great tutorials. Please share with us some explainations about the 77/99. It would be great if you could make some 77/99 tutorials from stuff you already did with DX7, so the 77/99 guys can join the party:))
This video is more of an introduction to more advanced FM synthesis with SY77/ TG77. More I learn about the DX7 FM synthesis, the more I get some interesting ideas for AFM in SY77/ TG77. Sure, there are many differences, but fundamentally the DX7 FM synthesis and AFM in SY77/ TG77 are the same. Once you know how to make great sounds on the DX7, then you are set to go with SY77/ TG77. If there is enough demand, I'm happy to make some tutorial videos for advanced FM synthesis. Cheers, Power DX7.
Thanks for prompt answering. If enough time spend having a knack for these boxes, sure you can bridge the gap. But most people arent and suffering from a lack of proper video tutorials to shorten the learning curve. The 77/99 community will praise you, for sure. Best Regards, fench.
I used to make some patches on my TG77 in the late 90's, but I stopped doing music stuff for a while in the early 2000 and got back to my DX7 in the late 2015. I used to use my TG77 for like a sharp and solid E.piano, soft and warm pad and sawtooth pads, but now I can use my DX7 to do that. I've learnt so much from my DX7 MKI and I will be applying my knowledge to AFM synthesis later.
Great! Looking forward to your uploads, Mr. Power))
Looks awesome can't wait to listen!!!
Thank You for Your Great videos!my ears like the dx7 more!warm ,spectacular, unic ..
SY/TG77,99 is a beast of a FM engine. Even the Montage is a puppy compared to the scope of what the SY/TG and do. The only limitation is the polyphony count. Imagine if you could expand this.
Thank you for this video! I've always wanted a dx7. I've used arturias vst version, but I have finally found a real dx7!! I should have one soon. I think I will pick up the 77 next.
You're FM genius. I really suggest you try Casio VZ-1 or VZ-10M. I have both, and they are amazing. Think of a DX7 with sine and several saws as basis, and 8 operatos (called modules in the VZ) that can be routed by you, not by pre-set algorithms. And in addition to phase modulation between the modules, you can also use ring modulator. When I was young and had VZ-1 brand new back in 1990, I underestimated the synthesizer. Casio brand was simply not in fashion. Which was a mistake. Now I have a lot of appreciation for the VZ-series. I would go ahead and say it's better than the DX7 in sound capabilities. However, the DX7 has more logical interface, and gives you better directions with pre-set algorithms. I suggest of course to master DX7 first (which you already did admirably to expert level) before going to the VZ-1. I think VZ-1 sits somewhere in between the DX7 and TG77 in sonic capability. But with the phase/ring/mix modulation, and 8-stage envelopes, VZ-1 is rather unique, still. You can make sounds evolve on the VZ-1 like something I haven't heard on any other synthesizer. I think other interesting synthesizer is also Kawai K5. It's an additive synthesizer with 126 programmable harmonics, each with its own envelope. Casio FZ-1 is a semi-additive synthesizer and sampler. In other words, there were a lot of interesting developments in between 1983-1988, before everything went gaga with PCM samples as basis for sound creation.
I really love the Casio VZ-1 and VZ-10m. In fact I have a VZ-1 and two VZ-10 m's since they are my life. Possibilities are endless as far as programming and coming up with realistic sounds one can ever imagine. I sure thank you for bringing this up and sharing your thoughts about those wonderful machines Casio has ever made.
Thanks for the tip man.
Interesting fact, Yamaha "FM" synthesis is actually using phase modulation not frequency modulation. Early on Yamaha learned that FM modulation created unpleasant sounding harmonics with certain frequency combinations and that using phase modulation eliminates the harmonic artifacts while creating the same waveform otherwise. (this is still different than Casio's phase distortion synthesis)
@@atomicskull6405 Quack, quack.
Awesome A/B comparisons. I dig them both, and I also dig the classic prog rock references. "Fanfare" is particularly fitting, since you're using Yamaha synthesizers which have a distant genealogical connection to the GX1 synth/organ hybrid Keith Emerson used for ELP's version.
I've got to wonder exactly how close anybody ever came to programming a CP70 or 80 sound on the original DX7. Is that one thing which the DX7 can't do which the SY/TG models nailed?
I am a fan of progressive rock as I grew up listening to Yes, UK, King Crimson, and Rush (I discovered Rush in the early 90's, Subdivisions and The Big Money). 'Fanfare' is such great music. I watched the music video, and they play the music in a cold stadium. But, boy that trumpet sound is just brilliant. It's so real. The GX1 is just an amazing keyboard!!! I haven't really tried to create CP70 or 80 using my DX7, so I have to listen to its sound and I may try re-creating that using my DX7.
Good fortune speed your way.
I'm also a big fan of progressive rock and play a lot of it. I've also covered many Rush songs. I have an Oberheim sounding patch on my Korg M1 from a 3rd party collection that sounds more like the studio recording of Subdivisions than what Rush has used on tour for the past 30 years. I have a couple Oberheim software instruments on my laptop, and have yet to be able to reproduce this common 80s sound as well as I have on my M1. This patch on my M1 is my most used sound of any sound I use in my bands, since I play mostly 80s/late 70s rock. A lot of songs in the 80s used a similar tone. Why is it so rarely reproduced well on most synths of the past 30 years? Fortunately I was able to load the patch into Korg's software M1 and it works pretty well. Seems easier to get decent levels for live performance out of the original instrument though. I use software instruments for most of my ProgRock lead sounds (Moog, Oberheim, ARP, Prophet, etc) these days. M1 still has a few good ones though.
That's a mindjob, that a Kotg modeler is better at emulating an Oberheim than an Oberheim modeler. And, you've already tried building the Subdiisions sound from the ground up using the software? Could it be little more than the implementation of a flanger?
I have not tried to build up that sound in the Oberheim modeler from the ground up. I'm better at finding a sound that is close, and tweaking it to my needs than starting from scratch. Seems if the modeler were capable, it would have been a preset. A preset demoing Subdivisions is included, but it's not that close, and it works even less for all the other songs I play using that sound. It has both synth brass & synth string tone to it. Also has a "Jump" patch that is included, but for some reason, the one in my Korg seems to fit work better for a lot of the other songs with a similar sound but just a tad different sound. Fortunately, the OB modeler did nail most of the other famous OB sounds & especially leads I was looking for. I think almost any keyboard or soft synth collection is always lacking just a few of those sounds your looking for, but excels at the rest. I use the M1's "Plus One" organ sounds as often as I use my B3 modelers. Having both options gets me the sounds I'm looking for. In one of my bands, I'm running all soft synths at practice so I don't have to carry much gear. Last night, I was using that Subdivisions sound in the Korg modeler. I don't have a great amp at in this band, so I can't expect perfect results. The other band I use my Korg, and I have one at home too.
Would be nice to include the functionality of the SY-77 into the Montage in a firmware update fashion. And the assertion that the Montage is a puppy in what it can do compared to the SY-77 displays an ignorance of the Montage Motion and FM engines.
Wonderful video. Thank you for making!
A very useful video!
the cat in the background! haha...no studio is complete without a furbaby :)
We have a Ragdoll cat at home. She likes to be the centre of attention!
Can you make a tutorial for the Female Choir sound for DX7! I’m still chasing good vocal sounds with my own DX7 programming.
DX7 will never stop amazing you
Nice video. I own a SY77. great machine. :)
Yes, it's a great machine, indeed. I used to own SY77, but replaced it with TG77 instead, as it is nice and compact. Unfortunately, Yamaha released it a bit late. If they released around the same time as Korg M1, then it would have been a huge success.
Hi, no, they wouldn't be a huge success because you probably don't see the big picture. The M1 was 8 part multitimbral and had 100 memory places to store them. The SY77 doesn't even come close to that and the newest model is just 8 parts multitimbral. As the M1 was almost 30 years ago.
The SY77 was 32 voices and 16 parts multitimbral and had floppy-disk storage so "infinite" place for patches. The M1 was only a sample-playback keyboard, not a full synthetiser . Not the same beast IMO....
Live on stage you don't have time to fiddle with floppies. The M1 had 100 Combies. These are 8 part multitimbral setups. And please, having a digital sample as a source doesn't disqualify any keyboard of being a synthesizer or full synthesizer. At the end of the eighties and in the first half of the nineties nobody cared about FM or VA or Analog anymore. But back to my point: the SY77 certainly wouldn't have been a huge success released at the same time as the M1 because the M1 was the better stage machine.
SY77 has 64 users patch memory and 16 multimbral setup user memory + you can add 2 cards with immediate access, so enough for live stage.... I mean only that it's still a very valuable hardware synth even now, the korg M1 can't even compete, no resonant filter and simple synthesis ...
Your videos are very helpful. I own an sy99, if you have one can you do some video tutorials on programming?
I don't own SY99, but its AFM and AWM should be pretty much the same. I thought a lot of people necessarily know the true capability of SY77/ SY99, so I thought I could make a demo video highlighting its unique features, like its Advanced FM that can use sampled waveforms as a source waveform, as well as its unique envelopes with looping, assignable waveforms and feedback, pitch envelope and digital filters. I included the comparison to the DX7, so that people could see how far FM synthesis evolved since the DX7. If there is enough demand, I'm happy to make some tutorial videos, going over its key features in detail. Cheers, Power DX7.
I spend a lot of time with the sy99 user manual so I have figured a lot of it out..it's just that your videos are very well made, so it would be nice to have some for the sy99 :)
Either way, keep up the great work!
Many thanks, wonderful video, really clear. It was so helpful to me.
Thanks, grad that this video was really helpful. If you want a more powerful FM synth, then SY77/99 or TG77 is right for you. This is a monster synth released before the 90's, and it's the most powerful synth (compared with the original DX7, D-50 and M1).
Great video! What are your thoughts on the SY55 and SY85?
dude are you releasing a pack of your awesome dx7 presets? I would buy it immediately! are these presets for sy77 available maybe? I have tx7 and sy77
The SY77 is nice, and I play the same type of music as you do but I prefer the Korg M1. My 80s band played some shows together with another 80s band that uses the SY77. Both were great bands, but I think as for the tones of my sounds, I was more known for that. The magic of the M1 wasn't only specifications, but very clever programming in part due to the mass popularity of the keyboard. I have 2 M1's both equipped with the $500 after installation "Invision Plus One board" & many sound collections. I've had many keyboards over the years and currently have 10 keyboards, including MOTIF's, Rolands, ARP, etc. I switched 75% of my sounds to software synths, but the magical M1 patches I still use (such as the best tenor sax or electric guitar I've heard out of the keyboard) still comes from my M1. I have some fantastic Oberheim tones & Hammond organ stuff too I don't even get out of the appropriate software instruments. The M1 was ground breaking that it basically picked up after the very expensive Kurzweil K250 and made quality 16 bit samples & wavetable sounds more affordable, portable, reliable & easier. The D-50 was more of a sound effects instrument, but great too. SY77's greatest strength was it was newer, and given more memory dedicated to a better piano sound than the M1, the M1's greatest weakness was the lack of a decent grand piano sound. Despite the SY77's appearance, the M1 continued to be the best selling keyboard and is still the best selling synth of all time. And not for nothing.
Thank you very much for this video!
SY77 is great.
I wonder do you maybe have DX7 patches for SY77,and is it possible to make it?
There is a software called fm alive which you can use to convert the patches.
@@AdamTheAd-vanc3d Thanks a lot! Gonna check it.
Question; Have you ever got any animation on your sy77 screen...kinda like a esquimal or something like that? . I was using a borrowed sy77 long time ago and for some reason it gave me that animation . Haven't found out why but it was interesting.
The only animation I've ever seen on any '77 screen happens at startup... Everything else is static.
Um... your poly count is off a bit.. The SY/TG has 16 FM voices, and 16 AWM voices, for a total of 32 potential simultaneous voices.
Dear Power DX7. Where can we obtain the sound patches for this synthezisers (SY77 version)? Do you sell it?
Hi there, I haven't made a lot of SY77 patches. You may be able to serach and downlaod some freely avaiable patches on the Internet. If there is enough demand, I can cerate a few tutorial videos of SY77 sound design etc. Cheers, Power DX7.
@@powerdx7383 , I ask you if you have a collection of your DX7 sounds for sell. Also, I want to know if you can sell this same sounds but in SY77 format.
@@powerdx7383 yes please share your patches for the dx7 and sy77
Extremely comprehensive. The SY77 is paramount! Nice back light on your TG and DX7 BTW. The KORG Wavestation, SY77, Kurzweil k2000 all used the same back-light...just saying.
what a pity, that filter resonance is only available in LOWPASS mode, not highpass or bandpass... and the filter resonance does resonate all the time unless you turn it back. A bug, which was never solved
I was thinking about TG77, but what I'm pretty looking for are DX7's electric piano with more versatility. Listening to the electric pianos comparison you made, it seems TG77 has not THAT character. In your opinion, can I get a more similar tone, better than the DX7's one, for the better synthesis engine inside TG77?
SY77/ TG77 E.piano was a factory patch using 2 AFM. I think it is a variation of FullTines, not the DX7 original E.PIANO 1. The DX7 electric piano is the beefed up version of E.PIANO 1 that I created. Definitely, SY77 AFM offers more possibilities than the DX7 FM, but I found that the DX7 FM is still great. I think it's all up to your imagination!!!
You can hear and watch theversatility of the DX7 electric piano with this video, Yamaha DX7 - 80’s Hits, Miami Vice, You Belong To The City, E.Piano, FullTines & Rhodes Demo ua-cam.com/video/LC08_OI9Mzw/v-deo.html
OK, thank you very much!
I was looking for sound kinda like the ones in "Someone" by El DeBarge or "Versace On The Floor" by Bruno Mars (where Greg Phillinganes plays keyboards). In the last example I adduced, you can hear a less-transient tone, but still body-powerful and "crystal". Given that song is played by Greg Phillinganes (and given the overall quality of the sound), I suppose it's a DX7, but not the classic patches (E. PIANO 1, i.e., or the variations).
What patch do you think it could be?
Thanks for your info. The original DX7 E.PIANO 1 is a mellow and soft electric piano. I have posted a live stream tutorial for making a new DX7 electric piano. You get make a beefed up version of the E.PIANO that has sharp and solid attack and it will have a soft and smooth chorusing effect on its sustained tone across key velocity range!!! Here is the link: ua-cam.com/video/C0EWa5Au2KE/v-deo.html Because of that I prefer the Power DX7 version much better than the original one. Should try it and see if you like it.
Have you ever tried the TX81Z?
Do you have a sound patch collection for sell or download?
The DX7/TX7 EPiano is unique , The SY77 Epiano is very close to the DX7IID
Please do Kadomo FM vs DX
How about a FS1r video😛
Maravilhoso
Please please upload patches
is the sy77 an FM synth?
yes advances fm synth
7:22 Modern Talking chord
新ゴジラのピアノはsy77
TG Nana Nana