What a great synth channel by a guy so relaxed and neutral, in contrary of the hyper nervous Dr. Mix who sniffs thus stating everything is great, or that bs talking Espen Kraft. Keep this channel going on. You are simply one of the better synth-channels on YT!!!!!
Glad to see my beloved JX3P on the list. First synth I ever played with as a kid... then later in life tracked down a mint one. Got the programmer with it along with the optional Roland branded flight case.
When I bought my first synths back in 1990 I got the D-50 and the SCI Six-Trak to get both a digital and analog sound. I still have both today as each of these units keeps surprising me. About a decade ago I discovered the Six-Trak could “stack” six different patches and make a huge sound. Then later I discovered it can be fully controlled in real-time by MIDI CCs and on-line editors (Even an iPad). And more recently I upgraded the OS to a version 14 chip that allows for oscillator unison detuning and synchronized LFO to key press. I still gravitate to the Six-Trak for analog leads and basses as they punch through the mix but don’t take up the spectrum and still sound like classic Sequential.
For someone wanting that JX-3P sound I would recommend the JX-03 Boutique. You can pick one up for under $300 and if the size is too small you can always drive it with a full sized MIDI controller. All parameters are tweakable with MIDI CC and while 4 note polyphony is rather limiting, the original JX-3P itself only had 6. For less than the price of the PG-200 controller you could pick up two JX-03 units and chain them for 8 note polyphony. I myself am ok with one JX-03. 😄
The problem is that great new synths have gotten cheaper. For $500 you could buy a Modal Cobalt 5s or Hydrasynth Explorer. A few dollars more gets you a fully analog Deepmnd 6 or Deepmind 12. And there are many other excellent options. Honestly, any of these would be a better choice tan anything on this list, for multiple reasons.
I agree with you. Even a Yamaha PSR E-473 or a Casio CT-S500 for about $370 run rings around all of these. The synths on this list were competitive at their prices for the day, but they were way more limited than today's products.
So, the MAX was designed by Sequential to work with their Commodore 64 MIDI interface and software as both a controller keyboard and tone generator. It was a stripped down Six-Trak, but to be clear, it was specifically intended to work with computer software for patch editing. Nobody was expected to own a Six-Trak as well as a MAX.
Great list Jeffrey, JX3P deserved the first place! The DX21 was velocity sensitive through midi, but didn’t have velocity sensitive keyboard. Since you have included a rack module in the list, for four operator FM engine, a good bargain would also be the Yamaha FB01, being 8 part multitimbral.
Me and my best friend were lusting over the FB01 before it came out, and then Yamaha released the TX81Z, which is a lot better and the unit we both bought. Thanks for the comment.
TX81Z is unique. FB01 although same engine as the other 4op FM synths, it has somewhat punchier/louder output than a DX21, maybe different converters. I’ve owned most of the Yamaha 80s FMs and I think the best bargains are TX802, TX7, TX81Z, FB01.
The Ensoniq Mirage: today, in our world of 24b and perfection, I think an old gritty sampler can have its place, more than a 16b better quality sampler. You put a sound in it and you get something else. On my side, even if I mainly work in the box, I still have my samplers, an Akai S1100 and an Ensoniq EPSm (13b). And If if still use the EPSm from time to time I never use the S1100 , "too good". The SQ80: and a keyboard with polyphonic aftertouch (like the EPS and many other Ensoniq keyboards of the time) which is great, if you like very soft action keyboards. The 4ops Yamahas: personnaly if I wanted a vintage little 4ops FM synth I certainly would go for a tx81Z instead of the DXs21, 27 and so on. Yes , no keyboard but less volume and many waveforms.
This may sound weird but, all this 80s tech talk makes me realize how poor was the market back then, specwise that is, and makes me appreciate today's synths more, especially the ones I own
Casio's CZ-1000 was the 49-key full size key model, not the 101. I'm personally more of a fan of the second round of 4-operator FM synths that had more operator waveforms than just the sine waves in the DX21/27/100. That would be the TX81Z, DX11 and V50 - broader/richer sonic pallete. The "dumbed down UI" FM 4-operator YS/DS synth line is worth a look as well. That includes the YS100/200, DS55 and TQ5. Same engine as and SYSEX compatible with TX81Z and DX11, but sound editing UI is greatly simplified. FWIW, pretty much every synth (and much more) in your list is faithfully reproduced in Arturia's V collection which doesn't bring all the baggage of owning 35+ year old electronic musical instruments.
I like these videos because they have extremely individual, partly totally unexpected statements and still are presented with the calm and balance of a therapist. I wouldn't be surprised if you run a practice as a psychiatrist or psychologist apart from UA-cam. The statement "JX3P is number 1 but I dislike like it", has just achieved cult status for me.
The Mirage was the first sampler I saw in a local store that was rechable for normal people without deep pockets, albeit it wasn't actually cheap, but it had some decent sounds that I had to borrow it a week and play with the Atari I just had gotten. I think it was ok for that time, but like you said the disk drive was so slow and so little ram, and I fast realiced that samplers was not really worth the trouble for gigging musicians because of ultra low storage size for loading samples and as romplers started to come out I settled on a M1 which in the meantime moved the bar to 16bit even many of the rom sounds was converted 12bit samples from their samplers. But for what it was the Mirage didn't sound that bad The digital revolution just outran many of those first movers faster than they could come up with updated models. See how fast the Fairlight died and that thing was a revolution and only a wet dream for most of us. to ever own. Remember my first setup with a Yamaha PSR63000 and a Korg DW8000. The Yamaha fast got replaced with a used RX11 and Roland RD250 and the DW8000 got replaced with the EX8000 when the M1 came out. Went thru so much hardware , that I really wish today I had kept instead of selling them off. The DW8000 which was my first Synth still one of my favorite Synths ever and I had several other along the way but back then gear went fast. as soon as something new came out we usually just sold the old and baught something new when we had written off the cost in tax over 2-3 years. One of the few things that lived fairly long considdering the kinda cheap build quality was actually the Atari ST and the fact that we hauled it around together with the SM124 Monitor for the most of 10 years. I remember the joy when adding a Harddisk to the Atari to not play "disk" jockey anymore
There was one point in 2023 when I briefly fantasized purchasing a DX100. That was only because it occurred to me that it might be like a budget SH101. It always try to be more than the Poly 800 or the CZ101. Ironically, a friend of mine has a 101 that he would willingly let me borrow if I asked. The SixTrak and MultiTrak almost come close to reminding me of the Alpha Juno and MKS50 models. However, they probably don’t measure up. They were built by Sequential Circuits (along with the Tom, Split 8 and MAX) for the purpose of killing two birds with one stone in 1984. They wanted to get into the consumer electronics market and also break into the home computer market (with software bundled with each of the keyboard and drum machines). Unfortunately, Sequential’s venture got eaten up when Casio came out with the CZ101. I think Drumtraks was the most successful model from this venture of Sequential’s
Yamaha DX21 has non-velocity sensitive keyboard nor it accepts velocity sent via MIDI. I owned bunch of them and still have two. Its second generation, the DX11, does have it (essentially it's DX7 Mk2 keybed). Presets aren't instantly accessible (like on DX11), they have to be loaded first in RAM memory using the same 32 front panel slots (thus erasing your custom patches you stored there). DX11 fixed that, overall it's a better synth. IMHO V50 is the best of all 4-op Yamaha FM synths, mainly due to 8-part multitimbrality and onboard effects.
🙏👍😎 At last I see a Mirage! Lol… I have one of the original Ensonic sampler keyboards, still active, the keyboard is beginning to show a little wear but I go with that old adage ‘’If it ain’t broke why fix it’’ for a lot of gear. No point in getting the latest gizmo just because it is the latest gizmo… I haven’t even considered adding a thumb drive, that would be very handy addition indeed if possible, although there is something of a buzz at the sound of a floppy loading up hahahaha (must be the maseochist in me wanting to wait, and wait, and wait to hear a sound…) I too remember the vibe when hearing these instruments and sampling devices for the first time and how explosive they were in studios, music tech and for musicians in general. I feel it a privilege to have lived and grown through that technological revolution for me it was from 79/80 till now… where I have my iPad M1 and Pianoteq 8 app waiting patiently to be tinkled. On the software front I am pretty amazed at what is available on iPad app, Korg being big in reproducing their hardware, then there are reproductions of the B3 which is excellent and the Moog stuff, I am considering the Synclavier, I think it is, on the AppStore for fun… I think there is also a Fairlight app somewhere. Oh and that reminds me of thr Mellotron apps… so much man! Yep, we are very lucky in what we have seen and what we are seeing emerge in music tech. Recent being Logic Pro for iPad update to v2 bringing even more creative power and tools to the game, also similar with Cubasis, Korg opening up their Gadget suite as AUv3s etc etc Keeps this old dog on its paws n claws… Again there are a couple on your list that passed me by on release, sequential mainly, very enjoyable. Bravo. Love and Peace 🙏👍😎
Yeah man you gotta call a lemon a lemon when it’s the truth! Agree with you on the 3P being a filler. Although, I actually liked it quite a bit bc it had that little sequencer in. It. I totally lost track of the 4op DX line in the 80s. Thought it was all the same stuff in different case. Thanks for clarifying
I recall wireless audio in the 80s from several manufacturers. A member of a band I was in used one. I think it was from Sampson, and I think he purchased it in 83 or 84. There was also wireless MIDI in the mid-80s, but it was notorious for giving you stuck notes and other issues. Also, it cost a fortune.
What a great synth channel by a guy so relaxed and neutral, in contrary of the hyper nervous Dr. Mix who sniffs thus stating everything is great, or that bs talking Espen Kraft. Keep this channel going on. You are simply one of the better synth-channels on YT!!!!!
Thank you, appreciate your comment.
I couldn't agree more. Finally someone is writing it out and calling names.
I always love these lists! So nostalgic.
Thanks, I enjoy them too.
Glad to see my beloved JX3P on the list. First synth I ever played with as a kid... then later in life tracked down a mint one. Got the programmer with it along with the optional Roland branded flight case.
When I bought my first synths back in 1990 I got the D-50 and the SCI Six-Trak to get both a digital and analog sound. I still have both today as each of these units keeps surprising me. About a decade ago I discovered the Six-Trak could “stack” six different patches and make a huge sound. Then later I discovered it can be fully controlled in real-time by MIDI CCs and on-line editors (Even an iPad). And more recently I upgraded the OS to a version 14 chip that allows for oscillator unison detuning and synchronized LFO to key press. I still gravitate to the Six-Trak for analog leads and basses as they punch through the mix but don’t take up the spectrum and still sound like classic Sequential.
Thanks for sharing.
I bought mine circa 84. The original battery is still going strong !
For someone wanting that JX-3P sound I would recommend the JX-03 Boutique. You can pick one up for under $300 and if the size is too small you can always drive it with a full sized MIDI controller. All parameters are tweakable with MIDI CC and while 4 note polyphony is rather limiting, the original JX-3P itself only had 6. For less than the price of the PG-200 controller you could pick up two JX-03 units and chain them for 8 note polyphony. I myself am ok with one JX-03. 😄
I sure miss that Malvern PA company. Just amazing value and functionality. Remember when they had reps give seminars at the local GC.
The problem is that great new synths have gotten cheaper. For $500 you could buy a Modal Cobalt 5s or Hydrasynth Explorer. A few dollars more gets you a fully analog Deepmnd 6 or Deepmind 12. And there are many other excellent options. Honestly, any of these would be a better choice tan anything on this list, for multiple reasons.
Indeed, but some folks still want the classics. Appreciate the comment.
I agree with you. Even a Yamaha PSR E-473 or a Casio CT-S500 for about $370 run rings around all of these. The synths on this list were competitive at their prices for the day, but they were way more limited than today's products.
exactly why I stopped looking for older gear: same price, more reliable, easier availability
So, the MAX was designed by Sequential to work with their Commodore 64 MIDI interface and software as both a controller keyboard and tone generator. It was a stripped down Six-Trak, but to be clear, it was specifically intended to work with computer software for patch editing. Nobody was expected to own a Six-Trak as well as a MAX.
Great list Jeffrey, JX3P deserved the first place! The DX21 was velocity sensitive through midi, but didn’t have velocity sensitive keyboard. Since you have included a rack module in the list, for four operator FM engine, a good bargain would also be the Yamaha FB01, being 8 part multitimbral.
Me and my best friend were lusting over the FB01 before it came out, and then Yamaha released the TX81Z, which is a lot better and the unit we both bought. Thanks for the comment.
TX81Z is unique. FB01 although same engine as the other 4op FM synths, it has somewhat punchier/louder output than a DX21, maybe different converters. I’ve owned most of the Yamaha 80s FMs and I think the best bargains are TX802, TX7, TX81Z, FB01.
I sold my Matrix 1000 for $300 back in the day. Who knew??? Wish I had it back, but the new 5 Voice TEO might just be the ticket now!
Nothing sounds like a Oberheim Matrix 6, 6r or the M1000. If you want that Oberheim Matrix sound buy a Matrix.
CZ101 was my very first synth, I upgraded to a CZ1 which I still have
Same here. Upgraded to the CZ1000 which I still have. I love programming it and with a bit of work, it's capable of some stunning sounds.
The DX27 is the full sized keyboards version of the DX100.
The Ensoniq Mirage: today, in our world of 24b and perfection, I think an old gritty sampler can have its place, more than a 16b better quality sampler. You put a sound in it and you get something else.
On my side, even if I mainly work in the box, I still have my samplers, an Akai S1100 and an Ensoniq EPSm (13b). And If if still use the EPSm from time to time I never use the S1100 , "too good".
The SQ80: and a keyboard with polyphonic aftertouch (like the EPS and many other Ensoniq keyboards of the time) which is great, if you like very soft action keyboards.
The 4ops Yamahas: personnaly if I wanted a vintage little 4ops FM synth I certainly would go for a tx81Z instead of the DXs21, 27 and so on. Yes , no keyboard but less volume and many waveforms.
There is something about 8bit sampling. It's crunchy. The producers back then really made the most of it. Thanks for the comment.
This may sound weird but, all this 80s tech talk makes me realize how poor was the market back then, specwise that is, and makes me appreciate today's synths more, especially the ones I own
We live in a time of great tech, but that's what a lot of folks thought back then too. Thanks for the comment.
Casio's CZ-1000 was the 49-key full size key model, not the 101. I'm personally more of a fan of the second round of 4-operator FM synths that had more operator waveforms than just the sine waves in the DX21/27/100. That would be the TX81Z, DX11 and V50 - broader/richer sonic pallete. The "dumbed down UI" FM 4-operator YS/DS synth line is worth a look as well. That includes the YS100/200, DS55 and TQ5. Same engine as and SYSEX compatible with TX81Z and DX11, but sound editing UI is greatly simplified. FWIW, pretty much every synth (and much more) in your list is faithfully reproduced in Arturia's V collection which doesn't bring all the baggage of owning 35+ year old electronic musical instruments.
Thanks for the comment.
I like these videos because they have extremely individual, partly totally unexpected statements and still are presented with the calm and balance of a therapist. I wouldn't be surprised if you run a practice as a psychiatrist or psychologist apart from UA-cam. The statement "JX3P is number 1 but I dislike like it", has just achieved cult status for me.
Thanks for the comment.
D-20/10/5? LA synth and a drum machine, a pitch bender and 61 velocity sensitive keys?
All great choices for the next list. Thanks for the comment.
@@JeffreyScottPetro Thank you for making these videos!
The Mirage was the first sampler I saw in a local store that was rechable for normal people without deep pockets, albeit it wasn't actually cheap, but it had some decent sounds that I had to borrow it a week and play with the Atari I just had gotten. I think it was ok for that time, but like you said the disk drive was so slow and so little ram, and I fast realiced that samplers was not really worth the trouble for gigging musicians because of ultra low storage size for loading samples and as romplers started to come out I settled on a M1 which in the meantime moved the bar to 16bit even many of the rom sounds was converted 12bit samples from their samplers. But for what it was the Mirage didn't sound that bad The digital revolution just outran many of those first movers faster than they could come up with updated models. See how fast the Fairlight died and that thing was a revolution and only a wet dream for most of us. to ever own. Remember my first setup with a Yamaha PSR63000 and a Korg DW8000. The Yamaha fast got replaced with a used RX11 and Roland RD250 and the DW8000 got replaced with the EX8000 when the M1 came out. Went thru so much hardware , that I really wish today I had kept instead of selling them off. The DW8000 which was my first Synth still one of my favorite Synths ever and I had several other along the way but back then gear went fast. as soon as something new came out we usually just sold the old and baught something new when we had written off the cost in tax over 2-3 years. One of the few things that lived fairly long considdering the kinda cheap build quality was actually the Atari ST and the fact that we hauled it around together with the SM124 Monitor for the most of 10 years. I remember the joy when adding a Harddisk to the Atari to not play "disk" jockey anymore
Great history, appreciate the comment.
There was one point in 2023 when I briefly fantasized purchasing a DX100. That was only because it occurred to me that it might be like a budget SH101. It always try to be more than the Poly 800 or the CZ101. Ironically, a friend of mine has a 101 that he would willingly let me borrow if I asked.
The SixTrak and MultiTrak almost come close to reminding me of the Alpha Juno and MKS50 models. However, they probably don’t measure up. They were built by Sequential Circuits (along with the Tom, Split 8 and MAX) for the purpose of killing two birds with one stone in 1984. They wanted to get into the consumer electronics market and also break into the home computer market (with software bundled with each of the keyboard and drum machines). Unfortunately, Sequential’s venture got eaten up when Casio came out with the CZ101. I think Drumtraks was the most successful model from this venture of Sequential’s
I still have to sit on my hands, every time I see a DX100 for sale. Thanks for sharing.
CZ-101 with full sized keys? Mine definitely did not have full size keys, not even close!
Thanks for setting me straight on that. I try my best, but things slip through occasionally. Appreciate it.
Yamaha DX21 has non-velocity sensitive keyboard nor it accepts velocity sent via MIDI. I owned bunch of them and still have two. Its second generation, the DX11, does have it (essentially it's DX7 Mk2 keybed). Presets aren't instantly accessible (like on DX11), they have to be loaded first in RAM memory using the same 32 front panel slots (thus erasing your custom patches you stored there). DX11 fixed that, overall it's a better synth. IMHO V50 is the best of all 4-op Yamaha FM synths, mainly due to 8-part multitimbrality and onboard effects.
🙏👍😎
At last I see a Mirage! Lol… I have one of the original Ensonic sampler keyboards, still active, the keyboard is beginning to show a little wear but I go with that old adage ‘’If it ain’t broke why fix it’’ for a lot of gear. No point in getting the latest gizmo just because it is the latest gizmo… I haven’t even considered adding a thumb drive, that would be very handy addition indeed if possible, although there is something of a buzz at the sound of a floppy loading up hahahaha (must be the maseochist in me wanting to wait, and wait, and wait to hear a sound…) I too remember the vibe when hearing these instruments and sampling devices for the first time and how explosive they were in studios, music tech and for musicians in general. I feel it a privilege to have lived and grown through that technological revolution for me it was from 79/80 till now… where I have my iPad M1 and Pianoteq 8 app waiting patiently to be tinkled.
On the software front I am pretty amazed at what is available on iPad app, Korg being big in reproducing their hardware, then there are reproductions of the B3 which is excellent and the Moog stuff, I am considering the Synclavier, I think it is, on the AppStore for fun… I think there is also a Fairlight app somewhere. Oh and that reminds me of thr Mellotron apps… so much man!
Yep, we are very lucky in what we have seen and what we are seeing emerge in music tech. Recent being Logic Pro for iPad update to v2 bringing even more creative power and tools to the game, also similar with Cubasis, Korg opening up their Gadget suite as AUv3s etc etc Keeps this old dog on its paws n claws…
Again there are a couple on your list that passed me by on release, sequential mainly, very enjoyable.
Bravo.
Love and Peace
🙏👍😎
Thanks for the comment.
Yeah man you gotta call a lemon a lemon when it’s the truth!
Agree with you on the 3P being a filler. Although, I actually liked it quite a bit bc it had that little sequencer in. It.
I totally lost track of the 4op DX line in the 80s. Thought it was all the same stuff in different case. Thanks for clarifying
Appreciate the comment, Stephen.
There was no wireless audio available in the 80’s that I remember so you had to drag a long 1/4” cable around.
I recall wireless audio in the 80s from several manufacturers. A member of a band I was in used one. I think it was from Sampson, and I think he purchased it in 83 or 84. There was also wireless MIDI in the mid-80s, but it was notorious for giving you stuck notes and other issues. Also, it cost a fortune.
Nice, but without some sound something is missing!
Thank you for this 👍🏻
My pleasure.