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The Yamaha DX7 was a synthesizer manufactured by the Yamaha Corporation from 1983 to 1986, based on FM synthesis developed by John Chowning. It was the first commercially successful digital synthesizer, with its sound included in many recordings from the 1980s. The DX7 was the moderate priced model of the DX series of FM keyboards that included the smaller DX9, DX100, DX21, and the larger DX5 and DX1.

One major reason for the success was the precision and flexibility of digital sounds. Although the DX7 was not a sampler, its bright sounds were much clearer than the analog synthesizers that preceded it. Although the DX7 claimed to use FM, it actually implemented phase modulation synthesis. The DX7 is well-known for its electric piano, bells, and other “metal striking metal” sounds. It was monotimbral and capable of 16-note polyphony.

The synthesizer included MIDI ports, but was released shortly before the specification was completed, and has incomplete support for the standard: It only transmits information on MIDI channel 1. It can receive information on any one of the sixteen MIDI channels at a time, but lacks the OMNI feature that enabled later DXs in the series to receive on all MIDI channels simultaneously. Very early DX7s manufactured in 1983 are distinctive for not having “MIDI Channel” inscribed next to the button that opens this function. This lack of marking was corrected by 1984.

Voices can be programmed by a user, and stored into a 32-voice ROM internal memory, or corresponding DX7 ROM cartridge. Several computer applications exist (mainly for Atari and the classic version of Mac OS) that can enable a user to load different presets into the keyboard from a computer via MIDI.

Several improved “DX7 II” models were released between 1987 and 1989, most notably the DX7II(FD) which improved sound quality and allowed bi-timbrality. Third-party products for the DX7 also flourished in the 1980s, including Grey Matter Response’s E! expansion board, which added sequencer functions to the keyboard. DX7 IIs can transmit and receive on any one of 16 MIDI channels at a time. The DX7 family remains popular to this day with many recording and performing artists.

Rackmount versions of the DX7 also exist, ranging from the TX7 (a simple desktop DX7 unit, with limited editing abilities) to the TX802 (a DX7II in a 2-unit rack mount unit, with 8 outputs) and even the TX816 (eight DX7s in a large rack unit, with individual MIDI ports and balanced outputs for each module (via an XLR connector), giving the musician a massive 128 notes of polyphony).

In 1988, in celebration of the company’s 100-year anniversary, Yamaha released the DX7II Centennial. It was a DX7IIFD with a silver case, gold painted buttons and sliders, and 76 glow-in-the-dark keys. Only 100 were made and were priced at US$3995.

Software Emulation

Native Instruments have developed a popular software synthesizer, FM8 (2006) (previously FM7 (2001-2006)), that emulates the DX7’s digital circuitry and can load original DX7 patches.