Yamaha TX81Z
Encyclopedia
The Yamaha TX81Z is a rack-mounted (keyboard
-less) frequency modulation music synthesizer
, which was released in 1987. Unlike previous FM synthesizers of the era, the TX81Z was the first to employ a range of oscillator waveforms other than just sine wave
s, giving it its unique, grating timbre
. The TX81Z has better digital-to-analog converters than many of its keyboard cousins, and has a reputation for producing more powerful bass sounds than similar vintage Yamaha synthesizers, such as the DX11
.
The unit is multitimbral
, and has 128 ROM slots and 32 RAM
slots. The RAM slots were rarely utilized due to the quality of the original patches and the difficulty of programming new sounds with the limited front-panel interface. Among the presets is the famous LatelyBass, one of the most popular presets in synthesizer history. Producer Babyface at one point had two units in his studio, both of which he kept set to the preset, one detuned
from the other. This expanded version of the preset became a part of his signature sound.
Some say the prevalence of the TX81Z's presets was also because of the difficulty in creating new patches. Creating new sounds from the unit's front panel is possible, but numerous nested parameters must be navigated by way of 11 buttons and a backlit 16 character, 2-line LCD. However, several personal computer-based editing applications have been developed since its release.
The TX81Z was released as a low-cost FM machine and has always been relatively inexpensive compared to most other FM synthesizers. For this reason, it became popular with many producers on a tight budget, and is still used by part-time house and acid house
producers. Eliot Kennedy
uses it for one purpose, a "classic dancefloor bass sound.". Units are still fairly common and can often be found at pawn shops, second-hand music retailers, and internet auction websites.
The TX81Z is backwards-compatible with sound patches developed for Yamaha's DX21, DX27, DX100, and FB01 synthesizers. It is also very similar to the DX11
synthesizer, which is essentially a TX81Z with a velocity and pressure-sensing keyboard, and a pitch envelope.
Musical keyboard
A musical keyboard is the set of adjacent depressible levers or keys on a musical instrument, particularly the piano. Keyboards typically contain keys for playing the twelve notes of the Western musical scale, with a combination of larger, longer keys and smaller, shorter keys that repeats at the...
-less) frequency modulation music synthesizer
Synthesizer
A synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones...
, which was released in 1987. Unlike previous FM synthesizers of the era, the TX81Z was the first to employ a range of oscillator waveforms other than just sine wave
Sine wave
The sine wave or sinusoid is a mathematical function that describes a smooth repetitive oscillation. It occurs often in pure mathematics, as well as physics, signal processing, electrical engineering and many other fields...
s, giving it its unique, grating timbre
Timbre
In music, timbre is the quality of a musical note or sound or tone that distinguishes different types of sound production, such as voices and musical instruments, such as string instruments, wind instruments, and percussion instruments. The physical characteristics of sound that determine the...
. The TX81Z has better digital-to-analog converters than many of its keyboard cousins, and has a reputation for producing more powerful bass sounds than similar vintage Yamaha synthesizers, such as the DX11
Yamaha DX11
The Yamaha DX11 was one of the latest models of the DX series that Yamaha produced in the 1980s. This synth has been reported to be the most upgraded 4-OP synth of the DX series ....
.
The unit is multitimbral
Multitimbral
Monotimbral is usually used in reference to electronic synthesisers which can produce a single timbre at a given pitch upon pressing a single or multiple keys .An electronic musical instrument may be...
, and has 128 ROM slots and 32 RAM
Ram
-Animals:*Ram, an uncastrated male sheep*Ram cichlid, a species of freshwater fish endemic to Colombia and Venezuela-Military:*Battering ram*Ramming, a military tactic in which one vehicle runs into another...
slots. The RAM slots were rarely utilized due to the quality of the original patches and the difficulty of programming new sounds with the limited front-panel interface. Among the presets is the famous LatelyBass, one of the most popular presets in synthesizer history. Producer Babyface at one point had two units in his studio, both of which he kept set to the preset, one detuned
Chorus effect
In music, a chorus effect occurs when individual sounds with roughly the same timbre and nearly the same pitch converge and are perceived as one...
from the other. This expanded version of the preset became a part of his signature sound.
Some say the prevalence of the TX81Z's presets was also because of the difficulty in creating new patches. Creating new sounds from the unit's front panel is possible, but numerous nested parameters must be navigated by way of 11 buttons and a backlit 16 character, 2-line LCD. However, several personal computer-based editing applications have been developed since its release.
The TX81Z was released as a low-cost FM machine and has always been relatively inexpensive compared to most other FM synthesizers. For this reason, it became popular with many producers on a tight budget, and is still used by part-time house and acid house
Acid house
Acid house is a sub-genre of house music that emphasizes a repetitive, hypnotic and trance-like style, often with samples or spoken lines rather than sung lyrics. Acid house's core electronic squelch sounds were developed around the mid-1980s, particularly by DJs from Chicago who experimented with...
producers. Eliot Kennedy
Eliot Kennedy
Eliot Kennedy is an English songwriter and record producer based in Sheffield. He has worked with artists such as the Spice Girls, Bryan Adams, Lulu, S Club 7, Five, Delta Goodrem, and Lovers Electric.-History:...
uses it for one purpose, a "classic dancefloor bass sound.". Units are still fairly common and can often be found at pawn shops, second-hand music retailers, and internet auction websites.
The TX81Z is backwards-compatible with sound patches developed for Yamaha's DX21, DX27, DX100, and FB01 synthesizers. It is also very similar to the DX11
Yamaha DX11
The Yamaha DX11 was one of the latest models of the DX series that Yamaha produced in the 1980s. This synth has been reported to be the most upgraded 4-OP synth of the DX series ....
synthesizer, which is essentially a TX81Z with a velocity and pressure-sensing keyboard, and a pitch envelope.