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FM (frequency modulating) synthesis in itself was rather groundbreaking. Typically when we're talking about creating sounds, we mainly had additive and subtract

FM (frequency modulating) synthesis in itself was rather groundbreaking. Typically when we're talking about creating sounds, we mainly had additive and subtractive synthesis where stacking oscillators were used to shape sounds. FM uses oscillators to manipulate other oscillator's waveforms, which opened up a whole lot of new possibilities. The DX7 mainly was an affordable all-rounder that got loaded with a ton of already-good presets and a way of managing presets. Yamaha had already released the GS-1 three years prior, but obviously it didn't remain in the books of history quite the same. The Sega Genesis soundchip, YM2612 is also a great showcase on how different FM synthesis can sound compared to comparable competing consoles. If anyone is interested, there's a great open source soft synth called Dexed, which is compatible with DX7 soundbanks (and comes bundled with a lot of em). A free, fun way of getting a glimpse into FM synthesis and music production techniques of yore.

ninjin 6y ago
Indeed, the Genesis (aka Mega Drive) brought a sound very different from what was around at the time. As an example, here is the rendition of the Battletoads soundtrack for the NES [1] which you can compare to the Genesis version [2]. Both by legend David Wise [3] of later Donkey Kong Country fame. [1]: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCFqF-IeeAk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCFqF-IeeAk [2]: https://archive.org/details/md_music_battletoads/ https://archive.org/details/md_music_battletoads/ [3]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Wise_(composer) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Wise_(composer)
- ratww 6y ago
  For FM sounds I really enjoy the Neo Geo soundtracks of the 90s: Fatal Fury, The King of Fighters, Samurai Shodown. They were a combination of FM and early sample chips, but all super tasteful (as far as 90s game soundtracks go!) and exploiting the maximum of the chips.
- scns 6y ago
  OT since not FM, but my favourite OST is from Battletoads in Battlemaniacs for SNES: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-RGsaKoP66o&list=PLA90CC2EE74CAA109&index=1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-RGsaKoP66o&list=PLA90CC2EE7...
alisonatwork 6y ago
Great comment. This really gets to the core of why the DX7 and Yamaha's FM synthesis patent was important. At the time the DX7 came out, sample-based synths were still too expensive for the average musician. Affordable analog synths had less polyphony and mediocre piano sounds, plus they were heavy! The DX7 was cheap and light and did an alright piano sound, which is just what musicians wanted. But having a cheap and light alternative to sample-based synthesis wasn't just useful to musicians. Cut-down versions of the chips also went into Sega consoles, Neo Geo arcade games, AdLib sound cards for PC, and even the early Sound Blasters. I think Yamaha's FM synthesis had a huge impact on the sorts of music a whole generation of gamers grew up with, as well as being ubiquitous in pop music through much of the 80s. This is what makes the DX7 important, in my opinion. It's more significant as part of the story of consumer electronics becoming affordable than just as a pop music phenomenon.
megameter 6y ago
The specific thing that made the DX7 perfect for its time was not just the sounds, but the way in which it could be at home on stage or in the studio, making it both a players' and producers' product: MIDI was basically brand new, and while the dry sound that came out of the DX lacked body, outboard digital effects were available. Combine all of that and you had the defacto setup for "production music": a computer-based sequencer, a DX7 and some other MIDI synths and drum machines, a rack of effects units, a mixing board and a multitrack tape system. That's how it happened that music in TV commercials, soundtracks, etc. abruptly went from session recordings to synth-only during the 80's - you could bring it in under budget by leaving it all to a one-man band. The DX7 just happened to be positioned to capitalize best on this trend, as well as being useful live gear, but the quick move towards sampled instruments afterwards indicates how interchangable the sounds themselves were.

ninjin 6y ago

Indeed, the Genesis (aka Mega Drive) brought a sound very different from what was around at the time. As an example, here is the rendition of the Battletoads soundtrack for the NES [1] which you can compare to the Genesis version [2]. Both by legend David Wise [3] of later Donkey Kong Country fame. [1]: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCFqF-IeeAk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCFqF-IeeAk [2]: https://archive.org/details/md_music_battletoads/ https://archive.org/details/md_music_battletoads/ [3]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Wise_(composer) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Wise_(composer)

ratww 6y ago
For FM sounds I really enjoy the Neo Geo soundtracks of the 90s: Fatal Fury, The King of Fighters, Samurai Shodown. They were a combination of FM and early sample chips, but all super tasteful (as far as 90s game soundtracks go!) and exploiting the maximum of the chips.
scns 6y ago
OT since not FM, but my favourite OST is from Battletoads in Battlemaniacs for SNES: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-RGsaKoP66o&list=PLA90CC2EE74CAA109&index=1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-RGsaKoP66o&list=PLA90CC2EE7...

alisonatwork 6y ago

Great comment. This really gets to the core of why the DX7 and Yamaha's FM synthesis patent was important. At the time the DX7 came out, sample-based synths were still too expensive for the average musician. Affordable analog synths had less polyphony and mediocre piano sounds, plus they were heavy! The DX7 was cheap and light and did an alright piano sound, which is just what musicians wanted. But having a cheap and light alternative to sample-based synthesis wasn't just useful to musicians. Cut-down versions of the chips also went into Sega consoles, Neo Geo arcade games, AdLib sound cards for PC, and even the early Sound Blasters. I think Yamaha's FM synthesis had a huge impact on the sorts of music a whole generation of gamers grew up with, as well as being ubiquitous in pop music through much of the 80s. This is what makes the DX7 important, in my opinion. It's more significant as part of the story of consumer electronics becoming affordable than just as a pop music phenomenon.

megameter 6y ago

The specific thing that made the DX7 perfect for its time was not just the sounds, but the way in which it could be at home on stage or in the studio, making it both a players' and producers' product: MIDI was basically brand new, and while the dry sound that came out of the DX lacked body, outboard digital effects were available. Combine all of that and you had the defacto setup for "production music": a computer-based sequencer, a DX7 and some other MIDI synths and drum machines, a rack of effects units, a mixing board and a multitrack tape system. That's how it happened that music in TV commercials, soundtracks, etc. abruptly went from session recordings to synth-only during the 80's - you could bring it in under budget by leaving it all to a one-man band. The DX7 just happened to be positioned to capitalize best on this trend, as well as being useful live gear, but the quick move towards sampled instruments afterwards indicates how interchangable the sounds themselves were.