I think the DX21 is the best way of learning about FM synthesis. I used to make all sorts of weirdness with mine ...like the sound of boiling water, steam whistle kettle, subsonic explosions etc... lots of fun!
@@Wyrmfyr If you really love the sound of the Mega Drive/Genesis, it is absolutely amazing! It has it's quirks though. It uses two YM2612 chips so it comes with all the noisey goodness that you'd hear in an actual Sega Genesis. Some people hate It. I love it! It's got character because of it. The faders are small and very very sensitive. It takes a bit of time to get used to. If you have a good understanding of how FM synthesis works then you shouldn't have any issues. Having immediate access to all the parameters makes it god like and Much better than something like a DX21. With that said, I love the DX21 as well. being able to layer 2 patches at once actually makes it kinda similar to the Megafm. Has a nice Chorus effect too. My biggest gripe with it is that it's not as easy to edit patches, as seen in this video. There is, however, an app called edisyn that allows you to easily edit patches on your computer. You can't go wrong with either of these synths and they both sound great. Just different in some ways.
I have a DX21, not the prettiest synth to look at but its built like tank and the sounds are really good especially running them thru a delay pedal. Highly overlooked synth IMO. Excellent video FM synthesis video tutorial, thank you!
@@Wyrmfyr could be a contact switch, the rubber contacts have carbon coating witch sometimes loses conductivity. You will have to disassemble the unit to find out for sure. Good luck.
Just got my DX21, already had a reface dx. Which i really love. Just looking at these videos to catch up on the keyboard and it's functions and how to control/edit those
I still have my DX-21...mint condition... keep for my grand kid's at the time I paid around 900.00$ (not shure, but) still have it merci from Québec, Canada
Well done mate, definitely one of the best tutorials on the DX21! Although I know my way around the DX21, I still watched this all the way through because I was very impressed with your use of Audio/Visual.
learn to diy ! ;D some inspiration : the "fathers" : ruclips.net/video/cUrKE_ktTXI/видео.html her spiritual son : ruclips.net/video/FHOXIhWkpss/видео.html now go create dont stay ! ahah ;p
Hey, Thanks for the very informative video. I'm just learning about editing voices and I'm running into trouble when trying to save voices that I have edited. It woks fine from the 'init voice' construction of sound side. (I can save and recall the voices) but when I edit the onboard ones something goes wrong. If you ever have the DX21 out again and feel like doing a video on that side of saving things I, for one, would be very appreciative. Thanks again!!!
Great videos! I don't own this synthesizer but I love the sound of FM synthesis and I'm keenly learning about how they work :) Your videos are really easy to follow. My only feedback would be that the feed from your mic is much quieter than the feed from the synth. Perhaps you could load the audio into Audacity and compress it, then update the audio?
@zlovich any chance you could explain how to get the sawtooth? I just got a dx21 and am clueless on how to get started. Im hooking up to my heil talkbox and want that roger sound. Any help would be great! Thanks in advance
+Mr Maticulous simplest is to use a feedback capable operator (operator 4 in this case) as a carrier (algorithm 8) and turn the feedback up to taste. it's in the video, around 13 min in.
Hey! Can you save patches with some of the operators being off? I tried to save them but the operators always got turned on when I get back to the saved patch. Of course I can turn down the volume of the operator, but that's not really nice solution. Do you experience this as well? Or Am I doing something wrong?
great video, still cant figure out how to save a patch, i did it a long time ago....memory protect is off and I know how to save to cassette but besides that not sure how to save internally :/
+Zypher once you've turned memory protect off (and you're in "function mode") you'll need to hold down the "EG copy/store" button and press any of the A or B bank buttons, which will save the patch in that location, e.g. "A 1"
+Zypher you can make "traditional" waveshapes with the sine operators... fyi, it uses this chip: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yamaha_YM2164 I doubt much precise modification is possible... especially in regards to reprogramming the CPU, etc.
is this a bether synth then dx27 i used a dx21 at my first synth but hen i se a dx27 i thought it vas the older brother of dx 7 BUT its seems like dx27 oonly had 24 buttons to the right, and this have 32 (same like dx-7) and when i used this one at early 1985+ i rememeber it has 2 banks and 32 voices =64, dx 7 had what i know only 32 voices + extra cardridge upgrades sorry for bad english
Thanks!! Sending a [note] sequence into DX21 (via midi) and adjusting parameters via sysex editor in realtime. I forget the settings, but it's all just a single stereo track.
God I wish your videos were around when I first got this keyboard. Thank you so much for posting these you saint.
I think the DX21 is the best way of learning about FM synthesis. I used to make all sorts of weirdness with mine ...like the sound of boiling water, steam whistle kettle, subsonic explosions etc... lots of fun!
What do you think about the MegaFM from Twisted Electrons?
@@Wyrmfyr If you really love the sound of the Mega Drive/Genesis, it is absolutely amazing! It has it's quirks though. It uses two YM2612 chips so it comes with all the noisey goodness that you'd hear in an actual Sega Genesis. Some people hate It. I love it! It's got character because of it. The faders are small and very very sensitive. It takes a bit of time to get used to. If you have a good understanding of how FM synthesis works then you shouldn't have any issues. Having immediate access to all the parameters makes it god like and Much better than something like a DX21.
With that said, I love the DX21 as well. being able to layer 2 patches at once actually makes it kinda similar to the Megafm. Has a nice Chorus effect too. My biggest gripe with it is that it's not as easy to edit patches, as seen in this video. There is, however, an app called edisyn that allows you to easily edit patches on your computer. You can't go wrong with either of these synths and they both sound great. Just different in some ways.
I have a DX21, not the prettiest synth to look at but its built like tank and the sounds are really good especially running them thru a delay pedal. Highly overlooked synth IMO. Excellent video FM synthesis video tutorial, thank you!
What delay pedal do you recommend?
I have one where the lowest key doesn't work, any recommendations for repairing the issue?
@@Wyrmfyr could be a contact switch, the rubber contacts have carbon coating witch sometimes loses conductivity. You will have to disassemble the unit to find out for sure. Good luck.
Just got my DX21, already had a reface dx. Which i really love. Just looking at these videos to catch up on the keyboard and it's functions and how to control/edit those
I just bought a DX21... Thank you for the video👍, you have a new subscriber😉
Wow great video. I've always been curious about FM synths and this is a good way for me to learn stuff about them while I pine after owning one.
+eggfooyuong thanks!
Thank you, informative and clear, just what people need when considering this synth!
I still have my DX-21...mint condition... keep for my grand kid's at the time I paid around 900.00$ (not shure, but) still have it merci from Québec, Canada
im pretty sure you already know a lot about carrier frequency
Well done mate, definitely one of the best tutorials on the DX21! Although I know my way around the DX21, I still watched this all the way through because I was very impressed with your use of Audio/Visual.
Just bought one....man I have a problem....need to go to therapy for my synth buying addiction.
learn to diy ! ;D
some inspiration :
the "fathers" :
ruclips.net/video/cUrKE_ktTXI/видео.html
her spiritual son :
ruclips.net/video/FHOXIhWkpss/видео.html
now go create dont stay ! ahah ;p
Man, I've got a lot to learn.
great video. thanks a million saved me years of guesswork. instead i could jump right in :)
muy buen video saludos desde Baja California
Hey, Thanks for the very informative video. I'm just learning about editing voices and I'm running into trouble when trying to save voices that I have edited. It woks fine from the 'init voice' construction of sound side. (I can save and recall the voices) but when I edit the onboard ones something goes wrong. If you ever have the DX21 out again and feel like doing a video on that side of saving things I, for one, would be very appreciative. Thanks again!!!
Great videos! I don't own this synthesizer but I love the sound of FM synthesis and I'm keenly learning about how they work :) Your videos are really easy to follow. My only feedback would be that the feed from your mic is much quieter than the feed from the synth. Perhaps you could load the audio into Audacity and compress it, then update the audio?
@zlovich any chance you could explain how to get the sawtooth? I just got a dx21 and am clueless on how to get started. Im hooking up to my heil talkbox and want that roger sound. Any help would be great! Thanks in advance
+Mr Maticulous simplest is to use a feedback capable operator (operator 4 in this case) as a carrier (algorithm 8) and turn the feedback up to taste. it's in the video, around 13 min in.
thank you!
Could we say that it's basically a upscale PSR with no drum samples?
Excellent video. Thank you very much!
Just got one but transposed. How to transpose ?
Really good videos!
thanks, well explained!
Hey! Can you save patches with some of the operators being off? I tried to save them but the operators always got turned on when I get back to the saved patch. Of course I can turn down the volume of the operator, but that's not really nice solution. Do you experience this as well? Or Am I doing something wrong?
great video, still cant figure out how to save a patch, i did it a long time ago....memory protect is off and I know how to save to cassette but besides that not sure how to save internally :/
+Zypher once you've turned memory protect off (and you're in "function mode") you'll need to hold down the "EG copy/store" button and press any of the A or B bank buttons, which will save the patch in that location, e.g. "A 1"
ahhh fantastic, do you know if anyone has ever modified a dx21 to have more than just sine waveforms?
+Zypher you can make "traditional" waveshapes with the sine operators... fyi, it uses this chip: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yamaha_YM2164
I doubt much precise modification is possible... especially in regards to reprogramming the CPU, etc.
I think the DX7_II may have definable WAVESHAPES. The later SY series has Saws and Pulses onboard I am fairly certain.
Clever guy!
is this a bether synth then dx27 i used a dx21 at my first synth but hen i se a dx27 i thought it vas the older brother of dx 7 BUT its seems like dx27 oonly had 24 buttons to the right, and this have 32 (same like dx-7)
and when i used this one at early 1985+ i rememeber it has 2 banks and 32 voices =64, dx 7 had what i know only 32 voices + extra cardridge upgrades
sorry for bad english
Never played or owned a DX27, but from the specs it seems more limited (specifically no chorus, split/layers, or PEG). Hope that helps...!
I really love the music at the intro. Can you explain how you did that? :)
Thanks!! Sending a [note] sequence into DX21 (via midi) and adjusting parameters via sysex editor in realtime. I forget the settings, but it's all just a single stereo track.
Cool, it sounds very interesting, what editor do you use? I just bought one!!
Awesome! I made a custom editor... can share (without guarantee) if you're on OSX. Otherwise, I think FourFM works.
zlovitch that would be great, love to tinker with it. martinmoretto@gmail.com
zlovitch by tinker I meant play around with it:)
So which workstation has more options? The dx7 or the dx21?
Quick overview of basic operator functionality ????? OK.... this might be an odyssey.....
Have SUBBED ;-)
So it's a lot like Operator on Ableton?