I bought an original DX7 back in the day and still have it. Still works, still sounds great after years of road work. But haven't taken it out of the case since I found DEXED. I'm retired for a few years now so only work in my studio. DEXED serves the purpose admirably. One of, if not the, best free plugs out there. If you don't use it for anything but the preset sounds, of which there are thousands available on the web, just get it. But you might enjoy "twisting the knobs" as well. It's a bargain!
@@digitalbeat666 Certainly a purist would prefer the hardware. But I can assure you that as an owner of the hardware, it stays in the case these days. Why? Dexed is so close to the original soundwise and so easy to use in comparison, not to mention that in an AB comparison in a mix, almost no one would do more than guess which is real or software so I choose to use Dexed because it's just easier to use since all I do is studio work these days. But as I said, a purist would understandably choose the hardware. For me I'll take the convenience of the software these days. But back when I was touring and using my DX7, I loved it! When it first came out there was nothing else quite like it. I'm told it was the largest selling synth of all time. And one thing I love, the keybed. Still feels great to this day after hundreds if not thousands of hours being played. It was my work horse for years.
@@digitalbeat666it's exactly the same synth engine as the DX7 hardware, the sounds are exactly the same, it's a digital system so it can be copied perfectly quite easily
I'm pretty certain they called them Operators because they aren't the same as Oscillators due to each one containing a vca and envelope (or mseg in this case) whereas an oscillator is just a raw sound generator. And you're right about the filter, the DX-7 did not have one.
Ah interesting, never thought of it like that, each operator is its own little synth voice with vca and envelope. Makes me think how odd it is that there is no global vca + envelope. Well i suppose there is a vca as its got a volume knob
I really needed a tutorial like this one for the Dexed. I am just starting to get into FM Synthesis and this plug in's interface was very overwhelming for me. Thanks for breaking it down with such detail and clarity :)
For some reason the way you explained it clicked in my mind a lot faster than some videos I watched that were 20 and 30 minutes long. I've been producing for a long time but when it comes to synthesizers I would always shy away from them when it came to tweaking the dials and use whatever patches came with the device or VST. I felt intimidated like it like you had to be some kind of gifted genius to conceive anything worthwhile but after dabbling in it off and on for a year now I finally understand it. The secret really lies in the algorithms and the ADSR of each modulator after the carrier. But the beautiful thing with Dexed is you can start simple with a basic carrier/modulator combo or you can expand to ones that have 2 and 3 modulators after the carrier for some gnarly sounds. It's such a fun adventure because you might stumble into something that sounds like a piano or stumble into something that resembles a violin. The possibilities seem endless. 😄
Never actually knew what an FM synth was before today They've always been so hazy and scary but now I'm genuinely so excited to mess with this Thank you :]
Very nice presentation! The reason for the 'backward' envelope controls is that (as far as I am aware) they do not control time, but instead the amount of change per time step. A small value gives a small change (long time), a high value results in a big change (short time). This probably goes all back to the DX7 being one of the first digital synthesizers where levels were just numbers to increment or decrement. A time-based control would be more user-friendly, but some legacies die hard.
Thank you for the explanation. I have now acquired a whole bunch of yamaha fm synths and one casio phase distortion synth and they all treat the envelopes in a similar way
Subtractive synthesis is simple enough to be able to intuit what will happen if you turn a knob, and to be able to imagine what you want in advance then plan what settings will achieve it. I find FM synthesis completely bewildering, chaotic and impenitrable. I'd love to have some Idea where to start in getting some kind of intuition about what you can do with it. I have a DX7 FDII but i've never tried to program it. Does playing around with Dexed gradually give you some intuition about how to FM sounds are built, or is it just blind trial and error all the time?
Hi, thank you for your message. You should check my latest video, which attempts to tackle this very topic. And yes, it is totally possible to start getting your head around through Dexed. Just because I had some experience with dexed i was immediately able to understand how to program a yamaha TX81Z once I bought one. And recently bought a TX7 and use dexed to programme it. (Id recommend you do the same as it is soooo much button pressing otherwise). To use dexed a learning tool to understand fm synthesis. I suggest you 1. Understand how the envelopes work, which is explained in my video. 2. Focus only on the first two operators to start with. You will be able to construct all type of sounds only using this. Introduce more operators once you feel confident with the first two. 3. completely ignore the section about keyboard scaling etc. To start with. 4. To start with change the envelope on the first operator, and change the volume and course tuning on the second operator. The higher you turn these the brighter and more transient your sound will be. Adjust the envelope on operator two to change where and for how long these harmonics will be.
How to get rid of the weird buzzing sound when you release a note? It happens to me on most presets. For some reason I hear the buzzing only when I output through my audio interface.
Well, a real mini moog and the Dexed VST is arguably as far apart as you can get in terms of how they work 😂, maybe try an algorithm where you have some algos running in parallel. Try to fm two parallell operators to resemble detuned triangle waves, add a bit portamento. But you are better off using a two oscillator analogue/virtual analog subtractiveu synth
Not sur, i have never looked for it. I am sure it must be on one of the virtual cads provided. I am sure someone must have a sysex dump of all the original dx7 patches to download for free
Just did a quick Google and found this. Sounds like what you are looking for. Not tried it yamahablackboxes.com/collection/yamaha-dx7-synthesizer/patches/
DEXED as well as the real Yamaha DX7 / TX7. Only used Sine waves, no other waveforms. Other hardware and software synths have since incorporated different waveforms for FM synthesis.
Definitely no lowpass filter on the original DX7, I used to own one and am loving Dexed. Dexed otherwise is identical to a DX7 in terms of functionality, its just got a much better graphical UI.
I have got old MSX Yamaha CX5m that has inbuilt FM-synth and with 4 operators that makes it more simpler to use. I bet DX7 is more complex and that is because of more operators.
I am not sure, the only issue I have found is in the VST version on Mac OS, where everything is not mappable. However, the AU component have been working well for me.
Sorry if it was confusing, at about 7 minutes you can see how the modulators and carriers are affecting one another, and then just adjust the volume on the operators you wish to include. Keeping that any if you wish to include an operator higher up in the chain, you have to make sure that all modulators between it and the carrier have some volume applied.
I bought an original DX7 back in the day and still have it. Still works, still sounds great after years of road work. But haven't taken it out of the case since I found DEXED. I'm retired for a few years now so only work in my studio. DEXED serves the purpose admirably. One of, if not the, best free plugs out there. If you don't use it for anything but the preset sounds, of which there are thousands available on the web, just get it. But you might enjoy "twisting the knobs" as well. It's a bargain!
Dexed is very good indeed. I also use it to control my Yamaha TX7
@@TheFellowPassenger It's hard to believe it's a free plug for sure!
Not the same as original, but of course both are digital but dexed is not a real thing like hardware fm synth.
@@digitalbeat666 Certainly a purist would prefer the hardware. But I can assure you that as an owner of the hardware, it stays in the case these days. Why? Dexed is so close to the original soundwise and so easy to use in comparison, not to mention that in an AB comparison in a mix, almost no one would do more than guess which is real or software so I choose to use Dexed because it's just easier to use since all I do is studio work these days. But as I said, a purist would understandably choose the hardware. For me I'll take the convenience of the software these days. But back when I was touring and using my DX7, I loved it! When it first came out there was nothing else quite like it. I'm told it was the largest selling synth of all time. And one thing I love, the keybed. Still feels great to this day after hundreds if not thousands of hours being played. It was my work horse for years.
@@digitalbeat666it's exactly the same synth engine as the DX7 hardware, the sounds are exactly the same, it's a digital system so it can be copied perfectly quite easily
I'm pretty certain they called them Operators because they aren't the same as Oscillators due to each one containing a vca and envelope (or mseg in this case) whereas an oscillator is just a raw sound generator. And you're right about the filter, the DX-7 did not have one.
Ah interesting, never thought of it like that, each operator is its own little synth voice with vca and envelope. Makes me think how odd it is that there is no global vca + envelope. Well i suppose there is a vca as its got a volume knob
If you switch off all other operators, so you have only one, then it’s essentially a complete Synthesizer with only one oscillator.
The oscillator is part of the operator.
I really needed a tutorial like this one for the Dexed. I am just starting to get into FM Synthesis and this plug in's interface was very overwhelming for me. Thanks for breaking it down with such detail and clarity :)
For some reason the way you explained it clicked in my mind a lot faster than some videos I watched that were 20 and 30 minutes long. I've been producing for a long time but when it comes to synthesizers I would always shy away from them when it came to tweaking the dials and use whatever patches came with the device or VST. I felt intimidated like it like you had to be some kind of gifted genius to conceive anything worthwhile but after dabbling in it off and on for a year now I finally understand it. The secret really lies in the algorithms and the ADSR of each modulator after the carrier. But the beautiful thing with Dexed is you can start simple with a basic carrier/modulator combo or you can expand to ones that have 2 and 3 modulators after the carrier for some gnarly sounds. It's such a fun adventure because you might stumble into something that sounds like a piano or stumble into something that resembles a violin. The possibilities seem endless. 😄
Thank you! I'm glad it worked
Never actually knew what an FM synth was before today
They've always been so hazy and scary but now I'm genuinely so excited to mess with this
Thank you :]
Thats good! If you are an Ableton user, you should def dive into Operator. I would argue its one of the best FM synths out there
@@TheFellowPassenger I use reaper but thanks anyway :D
my problem was the release tail,you helped me so much.thanx!
Very nice presentation! The reason for the 'backward' envelope controls is that (as far as I am aware) they do not control time, but instead the amount of change per time step. A small value gives a small change (long time), a high value results in a big change (short time). This probably goes all back to the DX7 being one of the first digital synthesizers where levels were just numbers to increment or decrement. A time-based control would be more user-friendly, but some legacies die hard.
Thank you for the explanation. I have now acquired a whole bunch of yamaha fm synths and one casio phase distortion synth and they all treat the envelopes in a similar way
great. thanks for this introduction into dexed.
Great clear and simple explanation. Cheers!!
This is fantastic. Thanks.
Subtractive synthesis is simple enough to be able to intuit what will happen if you turn a knob, and to be able to imagine what you want in advance then plan what settings will achieve it. I find FM synthesis completely bewildering, chaotic and impenitrable. I'd love to have some Idea where to start in getting some kind of intuition about what you can do with it. I have a DX7 FDII but i've never tried to program it. Does playing around with Dexed gradually give you some intuition about how to FM sounds are built, or is it just blind trial and error all the time?
Hi, thank you for your message. You should check my latest video, which attempts to tackle this very topic.
And yes, it is totally possible to start getting your head around through Dexed. Just because I had some experience with dexed i was immediately able to understand how to program a yamaha TX81Z once I bought one. And recently bought a TX7 and use dexed to programme it. (Id recommend you do the same as it is soooo much button pressing otherwise).
To use dexed a learning tool to understand fm synthesis. I suggest you
1. Understand how the envelopes work, which is explained in my video.
2. Focus only on the first two operators to start with. You will be able to construct all type of sounds only using this. Introduce more operators once you feel confident with the first two.
3. completely ignore the section about keyboard scaling etc. To start with.
4. To start with change the envelope on the first operator, and change the volume and course tuning on the second operator. The higher you turn these the brighter and more transient your sound will be. Adjust the envelope on operator two to change where and for how long these harmonics will be.
@@TheFellowPassengerGreat, thanks for your help!
Two simple words
THANK YOU 🙏
Im glad it was helpful
Im sure there's a sensible reason for it but I feel like Dexes envelope is a perfect example of "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" for ADSR.
How to get rid of the weird buzzing sound when you release a note? It happens to me on most presets. For some reason I hear the buzzing only when I output through my audio interface.
Odd, i have not experienced this. So no idea I'm afraid
How would you go about creating the famous Lucky man Moog solo sound on the dexed?
Well, a real mini moog and the Dexed VST is arguably as far apart as you can get in terms of how they work 😂, maybe try an algorithm where you have some algos running in parallel. Try to fm two parallell operators to resemble detuned triangle waves, add a bit portamento. But you are better off using a two oscillator analogue/virtual analog subtractiveu synth
Thanks for making this!
great video. thank you so much
How exactly do you get or load the traditional e-piano sound from the 80s? None of the 32 presets seem to be the correct one.
Not sur, i have never looked for it. I am sure it must be on one of the virtual cads provided. I am sure someone must have a sysex dump of all the original dx7 patches to download for free
@@TheFellowPassenger thanks. Any thoughts on where i would start looking to find it?
Just did a quick Google and found this. Sounds like what you are looking for. Not tried it yamahablackboxes.com/collection/yamaha-dx7-synthesizer/patches/
New to synthesizers and wondering how to set the waveform (saw, square, etc) for each oscillator here...
DEXED as well as the real Yamaha DX7 / TX7. Only used Sine waves, no other waveforms.
Other hardware and software synths have since incorporated different waveforms for FM synthesis.
Do you have any insight on how to use this in pro tools? It doesn't show as a plugin after I have downloaded it.
Im afraid I don't, i have never used protools
Very useful! Thank you.
how to you play the sound while editing it? when i click on a setting while holding a key it just cuts off the sound.
How strange? it seems to work fine for me
@@TheFellowPassenger Can you suggest a hardware midi controller for this software. (A controller that would control all)
@@SoundMediaVibes the DTronics DT7 is what you are looking for 😁
@@TheFellowPassenger I'll have a look at that, thanks for your reply!
Definitely no lowpass filter on the original DX7, I used to own one and am loving Dexed. Dexed otherwise is identical to a DX7 in terms of functionality, its just got a much better graphical UI.
The master filter is quite useful if the user try to emulate the DAC anti-aliasing filter on the original DX7(sallen-key low-pass around 16K).
I have got old MSX Yamaha CX5m that has inbuilt FM-synth and with 4 operators that makes it more simpler to use. I bet DX7 is more complex and that is because of more operators.
How do you in ableton make so you can see all the knobs in such state that u can map lfos to:) iam sure u know what I mean.
Click "configure" in the plugin window in ableton at the bottom of the screen. Then move the knobs in the plugin and they will appear
Have there been any updates to the software. This thing is kind of buggy. I'm scared to reinstall it.
I am not sure, the only issue I have found is in the VST version on Mac OS, where everything is not mappable. However, the AU component have been working well for me.
Video starts 1:30
do you use a midi controler to play it? if I don't have pne can I use my pc keyboard?
I run the VST through Ableton, which allows me to use the computer keyboard to play it. The only thing that doesnt handle is velocity sensitivigy
@@TheFellowPassenger Thank you
Could it works with reaper?
3:00 you never explained how to get the modulators to modulate the carrier...................................
Sorry if it was confusing, at about 7 minutes you can see how the modulators and carriers are affecting one another, and then just adjust the volume on the operators you wish to include. Keeping that any if you wish to include an operator higher up in the chain, you have to make sure that all modulators between it and the carrier have some volume applied.
Can you create your own algorithm on the Dexed?
No you can't, you need something like FM8 or Ghost which are FM soft synths that allows you to have full control over the algorithms
Thanks!!
P.sst...Hold down Ctrl Key if u have a mac when installing to bypass gatekeeper
I thought I was listening to C3PO
🤣
Damn i never understood those eg thing
But how do I make it sound like a regular piano? LOL
😂 let FM be FM and let a real piano be a real piano
Am I the only person who's ever pronounced it dex-ed? Like rhymes with sex ed?
Part of my logic being that it must be a shortened version of "DX editor", right? DX ed?
Makes sense, I think that is why it was originally developed. Without its own sound engine
The blandest-sounding synth ever.
😂