Yamaha TX81Z (1987)
Multi Timbral FM tone generator

Rack module featuring a FM variation of traditional DX 6OP a DX7 budget spin-off with different hardware and cheaper IC FM.

The Tx81Z is still especially appreciated for the low price and a famous electro bass preset LATELY BASS

RACKMOUNT one standard unit height.
Main panel features a 2 x 16 lines display and 11 push buttons.


Back panel terminal connectors:
- main outputs
- aux outputs
- Midi interface
- tape interface for data storage


Front panel terminal connectors:
- headphones out

 

 

 

TECH CPU HD63803XP Hitachi manages 8 voices polyphony- DAC is based on a IC YM3012. Main IC chip YM2414B features 4 OP + 8 combinations - unlike DX7 synthesis based on a 6 operators system with just pure sinewave and 32 combinations algorithms.
Internal ROM contains a stored digital half sinewave on a lookup table that can be read in different way and speed, creating 7 harmonics sinewaves variations with partials overtones and fundamentals fixed settings.

NOTE: The module does not feature "more waveforms" than dx7 and thus not more "powerful" as this trick just compensates the lacks of 2 OP. HEAR Harmoncs variations SEE

SYNTHESIS there are 4 sinewave operators - OP - organized as algorithms, assigned as either carrier or modulator, linked between them on different pathways interacting on their harmonic contents depending on the varable feedback strength.

- carrier defines the amplitude and the spectral frequency - modulator sets the sound timbre and the relative harmonic contents.

 

ALGORITHM Tx81Z features several OP signalpaths combinations with frequency ratio or fixed frequency: the output is fed back to its input with 7 feedback levels, as general rule, high values feedback results in richer harmonic contents. NOTE: the processor design reveals some limits and cannot layer some particular algorithm combinations.

- carrier defines the amplitude and the spectral frequency - modulator sets the sound timbre and the relative harmonic contents.

 

PERFORMANCE the FM voices can be assigned to 8 parts each with independent settings:

- analog mix level - Midi channel assign - effect amount - panning position - stack mode Eg: 4 voices or 8 monophonic - portamento with glide time - analog out assignment.

 

LFO there are 2 delayed and retriggerable modulators (shapes: sawtooth, square, triangle and sample & hold, frequency range from 0.007 Hz to 50 Hz). LFO DESTINATIONS are :

- LFO1 to amplitude - LFO2 to pitch LISTEN all LFO shapes

ENVELOPE 4 EGs: each OP features 1 amplitude EG (4-segments) + 1 general shift.
Very simple Key tracking scale less sophisticated than previous DX line.

EFFECTS not a real DSP but 3 faked simulated by a Midi notes trick reducing polyphony.
- pan moving: stereophonic path with follow velocity or LFO from left to right or vice versa
- chords mode: handles up to 4 notes
- delay: with possible pitch shift and adjustable feedbackHEAR

MEMORY:
- 128 ROM patches (preset list)
- 32 RAM patches
- 24 RAM performances
- 2 RAM microtuning tables for non-standard intonation
- 11 ROM microtuning preset e.g Equal, pure, major-minor, Vallotti and Werckmeister.

STORAGE No external storage but full Sysex dump and edit by Midi or tape dump; note that MIDI Sysex strings are NOT compatible with 6OP DX line. LEFT - BATTERY REPLACEMENT is quite easy but involves soldering a new lithium 3V CR-2032 on the mainboard( main motherboard - click to enlarge pic -

 

OS Midi response has some freezes with data flows (depends also on the OS EPROM official from 1.0 to 1.6).

Download LATEST OS V1.6 BIN

 

EDITOR there are many computer-based editors:

- Ctrlr (PC free) PIC - Midiquest (PC $$) PIC - noize (PC$$) PIC - TX81Z Programmer ($$) PIC - YSEDITOR (ATARI ST) PIC - Steinberg synthwork (ATARI ST) PIC - Atari: caged 4 OP artist (ATARI ST) PIC - MAX MSP yamaha tx81z editor PIC - VSTizer TX81Z (PC $$)

 

 

 

RELATED FAMILY 4 OP:

DX-9 (1983) first 4 OP incompatible with other 4 Op DX line VIDEO	DX-21 (1985) bitimbric layer with chorus and pitch EG	DX-100 (1985) same as dx21 with minikeyss VIDEO	DX-27 (1985) simplier DX 21 version - also a "S" with speakers VIDEO
Fb-01 (1986) simple 4OP module- also TQ5 module with sequencer VIDEO	DX-11 (1986) a Tx81z version with 8 waves VIDEO	YS-200 (1988) consumer 4 Op version with sequencer VIDEO	V-50 (1989) top 4 op series with sequencer + drum machine VIDEO

 

VST PLUGIN / SAMPLED VERSION no official VST emulation, but some FM emulator:

	polynominal free sample pack!	65 mb free samples: - FM FARFISA - DX TINES - MELLOW SQUARE -LATELY BASS Free donation:
	-DEXED -MDA DX10 -OXE FM SYNTH -VX7 -HEXTER	free VST

 

AUDIO DEMO

You spinme round, 100% tx81z Mix techno1 (+sampled drums) Mix techno2 (+sampled drums) Mix techno3 (+sampled drums) Mix techno4 (+sampled drums) Mix techno5 (+sampled drums) EP: tines rhodes EP: celesta EP: Wurlitzer Organ: hammond Blues Organ: sixties Farfisa Organ: light my VOX Brass: 1 Bell: dx like PlucK: banjo Synth: trill Synth: smalltown Synth: pacman Synth: modulator Synth: light Synth: lucy sky Synth: minimoog FM Synth: abused LFO Synth: very soft Synth: granular weird Synth: 8 bits

Bass: like a Sh101 Bass: liner Bass: saturnay niigghhttt Bass: short bass liner Bass: EBM String: FM 4OP Pad: metal pound Pad: Arrakis Pad: Darkvoice Pad: sounds like a 90 games Drums: tablas feedback variations Drums: old cheesy drum machine FX: robot talk FX: atmos FX: burning FX: chaos FX: frequency FX: grany FX: reverse sounding   XP: all harmonic variationswaves XP: all LFO shapes XP: stereo panning LFO XP: portamento glide XP: FX delay XP: FX reverb

VIDEO SELECTION You spin me round demo, all made on TX81z ! dedicated to Pete Burns (RIP). demo1 Performance Mode

hires pic

MANUAL

SERVICE MANUAL

GET FACTORY SET

Original advert

Original Brochure