For those of you who have owned/played old DX synths, which sounds more accurate to the real deal? FM7, Phantom, or Rhino? FM7 imports just sound so much more 'FM' like, and was just curious for curiosity's sake.

Devon

I had a DX7 II in the 80ties and I tried FM7 but I think it sounds too clean and polished compared to the real thing. It has some nice pads but it doesn't cut through in a mix IMO.

I've also tried Rhino this weekend and found that it sounded much fuller and more 'analogue' than an old DX.

Haven't tried Phantom yet.

Peter.

pschelfh wrote:

I had a DX7 II in the 80ties and I tried FM7 but I think it sounds too clean and polished compared to the real thing. It has some nice pads but it doesn't cut through in a mix IMO. I've also tried Rhino this weekend and found that it sounded much fuller and more 'analogue' than an old DX. Haven't tried Phantom yet. Peter.

What I'm more interested in knowing is the import of the DX patches, and how they compare precisely to the DX itself. I own FM7 and love it.

Devon

Import of DX7 patches into FM7 works nicely, but I don't think the sound has the same character as the original. Maybe because the D/A conversion of the current soundcards is too clean?

Peter.

pschelfh wrote:

Import of DX7 patches into FM7 works nicely, but I don't think the sound has the same character as the original. Maybe because the D/A conversion of the current soundcards is too clean? Peter.

Try playing with the digital slider in the master menu.You can get that 12 bit trash(16 bit trash for a DX7II)pretty easily
In answer to your question,Devon-it's FM7 that does the better import between Rhino and FM7,at least.Haven't tried Phantom,and don't think I will either.Former DX7/TX81Z/V50 owner here.
ew

However,the one I think might end up being the best for importing DX sounds is when MAZ puts out their new VX7.The old VX7 probably sounds closest with the minimum f$@king around required of any of them-it's got that irresistable lo-fi sleaze factor
ew

ew wrote:

pschelfh wrote: Import of DX7 patches into FM7 works nicely, but I don't think the sound has the same character as the original. Maybe because the D/A conversion of the current soundcards is too clean? Peter. Try playing with the digital slider in the master menu.You can get that 12 bit trash(16 bit trash for a DX7II)pretty easily In answer to your question,Devon-it's FM7 that does the better import between Rhino and FM7,at least.Haven't tried Phantom,and don't think I will either.Former DX7/TX81Z/V50 owner here. ew

Well, if you do so feel inclined, the patches that already are in Phantom are the old DX patches. I just noticed a VERY big difference in the sound between the FM7 and the Phantom in loading in the DX patches, and wondered which was more accurate. I thought the FM7 was more 'fm' like, and more what I'd expect for FM sound. Not a case of 'which sounds better', just wondering who's off in left field, and who's close, or if both are way out of whack.

Devon

ew wrote:

However,the one I think might end up being the best for importing DX sounds is when MAZ puts out their new VX7.The old VX7 probably sounds closest with the minimum f$@king around required of any of them-it's got that irresistable lo-fi sleaze factor ew

Not to mention the fact that it does a pretty decent job of importing SY-77/99 AFM patches. The other FM synth to throw into your comparison is LoftSoft's FM-Heaven. Cesare put a fair bit of time into getting it to sound as close to the DX7 as he could and succeeded.

At the Otaku shop in Croydon, there's a DX-7 II in the back. You could ask them.

Collusion wrote:

ew wrote: However,the one I think might end up being the best for importing DX sounds is when MAZ puts out their new VX7.The old VX7 probably sounds closest with the minimum f$@king around required of any of them-it's got that irresistable lo-fi sleaze factor ew Not to mention the fact that it does a pretty decent job of importing SY-77/99 AFM patches. The other FM synth to throw into your comparison is LoftSoft's FM-Heaven. Cesare put a fair bit of time into getting it to sound as close to the DX7 as he could and succeeded.

yeah I'm really looking forward to VX7..

but thanks for remindingme about fm heaven, i forogt all about that..it's such a nice sounding little synth

I own a DX7IIFD and have access to an original dx7 (it's in my rehearsal room )
The FM7 sounds not only "too clean" but also totally lacks the punch of either piece of hardware, making especially basses sound dull - at least to my ears.
This is probably because of todays DACs being a lot better than the early varieties (not to mention going from 12bit to 24bit and beyond..), so a true dx7 clone will have to emulate the dx7 more closely than the fm7 does, that digital slider is just lofi without coming anywhere close to the original.

Guckli wrote:

I own a DX7IIFD and have access to an original dx7 (it's in my rehearsal room ) The FM7 sounds not only "too clean" but also totally lacks the punch of either piece of hardware, making especially basses sound dull - at least to my ears. This is probably because of todays DACs being a lot better than the early varieties (not to mention going from 12bit to 24bit and beyond..), so a true dx7 clone will have to emulate the dx7 more closely than the fm7 does, that digital slider is just lofi without coming anywhere close to the original.

Guckli, I was simply wondering how the original DX21/27/etc patches on the original boards compared to the imports of the patches in FM7 vs Phantom. Which sounds closer to the original boards, JUST in regards to the DX patches, nothing else.

Devon

jeah, so stop talking about anything else, because thats COMPLETELY forbidden in a forum.

Lance Vance wrote:

jeah, so stop talking about anything else, because thats COMPLETELY forbidden in a forum.

Probably because no one has actually answered the question yet.

Does the presets from the DX family, when imported into programs like FM7 and Phantom, actually SOUND like the original board, and which one sounds CLOSER to the original. Obviosuly they are going to be cleaner in software, but if you give a listen between FM7's DX imports, and Phantom's imports, they sound REALLY different. Which is closer?

Devon

i can't answer you Devon, because i don't have a dx7 or funnily enough never heard a real one

but yeah it does seem like such a straightforward question and everyone seems to be answering everything else but that...i'd be curious to know too, merely cause i would like software solution that sounds exactly or close enough to a dx7, many people are into it's sounds still today

actually which brings me to another question...

fm heaven was mentioned before, i love the sound of that, does IT sound like a dx7? if so, then i would obviously like a dx7...but doesn't that do the import as well...isn't that a contender?

well..I've been beta testing and making presets for the upcoming Sytrus Synth from FL studio. Its very VERY close. As a matter of fact, I booted up my dx7S and brought up DX-Heaven ( dr T's) software for referance to making patches on Sytrus, and I was able to make it very close to the orginal sound. So thats something to look forward to.

Rhino however also sounds very close, but the DX7 import is still in beta stage, but it sounds FM. You can really tell the difference.

ttoz wrote:

actually which brings me to another question... fm heaven was mentioned before, i love the sound of that, does IT sound like a dx7? if so, then i would obviously like a dx7...but doesn't that do the import as well...isn't that a contender?

fm heaven does the dx/tx import stuff
excellent fm synth, doesn't get enough mention.
maybe lack of filters and fx dates it; although there have been rumours of an update coming.
and as a dx7/fb01 owner, I'm happy with its' sound.

bluedad wrote:

fm heaven does the dx/tx import stuff excellent fm synth, doesn't get enough mention.

You're darn right there!

Quote:

maybe lack of filters and fx dates it; although there have been rumours of an update coming.

Although FM Heaven still lacks FX, v1.49 has 2 filters. If you've not got it yet, bluedad, mail Cesare and he'll email your copy out.

theres a bit of info i can use as well
I've been patiently waiting for this new version they murmur about in the yahoo group.

I think my answer sort of implies that the fm7 doesn't come anywhere close IMO. I can't really say anything about the other fm-plugs, cause I don't have them and given the hardware I own I don't really see a reason to try other plugs. Sorry if my input couldn't help you.
By the way my DX7IIFD sounds very close but not 100% like the DX7 I have access to. This is of course more noticable in some presets than in others. I guess what I'm trying to say is that it takes the real hardware to sound like the real thing and even then one production run or even one unit can sound different from the next due to the analog parts. After all electronics are "within specifications" not "exactly".

thanks for that heads up collusion! I'm certainly behind there (current version reads 1.4!)