More DX/FM learning resources - Sand, software and sound

While waiting and waiting for the Superbowl, I went on a treasure hunt through my archives. I found and scanned a few old Yamaha DX learning resources for people who want to learn FM programming.

Yamaha DX21 Play Book

The Yamaha DX21 Play Book is a more user friendly manual for the DX21. It’s closer to what we call a “user manual” than a stuffy reference manual.

The DX21 Play Book has a bright orange cover and takes the reader through the steps of using a DX21. It concludes with a very basic introduction to DX21 programming, including the FM voice data for Glockenspiel (seriously?) and brass.

The DX21 Play Book came with a cassette tape. Side A is audio covering basic operation and performance memory. Side B contains performance and voice data to load onto the DX21. Welcome to 1980’s technology — digital data encoded as audio. Modems, anyone?

FM preset charts

I hand-copied (!) patches for eight DX21 factory presets. Primitive, but I can still read the results today unlike my variable speed floppy disks for Mac SE. 🙂

Yamaha Aftertouch Magazine

Before YamahaSynth.com and forums, there was Yamaha Aftertouch Magazine. Aftertouch was edited by the talented Tom Darter of Keyboard Magazine fame. Yamaha dropped real money on Aftertouch. I loved that mini-magazine and read it religiously.

There is a great collection of Aftertouch magazines at Yates Family. In the January 1989 issue, you will find a brief bio and comments by a young guy named Phil Clendeninn. (Thanks, Phil!)

Here is the January 1986 issue of Aftertouch. Speaking of youth, our kid was six months old in January 1986. Time flies!

How to program the DX7

Back in the day, Keyboard Magazine published in-depth reviews and how-to articles. That’s why many of us mourn the loss of Keyboard Magazine.

Here is a scan of “How to Program the DX7” by Bo Tomlyn as told to Jim Aikin. Bo Tomlyn was a consultant and clinician for Yamaha. If you read this article and the series by Manny Fernandez, you’ll be ready to go.

Yamaha FM Essential app

Finally, the Yamaha FM Essential app is a quick and free way to check out 4-op FM programming. You need to connect your iPad to a Mark 2 MX series synthesizer to unlock all of its presets (including the DX100).

I unlocked the app — once. Unfortunately, if you archive the app to iCloud, it loses the unlock data. So, the FM Essential app is now locked again.

Hey, Yamaha! Maybe it’s time to fully unlock the FM Essential app for everybody? I can’t find an MX at a local store to do another unlock. Maybe unlock the app when its connected to any Yamaha synth?