DX7 to G2 study.

iPassenger

I am currently doing a little (home propelled) study on the DX7 modules in the G2 and some of the FM law behind them in the process I stumbled across a bug/difference between the modules and the real X series machines..

On the G2's DX7 op the AM level which has a range of 0 - 7 allows you to control the amplitude of the operator in realtime, if the AM level is set to 3 and the input value is 0, you still have some operator present.. on the X series machines this is apprently not the case. Raising the AM level to 4 makes the G2's DX7 style op behave accordingly (an input of 0, zeros the amplitude of the op).

Anyone else spotted this one?

Are there any other anomolies/differences (between the real Dx7 ops and the G2's versions) I should be aware of as part of my studies?

Having never owned a Dx7 nor used one, I am some what hoping that the differences are minimal or at worst easy to work around as part of my study. (it's complicated enough!!)

ian-s

iPassenger · Posted: Tue Dec 09, 2008 2:56 pm Post subject:

Cheers Ian.

Presumably the Multi-Env would do though?

Must say I am having a lot of fun and headaches learning all this FM stuff. Been making bells and hand drums this evening. Smile

Amazing power but some of the maths kind of makes you want to reach for good old familiar subtractive synthesis. Smile

ian-s · Posted: Tue Dec 09, 2008 6:10 pm Post subject:

Wout Blommers · Posted: Tue Dec 09, 2008 8:17 pm Post subject:

varice

dasz · Posted: Wed Dec 10, 2008 10:27 pm Post subject:

all this talk of the DX modules got me thinking I should use them for something ... the way I see it, it could be like a "new OS" to use modules I tend not to use ...

varice · Posted: Wed Dec 10, 2008 11:12 pm Post subject:

iPassenger · Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2008 2:27 am Post subject:

Well the way i look at it, the g2 is pretty much the best DX module built to date, what with all the extra patching and routing options...although the native instruments one was also very good.

Varice,

I also used the PM osc for most of my fm duties until recently. There are some adavnatges to using the DX modules though as everything is already patched up in a single module. Unfortunately I'm not at home at moment and am stuck with the demo..

I did this one the other day on the demo. You should probably switch it to poly. first 3 vars used:

2008-12-05 Super Chilled FM.pch2

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2008-12-05 Super Chilled FM.pch2

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varice · Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2008 2:58 am Post subject:

fac · Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2008 7:51 am Post subject:

I find FM synthesis (not the math behind it) to be actually easier to understand and explain to my students than subtractive synthesis. In my opinion, the idea that FM is difficult is a historical one: subtractive synths had one-knob-per-function interfaces that made them very accessible. The first FM synth, however, had a 2 line screen and a bunch of buttons. I can't imagine how tedious and boring it must have been.

Ok, so maybe one knob per parameter on a DX7 would be overkill, but why not have the knobs corresponding to a single operator's parameters, and six buttons to switch between operators, or something like that?

The thing is that nobody ever came up with a decent interface (other than PC editors) for FM synths... until Clavia did, and then Yamaha with the DX200. Both the Nord Lead 3 and the G2 are great for FM synthesis (though the Nord Lead 3 can only deal with 4-ops) because they make it much accessible.

I also used to have a DX-200. Great sounding box, and while you had to use the PC editor for in-depth editing, the knobs allowed a lot of sound modeling themselves. Unfortunately, it was so cheaply made that the knobs were quite steppy and the main data wheel was unreliable, plus it had a bug in the sequencer, so I ended up selling it (and kind of regret it).

I also have a FS1R, which is simply the best sounding FM synth ever, but even with a PC editor, it's quite daunting.

varice · Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2008 2:28 pm Post subject:

Antimon · Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2008 2:54 pm Post subject:

Wout Blommers · Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2008 4:26 pm Post subject:

iPassenger · Posted: Fri Dec 12, 2008 6:55 am Post subject:

iPassenger · Posted: Fri Dec 12, 2008 6:57 am Post subject:

fac · Posted: Fri Dec 12, 2008 7:45 am Post subject:

Wout Blommers · Posted: Fri Dec 12, 2008 10:29 am Post subject:

iPassenger · Posted: Fri Dec 12, 2008 1:37 pm Post subject:

Using inter slot bussing you can easily get a 64 op Dx machine.. if you wanted!?

3phase · Posted: Sun Dec 14, 2008 1:26 am Post subject:

Hi all,

Its too long ago .. but its true that you cant set the level parameter 1:1..

but its however possible to get very identical conditions regarding the DX parameters between DX7 and G2.. by using the Value 4 in the levels..

Bigger problem in th conversion was the balistics of the LFo and glide, and especially the pitch eg... which is pretty special on the DX7

dx sounds that relate very much on this features like some special fx sounds can fail by the DX converter written by Matt Gerassimov..

However..the majority of the original DX sounds translate very well...

Some info

DX G2
AmodSense
0 >> 0
1 >> 2
2 >> 3
3 >> 4

and one of the base patches the converter can use..

basically it sets the parameters for a given base patch..so a base patch for the converter can be altered as long the parameter destinations stay in place..

the stuff in the fx area is a pure extra that is not involved or necessary in the conversion

dx7.pch2

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dx7.pch2

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iPassenger · Posted: Sun Dec 14, 2008 10:05 am Post subject:

Yeah, that is the patch I have been using.

Cheers for the amod conversion chart.

coyote14 · Joined: Nov 11, 2008 Posts: 2 Location: France

a few months ago, I have seen a thread talking about a freeware able to translate DX7 programs into G2 patch file. Does anybody know if it's still available?

blue hell · Posted: Tue Dec 16, 2008 1:40 pm Post subject: