All user reviews for the Yamaha DX21

Of course, evaluating this synth in 2012 may smile, but prevents it still works perfectly, although more than 25 years of loyal service!

I had preferred at the time, compared to the DX7 because it had the function of dual or split, although its keyboard is not dynamic.

It has MIDI connections, making it still interesting today, coupled with a "simple" keypad (I have a CP33) for the sound bank (programmable dynamic!)

Just needed to replace the internal battery for backup of personal sounds (after 20 years!)

UTILIZATION

Very simple and intuitive.
Programming sounds is still a bit complex and requires some learning to successfully integrate the principle of the algorithm.

SOUNDS

Good sound
Right bank of original sounds

OVERALL OPINION

Very satisfied at the time, I kept for 25 years!

(...)

UTILIZATION

(...)

SOUNDS

I gave at the time the "sirens" of DX, after long hesitation ... He absolutely had to have the "grain" DX and never go to a hippie ringuard! Lacking the financial means to buy a DX7, I rabatu on DX21. Partly because he had two generators with separate outputs (but less than the DX7 algorithms). I thought that spending time in programming, I was going to get something
Time, I spent, believe me, for hours and hours of concentrated effort to try to make it sound. Yes, but here, one is a DX DX. I know that these instruments are still strong advocates, which I certainly respect the opinion, but in my case, on arrival, there is one word that characterizes their sound to my ears overall, and particularly the DX21 (the poor relation, it is true!): "plastic" ...
When I re-listen all I was able to record with, including the studio, I feel like crying, so it seems to deal with a toy. Say that I almost take the place of a Korg DW6000 at the same price (a synth of the same period, with digital oscilloscope, but much more loving and caring, and with a real analog filter)! Almost 30 years later I still regret that choice, that says it all ...

OVERALL OPINION

Go, go, I do not really hate you Pet, we still spent a lot of flying together, even if you're not by my side ...

You're like the ugly duckling, ugly but endearing.

5 octave keyboard but not aftertouch sensitive VELOCITY
all tough no frills except registration disappearing
crachotent the knobs but everything is correct and working properly after 19 years of use (I am the 2nd owner
A single chorus effect type juno 106 (on / off) the sound pressure with a chipset and sounds are of the type dx a 4 operator with the limitations of such a synthesis
positive conection for wind controller has very little bone thing unfortunately usual

UTILIZATION

Ergonmie manual everything is ok but not enough learning (the only book on the educational concerns fm Chowning's book sold as an option with the 7 and dx1 dx)

SOUNDS

Sounds unrealistic own fm has slipped into a mix but not the presence there of the possibility Etrema forward
I use it with guitar pedals and it pulls nicely out of the game ...
I hate the sound effects and imitations all possible (a base) but with an FM is worse then any realism = 0 points but it's not his goal lead and bass fx are specially its

OVERALL OPINION

I like it because it is quiet and clean with a character .... But it's really not the best machine fm from Yamaha but I like qqchose

in any case to purchase only with a reasonable price and consequently set .....

(7 +6 +5) / 3 = 6

Cheap and tacky keyboard FM (marron!) of 1984 with 128 presets and of course the possibility CRER own sounds.

UTILIZATION

So easy when it comes to import sounds from internal bank, a little harder when it comes to programming, the FM synthse of Yamaha DX is not intuitive, but we MRIT it tries, it is an exercise INTERESTED ...

SOUNDS

I n'tonnerai certainly not many people by saying that the sounds of this keyboard are super 80's, but what is thundering trs is that when you dig a little, there are sound REALLY terrible in all areas!
Personally I like the Rhodes sounds that are not so ridiculous, and I even found a couple of organ sounds for use. The top is the sound-effects spciaux type (eg Doppler effect is gnial!) And the bells and other sounds mtalliques or machine excels, of course if you dig a little. ..

OVERALL OPINION

I do not use it for a long time, but I rather gnreusement note, because for a ridiculous price (90 euros for mine ...) you can have a machine with weird sounds used in lots of situations, for we love the little hack, for example, with pedals of cradingues scratches or other ...
the overall score of 8 bit sound fMeasure but a note qualitprix

FM synthesis algorithms with less than the DX7 therefore fewer opportunities. It is his main weakness.
Otherwise the construction is solid and reliable.

UTILIZATION

Configuration type Chinese puzzle with manual enormous. It's hard to just turn on and use it in an intuitive way as there are key combinations to know. This is another weak point. Otherwise the parameters are also long enough to edit and it might be necessary to a rotary knob to scroll through the numbers.
Program his own sounds thus takes a lot of time if you want to get a result.

SOUNDS

If you forget completely the sounds of the factory and that you get into programming it might be exploitable. We can draw some nice sounds, see warm. The trick is to try to smear the sound often too cold.
Or you can also use it squarely for what it does best and move towards the next cold and metallic.

It fits very poorly with musical styles that I like anyway, so I have not kept.

OVERALL OPINION

If you find it has less than 100 euros it can be valid if not more expensive there are other synths of the day more interesting.

The main interest of this synth is precisely that it does not cost anything because it has a bad press and it is not easy to use. It is a reliable machine that can produce sounds pretty amazing if you spend time on to the program, outside the box.

What type of keyboard (synth, piano ...)? How many octaves?
is a 5 octave synthesizer

UTILIZATION

The general configuration is it simple?
not everything is not so simple, always takes time to get to the sound we wanted and sometimes you can not do it to do exactly what we wanted. The piano sound is just horrible
The manual is clear and sufficient? ...
I did not.
Editing sounds and effects is it easy?
not at all ..

SOUNDS

The sounds they are suitable to your style of music?
I would not really use it to live in the evening but I think I give up.
What are the sounds you prefer, you hate? ...
the piano sounds are not great but the sounds of the organ are very well even without the change.

OVERALL OPINION

How long have you use it?
I use it for 2 months.
Have you tried many other models before buying it?
Yes I already have an arranger keyboard and a synthesizer. eg the roland yamaha YPT 101 and 200.
How would you rate the quality / price?
Personally I prefer the DX-27 when I had tested. average value for one low price € 150

FM synthesis with 4 operators and thus significantly less than the DX7 algorithms. That is the real weak point of DX21: the sound is never on top, and often a little pot.

UTILIZATION

It's FM, so a approhe more theoretical than practical when compared with analog. But with time we made it.
Access to programming is quite difficult but classic 80s: poly 800 has not a nicer interface.

SOUNDS

We can get some cool sounds after a long lineup, but as said above they are not at the height of a DX 7. The two operators (and thus the algorithms) within it are sorely lacking ....
Nothing to do with either a pure analog.

OVERALL OPINION

I've since its release, and I never used it almost jamais.Je prefers poly 800 to remain in the same product line and years of output, even if the structure of poly 800 is conventional analog.

Avoid it, rather take the DX7 that plays in the course of the great.