Dx7s Patches Sysex

The DX Patch Librarian is a software tool that simplifers the creation and storage of the patches for the Yamaha DX synthesizers. The program also permits programming of TX and 8-16 expaansion modules without a DX7. You can attach a keyboard controller or external sequencer to the MIDI-In of the. Yes, it seems there’s a magical synth site called Encyclotronic, full of patches and hardware specs and other goodies. And it seems that site has noted that back in 1987, Keyboard Magazine managed to extract some of his favorite patches for the Yamaha DX7 and shared them with readers. Sadly, Keyboard lacks any kind of exhaustive archive.

Find the patch you want.

An online resource like Bobby Blues Yamaha DX7 soundbanks can help with this. You can, for instance, download a zip of the ROM that shipped with the DX7.

Convert

Once you have the .syx (Sysex) file containing the patch(es) you want, drag-and-drop it onto Yamaha’s FM Converter.

It will show a list of the available patches in the left column, and you can select the ones you’re interested in.

Click CONVERT and download the converted file to your computer.

Copy

Unzip the file you downloaded. Rename the .x7l file to what you with the Bank name to be, then copy to a USB flash drive that has been formatted for use on the MODX.

Load

Plug in the USB flashdrive… ^[1]
Click UTILITY.
Switch to the Contents->Load tab.
Tap on the usb device.
Tap on the library bank name.

Congratulations! You just loaded a DX7 ROM onto a MODX. To find your new patches, click CATEGORY, tap on Bank/Favorite, and select the new bank. You can now browse all the glorious DX7 patches and process them with the powerful layering and effects of the MODX.

Some Concluding Thoughts

The MODX restricts user libraries to eight; this is almost certainly a limitation due to the bank select UI space and not system memory (an entire DX7 ROM takes only a fraction of a percent of the available user memory on the MODX). To get around this I suggest copying multiple.syx files to the FM Converter. For instance, I grabbed all the DX7 Yamaha official ROMS and converted them to a single .x7l (Montage) lib file. Now I have one gigantic Bank of DX7 patches, and still seven free additional available library slots.

I am super jazzed to finally be able to import DX7 patches onto a modern Yamaha synth! With that said, I do think they could streamline the process, either by adding the capability to MODX Connect or building it into soundmondo.com. ^[2]

Who knows what software (both cloud and firmware) features are coming our way in the future. For now I am eager to play with a literal billion DX7 sounds.

Keeping the back of your synth accessible, or using a USB extension cable, makes this process much easier. ↩︎
If there is a way already, I’d love to hear it! If you know of one tweet me at @skrvnmusic and I’ll update this guide accordingly. ↩︎

Back to Dave Benson's DX7 pageThis listing should give those of you looking for some old software orhardware a good idea of what was available in 1988, for usewith the Yamaha DX7 synthesizer series and relatives. I don't knowhow accurate this information is any more. Many of these companies may no longer carry these items or may have gone out of business entirely ...

Written by Paul Troutman and converted to html by Dave Benson

I. 1988 MCS MIDI Buyer's Guide - Software Section

Bacchus Software Systems
Digidesign
Imagine Computers and Software
Magnetic Music
Micro W Distributing Inc
Mimetics
Opcode Systems
Passport Designs
Poshek Productions
Sound Quest
Southworth Music Systems
Triangle Audio
Voyetra Technologies
Yamaha
Hybrid Arts, Inc.
Leister Productions
MIDI Mouse Music
Music Design
Music Service Software
Ultraphonics Unlimited
Valhala

II. 1988 MCS MIDI Buyer's Guide - Accessories Section

Digital Music Corp.
Grey Matter Response
Musicians Repair Service
Forat Electronics, Inc
Dornes Research Group

I. 1988 MCS MIDI BUYER'S GUIDE - SOFTWARE SECTION

BACCHUS SOFTWARE SYSTEMS

The Voice Manager Series

TX81Z Graphic Editing System

TX802 Graphic Editing System

DIGIDESIGN

DX Patch Editor/Librarians for the Commodore

4 Op Deluxe

DX Heaven

IMAGINE COMPUTERS AND SOFTWARE

FB Master

TZ Master

Dx7s Patches Sysex Treatment

MAGNETIC MUSIC

Pyramid DX-TX Editor Librarian for IBM

MICRO W DISTRIBUTING INC

MIDI Magic Digital Disks

MIMETICS

Data7/Performance7

OPCODE SYSTEMS

Editor/Librarians

Yamaha DX/TX w/DX7H Librarian and Patch Factory. Retail $250.00 (1988 price).

MIDI Voice Librarian

Comes with over 100 great new sounds for your MIDI Keyboard. Load up for four banks of 32 sounds at any moment directly from the software. Available for Yamaha DX7, Casio CZ series, Roland JX8P, and 106, Oberheim OB-8. Retail $69.96 (1988 price)

Turbo TXZ

SOUND QUEST

DXII Master Editor/Librarian

SOUTHWORTH MUSIC SYSTEMS

DXMate

TRIANGLE AUDIO

Librarians

VOYETRA TECHNOLOGIES

Sideman DTX

YAMAHA

Software for the CX5M & CX5MII/128 Sequencer

HYBRID ARTS, INC.

DX-Android

The 'latest' edition of the DX-Android, (released last Feb.) is designed to run on the Atari ST and the DX-7, DX-7II, or the TX-Tonerack/Module. It boasts numerous features including a MIDI thru function, numeric editing, a patch librarian, an automated patch loader, a utility program and the 'Android' function. This Artificial Intelligence, created by programmer Tom Bajoras, allows your Yamaha DX7/TX series to create new useable sounds by itself. Fully mouse functionable. Retail $199.95 (1988 price).

TX81Z Sounds

DX21/27/100 Sounds

FB-01 Sounds

MIDI MOUSE MUSIC

Yamaha TX18Z Sounds

Yamaha DX100 Sounds

Yamaha DX7, TX7 Sounds

Yamaha FB-01 Sounds

MUSIC DESIGN

X-Lib

TX81Z/DX21 Patch Library

128 new TX81Z/DX21 patches on data cassette or C-64 disk (compatible with X-Lib or Dr. T's voicing formats). Plenty of meaty workman like sounds, featuring acoustic and fanasty pianos, organs, orchestral shades, drums, percussion, human voices, bells, basses, guitars, leads, FX's and more. Includes extensive applications materials. Retail $20.00 (1988 price).

DX7/DX7II/DX7S/TX7 Patch Library

MUSIC SERVICE SOFTWARE

D-XTC Librarian (for DX-7, TX's)

D-XTC Libarian for DX-21, DX-100, DX-27

Total control software MIDI patch librarians for Yamaha DX-21, DX-100, and DX-27. Made for Commodore 64/128 computers. Instant view of three banks of patches, printout patch names. Ultrafast bank disk load (four seconds). Echo mode, swap, mode patches. Complete disk functions. Includes 64 excellent patches. Retail $54.95 (1988 price).

ULTRAPHONICS UNLIMITED

DX7 Patches, Bank A1 and B1

Useful, original sounds combining FM clarity with analog warmth. Bank A1 (rock) features brass, filter sweeps, analog synths and electric guitars with built-in reverb. Bank B1 (orchestral) includes woodwinds, reeds, strings, pianos, and absolutely no sound effects. Available on data sheets or your RAM. Retail $23.00 per bank (32 sounds), $40.00 for both. (1988 prices)

757 New TX81Z Voices

DX7 Sound Patch Library Book

TX7, DX21, or DX100 FM Voices

757 new voices avalible for the above mentioned synthesizers on data cassette. These voices are currently being used by studios and musicians worldwide. Also avalible as two split volumes of 380 voices each for only $44.95. Retail $79.95 (1988 prices)