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Description
The Yamaha RX-5 is a powerhouse in the world of drum machines, designed for both studio perfectionists and live performance enthusiasts. Released during the digital revolution of the 1980s, this 16-bit PCM rhythm composer remains a favorite for its robust sound and versatility. With a wide array of pre-set drum samples, including kicks, snares, and toms, the RX-5 provides a rich palette for crafting dynamic beats. Its intuitive interface makes it easy to navigate, while advanced features like velocity-sensitive pads and real-time control give you the ability to produce intricate rhythms with ease.
The RX-5 is lauded for its expandable memory, allowing you to customize and store additional sounds, which is a rarity among drum machines of its era. This feature, combined with its solid construction and reliable performance, makes it a staple in the gear bags of DJs and producers around the globe. Whether you're laying down tracks in the studio or delivering electrifying performances on stage, the RX-5 ensures your beats are always on point.
Key Features:
- 16-bit PCM sound engine for high-quality audio
- 24 built-in drum sounds with the ability to expand via external ROM cards
- Velocity-sensitive pads for dynamic beat creation
- Real-time control for live performance adaptability
- Expandable memory for storing custom sounds and patterns
- MIDI compatibility for seamless integration with other gear
- Comprehensive editing features to fine-tune every aspect of your rhythms
Product specs
| Brand | Yamaha |
| Model | RX5 Digital Rhythm Programmer |
| Finish | Black |
| Year | 1986 |
| Categories | Drum Machines |
| Analog / Digital | Digital |
| MIDI I/O | MIDI Input, MIDI Output, MIDI Through |
| Number of Pads | 24 Pads |
| Polyphony | 16 Voices |
FAQs
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What type of sound can I expect from the Yamaha RX5 drum machine?
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The Yamaha RX5 offers a classic 80s digital sound with a variety of percussive voices, making it ideal for electronic, pop, and dance music genres. It features a distinctive, punchy tone that is characteristic of vintage drum machines.
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How many sounds can the Yamaha RX5 play simultaneously?
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The Yamaha RX5 has a polyphony of 16 voices, allowing it to play up to 16 different sounds at the same time, which is great for creating complex rhythmic patterns.
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Does the Yamaha RX5 have MIDI capabilities?
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Yes, the Yamaha RX5 is equipped with MIDI Input, Output, and Through, enabling it to integrate seamlessly with other MIDI-compatible devices for expanded control and synchronization.
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How many pads does the Yamaha RX5 have for triggering sounds?
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The Yamaha RX5 features 24 pads, providing a wide range of options for triggering its built-in sounds and creating dynamic drum patterns.
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Is the Yamaha RX5 suitable for live performances?
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With its robust build and reliable MIDI integration, the Yamaha RX5 is well-suited for live performances, offering versatile sound programming and real-time control over drum sequences.
Videos
zibbybone
Yamaha RX5 Drum Machine Demo
Reviews
PROS
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Versatile with deep sound editing options
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Iconic sounds recognized in late 80s tracks
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Affordable with great value for vintage gear
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Can emulate SP12 sounds using RX5USB Card
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Individual outs and full MIDI support enhance connectivity
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Stable performance, essential for live setups
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Unique pitch shifting for creative tones
CONS
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Plastic design and buttons feel fragile
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Larger footprint than some competitors
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Built-in drum sounds considered bland without modification
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Hard plastic pads can be loud and annoying in live play
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Some find it limiting despite expansions
Owner Insights
We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Yamaha RX-5.
Features and functionality
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The RX5 includes individual outputs for each sound, allowing detailed external sound processing and manipulation.
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The RX5 has MIDI in/out/through and supports internal, MIDI, tape, and external sync options, crucial for integrating with other gear without additional converters.
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The RX5 lacks a low-pass filter but offers editable ADSR for each sound, which can still be creatively used for sound shaping.
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Users describe the RX-5's 12-bit converters as key to its unique "crunchy" sound quality, contributing to its distinct sonic character compared to later models.
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Mods and upgrades
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The RX5USB Mk2 card enables custom sample loading, enhancing versatility with samples like 808/909 and E-MU Drumulator.
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Setup and maintenance
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Users often need to replace the internal battery and LCD as they tend to fade over time.
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Users note that the RX5 can go out of sync over time if not explicitly synced, indicating a need for careful MIDI clock management.
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Owners find button contact cleaning with isopropyl alcohol effective for restoring non-working buttons, improving overall functionality after years of use.
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Use cases and applications
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Known for its distinctive snare sounds, the RX5 was favored by Prince and used by Chromeo for select tracks.
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The RX5's voice editing capabilities are highlighted as a standout feature, though less useful for non-industrial genres according to some users.
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Individual outputs allow creative effects processing, such as using guitar pedals on select outputs to craft unique sound textures.
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User experience
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Owners highlight the 80s sequencer workflow as having a steep learning curve for those unfamiliar with vintage gear.
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The RX5 is notably larger than expected, comparable in size to a Minilogue XD and slightly smaller than a standard Hi-Fi component, impacting space considerations.
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Despite initial complexity, some owners report mastering the RX-5's menu navigation quickly, finding it more intuitive than other vintage Yamaha gear like the EX-5.
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Build quality
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Some users experience "crunchy" sounds, possibly indicating wear or damage needing repair, such as bent cartridge ports or broken volume sliders.
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Critic Reviews
4.5 out of 5
Based on 5 Reviews and 18 Ratings
200
One of my fav's
I must be honest, if I hadn't developed sound cartridges for this unit (Retrokits RK-001) I would probably not use it that much (although the RX5's sounds are iconic too) but now I can play custom and 808s, 909s, 606s,... on this machine it has become a stable clock in my setup. Loads of pattern memory, 80s style editing but hey. Stable as a rock.
40997
the stock RX5 sunds just kill, its like a Janet Jackson record.... or a skinny puppy record if you add some distortion
10
How did you develop sound cartridges? I'm interested in that.
23
Fun 80s drum machine
I love the snares and claps on this machine. The stock tambourine is one of my favorite tambourine samples that I use. It has discrete outs for each drum, which is really nice if you're doing more than grabbing one shot samples. Hard plastic pads get loud and clicky when playing things in live, which can be annoying, but it's a small price to pay.
40997
Dude I love the RX5. Wish mine hadn't broken :-(
363
Um, read below?
The built-in sampled drum sounds themselves are pretty bland, but there are sufficient means of sculpting the sounds even beyond recognition. Pitch and amp envelopes and sample looping just to name a few, and when you pitch down the samples you get that deliciously gritty 80s industrial sound. Mmmmmm!
257
Nice crispy fast drum machine, good sounds
Stephen Morris from New order used to use these and thats why i bought one, i only ever used it for reverse cymbals.. true story ! nice sounding, but really quite limiting. Had all the expansion waveforms for it, but let it go.. Not forgotten, but not really missed.
Artist usage
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Prince liked to used the Yamaha RX-5 digital drum machine for his 1987 album Sign O' the Times. For example, he used both the Linn LM-1's cabasa, kick and tambourine combined with the Yamaha RX-5's snare to create the drum beat for the album's title song.
"The Yamaha RX5, we've used that a couple times. This is very, very 80s. There's like an integrated reverb that's kind of not like a real reverb... but it's a delay. It’s pretty good."
In the Equipment Notes on Robin Guthrie's official website, the Yamaha RX-5 drum machine is mentioned in the third paragraph, sixth line, confirming its use by the artist.
"I used to have a Yamaha RX5 but that was stolen. When I went out to get a replacement I walked into a music shop and saw the R8. It looked like it was covered in fuzzy felt which I thought was a good gimmick for a start. I've not yet completely got to grips with its Human Rhythm Composer title, but it's an interesting box with good sounds. I wish Roland would bring out 808 and 909 cards for it. The thing that I liked about the R8 was that someone was putting out a drum machine with the specific idea that it shouldn't sound like a drum machine. Even putting very subtle variations in can make it harder to detect as a machine."
Unfortunately the midi retrofit was expensive. By the time 'Floodland' was being written, Andrew had spent all the ready cash on a computer and a sequencer, and was looking for a reasonably priced midi drum machine with a tighter snare drum. So he got a Yamaha RX5 for the snare sound (the kick was quite tight too) and wrote the album with that.
"Having already abused the sampling delay units of that era (and some very complicated chains of painstakingly-tuned Drawmer gates) to trigger captured drum sounds, the first dedicated samplers were a godsend. Until then, even the AMS delay unit had a maximum seven seconds of memory, and that cost a fortune. A rare treat. Mostly we had only had access to Bel units with a couple of seconds at 8 bit resolution. Both had to be triggered by hand or audio key."
The image from Drab Majesty's Facebook page, dated 2013, showcases Deb Demure's studio setup, which includes a Yamaha RX-5 drum machine.
"The S1000 and the Korg M1 were the two main instruments. I used two drum machines. For a lot of the percussion and hi-hats and things I used an RX5 - if you solo any of the cymbals you can hear the loops on them."
Entrevista a Charly sobre su set para revista El Musiquiatra (1988):
"... En cuanto al set electrónico Charly posee un envidiable Roland PM-16, para control Midi de disparos de pads y triggers, dos samplers Akai S-900 para la emisión de sonidos sampleados, la Linn 9000, el novísimo juego de mics y (?) para platillos Zildijan ZM-1, una Yamaha SPX 90 II, una Yamaha RX5 Rhythm Programmer, 6 triggers Detonators y un estabilizador de tensión Aris (Power Conditioner) ..."
In a YouTube video, Aeroplane showcases his studio, where a Yamaha RX-5 drum machine is visible in the storage room.
IN ADDITION TO his work with electronic percussion devices, Erskine has jumped headfirst into the synth and MIDI fray. His home studio contains a Casio FZ1 and CZ101, a Roland Super JX, a Korg DW8000 and Poly 800, a recently MIDI'd Oberheim OBXa, a Yamaha DX100 and Yamaha RX5, PMC1 and TX816.
Album Usage
The Yamaha RX-5 has been featured on the following albums:
Genre Usage
Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.
Used With
Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Yamaha RX-5, it is most commonly used with the following gear.
Community setups
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