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Description

The Yamaha RX11 is a classic drum machine that remains a favorite among musicians and producers for its authentic sound and intuitive design. Originally released in the 1980s, this piece of gear still holds its ground against modern counterparts. The RX11 offers 12-bit PCM sounds, delivering that sought-after vintage punch perfect for electronic, pop, and rock genres. With its robust build and user-friendly interface, the RX11 is both a reliable studio companion and a road-ready performer.

This drum machine boasts 29 preset sounds, including kicks, snares, hi-hats, and more, allowing for a wide range of rhythmic possibilities. Its programmable step sequencer is easy to navigate, making it a breeze to craft intricate beats. The RX11 also provides multiple output options for customizable sound routing and mixing. If you're looking to add a touch of retro flair to your tracks or gigs, the RX11's ability to store up to 100 patterns ensures you'll always have the right groove at your fingertips.

Key Features:

  • 12-bit PCM sound technology for authentic vintage tones
  • 29 preset drum sounds, including kicks, snares, and hi-hats
  • Programmable step sequencer for creating custom beat patterns
  • Multiple output options for flexible sound routing
  • Storage for up to 100 user-created patterns
  • Sturdy construction designed for both studio use and live performance

Product specs

Brand Yamaha
Model RX11 Digital Rhythm Programmer
Finish Black
Year 1984
Made In Japan
Categories Drum Machines
Analog / Digital Digital
MIDI I/O MIDI Input, MIDI Output
Number of Pads 16 Pads
Polyphony 16 Voices

FAQs

Does the Yamaha RX11 drum machine support MIDI connectivity?

Yes, the Yamaha RX11 features both MIDI Input and MIDI Output, allowing it to be integrated with other MIDI-compatible gear for synchronized playback and control.

How many pads and voices does the Yamaha RX11 have?

The Yamaha RX11 comes with 16 pads and offers 16-voice polyphony, enabling complex rhythm programming and simultaneous sound playback.

Can the Yamaha RX11 be used in a modern studio setup?

While the Yamaha RX11 is a vintage drum machine from 1984, its MIDI capabilities allow it to be integrated into modern setups with appropriate MIDI interfaces and converters.

What kind of sounds can I expect from the Yamaha RX11?

The Yamaha RX11 is a digital drum machine known for its classic 80s electronic drum sounds, which are suitable for retro, synthwave, and electronic music styles.

Is the Yamaha RX11 suitable for live performances?

Yes, the Yamaha RX11 can be used for live performances, offering real-time control over its 16 pads and MIDI functionality for integration with other equipment.

Espen Kraft

Espen Kraft

Yamaha RX11 One of the best drum machines ever made

Video thumbnail for Yamaha RX11   One of the best drum machines ever made by Espen Kraft

Yamaha RX11 One of the best drum machines ever made

Espen Kraft

Espen Kraft

Video thumbnail for Yamaha RX11 Drum Machine by Synth Universe

Yamaha RX11 Drum Machine

Synth Universe

Synth Universe

Video thumbnail for Yamaha RX11 - a few patterns by SynthMania

Yamaha RX11 - a few patterns

SynthMania

SynthMania

Video thumbnail for Yamaha RX11 Digital Rhythm Programmer / Sound Check. by Quiege Hattle

Yamaha RX11 Digital Rhythm Programmer / Sound Check.

Quiege Hattle

Quiege Hattle

Video thumbnail for YAMAHA RX 11 by Keyboards - review - repair

YAMAHA RX 11

Keyboards - review - repair

Keyboards - review - repair

Video thumbnail for Yamaha RX11 Electro Patterns with Arturia MicroFreak by SUBTOKYOSHOP Music Gears

Yamaha RX11 Electro Patterns with Arturia MicroFreak

SUBTOKYOSHOP Music Gears

SUBTOKYOSHOP Music Gears

Reviews

PROS

  • Infectious rhythms perfect for dance floors

  • Affordable and user-friendly

  • Sync and crossfade capability for on-the-spot creation

  • Individual outputs for fine tuning and effects

  • Classic 80s drum samples recognizable in hits

  • Durable armored outer casing

  • Simple and effective groove machine

  • Not noisy, easily syncs with MTC

CONS

  • Limited sound variety

  • Tempo control via slider can be imprecise

Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Yamaha RX11.

Setup and maintenance

  • Owners report that cleaning the contacts resolves multiple triggering in pads, though results can vary with some pads remaining problematic.

    Source

Features and functionality

  • The RX11 features accent levels but lacks detuning capabilities, unlike its RX7 counterpart.

    Source
  • The RX11 does not transmit programmed accents when driven by patterns from an RX15, only note data is sent.

    Source
  • The SR-16 includes a song mode for chaining patterns, a feature not commonly found in similarly-priced drum machines.

    Source

Use cases and applications

  • The RX11 is praised for its mid-80s vibe, with a thick snare, tight bass drum, and distinctive claps, ideal for retro or industrial music.

    Source
  • The RX11 is ideal for instant synthpop, whereas the SR-16 provides more sound variety, though not all may be usable for certain styles.

    Source
  • Digitakt users have successfully loaded Yamaha RX11 samples, appreciating their punchy sound and using them in synthwave compositions alongside gear like the Roland SE-02.

    Source

Value and pricing

  • RX11 units are often found at low prices in pawn shops due to minor issues like zero instrument levels, offering great deals to savvy buyers.

    Source
  • RX11 drum machines are considered extremely affordable, with prices as low as €275, prompting enthusiasts to purchase them before prices rise.

    Source

User experience

  • Sequencing the RX11 can bypass issues like crackling pads, maintaining sound quality despite hardware wear.

    Source
  • Owners find both the RX11 and SR-16 easy to use, making them suitable for beginners exploring drum machines.

    Source

Comparisons

  • Unlike the RX11, the RX7 is noted for its ability to detune sounds, making it more versatile for industrial music.

    Source
  • The Alesis SR-16 is noted for its 16-bit samples, offering more realistic and dynamic sounds compared to the 8-bit samples of the Yamaha RX11.

    Source

Software and compatibility

  • The Digitakt's new song mode allows intuitive configuration of mute tracks, enhancing workflow when using RX11 samples in different song sections.

    Source

4.0 out of 5

Based on 1 Review and 14 Ratings

5 star
4 star
3 star
2 star
1 star
battleandroid

Built like a tank, and drives like one too

This was my very first drum machine, in all its 80s glory. Though its sounds weren't exactly built to last, its armoured outer casing sure was - this is easily the most solid piece of gear in my studio.

Artist usage

Add artist
See how Aphex Twin uses Yamaha RX11

Aphex Twin

Music Producer

Universal Indicator

...
Verified via Photo

Listed in the Syro "gear list", and used entirely in the japanese bonus track of the album "MARCHROMT30A edit 2b 96 [104.98]"

See how Vince Clarke uses Yamaha RX11

Vince Clarke

Keyboardist, Composer

Depeche Mode

...
Verified via Muzines

The live Erasure set-up - excluding the human beings - runs to an Oberheim Xpander module, a Yamaha TX rack with three modules (equivalent to DX9s in a small box, reckons Vince), a Sequential Pro-One synth, plus two Casios, the CZ1000 and CZ101, all driven by a BBC computer using the almost universally praised UMI-2B MIDI sequencer. A Yamaha RX11 and Roland TR727 (latin) supply the drums.

See how Herbie Hancock uses Yamaha RX11

Herbie Hancock

Keyboardist

The Headhunters

...
Verified via Herbie Hancock

Used on Village Life, as specified in Herbie Hancock’s Electronic Instrument Glossary from September 14, 2016.

Yamaha RX11 Digital Drum Machine – Released in the early 1980s, this programmable drum machine featured 29 real drum samples and 12 audio outputs. Herbie used this instrument on his 1984 album Herbie Hancock And Foday Musa Suso: Village Life.

See how Stephen Morris uses Yamaha RX11

Stephen Morris

Drummer, Keyboardist

Joy Division

...
Verified via Twitter

In this response to a fan's question, Morris identifies an RX-11.

See how Gillian Gilbert uses Yamaha RX11

Gillian Gilbert

Guitarist, Keyboardist

New Order

...
Verified via Muzines

In this transcription of a Sound on Sound article, former New Order tech Michael Johnson states that during the making of the Brotherhood album, the band utilized "a Yamaha QX1 Sequencer with dedicated software [and a] Yamaha RX11 drum machine." In this live performance from 1985, we can see both mounted atop Gillian's keyboard rack at the 5:36 mark.

See how Nick Beggs uses Yamaha RX11

Nick Beggs

Singer, Bassist

Kajagoogoo

...
Verified via Muzines

"I've been using the Roland JP8 linked with the TR808 and recently with the Yamaha RX11 drum machine and getting to grips with linking that with a DX7 via MIDI. The RX11 is a very comprehensive drum machine, though we did get ours in Japan when we were on tour and that didn't have a manual. We've been working it out as we go along."

See how John Foxx uses Yamaha RX11

John Foxx

Singer, Keyboardist

Ultravox

...
Verified via Muzines

The original drum parts for the track, which John recorded to set the song's tempo and give himself and other players a guide structure to work with, were programmed into a Yamaha RX11 drum machine that John owns.

See how Nik Kershaw uses Yamaha RX11

Nik Kershaw

Singer, Guitarist

...
Verified via Muzines

"When I get into the studio I usually start with an RX11 to provide a basic rhythm. On a couple of the tracks, I even ended up keeping the RX bass drum and hi-hat this time, but I usually replace it all. The bass drum's fine but the hi-hat doesn't sound anything like a hi-hat. That didn't really matter because I wanted something that just kept on going through the track."

See how Miguel Tapia uses Yamaha RX11

Miguel Tapia

Drummer, Keyboardist

Los Prisioneros

...
Verified via YouTube

Esta fue la caja ritmica que se uso en el Album Pateando piedras y probablemente La Cultura de la basura

See how Larissa Iceglass uses Yamaha RX11

Larissa Iceglass

Singer, Guitarist

Lebanon Hanover

...
Verified via Photo

Larissa Iceglass uses the Yamaha RX11 drum machine in her studio, as shown in the user-uploaded photo.

See how Georgi Guryanov uses Yamaha RX11

Georgi Guryanov

Bassist, Drummer

KINO

...
Verified via YouTube

Georgi Guryanov used a Yamaha RX11 drum machine in the recordings of KINO's album "Blood Type" and in collaboration with the electronic duet "New Composers" alongside Yuri Kasparyan on the album "Start," as confirmed by the exclusive video "Виктор Цой. Как это было на самом деле," which details the production of the "Blood Type" album.

See how Chris Foreman uses Yamaha RX11

Chris Foreman

Guitarist

Madness

...
Verified via Muzines

C: "We've all got Yammy RX11 drum boxes. I had a Roland TR808, but I sold it, and I wish I hadn't. It's got some good sounds on it — those claps!"

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 RX11, it is most commonly used with the following gear.

Yamaha DX7
Yamaha DX7 Synthesizers
6
Roland D-50
Roland D-50 Synthesizers
3
Yamaha QX-1
Yamaha QX-1 Audio Sequencers
3
Fairlight CMI
Fairlight CMI Synthesizers
3
Roland Jupiter-8
Roland Jupiter-8 Synthesizers
3
Yamaha TX816
Yamaha TX816 Modular Synthesizers
3
E-Mu Emulator II
E-Mu Emulator II Synthesizers
3
Casio CZ-5000
Casio CZ-5000 Synthesizers
3

Community setups

Show yours
oxygenartstudio

oxygenartstudio

Gear IQ 112

ridley_kemp

ridley_kemp

Gear IQ 172

lxchee

lxchee

Gear IQ 115

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