Love it

It's fun to put it on a track, or to start creating something with it! From clicking for days and squinting at the tiny screen, to choosing a preset and just going, to using SysEx, I love this thing. And it still works! Couples nicely with an analog monosynth. Easier to program than the roland d110 and others I have.

A very powerful FM synth with lots of individual character

A single preset guaranteed this synthsizer's place in history: C15 LatelyBass was the feature sound of many 1990s hits, most memorably "Saturday Night" by Whigfield. It would be easy to conclude that this is just one fortunate preset in what is otherwise just another of the many FM synths that Yamaha released in the 80s (a cut-down version of the TX7 with 4 operators instead of the 6 operators of the TX7 and the legendary DX7). In fact, the TX81Z (and its keyboard version, the DX11) marked a significant departure from the norm in FM synthesizers by including the possibility of using different waveforms - not just sine waves. This lends itself to generating more exotic sounds than were possible in other FM synthesizers where the emphasis was on reproducing the sonic characteristics of acoustic instruments such as bells, pianos, guitars, etc. Unfortunately most of the TX81Z's presets are similar to those on other Yamaha synthesizers so this ability to produce otherwoldly sounds does no sine through. This stemmed, I suspect, from a desire to stay true to the sonic palette artists and audiences expected at the time. But it is no coinvidence that C15, a bass sound which souns nothing like an acoustic bass, an electric bass guitar, or an anlogue synthesizer bass patch, was one of the presets making use of this ability to use non-sine waves. In addition, the TX81Z is an 8-part multitimbral synth and all performance and voice parameters can be edited onboard, although the editing interface is fairly limited (but there is an extensive MIDI implementation allowing control of all parameters via SysEx).

Preferred Settings + Usage:

From Gear Setup

A classic FM synth with versatile sound possibilities.

A really good FM synth. It can be somewhat difficult to program (and if you use a software editor like the TX81Z Programmer for Windows, it can really help), but if you have enough patience with it, it offers great FM flexibility and is also a great companion to a DX-7. While it offers 4 operators in comparison to the 6 the DX-7 offers, it makes up for it with allowing you to change the operators into a different waveform than only sine waves, which can give you a different variety of FM sounds. While it doesn't sound as warm as a DX-7, you can also still get some of those classic DX-7 sounds on this unit as well, despite having fewer operators. They're relatively cheap too.

Classic FM Synth!

Most people know the TX81z for the Lately Bass patch that Teddy Riley, Dave Hall, Eddie F, and Kyle West made famous on all their hit records. There's another dope preset on this synth that sounds incredible when you edit it a bit, but I'm not gonna share that for personal reasons, but my point is you don't have to rely on the presets, this is a great sound design instrument and I absolutely love my TX81z for the way it sounds and performs!

small and even more inconvenient

Is anything harder to program than a Yamaha DX7? Sure! the TX-81z. This is a less fully featured digital FM synth. You would think less operators means its easier to wrap your head around, but the user interface is not up to any tasks you set out to accomplish. These units are a glorified ROMpler without a dedicated PC program to navigate the terrifying FM synthesis landscape. That said, once you grok FM synthesis and your 3rd party software the TX is a pretty decent device and its quicker to program than a DX. And its small and easy to slave to your DAW. It records really well. Really fun for making nasty percussion noises and Depeche Mode Violator-era FM bass stabs. I think this odule sounds better than a dx7 through a guitar amp and/or distortion pedal. I've never had any issues with the buttons or jacks on this unit but she's been mostly babied (as in not taken anywhere and barely used).

Excellent

If all you need is "Latelybass" this is the unit for you. Then again, most of the other preset sounds are quintessentially 80s!

Lovely Small Unit

I love this thing. Compact but huge. Wouldn't ever recommend programming it through the front panel though! Good thing there are plenty of computer programs that can make programming a lot easier.

From Gear Setup

Amazing synth

Got given this synth by a mate. So it will always mean a lot to me.

Clear FM Synth

Compared to VST FM Synths this unit has balls. Only the overall volume in the output stage is some low. No matter of that, i run it to the mixer and raise the gain with the preamps. Somewhat complicated to edit the sounds. Control it with midi cc out of the DAW.

FM synth from the 80s

FM synth from the 80s - I bought it then and still have it. Love it for bright twinkly sounds.