Bad Gear - Yamaha DX100

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Welcome to Bad Gear, the show about the world's most hated audio tools. Today we are going to talk about the Yamaha DX100 Digital Programmable Algorithm Synthesizer. Is this cute 80s keyboard, keytar, Roger Troutman talkbox carrier and little sibling of the Yamaha DX7 the dirtiest FM synth of the Yamaha DX range? Does it have DAT BASS (solid bass, lately bass)??? Why didn't I get a Korg Volca FM2 like all the other YouTubers???

Thanks to Asifeh for lending me his mind condition DX100:

Chapters:
00:00 Intro tune
01:12 Overview Yamaha DX100
02:36 Workflow
04:17 Short comparison DX100 vs. FB-01 (same FM chip)
05:02 Hate
05:24 Jam 1
06:16 Jam 2
07:09 Finale
07:40 Verdict

[fjfrancois]

Back in the 80’S my Father was the music director of a municipal band, they had 1 tuba, clarinetes, oboes, a French horn and trumpets, a big kick Drum bass, crash cymbals. And in on the middle all those acoustic instruments, there was one dude with a Yamaha DX-100 😂

[edwardtang]

I was absolutely one of those guys in the late 90's who tracked down a used DX100 and a Rocktron Talkbox after seeing Teddy Riley use it live on MTV when Blackstreet blew up. I mainly still hold on to it for nostalgia reasons but I last summer I finally opened it up and soldered a new memory backup battery into it. 🥰

[iixorb]

The DX100 was my ‘compromise synth’ back in 1987, when what I actually wanted was a DX7 (of course!). I was only 15 back then. Because it was my first programmable synthesizer, I had no preconceived complaints about there being a lack of sliders, filters and traditional ADSR envelopes - and by the time I did get my first DX7 a couple of years later, I was ‘ready’ for it and generally got into programming it quite quickly. The DX100 is one of those synths I keep selling, but then regret selling and end up buying another. I think I’m on No. 4 now !

[djlocodoc]

Am I the only one who clicks the thumbs up button before the video begins to play? Man this channel is my favorite! AudioPilz nails these Bad Gear videos every time. I hope people dont catch on too fast, otherwise the market value for these are gonna skyrocket. Fantastic jams sir! My weekend vibes are set now, thank you!!!

[cursesaudio]

if you hold down PITCH B MODE while powering on the DX100 it reverses the pitch wheel direction for maximum keytar rocking

[SuicidleLemming]

"Roided up Sega Genesis" now in the pool for my favorite quote of the show. Another wicked show!, that David Guetta bit had me wheezing.

[emdotambient]

Love the DX100. My long-time music collaborator (RIP) used one extensively in the 80s and 90s MIDI'd to an Ensoniq EPS. The two layered together was pretty amazing. We used it in everything from synth-pop to ambient to total abstract soundscapes. We'd put it in edit mode while performing and it could be extremely expressive. Best tiny synth I've ever used.

[TechToTunes]

Very popular with the Balkan crowd, especially Serbians. The mini keys are like playing an accordion making trills easier. Well known sound to that particular style of music.

[Toolsquatch]

Have you ever considered branching out into doing some sound design tutorial videos? FM synthesis is particularly elusive to grasp for a lot of people, but those 10 seconds where you explained how to make a bass patch were easier to follow (and immensely more entertaining) than some of the 40+ minute videos I’ve tried watching on YouTube in the past.

[JonMichaelDeShazer]

Some of my favorite early Acid House/techno tracks used the DX100. Orbital used extensively on their first album in 1991 (Chime and Belfast in particular).

[inthefade]

Good timing with the Volca FM 2 release. I'm sorely missing an FM synth in my setup and stuff like this convinces me even more to pick up something to fill that gap in my production. I've even convinced the singer in my band to split on the FM 2 with me to get some different flavours in our sound, and this video certainly helped her see it's value.

Another great video!

[rnfr]

My new rig has a DX100, volca FM, and a Hydrasynth with an MPC One controlling them. I’ve had the dx100 for about 25 years and am so glad I hung on to it! I saw the magic of that bass watching Derrick Carter program in the studio and never looked back hahah

[PeterCowan]

It's so much fun to see a piece of owned gear show up every few months. I bought my DX100 for $100 off a guy from a BBS in 1990 towards the end of high school. Many a night would be spend toiling away tweeking oscillator ratios and getting creative with aliasing. Despite consistently being hooked up as my setup has evolved over the years, it's gotten less and less use. Thanks for the inspiration to dive back into it.

[sawtooth]

The DX 100 has a special place in my heart, because I got it when I was in my early 20’s (22) and it was a birthday present from my late Grandmother (which would make mine priceless imo, not for sale) it still works to this day. The crack that is in it by the pitch wheel, I covered with a band aid.

[HisXLNC]

The DX100 was my first taste of FM all the way back in high school. We had one in my guitar class. First time I played it, I was hooked. In college, the DX200 came out and I bought one of those. Then a few years ago, I bought a Volca FM. Then last year a Model:Cycles. I’ve probably had more FM synths than any other type. You never forget your first love. And mine is FM.

[westerncivilization]

The Space Dandy reference was... Dandy. Every one of your videos deserves a thousand thumbs up for the production values.

[highpoint]

The beginning of the first jam reminds me of Isolee- Beau Mot Plage. I love that song and this channel! Kudos to you.

[lo-firobotboy]

I've been on the hunt for an affordable DX-100 for years. the going rate locally is $600 ...Yikes! Now that it's on Bad Gear I'm sure the price just doubled.
Great review, thanks for using something other than the cliche'd solid bass.

[northwest]

Holding down that 13 key and getting that ring modulator sound is a gateway drug to 80s music. If I need to write a 80s soundtrack one day, I'm looking for one of these. Bad Gear is a learning experience, once again. Thanks.

[adamgh]

Woah, woah, woah. Now you're talking about MY bad gear. Haha! I've owned one of these since 2007 and aside from the usual issues like crackly audio jacks and broken solder joints, it's still being gigged with steadily. It still has the original battery in it too! I check it with a multimeter frequently and look for leakage but if it ain't broke.... I've had a replacement battery since 2008 too! It's not as useful as its 6 OP DX7 brother but it gets the job done.