DX REX: Revenge of The Dinosaurs
With 4 oscillators, 8 waveforms assignable to each, 8 algorithms possible per voice plus 3 assignable LFO waveforms, the Yamaha DX11 could do more than any previous FM synthesizer. With its 12 bit internal engine, it was the quietest by far of all the FM synths. It never goes out of tune and can duplicate any sound ever made by any previous FM synth and almost all the original analog sounds such as Moogs and ARPs could make.
Unfortunately, the DX11 could still only make 8 notes at a time. Since its sounds are synthesized, it could never make a realistic drum sound, or duplicate the qualities inherent in PCM sample sounds.
Appearing almost simultaneously, the Korg M-1 could make 16 notes at a time. Even more importantly, its sounds were based on PCM sampled waveforms that were stunningly realistic for that time. It has a built-in sequencer, which made it a perfect stand alone choice for the one keyboard musician.
The kiss of death for the DX11 was that it had no onboard FX processor. The Korg had stereo 16 bit reverb, chorus, delay etc. that could make any voice sound great. The M-1 became a best seller and the Yamaha rapidly became extinct. The greatest of the FM dinosaurs never had a chance to be appreciated for what it COULD do.
So what happens when you apply OUTBOARD FX to the Yamaha DX11 and give it 64 note polyphony as a Gigasampler instrument?
You get some of the best sounding FM ever created. Fat pianos and clavs, killer organs, great lead synth sounds, and even some big analog strings that rival modern synths and have their own unique qualities.
You might even say that the DX REX Collection is the revenge of the dinosaurs. Here's why......
Before the Gigasampler, PCM keyboard sounds have been limited in storage size, forcing the manufacturers to "loop" the synthesizer voices. It was simply impossible to duplicate the attack envelope, LFO charactersitics and delayed vibrato etc. that are inherent in FM and analog synth sounds.
Every sample in the DX REX Collection is 44.1 stereo and lasts as long as the synth played the sound. For the first time, a sampler can realistically duplicate the dinosaurs' every move. That is what this collection is all about. We digitally profiled the "FM noise" of the synth and simply removed it. These samples have an unprecedented signal to noise ratio for FM sounds.
Almost all the voices in this collection are original creations. (we did include some favorite presets, but even those are lightly enhanced through editing and outboard processing.) Pitchbend/LFO and other Gigasampler parameters such as AfterTouch have been carefully added for even further enhancement of the original voices.You can look forward to having brand new, never before heard voices that combine smoothly with each other, as well as blending with the more "modern" sounds from other samples collections. After 11 years of obscurity, this collection truly is....... the DX that roared.
