… but if present day were 1985 rather than 2005 this, fine specimen would be the foxxiest rig that your green could provide.
It’s the Yamaha DX-21 FM Synthesizer. That’s right kiddies you guessed right, “FM” stands for Frequency Modulating tone synthesis… not like those MOOG inventions that sum together the output of multiple oscillators set to constant frequencies to enable voice synthesis intuitive enough for a performing musician to program on the fly… no siree, boy. Those are for sissies. The DX-21 is a “programmer’s synth“. Those who dare to navigate it’s sleek, multi-function, 32 – button, user interface and single color, non-backlit, display with not quite the resolution of Nintendo’s first version of Gameboy need to have a robust understanding of advanced Fourier analysis and signal processing to get it to output the most basic peep… and that’s after the mandatory three hours of tedious calculation of Bessel’s coefficients for each modulator:oscillator frequency ratio side-band of the desired voice. “What is that you say…?” “You don’t know what a Bessel coefficient is and you call yourself a synth programmer!?!” Stay away from the DX-21; it’ll kick your ass!
As the nonplussed clerk at Trade Up music half-assed explained, the above was a favorite of many in late 80’s to early 90’s the Detroit techno scene. Let me extend a shout out to my man Juan Atkins. Your music may be long forgotten but it’s influence remains strong.
Plus, the price tag proclaimed that the DX-21 is “Totally West Coast & Dr. Dre approved!!!”. I’m glad to know I’m in such good company! Maybe I’ll email the Dr. for some DX-21 programming tips. WEST SIDE you know it’s the BEST SIDE!
After reading this weeks Portland Mercury’s cost comparison between “traditional” multi-person rock band expenses and those of your solo laptop geek. I think my present music projects will more closely resemble the latter strategy. Well, that, and the fact that I’ve no place to bang on my drums in Seattle; superSUX it does.
