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TX802
Yamaha / Synthesizers

TX802

1987–1991

1987 (Jun.)Initially sold for ¥184,000 Features: • 128 preset voices, plus 64 user and 64 cartridge voices — a total of 256 ultra-expressive FM voices. • Select up to 8 different voices to make one "performance", and play them simultaneously. • Assign each voice to a different MIDI channel, and a different note range. • Stereo outputs plus 8 individual outputs permit processing of individual voices. • Multiple graphic displays and a pull-out operation guide make editing faster and easier than ever.

Evolution of FM Synthesis

The Yamaha TX802 FM Tone Generator was introduced in the late 1980s (circa 1987-1988) as a rack-mount evolution of the DX7 line. Despite its name suggesting eight modules, the TX802 was actually a rack version of the DX7mkII with enhanced multitimbral capabilities, not to be confused with the modular TX816 system. It represented Yamaha's response to the growing demand for compact, multitimbral sound modules suitable for MIDI sequencing and studio integration.

Technical Specifications

The TX802 featured 16 voices of polyphony using the same 6-operator FM synthesis engine as the DX7mkII. The major advancement over previous TX modules was full 8-part multitimbral operation, allowing it to function as eight independent synthesizers for sequencing, key mapping, and layering applications. It included 128 preset sounds and 64 user-programmable patches, with an external memory cartridge slot for additional sound storage.

Interface Challenges

Like other TX-series modules, the TX802 suffered from a severely limited front panel interface, making sound programming extremely difficult without external hardware or software editors. If the DX7 keyboard was challenging to program, the TX802's minimal controls made it nearly impossible. This led to a thriving third-party editor market and the common practice of using computer-based patch editors for sound design.

Studio Integration

In the late 1980s, the TX802 was an excellent solution for getting Yamaha's signature DX sounds in a compact, multitimbral package. Its 8-part multitimbral capability made it particularly valuable for MIDI sequencing applications, where multiple different FM sounds could be triggered simultaneously from a single unit. This made it a popular choice in professional studios during the height of the FM synthesis era.

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