YAMAHA DX7 - EDIT MODE

EDIT MODE

EDIT MODE . . . . Creating Voices
The EDIT mode can be used to edit pre-programmed voices or to create entirely new voices. Press the EDIT/COMPARE function key to enter the EDIT mode.

Setting and modifying parameters is carried out using the DATA ENTRY controls just as in the FUNCTION mode. A small dot will appeat next to the voice number in the display if any data is modified. The original voice can be recalled at any time while editing by pressing the EDIT/COMPARE key again. The preset number will flash indicating that you are hearing the original voice. To continue editing press the EDIT/COMPARE button again.
Now for an explanation of the DX7's functions and operation.
OPERATOR ON-OFF/EG COPY

In the EDIT mode these keys permit turning any of the operators on or off, and copying the EG data of any operator to any other operator (EG COPY).

OPERATOR ON-OFF:
Pressing keys 1 through 6 will result in the corresponding operator being turned OFF, indicated by a "0" in the appropriate location on the display panel (the groupe of six 1's and/or 0's corresponds to operators 1 through 6). Press the key again to turn the operator back on--indicated by a "1" on the display.

EG COPY:
This function copies the EG data from one operator to another. While holding the selector STORE key, press the number of the operator from which you want to copy EG data.
ALGORITHM

This key permits selection of one of the 32 algorithms. Press the DATA ENTRY +1 key to increment (advance) the number of the selected algorithm, and the -1 key to decrement the algorithm number. The slide control can be used for large variations.
FEEDBACK

One operator in each of the 32 algorithms has its output fed back to its input. This is the feedback operator. The amount of feedback applied can be adjusted over a range of 0 to 7. By increasing the FEEDBACK level the harmonics are increased, resulting in the generation of noise-like sounds.
LFO

The Low Frequency Oscillator produces low-frequency sine, saw-tooth or square waves, or a SAMPLE/HOLD waveform.  The LFO waveform can be used to apply vibrato, tremolo or "wow" effects to the voices.  The amount of LFO modulation applied can be controlled using the modulation wheel, foot controller, breath controller or keyboard after touch once appropriate WAVE, SPEED, DELAY and KEY SYNC parameters are set.
(Refer to page 26)

WAVE:
This selects the waveform output by the LFO.  Any of the six waveforms shown below can be selected.

SPEED:
The speed (frequency) of the LFO can be set from 0 to 99.  0 is the slowest LFO speed while 99 is the fastest.
DELAY:
This creates a delay between initial key closure and application of LFO modulation.  A setting of 0 results in no delay--LFO modulation begins the instant a key is pressed--and a setting of 99 creates the longest delay.
PMD (Pitch Modulation Depth):
Varies, over a 0 to 99 range, the depth of LFO modulation applied to pitch.  A 0 setting produces nopitch modulation and a setting of 99 produces maximum modulation.
The PMD function is separate from the effect of the controllers, and can be used to apply vibrato effects that are entirely independant of the controller settings.
AMD (Amplitude Modulation Depth):
Varies, over a 0 to 99 range, the depth of LFO modulation applied to amplitude.  A 0 setting produces no amplitude modulation, and a setting of 99 produces maximum modulation.
The AMD function is separate from the effect of the controllers and can be used to apply tremolo effects that are entirely independent of the controller settings.
SYNC (Synchronize):
Pressing the SYNC key alternately turns the SYNC function ON and OFF.  When SYNC is ON LFO modulation begins at the same point in the LFO waveform since the LFO is free running in this mode.

MOD. SENSITIVITY (Modulation Sensitivity

This adjusts the sensitivity (depth) of pitch and amplitude modulation. This parameter must be greater than 0 before any amplitude or pitch modulation can be applied.
Be sure to check this parameter before using the modulation wheel or other controllers.

PITCH:
Sensitivity to pitch moulation is variable from 0 to 7. This value sets the modulation sensitivity for all operators. Applying pitch modulation results in vibrato type effects.
AMPLITUDE:
Sensitivity to amplitude modulation is variable from 0 to 3. Amplitude modulation sensitivity is set independently for each operator. Applying amplitude modulation to a modulator creates "wow" effects, while applied to a carrier it results in tremolo effects.

Operators are selected using the OPERATOR SELECT key. Pressing the OPERATOR SELECT key successively selects the operators in order from 1 to 6. The number of the selected operator is displayed in the upper right hand corner of the display panel. Operators that are turned OFF will be skipped and the number of the next active operator will be displayed.

OSCILLATOR

These keys set the pitch data for each operator.

MODE/SYNC:
Pressing this key alternately switches to MODE and SYNC.
MODE:
Pressing the DATA ENTRY -1 key sets the operators to the FREQUENCY (RATIO) mode, in which operator pitch is caled to the keyboard as normal.  Pressing the +1 key sets the FIXED FREQ (HZ) mode in which a fixed frequency is produced no matter what key is pressed.  The frequency is set using the FREQUENCY COARSE and FREQUENCY FINE functions in both modes.
SYNC (Synchronize):
When the SYNC function is ON, all oscillator begin operation from the same phase angle (0 degrees).  With SYNC OFF the phase angle at which an operator begins oscillation is carried over smoothly from the preceding note.  In the polyphonic mode, for example, maximum simultaneous output is 16 notes.  If a 17th key is pressed the first note makes a smooth transition to the 17th note.

FREQUENCY COARSE/FREQUENCY FINE:
If MODE is set to FREQUENCY (RATIO) the operators are set to a standard frequency of 1.00 (8 feet) when the PITCH COARSE key is pressed.  The frequency can then be varied from by one half (0.5 times) to 32 times.  FINE adjustment is possible over a range of from 1 to 1.99 times.  If the frequency is increased by 2 times, for example, the pitch will increase by one octave.
If MODE is set to FIXED FREQ (HZ), COARSE adjustment is possible in four steps--1, 10, 100 and 1000.  FINE adjustment is possible from 1 to 9.772 times.

DETUNE:
The operator frequencies as determined by the FREQUENCY COARSE and FREQUENCY FINE controls can be detuned over a -7 to +7 range.
EG (Envelope Generator)

The envelope generator determines how the amplitude (volume) or timbre (tone) of a note will vary over time.  Envelope modulation of a modulator results in time-based timbre variations, while envelope modulation of a carrier produces amplitude variations.
The parameters which determine the "shape" of the envelope are RATE 1 through RATE 4 and LEVEL 1 through LEVEL 4.  The RATE parameters determine how long it takes the envelope to reach one LEVEL from another.  The envelope applied to each operator can be set individually, permitting an essentially infinite range of envelope combinations.

RATE:
Pressing the RATE key successively selects RATE parameters 1 through 4.  Each RATE parameter can be set from 0 to 99.  A 0 setting produces the longest (slowest) RATE and a 99 setting produces the fastest RATE.
LEVEL:
Pressing the LEVEL key successively selects LEVEL parameters 1 through 4.  Each LEVEL parameter can be set from 0 to 99.  0 is no output, while 99 is maximum level.
Normally LEVEL 4 will be set at "0". In this case LEVEL 1 should be greater than "50" to ensure proper EG operation.
KEYBOARD LEVEL SCALING

Permits raising or lowering the EG levels for keys to the left and right of any key specified as the "Break Point".  This is basically a highly advanced version of the keyboard follower function found on some conventional synthesizers, permitting much finer scaling control.

BREAK POINT:
The BREAK POINT key--the reference for the scaling function--can be specified anywhere between A1 and C8.
CURVE:
Permits variation of the scaling curve to the left and right of the BREAK POINT key.  Pressing the CURVE key alternates between R KEY SCALING and L KEY SCALING displays.  Four different curves are available, as shown in the figure.
DEPTH:
Varies the depth of each curve over a 0 to 99 range.  A 0 setting results in a flat (no variation) curve, and a 99 setting produces maximum scaling depth.
KEYBOARD RATE SCALING

The EG for each operator can be set for a long bass decay and short treble decay--as in an acoustic piano. RATE can be set from 0 to 7.
OPERATOR

Permits setting the output level and touch response effect of each operator.

OUTPUT LEVEL:
Controls overall EG level, like the EG DEPTH controls in conventional synthesizers. OUTPUT LEVEL can be set between 0 and 99.
For example, if a specific operator is found to be unnecessary once a voice has been created, its output level can be set to 0.
- Since the OPERATOR ON-OFF function operates only in the EDIT mode and OPERATOR ON-OFF data is not stored in memory, the OUTPUT LEVEL of all unnecessary operators should be set to 0.
  KEYBOARD LEVEL SCALING depth is also set to "0". Setting a large DEPTH value and either the +LIN or +EXP curve will result in output from the operator even if the operator's output level is set to "0".
  In order to maintain the same total output level regardless of which algorithm is selected, the OUTPUT LEVEL of each carrier operator is initially set to 1/2 or 1/6 depending on the configuration of the algorithm. For example, the OUTPUT LEVEL of operators 1 through 3 of algorithm 1 are set to 1/2, while operators 1 through 6 of algorithm 32 are set to 1/6.
KEY VELOCITY SENSITIVITY:
Permits adjustment of key touch response. That is, how the velocity with which the keys are played affects the sound. Since touch response can be aplied to carriers or modulators, variations in timbre as will as level can be produced. Sensitivity can be set from 0 to 7. No touch response will be produced with a 0 setting, while a setting of 7 produces maximum response.
PITCH EG

PITCH EG permits variation of pitch by ±4 octaves either side of standard pitch (50).  The RATE and LEVEL parameters of the PITCH EG can be set just as in the other DX7 envelope generators.

RATE:
Pressing the RATE key successively selects RATE parameters 1 through 4.  Each RATE parameter can be set from 0 to 99.  A 0 setting produces the longest (slowest) RATE, and a 99 setting produces the fastest RATE.
LEVEL:
Pressing the LEVEL key successively selects LEVEL parameters 1 through 4.  Each LEVEL parameter can be set from 0 to 99.
With a setting of 50 as standard, a setting of 99 permits +4 octaves pitch variation while a setting of 0 permits -4 octaves pitch variation.
Set LEVEL 1 through LEVEL 4 to 50 to defeat the PITCH EG function.
KEY TRANSPOSE

Transposes pitch over a ±2 octave range in semitone steps with C3 as standard. Press the KEY TRANSPOSE, and then the keyboard key corresponding to the desired amount of transposition according to the illustration on page 18. To transpose up one octave, for example, press the KEY TRANSPOSE key and then press C4 on the keyboard.
VOICE NAME

Name for original voices can be specified using up to ten characters. Characters are chozen from those printed in small type to the right of the MODE SELECT and VOICE/PARAMETER SELECT keys. The available characters are 1 through 0, A through Z, -, a period and a space. When the VOICE NAME key is pressed, a cursor appears over the first character of the current voice name. Input the new name by pressing the buttons with the appropriate characters printed to the right of the button while holding the CHARACTER button.