Free download: **Please Note: Not final version, pre-release for testing/tweaking

    yamaha_dx_performances_for_ops7_v0.zip   (2.6 Mb)

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Installation:

Extract the zip file, and copy the folder "DX Factory Performances (OPS7)" to:

• Mac: ~/Library/Application Support/Plogue/Fermata/Presets/com.Plogue.Fermata.chipsynth OPS7/
• PC: C:\Users\YOU\AppData\Roaming\Plogue\Fermata\Presets\com.Plogue.Fermata.chipsynth OPS7\

The patches will show up in the "user" folder at the bottom of the presets list in OPS7.

For Logic, copy the folder "DX Factory Performances (Logic)" to:

• Mac: ~/Library/Audio/Presets/Plogue Art et Technologie/chipsynth OPS7/

(For Mac, that's the Library folder in your user account. Depending on your OS settings, this might be hidden by default. If so, in Finder, hold the Option key, and select the "Go" menu and your user Library folder will be available in the list for selection, which will take you there.)

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Notes:

• As very few (I don't know of any) Yamaha DX editor applications support the Performance data, in order to see the original performance parameters without access to the hardware I had to write a custom tool to extract them from the bulk sysex data, so I could then set up appropriate parameters in the OPS7 plugin, which supports dual-layered voicings, to best replicate the original settings.
  
  This includes layer volumes, transposition, detune, split/dual modes, split points, pitch bend and portamento settings, and modulation assignments and settings for the mod wheel (CC#1), aftertouch, foot controller (CC#4), and breath controller (CC#2).
• There are a couple of differences in this performance bank compared to the originally published DX performance notes - I don't know why, and haven't yet managed to independently confirm whether these changes are canonical, with the originally published notes possibly outdated when the products shipped.
  
  
  • Preset 2-3: "Ensemble [L] / Solo Violin [R]" (presumably a split patch) is replaced by "Warm String Pad" (using the same voice data for Voice A and B).
  • Preset 2-7: "String Ensemble" is renamed as "Analog String Ensemble", again, with the same voice data.
• Preset 5-8: "Ride Cymbal & Electric Bass" seems to be originally programmed so the bass voice receives on MIDI channel 7, and the ride cymbal voice on MIDI channel 6 - which would let them be played independently. In this version, I have set the bass to respond on MIDI channel 1, and the ride on MIDI channel 2 - this means by default you'll likely only hear the bass voice, unless you change your MIDI channel to play the ride voice (or change the channel assignments in the plugin to taste.)
• Preset 6-3: "Hand Claps [L] / Tom Toms [R]" can't be fully replicated as played on the hardware, as the transposition for the Clap voice doesn't have sufficient range (in the plugin, the voice is already at the maximum +24 transposition value, and there is no extra Key Shift parameter that the hardware has to add an additional octave.) As a result, the claps may sound an octave lower than on the hardware.
• Performances (or splits) marked [BC1] are setup for Yamaha's breath controller to control EG Bias, and by default won't make a sound without some breath to open the envelopes up. Breath controller is MIDI CC #2, so you can use a MIDI controller set to CC #2 to play these if necessary. Similarly, the Foot controller (Performances marked "[F/C]") is set for MIDI CC #4 and this controls modulation where applicable.
• The DX1 supports polyphonic aftertouch, and many of the original Performances have these assignments. Individual operators can respond to different amounts of polyAT, as well as the envelope decay and release stages. As not many people have access to polyphonic aftertouch keyboards currently, and even less have access to a DX1, I'll leave translating these into the OPS7's "MPE" mode an exercise for the reader. If you have a DX1 and can help set these up to respond the same way in the plugin, please let me know and I'll update the patches accordingly.

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For more on Yamaha's DX range of synthesisers, check out the mu:zines archives for Yamaha synth reviews and features from the actual 80s...

• Yamaha DX1 (mu:zines)
• Yamaha DX5 (mu:zines)
• Yamaha DX7 (mu:zines)
• All Yamaha synths from the 80s (mu:zines)
• All Yamaha synth modules from the 80s (mu:zines)

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Thanks to Rob Puricelli (failedmuso.com & Pro Synth Network) for the Performance bank sysex data .
All original sound data is the copyright of Yamaha.

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