Yamaha DX7
Used By
About
The Yamaha DX7 is a digital sythesizer used by Prince and his band in the mid-1980s. Prince acquired one during the Purple Rain sessions and it was used on Around The World In A Day, Parade and Sign O The Times.
The DX7 was purchased for Prince to use on the song "Love and Sex" (from the Purple Rain Deluxe edition). Prince first commercially available song featuring the DX7 was "When Doves Cry"[1] , where the patch "Koto" was used for the main keyboard part. It was also used on "She's Always In My Hair", which was recorded during the Purple Rain sessions (the "Gotcha" preset).
The DX7 was used extensively on the Around The World In A Day sessions[2] . Songs that feature the DX7 include Around The World In A Day (Recorders, E. Organ 1), Paisley Park (Caliope) and America (Flute 1). Other songs from this period featuring the DX7 include Manic Monday (Harpsichord 1), Nothing Compares 2 U (Vibes) and Kiss (Marimba). Prince would continue using the DX7 on Parade, Sign O The Times and Lovesexy albums[3] .
Lisa Coleman[4] , Dr Fink and Boni Boyer all used DX7s live on the Purple Rain, Parade, Sign O The Times and Lovesexy tours.
Prince sold his Yamaha DX7, along with his Emu E-max II sampler in 1995. The DX7 and E-max II were put up for auction in 2020.
| Song | Part | Patch Name | Patch Number (Rom Card) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Love and Sex | Verse - 0:13 | Take Off | 32 (3A) |
| When Doves Cry | Intro - 0:18 | Koto | 23 (1A), 22 (3B) |
| She’s Always In My Hair | Intro - 0:02 | Gotcha | 30 (4B) |
| Around The World In A Day | Intro - 0:00 | Recorders | 23 (4A) |
| Around The World In A Day | Bridge - 1:59 | E.Organ 1 | 17 (1A), 11 (3A) |
| Paisley Park | Intro - 0:15 | Caliope | 20 (1B), 18 (3B) |
| Condition Of The Heart | Intro - 0:00 | Timpani | 28 (1A), 20 (3A) |
| Condition Of The Heart | Intro - 0:07 | Flute 1 | 24 (1A), 01 (3A) |
| Condition Of The Heart | Intro - 1:32 | Gotcha | 30 (4B) |
| Condition Of The Heart | Intro - 2:23 | Accordion | 21 (1B), 19 (3B) |
| Raspberry Beret | Chorus 1 - 0:55 | Harpsichord 1 | 19 (1A), 2 (2A) |
| Tambourine | Intro - 0:05 | E.Bass 1 (Bass 1) | 15 (1A), 30 (3B) |
| America | Intro 0:38 | Flute 1 | 24 (1A), 01 (3A) |
| Temptation | Intro - 0:30 | Flute 1 | 24 (1A), 01 (3A) |
| Temptation | Outro - 6:05 | Koto | 23 (1A), 22 (3B) |
| Temptation | Outro - 7:05 | Tub Bells | 26 (1A), 4A (22) |
| Kiss | Verse 2 - 1:11 | Marimba | 22 (1A), 4A (7) |
References
- 1Tudahl, Duane (2017) Prince and the Purple Rain Studio Sessions - 1983 and 1984
- 2Tudahl, Duane (2017) Prince and the Purple Rain Studio Sessions - 1983 and 1984
- 3Brown, Jake (2010) Prince 'in the Studio' 1975 - 1995
- 4Musician (1984) Prince's Sceptres
Specifications
| Synthesis | Digital linear frequency modulation |
|---|---|
| Polyphony | 16 voice monotimbral |
| Oscillators | 6 digital sine wave operators per voice, 32 patching algorithms |
| LFOs | Sine, square, tri, saw up, saw down, sample and hold |
| Filter | None |
| Envelope | 6 x amplitude ADSR with rate and level controls 1 x ptich ADSR |
| Keyboard | 61 keys with velocity and aftertouch |
| Controls | Pitch bend and modulation wheels |
| Memory | 128 presets 32 user patches |
