Yamaha DX27:
A slimmed version of a legendary FM synthesizer!
Description
The Yamaha DX27 is the full-keyboard version of the Yamaha DX100, released in Japan in 1985, which is in turn a trimmed-down version of the renowned DX7 synthesizer. The Yamaha DX7, released in 1983, hardly needs introduction. Known for the crisp, bright, and glassy tones that stood in stark contrast to the warm analog tones of the era, the DX7 was the first truly mainstream digital synthesizer. Built on the FM synthesis technology developed at Stanford by John Chowning, the DX7 was a revolution in synthesizer technology and brought into the hands of artists a world of sounds unlike anything that came before it. The DX27 offers a slimmed down package, with a portable form factor and a slightly reduced number of operators and algorithms (4 and 8, respectively, compared with the DX7’s 6 and 32), and a few of the DX7’s effects are not included in the DX27 (e.g. arpeggiator, filters). But the DX27 does offer expanded patch memory. Despite its lighter overall package compared with the DX7, the DX27 still offers a lot of fantastic tones as well as a lot of opportunities for customization and making new sounds via algorithmic programming. It’s a great option for those who want that classic “glassy” 80s FM tone, in a package they can take to a gig easily.

Includes power supply and a keyboard stand. This keyboard works well. It is missing the knob on one of the sliders, but the slider is still functional. See photo.