Upgraded Yamaha DX5

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via this auction

"Here's your chance to own one of the Crown Jewels of 80's synth history, and the top of the DX line: the mighty Yamaha DX5. Along with its even bigger brother the DX1 (of which only 140 were made), the DX5 essentially puts two complete DX7 engines in one gorgeous body, and then adds significant upgrades like improved output circuitry with XLR jacks as well as standard 1/4", a much bigger display, double the polyphony, split/layer capability, two cartridge slots, and more.

However, this isn't a standard-issue DX5: this is a custom-modified and completely restored DX5 with higher-end components than the original. Frankly, this is the best-sounding DX synth you will ever hear - even better than a DX1, which are incredibly rare. The following tweaks/updates were done by SynthSpa within the last year:

- Upgraded hand-picked DA converters for pristine sound: the character of the DX1/DX5, but even more hi-fi

- New OLED screen to replace the old, dim EL display

- Totally rebuilt power supply with new capacitors

- New battery

- Completely rebuilt keybed: each key was washed, cleaned, and springs restored to feel brand new

- Custom Paduk wood trim sides

- Cleaned & restored sliders, jacks, pots & other electronic components; outputs rebalanced & optimized


A few other notes: the youtube link in my listing is this actual DX5, recorded in January 2021; however, some of the sounds are from a custom DX sample library I created - some of which are multiple stacks from a TX816.

This DX5 is in incredible shape as you can see in the pics & video; however, there is one minor small scratch near the display. The previous owner filled it in with brown paint, so it's not really noticeable under most circumstances - you have to be looking for it. It's under the temporary brown tape you can see in some of the pics in my listing; the tape has been removed. If you're as OCD as I am, you can do the same thing - or make a nice bezel to surround the display. If it doesn't sell, I'll happily keep it and build a nice wood trim bezel myself!"

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DX5 10th Anniversary on Youtube

Published on Jun 28, 2016 DX5

Congrats to DX5! :) As regular readers of the site know, DX5's videos have been a mainstay over the years here on MATRIXSYNTH.

"Celebrating DX5 10th anniversary on Youtube. I decided to play not only one but some DM songs and my own tracks (from 'Long Play Three', tracklist details will be updated soon)

Recorded on the same day but in different shots while I was working (placing and removing the camera, then some slight camera variations -axis and light- can be found between takes)

Gear:
Roland JP8000, Emu Emax I, Kurzweil PC1x, Access Virus TI Snow, Roland Promars MRS-2. Backtracks recorded by me and launched on Pro Tools.

Looking forward to the next 20th anniversary"

DX5 playing "Shake the Disease" (Martin Gore demo)

Published on Nov 5, 2012 by DX5

"Shake the Disease (Martin Gore demo) cover. (Martin's Original version here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWeVSKn9sCs ) [below]

I noticed he recorded it mainly with a Yamaha DX7. In fact, he used six cartridge preset sounds (that I switched live). So I decided to recreate it. None of the backtrack sounds were recorded with MIDI or other clock resources.

All sounds (*unless stated): Yamaha DX7.
Bassline synth: Roland Promars MRS-2
Drumbox: Boss DR55 (sampled)

Backtrack recorded on a Revox B77 MkII.

Composed by Martin L. Gore"

Depeche Mode - Shake The Disease [Martin Gore Demo]

Uploaded by rooiee on Jul 24, 2008

"Depeche Mode - Shake The Disease [Martin Gore Demo]"

The released version:


Uploaded by warnerbrosrecords on Oct 26, 2009

And a "Live" version from 1985 with Martin Gore and the Yamaha DX7, Andy Fletcher with a KORG Polysix or possibly a Mono/Poly, and Alan Wilder with a Roland Jupiter-6:

Depeche Mode - Shake the Disease (1985) - Rare TV Performance

Uploaded by ancele007 on Jun 26, 2011

"From ''The Singles 81 - 85'' (1985)."

DX5 playing Depeche Mode "Tora Tora Tora"

YouTube Published on Sep 19, 2012 by DX5

"Backtrack recorded in Pro Tools with no midi on any track (audio recorded on the fly and manually quantized on screen). Then dumped to tape.
Bassline at backtrack (2 different sounds) are from the Promars.
Drums are Korg KR55 and Emax library sounds.

Gear played:
Upper: Roland Promars MRS-2 "compuphonic"
Mid: Roland JP8000
Lower: Yamaha DX7

Reel to Reel: Revox B77 MkII

Composed by Martin L. Gore"

DX5 Playing Gary Numan & Tubeway Army "Are Friends Electric"

YouTube Published on Sep 13, 2012 by DX5

"First cover using the Roland Promars analog synthesizer. Tubeway Army used to use Minimoog for the lead part. The Promars has two VCO's (and a sub oscillator) even thought it is more limited than the Moog.
This is a cover based on the live version.

Gear used.
Upper: Roland Promars MRS-2
Mid: Roland JP8000
Lower (Midied to the JP): Kurzweil PC1x

Backtrack recorded on Pro Tools.

Original song composed by Gary Numan"

DX5 testing a Roland Promars

YouTube Published on Sep 10, 2012 by DX5

"** Demo video ** (not cover, new covers are coming really soon).
Testing my Roland Mrs2 PROMARS as soon as it arrived in the studio. It is basically a monophonic Jupiter 4 with two twin vco's and a sub oscillator.

Featuring:
Promars Layout overview.
"Love in Itself", "Television Set", and "Photographic" riffs.
Some weird noises

PS: Apologies for the camera angle. Not the best (but for watching my elbow)"

DX5 playing DM "The Meaning of Love"

YouTube Uploaded by DX5 on Apr 9, 2012

"Backtrack and rehearsals etc etc done in just half an afternoon.

Upper Keyb: Roland JP8000
Mid: Emu EMAX II (with JX8P sounds layered with library ones)
Lower: Yamaha DX7 II FD
Reel to reel: Revox B77 MkII

Backtrack recorded in Pro Tools, then dumped to Tape

Composed by Martin L Gore."

DX5 playing Duran Duran "A View to a Kill"

YouTube Uploaded by DX5 on Mar 4, 2012

"I did this during a studio break with almost no rehearsal (there is some mess in the middle of the track like "uh, where should I go now? Major? minor?" :-)

Gear:
Upper: Emu EMAX II
Mid: Roland JX8P
Lower: Kurzweil PC1x

Reel to reel: Revox B77 MkII

Backtrack recorded in Pro Tools first, then dumped to the Reel to reel.

Composed by Duran Duran / John Barry"

DX5 playing Depeche Mode "Useless"

YouTube Uploaded by DX5 on Feb 2, 2012

"Upper Keyb: Emu EMAX II (reso-noise sound sampled from the JP8k with no fx)
Mid: Roland JP8000 (Ribbon controller assigned to filter envelope depth).
Lower: KURZWEIL PC1x (Split on four different areas)

Backtrack sequenced and recorded in Pro Tools.

Composed by Martin L. Gore"

DX5 Working with the Emu Emax I (1/2)

YouTube Uploaded by DX5 on Jan 23, 2012

"**Technical video, not a cover**. If you are not into keyboard technology, you are allowed to skip this video :-)

As some Youtube users requested me, I shot some Emax basic operations, specially the ones I use to do more often.
This is the first part, showing the Emax I focused on allocating samples, copy/paste and related. Also, showing how to create a new preset loading different samples from the floppy drive.
Video edition is quite amateur, so I apologize if you find some random jumps. Also, my english is not good, apologies for it.

Created by DX5 (Jose María Bara-Spain)"

DX5 playing DM "Shake the Disease" 101 version

YouTube Uploaded by DX5 on Jan 1, 2012

"Happy 2012 everyone. Updated "Shake the Disease" version, more 101 oriented. Yes, I used Alan original samples in my EMAX II :) The sample allocation is the same alan used on tour.
You can find some mistakes as this was recorded at the first take, first time I played the whole track (once assigned samples and levels).

More covers coming soon, also my next new album with original tracks (reworking on some demos these days).

Gear Used:

Upper: Emu EMAX II HD
Mid: Emu Emax I
Low: Kurzweil PC1x
Backtrack recorded in Pro Tools. Grid metal effect was recorded hitting a pipe on a grid door.

Composed by Martin L. Gore."

DX5 playing DM "World in my Eyes"

YouTube Uploaded by DX5 on Nov 11, 2011

"Depeche Mode "World in my Eyes"

Gear used:
Upper: Emu Emax II
Mid: Roland JP8000
Lower: Kurzweil PC1x

Backtrack recorded and sequenced in Pro Tools

Bassline sequence sounds coming from Arturia Minimoog V and ARP 2600 V.
Drum sounds coming from my own libraries.

Composed by Martin L. Gore."

DX5 playing DM "The Landscape is Changing"

YouTube Uploaded by DX5 on Sep 28, 2011

"Gear used:

Left: Roland JP8000
Upper: Emu EMAX II HD
Mid: Emu Emax I
Lower: Kurzweil PC1x
Left; Yamaha DX7

All sounds synthesized and sampled by myself, or belong to my sampler libraries. (Some of the samples -wood type ones- are coming from a Roland JX8P)

Backtrack recorded with Pro Tools. JP8000 time sync'ed with it

Original track composed by Alan Wilder"

Remember, you can search on "Uploaded by DX5" on the right for more. Or of course, just click through the video to YouTube. Blogger search on the top left is hit an miss.

DX5 Playing DM "Policy of Truth" (updated)

YouTube Uploaded by DX5 on Sep 13, 2011

"Updated (and quick done, almost a rehearsal) version -so sorry but it's the only way to upload something as I barely have time enough for doing this Youtube stuff-. It was recorded at the first take, then some mistakes can be heard. Also the light was dim, as the one that uses to be on stage .

BTW, I only have two arms. There are missing sounds, but I wanted to do this with the less pre recorded sounds possible


Backtrack recorded in Pro tools.
Gear: Upper: EMU EMAX II HD
Mid: Roland JP8000
Low: Kurzweil PC1x

Drum Pads triggering the EMAX thanks to a drum pad to Midi converter box

Composed by Martin L. Gore"

DX5 playing Depeche Mode "Precious" (updated)

YouTube Uploaded by DX5 on Aug 12, 2011

"As some fellow youtube users claimed, updated (and improved) version.

Gear used:
Upper: KORG POLY 800 (it was originally used on PTA Album)
Mid: Roland JP8000
Low: Emu EMAX II HD

Composed by Martin L Gore."

DX5 playing "Warm Leatherette" (The Normal)

YouTube Uploaded by DX5 on Aug 9, 2011

"Covering an experimental track from late 70's originally by The Normal (Daniel Miller) that also was the first "Mute Records" release.
Recorded at the very first take (without rehearsing)

If you didn't know the song, it can sound very repetitive, but once you listen to it several times you will enjoy it. Be sure to check Daniel's original one too.

Gear:
Upper: Emu EMAX II HD (with Kurzweil and Roland JP8000 samples)
Mid: Roland JP8000
Backtrack recorded in Pro Tools featuring JP8000 and Simmons SDS 8 sounds)

Composed by The Normal (Daniel Miller)
Performed here by DX5 (Jose Maria Bara)"

DX5 playing Duran Duran "Save a Prayer" (Arena)

YouTube Uploaded by DX5 on Jul 15, 2011

"Live 1984 version. Just checking how a Roland JX-8P can sound close to Nick's Jupiter 8.

Quick done Backing track recorded in Pro Tools. JP8 arp was made with both a D10 and a JP8000.

Composed by Le Bon/Rhodes/Taylor"

DX5 playing Depeche Mode "Photographic"

YouTube Uploaded by DX5 on Jul 10, 2011

"1981 Live version cover. Just rehearsed in a while, some mistakes can be found.
Gear. Roland JX8P
Roland JP8000.

Back in the temporary studio. New videos coming really soon. Stay tuned.

Composed by Vince Clarke"

Yamaha DX5 vs Roland Juno-60

YouTube Uploaded by Sjobeck7 on Jun 5, 2011

"WARNING!!!! Ah Oui.. I take pride in making crumby and obscure youtube
videos... My sound quaility and poor video mic and poorer playing will undoubtedly make you yawn like nobodies buisness. I promise!!!"

DX5 playing Depeche Mode "Nothing to Fear"

YouTube Uploaded by DX5 on May 8, 2011

"One of the last videos shot in this studio. I am moving to a temporary one while building the definitive (say goodbye to the flower power sofa and curtains...).

I added a Simmons SDS 8 module for drum effects. The only original pad I have is too weared, so I used two standar pads for triggering the unit.

Upper Keyboard: Emu EMAX II HD
Lower: Emu Emax.

All sounds were synthesized by me, sampling them into the emaxes. Sources were JP8000 DW8000 Poly 800, and my Emax library.

Composed by Martin L. Gore."