Synthesizer Yamaha TX81Z

Vintage FM synthesizer from Yamaha 1987-88, it comes in a compact, multitimbral, rack-mountable 1U module and is essentially a keyless version of the DX-11. It has significantly more professional features than its relative FB-01. TX81Z has excellent FM-type synthesizer sounds, similar to DX-21 and DX-27. Eight-voice polyphony, 128 preset sounds, 32 user sounds, and a multitude of features hidden behind 11 buttons.

TX81Z has the ability to use waveforms other than sine. There are eight voices that can be split, layered, and detuned. There are also pseudo-effects onboard, including delay and reverb. These features can be saved as performance settings. The effects are simply envelope and retrigger effects. TX81Z works great as a sound module for any live or studio production. It has a wider range of sounds than the DX-7, it may not be as warm or 'classic' sounding, but for its low price and excellent MIDI implementation, it is a great alternative or backup synthesizer for punchy, aggressive FM synth sounds. It is used by Fluke, Roni Size, Astral Projection, Squarepusher, Jimmy Edgar, Future Sound of London, and Josh Wink.