Yamaha Audio DX200 User Manual
SPECIAL MESSAGE SECTION
This product utilizes batteries or an external power supply (adapter).
DO NOT connect this product to any power supply or adapter other
than one described in the manual, on the name plate, or specifically
recommended by Yamaha.
WARNING: Do not place this product in a position where anyone
could walk on, trip over ,or roll anything over power or connecting
cords of any kind. The use of an extension cord is not recommended! IF you must use an extension cord, the minimum wire siz e
for a 25' cord (or less ) is 18 AWG. NOTE: The smaller the AWG
number ,the larger the current handling capacity. For longer extension cords, consult a local electrician.
This product should be used only with the components supplied or;
a cart, rack, or stand that is recommended by Yamaha. If a cart, etc.,
is used, please observe all safety markings and instructions that
accompany the accessory product.
SPECIFICATIONS SUBJECT TO CHANGE:
The information contained in this manual is believed to be correct at
the time of printing. However, Yamaha reserves the right to change
or modify any of the specifications without notice or obligation to
update existing units.
This product, either alone or in combination with an amplifier and
headphones or speaker/s, may be capable of producing sound levels that could cause permanent hearing loss. DO NOT operate for
long periods of time at a high volume level or at a level that is
uncomfortable. If you experience any hearing loss or ringing in the
ears, you should consult an audiologist.
IMPORTANT: The louder the sound, the shorter the time period
before damage occurs.
Some Yamaha products may have benches and / or accessory
mounting fixtures that are either supplied with the product or as
optional accessories. Some of these items are designed to be
dealer assembled or installed. Please make sure that benches are
stable and any optional fixtures (where applicable) are well secured
BEFORE using.
Benches supplied by Yamaha are designed for seating only. No
other uses are recommended.
NOTICE:
Service charges incurred due to a lack of knowledge relating to how
a function or effect works (when the unit is operating as designed)
are not covered by the manufacturer’s warranty, and are therefore
the owners responsibility. Please study this manual carefully and
consult your dealer before requesting service.
ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES:
Yamaha strives to produce products that are both user safe and
environmentally friendly. We sincerely believe that our products and
the production methods used to produce them, meet these goals. In
keeping with both the letter and the spirit of the law, we want you to
be aware of the following:
Battery Notice:
This product MA Y contain a small non-rechargeable battery which (if
applicable) is soldered in place. The average life span of this type of
battery is approximately five years. When replacement becomes
necessary, contact a qualified service representative to perform the
replacement.
This product may also use “household” type batteries. Some of
these may be rechargeable. Make sure that the battery being
charged is a rechargeable type and that the charger is intended for
the battery being charged.
When installing batteries, do not mix batteries with new, or with batteries of a different type. Batteries MUST be installed correctly. Mismatches or incorrect installation may result in overheating and
battery case rupture.
Warning:
Do not attempt to disassemble, or incinerate any battery. Keep all
batteries away from children. Dispose of used batteries promptly
and as regulated by the laws in your area. Note: Check with any
retailer of household type batteries in your area for battery disposal
information.
Disposal Notice:
Should this product become damaged beyond repair, or for some
reason its useful life is considered to be at an end, please observe
all local, state, and federal regulations that relate to the disposal of
products that contain lead, batteries, plastics, etc. If your dealer is
unable to assist you, please contact Yamaha directly.
NAME PLATE LOCATION:
The name plate is located on the bottom of the product. The model
number, serial number , po wer requirements, etc., are located on this
plate. You should record the model number, serial number, and the
date of purchase in the spaces provided below and retain this manual as a permanent record of your purchase.
Model
Serial No.
Purchase Date
2
PLEASE KEEP THIS MANUAL
92-BP (bottom)
FCC INFORMATION (U.S.A.)
1. IMPORTANT NOTICE: DO NOT
MODIFY THIS UNIT!
This product, when installed as indicated in
the instructions contained in this manual,
meets FCC requirements. Modifications
not expressly approved by Yamaha may
void your authority, granted by the FCC, to
use the product.
2. IMPORTANT: When connecting this
product to accessories and/or another
product use only high quality shielded
cables. Cable/s supplied with this product
MUST be used. Follow all installation
instructions. Failure to follow instructions
could void your FCC authorization to use
this product in the USA.
3. NOTE: This product has been tested and
found to comply with the requirements
listed in FCC Regulations, Part 15 for Class
“B” digital devices. Compliance with these
requirements provides a reasonable level
of assurance that your use of this product
in a residential environment will not result
in harmful interference with other electronic
devices. This equipment generates/uses
radio frequencies and, if not installed and
used according to the instructions found in
the users manual, may cause interference
harmful to the operation of other electronic
* This applies only to products distributed by YAMAHA CORPORATION OF AMERICA.
devices. Compliance with FCC regulations
does not guarantee that interference will
not occur in all installations. If this product
is found to be the source of interference,
which can be determined by turning the
unit “OFF” and “ON”, please try to eliminate
the problem by using one of the following
measures:
Relocate either this product or the device
that is being affected by the interference.
Utilize power outlets that are on different
branch (circuit breaker or fuse) circuits or
install AC line filter/s.
In the case of radio or TV interf erence , relocate/reorient the antenna. If the antenna
lead-in is 300 ohm ribbon lead, change the
lead-in to co-axial type cable.
If these corrective measures do not produce satisfactory results, please contact
the local retailer authorized to distribute
this type of product. If you can not locate
the appropriate retailer, please contact
Y amaha Corporation of America, Electronic
Service Division, 6600 Orangethorpe Ave,
Buena Park, CA90620
The above statements apply ONLY to those
products distributed by Yamaha Corporation of America or its subsidiaries.
(class B)
ADVARSEL!
Lithiumbatteri—Eksplosionsfare ved fejlagtig håndtering. Udskiftning må kun ske med batteri af samme fabrikat og type. Levér det brugte batteri tilbage til leverandoren.
VARNING
Explosionsfara vid felaktigt batteribyte . An vänd samma batterityp eller en ekvivalent typ som
rekommenderas av apparattillverkaren. Kassera använt batteri enligt fabrikantens instruktion.
VAROITUS
Paristo voi räjähtää, jos se on virheellisesti asennettu. Vaihda paristo ainoastaan laitevalmistajan suosittelemaan tyyppiin. Hävitä käytetty paristo valmistajan ohjeiden mukaisesti.
(lithium caution)
NEDERLAND / THE NETHERLANDS
• Dit apparaat bevat een lithium batterij voor geheugen back-up.
• This apparatus contains a lithium battery for memory back-up.
• Raadpleeg uw leverancier over de verwijdering van de batterij op het moment dat u het
apparaat ann het einde van de levensduur afdankt of de volgende Yamaha Service Afdeiing:
Yamaha Music Nederland Service Afdeiing
Kanaalweg 18-G, 3526 KL UTRECHT
• For the removal of the battery at the moment of the disposal at the end of the service life
• Gooi de batterij niet weg, maar lever hem in als KCA.
• Do not throw away the battery. Instead, hand it in as small chemical waste.
Tel. 030-2828425
please consult your retailer or Yamaha Service Center as follows:
Yamaha Music Nederland Service Center
Address : Kanaalweg 18-G, 3526 KL UTRECHT
Tel : 030-2828425
(lithium disposal)
3
PRECAUTIONS
Yamaha cannot be held responsible for damage caused by improper use
or modifications to the instrument, or data that is lost or destroyed.
PLEASE READ CAREFULLY BEFORE PROCEEDING
* Please keep these precautions in a safe place for future reference.
WARNING
Always follow the basic precautions listed below to avoid the possibility of serious injury or even death from electrical shock,
short-circuiting, damages, fire or other hazards. These precautions include, but are not limited to, the following:
• Do not open the instrument or attempt to disassemble the internal parts or
modify them in any way. The instrument contains no user-serviceable
parts. If it should appear to be malfunctioning, discontinue use immediately and have it inspected by qualified Yamaha service personnel.
• Do not expose the instrument to rain, use it near water or in damp or wet
conditions, or place containers on it containing liquids which might spill
into any openings.
• If the AC adaptor cord or plug becomes frayed or damaged, or if there is a
sudden loss of sound during use of the instrument, or if any unusual
smells or smoke should appear to be caused by it, immediately turn off the
power switch, disconnect the adaptor plug from the outlet, and have the
instrument inspected by qualified Yamaha service personnel.
• Use the specified adaptor (PA-3B or an equivalent recommended by
Yamaha) only. Using the wrong adaptor can result in damage to the instrument or overheating.
• Before cleaning the instrument, always remove the electric plug from the
outlet. Never insert or remove an electric plug with wet hands.
• Check the electric plug periodically and remove any dirt or dust which may
have accumulated on it.
CAUTION
Always follow the basic precautions listed below to avoid the possibility of physical injury to you or others, or damage to the
instrument or other property. These precautions include, but are not limited to, the following:
• Do not place the AC adaptor cord near heat sources such as heaters or
radiators, and do not excessively bend or otherwise damage the cord,
place heavy objects on it, or place it in a position where anyone could walk
on, trip over, or roll anything over it.
• When removing the electric plug from the instrument or an outlet, always
hold the plug itself and not the cord.
• Do not connect the instrument to an electrical outlet using a multiple-connector. Doing so can result in lower sound quality, or possibly cause overheating in the outlet.
• Unplug the AC power adaptor when not using the instrument, or during
electrical storms.
• Before connecting the instrument to other electronic components, turn off
the power for all components. Before turning the power on or off for all
components, set all volume levels to minimum. Also, be sure to set the
volumes of all components at their minimum levels and gradually raise the
volume controls while playing the instrument to set the desired listening
level.
• Do not expose the instrument to excessive dust or vibrations, or extreme
cold or heat (such as in direct sunlight, near a heater, or in a car during the
day) to prevent the possibility of panel disfiguration or damage to the internal components.
• Do not use the instrument near other electrical products such as televisions, radios, or speakers, since this might cause interference which can
affect proper operation of the other products.
• Do not place the instrument in an unstable position where it might accidentally fall over.
• Before moving the instrument, remove all connected adaptor and other
cables.
• When cleaning the instrument, use a soft, dry cloth. Do not use paint thinners, solvents, cleaning fluids, or chemical-impregnated wiping cloths.
Also, do not place vinyl, plastic or rubber objects on the instrument, since
this might discolor the panel or keyboard.
• Do not rest your weight on, or place heavy objects on the instrument, and
do not use excessive force on the buttons, switches or connectors.
• Do not operate the instrument for a long period of time at a high or uncomfortable volume level, since this can cause permanent hearing loss. If you
experience any hearing loss or ringing in the ears, consult a physician.
■ REPLACING THE BACKUP BATTERY
• This instrument contains a non rechargeable internal backup battery which
permits internal data to remain stored even when the power is off. When
the backup battery needs replacing, the message "Err1" appears in the display. When this happens, immediately back up your data (using an external
device such as the floppy disk-based Yamaha MIDI Data Filer MDF3), then
have qualified Yamaha service personnel replace the backup battery.
• Do not attempt to replace the backup battery yourself, in order to prevent
the possible serious hazards. Always have qualified Yamaha service personnel replace the backup battery.
• Never place the backup battery in a location that a child can reach, since a
child might accidentally swallow the battery. If this should happen, consult
a physician immediately.
■ SAVING USER DATA
• Save all data to an external device such as the Yamaha MIDI Data Filer
MDF3, in order to help prevent the loss of important data due to a malfunction or user operating error.
Always turn the power off when the instrument is not in use.
(3)-6
4
Congratulations and thank you for purchasing the Yamaha DX200 Desktop
Control Synthesizer!
The DX200 is a combination tone generator and sequencer that puts an enormous amount of
sonic power and real-time performance control in an exceptionally compact and easy-to-use “desktop”
package. As one of the Loopfactory group of instruments, it’s an amazingly high-quality and versatile
tool for loop-based music production. Use it on your gigs, as part of your DJ setup — or as your secret
weapon in your studio arsenal.
With eighteen knobs and umpteen switches, many of them “dedicated” — meaning that a control does specifically and ONLY what its name indicates — the DX200 is a synthesizer control freak’s
dream.
Powering the richly textured and dynamic Voices of the DX200 is the FM Synthesis system —
the tone generation method behind the enormously popular DX7. On the DX200, we’ve combined the
bright and harmonically complex digital sound of FM, with the warm and powerful sound-shaping controls of analog synthesizers — to give you the best of both worlds.
Play the exceptionally high-quality digital Voices of the DX200 with full 16-note polyphony —
from the built-in keyboard or from a MIDI device. Use the built-in 16-step sequencer to create your
own synth and rhythm sequences. And power up the full-featured DX200 Editor on your computer —
to tap into ALL the amazing sonic power the DX200 has to offer.
There’s a lot of important, helpful information in these pages. So read through this manual
carefully — and get the most out of your sophisticated new DX200.
● Packing List
The following items have been included with your DX200. Check to see that you have everything listed here.
• Owner's Manual
• CD-ROM
• AC Power Adaptor*
* Power supply recommendation may vary from country to country. Please check with
your nearest Yamaha dealer for further details.
* The company names and product names in this Owner’s Manual are the trademarks or registered trademarks of
their respective companies.
* The screens as illustrated in this owner’s manual are for instructional purposes only, and may appear somewhat
different from the ones of your instrument.
5
Contents
Contents
Contents ............................................................ 6
How to Use This Manual .................................. 8
Panel Controls .................................................. 9
Quick Start Guide ........................................... 11
Parameter Structure ....................................... 12
Tone Generator Signal Flow &
Effect Block Diagram ..............................13
Chapter 1
Chapter 8
Pattern Playback.................... 35
Tip 25 Adjusting the Gate Time....................................35
Tip 26 Transposing the key...........................................36
Tip 27 Swing.................................................................37
Tip 28 Muting tracks.....................................................37
Tip 29 Muting notes during playback ...........................38
Tip 30 Mixer controls — Pan and Volume...................39
Tip 31 Assigning Patterns to the keyboard buttons.......40
Pattern Basics ........................ 15
Tip 1 Playing a Pattern ............................................... 15
Tip 2 Exploring other Patterns.................................... 15
Tip 3 Switching Patterns on the fly ............................16
Tip 4 Playing it backwards.........................................17
Tip 5 Changing the bpm.............................................17
Tip 6 Messing with the Beat....................................... 18
Tip 7 Double time, half time.......................................18
Chapter 2
Song Playback......................... 19
Tip 8 Playing a Song...................................................19
Chapter 3
Chapter 9
LFO Modulation........................ 41
Tip 32 Modulating the volume......................................41
Tip 33 Modulating the Filter.........................................42
Tip 34 Modulating the pitch..........................................43
Tip 35 Changing the LFO wave....................................44
Chapter 10
EG Basics ............................... 46
Tip 36 Shaping the sound with EG ...............................46
Tip 37 Using EG to control the Filter (FEG) ................49
Tip 38 More about FEG Depth......................................50
Tip 39 Going negative — with FEG Depth ..................51
The Keyboard......................... 20
Tip 9 Playing the keyboard......................................... 20
Tip 10 Changing octaves..............................................20
Tip 11 Playing the Rhythm track.................................. 21
Tip 12 Velocity............................................................. 21
Chapter 4
Scene Basics .......................... 22
Tip 13 Switching Scenes .............................................. 22
Tip 14 Morphing........................................................... 22
Chapter 5
Effects....................................23
Tip 15 What is an Effect?.............................................23
Tip 16 Playing with the Effects....................................24
Tip 17 Distortion...........................................................26
Chapter 6
Chapter 11
Advanced Sound Shaping
Controls ................................. 52
Tip 40 Portamento — the famous gliding pitch effect..52
Tip 41 Selecting the Algorithm.....................................53
Tip 42 Shifting Harmonics............................................54
Tip 43 Mellow or metallic — FM Depth......................55
Tip 44 Controlling the FM Decay.................................56
Tip 45 Noise Level........................................................56
Tip 46 All kinds of noise...............................................57
Tip 47 Fat, phatter and phattest!....................................58
Tip 48 Creating your own original Scenes —
and saving them .........................................59
Chapter 12
Free EG................................... 60
Tip 49 Free EG..............................................................60
Tip 50 Changing the Length of your Free EG tracks....62
Filter (VCF) ..............................27
Tip 18 Cutoff and Resonance.......................................27
Tip 19 Wild, wild filter sweeps — VCF Types............ 28
Tip 20 FEG Depth ........................................................ 30
Chapter 7
Nuts and Bolts ........................ 31
Tip 21 Show Value.......................................................31
Tip 22 Original Value................................................... 32
Tip 23 Panic! (or “Uh-oh...What do I do now?”).........33
6
Tip 24 Factory Reset..................................................... 34
Chapter 13
Pattern Power Tips................. 63
Tip 51 Hit the top of the Pattern! ..................................63
Tip 52 Shake, Retrigger, and Roll!................................64
Tip 53 Selecting a Voice (Copy Voice) ........................65
Tip 54 Starting a Pattern on a different note.................65
Tip 55 Transposing the pitch of a Pattern .....................66
Tip 56 Copying a Pattern (Sequence)............................67
Contents
Chapter 14
Pattern Recording ...................68
Tip 57 Erasing a Pattern — and starting from scratch . 68
Tip 58 Setting the Metronome lead-in.......................... 69
Tip 59 Recording a Pattern in real time........................ 70
Tip 60 Step Recording.................................................. 72
Tip 61 Storing your new Pattern................................... 79
Chapter 15
Song Recording ....................... 81
Tip 62 Erasing a Song — and starting from scratch..... 81
Tip 63 Creating a Song................................................. 82
Tip 64 Setting the BPM (tempo) for your new Song ... 84
Tip 65 More Song editing features............................... 85
Tip 66 Adding Patterns to your Song — Insert Pattern 87
Tip 67 Taking Patterns out of your Song —
Delete Pattern............................................ 88
Tip 68 Storing your new Song...................................... 89
Chapter 16
Speed Tips for Power Users .... 90
Tip 69 Using [SHIFT] with the [DATA] knob —
for leaps and bounds!................................ 90
Tip 70 Using [SHIFT] to “hold” a setting....................91
Tip 71 Gang-editing a group of Steps .......................... 91
Chapter 17
Real World Tips .......................92
Tip 72 Adjusting the Gate Time with the [DATA]
knob........................................................... 92
Tip 73 Adjusting the pitch with the [DATA] knob ...... 92
Tip 74 Changing the pitch with the keyboard .............. 93
Tip 75 Stutter fill-in 1................................................... 94
Tip 76 Stutter fill-in 2................................................... 94
Tip 77 Stutter fill-in 3................................................... 95
Tip 78 Assigning Patterns for your gig ........................ 95
Tip 79 Chord progressions with Pattern Assign........... 95
Chapter 19
Master Class 2 —
Advanced Music Production ... 103
Tip 87 Playing the DX200 as a synthesizer................103
Tip 88 Recording to a sequencer.................................104
Tip 89 Recording DX200 knob moves to a sequencer105
Tip 90 Editing the DX200 from a computer...............106
Tip 91 MIDI sequencer controls —
Start, Continue, Stop................................107
Tip 92 Saving Patterns and Songs to a MIDI data
filer...........................................................108
Tip 93 Loading back your saved Patterns and Songs .109
Appendix
Function Index...............................................110
About the Included CD-ROM........................112
Specifications................................................114
Error Messages .............................................114
Troubleshooting............................................115
FM Tone Generation......................................116
MIDI Data Format...........................................124
MIDI Implementation Chart...........................144
Rhythm Track Instrument List .....................145
Pattern List.....................................................146
Chapter 18
Master Class 1 — Onstage........96
Tip 80 Sync the DX200 to your sequencer................... 96
Tip 81 Changing the MIDI channels............................97
Tip 82 Loopfactory setup — with the SU200 .............. 98
Tip 83 Loopfactory sync system — with the AN200... 99
Tip 84 Loopfactory sampling ..................................... 100
Tip 85 Full DJ system — turntable and all! ............... 101
Tip 86 Loopfactory megasetup — with MIDI Thru... 101
7
How to Use This Manual
How to Use This Manual
How to USE a manual? Sounds a bit obvious, we admit. (“Open it and read it.”) But here goes:
1 Go straight to the Quick Start Guide.
This tells you simply and in no uncertain terms how to set up your new DX200 and get sound out of it.
2 Work through the 93 Tips.
These are practical, no-nonsense applications that get you actually USING the machine.
If this is your first tone generator or synthesizer, fire up the DX200, open up the manual to Tip 1, and go
from there. Think of it as a game — the more tips you complete, the better you know the machine, and
the sooner you can reach your goal of becoming a true synth wizard. Pay particularly close attention to
the Power Hints scattered throughout — they’re great for further exploration.
If you have years of experience with synthesizers and know all about cutoff frequency, resonance, algorithms, modulators, LFOs, EGs, and MIDI — and you even dream in hexadecimal — skim through the
tips anyway. There’s bound to be some interesting and helpful stuff here, no matter what your level of
expertise. If you need some pertinent info quickly, check the Tech Talk boxes.
3 Refer to the Appendix when necessary.
Lots of helpful, convenient information in this section, too. If something doesn’t work as expected, go to
Troubleshooting (page 115). If you want a clear, concise explanation of how the synthesizer of the
DX200 works, see FM Tone Generation (page 116). If you’re not sure where to go for help but you’ve
got a key word in mind, check the Contents (page 6) or look through the Function Index (page 110).
Have fun!
8
Panel Controls
Panel Controls
Main Voice
Control Keyboard
Here’s a quick way to get familiar with your DX200! The front (or top) panel of the DX200 can be roughly
divided into four sections: Main, Control, Voice, and Keyboard. Look through the controls here, and check
out the Tips related to each of them for more information.
The Tip references b y each control are not meant to be comprehensiv e . They either give the
first (or main) Tip in which the control appears, or the group of Tips that are most closely
related.
9
Panel Controls
Voice
Keyboard
Main
These are the fundamental controls of the DX200 — for
changing modes, adjusting values, exiting from functions, and so on.
Display and indicators
[SONG] ...................................Tips 8, 63
[PATTERN] .....................................Tip 1
[DATA] knob .............................Tips 2, 69
[SHOW VALUE] ....................... Tips 21, 22
[STORE]........................... Tips 48, 61, 68
[EXIT]......................................... Tip 23
These controls are for editing and changing the sound of
the Voices.
[SCENE] ................................Tips 13, 14
[FREE EG] .............................. Tips 49, 50
[VOLUME]
[LFO] ................................ Tips 32 — 35
[EG] .................................. Tips 36 — 39
[DIST] ........................................ Tip 17
[COMMON] .................................. Tip 47
[ALGORITHM] ...............................Tip 41
[MODULATOR] ..............................Tip 42
[NOISE OSC]................................. Tip 46
[EFFECT/MIXER] ................. Tips 15, 16, 30
[PORTAMENTO] .............................Tip 40
[HARMONIC] ................................ Tip 42
[FM DEPTH] ................................. Tip 43
[DECAY] ...................................... Tip 44
[NOISE LEVEL] ..............................Tip 45
[VCF] ................................ Tips 18 — 20
10
Control
For the most part, these buttons are related to the Patterns — especially for controlling record and playback
operations.
Start/Stop ......................................Tip 1
[TAP] ...........................................Tip 5
Record ........................Tips 49, 51, 59, 60
[SWING] .................................Tips 6, 27
[REVERSE]...............................Tips 4, 25
[SHIFT]................................. Tips 69, 70
[OCT <<] ............................... Tips 10, 63
[OCT >>] ............................... Tips 10, 63
[KEYBOARD] ............................Tips 9, 26
[PATTERN SELECT]........... Tips 3, 31, 78, 79
[SYNTH TRACK] ............................ Tip 28
[RHYTHM TRACK] .......................... Tip 28
The Keyboard section has several main uses:
• Playing the Voices................... Tips 9, 86
• Selecting Patterns.......Tips 2, 3, 31, 78, 79
• Controlling the Sequence Steps
..................................... Tips 29, 59, 60
• Selecting functions and operations
. Tips 28, 52 – 58, 60, 62, 66, 67, 80, 81, 86, 91 – 93
Quick Start Guide
Quick Start Guide
Once that you’ve got the DX200 out of the box and checked that all included items were indeed included, it’s
time to set everything up and get playing.
1 Turn the VOLUME control all the way down to the minimum.
2 Connect the OUTPUT jacks (L/MONO and R) to the inputs of your
recorder/mixer/amplifier.
If you’re using a mono system, use only the L/MONO jack. If you’re using headphones, connect them to
the PHONES jack.
DX200
Recorder
AC outlet
AC
Adaptor
Mixer
or
DC IN OUTPUT
PHONES
Headphones
Amplifer
or
3 Plug in the included power adaptor — first, one end into the DC IN termi-
nal, then the other into an AC outlet.
4 Turn on the power with the rear panel power switch. Then, turn on the
power of your recorder/mixer/amplifier.
The DX200 takes a little time to “warm up” after being turned on – roughly 15 seconds. After
the startup routine is finished, your DX200 is ready to play.
5 Press the Start/Stop button on the DX200 to start a Pattern and slowly
turn up the VOLUME control until the level is appropriate.
To stop the Pattern, simply press the Start/Stop button again.
And that’s all there is to it. Now go on to the Tips and start playing!
11
Parameter Structure
Parameter Structure
This diagram shows the structure and hierarchy of the Songs, Patterns and Voices of the DX200. As you
work with the DX200 and explore its various functions and features, refer back to this diagram to see how all
the pieces of the puzzle fit together.
Pattern Select Setup
User Pattern 128
Preset Pattern 1
Sequence
Synth
Track
Step
Synth
Voice
Pan
Wet
Vol
16
1
LFO
EG
etc.
Free EG
Rhythm
Track 1
Step
16
1
Rhythm
Voice 1
Cutoff
Resonance
Rhythm
Track 2
Step
16
1
Rhythm
Voice 2
Cutoff
Resonance
Rhythm
Track 3
Step
16
1
Rhythm
Voice 3
Cutoff
Resonance
BPM
Beat
Swing
Effect
Type
Param
256 Preset Patterns
128 User Patterns
System
Gate Time
Reverse
12
Song 10
Song 1
Measure 1
Pattern No.
Pitch Offset
Beat
Swing
Gate Time
Reverse
Track Mute
Measure 2
Pattern No.
Pitch Offset
Beat
Swing
Gate Time
Reverse
Track Mute
10 User Songs
Measure 256
Pattern No.
Pitch Offset
Beat
Swing
Gate Time
Reverse
Track Mute
Tone Generator Signal Flow & Effect Block Diagram
Tone Generator Signal Flow & Effect Block Diagram
Effect section
Out
Synth track Distortion EQ
Rhythm track 1
Rhythm track 2
Rhythm track 3
The EQ processing is accessible only with the DX200 Editor software.
13
This is NOT an owner’s manual!
This is NOT an owner’s manual!
At least not an ordinary one. But, then again, the DX200 is no ordinary
instrument. It’s packed with exciting, po werful, yet easy-to-use features that
give you complete, hands-on sonic control — plus tons of dynamic real-time
functions that can bring an extra edge to your live performances!
With all the digital power under this small hood, the DX200 is a stunning
new instrument of the future. Yet it also brings you the very best of the old
analog world — just look at all those knobs for twisting and tweaking your
sound!
We know you don’t like reading manuals. But you owe it to yourself to look
through this collection of hot tips. They show you how to get the most out of
your new DX200 in the shortest time possible.
It’s like having an expert programmer take you by the hand and show you
the ropes, sharing all the tricks and techniques you need to be a master on
the instrument yourself. These tips take you from the bare-bones basics, to
advanced power tips that get you pumping out fat sounds and happening
tracks — in no time flat!
So jump in …
14
Chapter 1
1 Playing a Pattern
Here’s where all the fun starts — with the pre-programmed Patterns.
Just press the Start/Stop button, and listen to the Pattern play. The Pattern repeats (loops) until you press
the button again to stop it.
● What exactly are Patterns?
The Patterns are the basic musical building blocks of the DX200 — they provide an instrument sound (also called a “Voice”), plus a looping phrase using
that Voice.
These pre-recorded Patterns give you the rhythmic and melodic foundation you
need for laying down tracks — in your own recording or in performance. Keep
in mind that you can create your own Patterns as well. (See page 68.)
Pattern Basics
Start your synthesizer apprenticeship right here. In this section, you’ll learn
about playing Patterns, and how to use some of the DX200’s powerful tools to
change the sound as it’s playing.
Pattern Mode
Select the Pattern mode by pressing the
[PATTERN] button. The letter “P” in the display indicates the Pattern mode.
2 Exploring other Patterns
The DX200 features a total of 256 specially pre-programmed Patterns. Try some of these out now.
Use the [DATA] knob to select a different Pattern. Notice how the Pattern number in the display changes.
Then press the Start/Stop button to play the Pattern.
Keep in mind that you cannot select Voices
You can also change Patterns during playback! Turn the [DATA] knob while the
Pattern is playing — the new Pattern starts playing immediately after the previous one is finished.
separate from the Patterns. If you want to
hear a certain Voice, select the Pattern containing that Voice. You can copy that Voice
to a different Pattern; see Tip 53.
15
Chapter 1 Pattern Basics
3 Switching Patterns on the fly
Try mixing it up now. The DX200 lets you change Patterns as easily as pressing a button...
Thanks to the Pattern Select function, you can chain together Patterns in real time from the keyboard — as
you perform.
Select a Pattern, then press [PATTERN SELECT].
The button lights.
Start the Pattern. While the Pattern is playing, press one of the keyboard buttons (except 1, 4, and 8).
Avoid these keys — they won’t change the Pattern.
Notice how a new Pattern starts playing as soon as the previous one is finished. This is a great way to string
together various Patterns in a live performance — and create your own songs on the fly. If you want, you
can use the keys to select a Pattern before starting playback as well.
• Repeats
Unless you want the same Pattern to repeat several times, don’t press a
keyboard button more than once. On the other hand, you can quickly
program the Pattern sequence for an entire song if you want, without
having wait for each Pattern to play back. The DX200 remembers all the
buttons you press and how many times you press them, and automatically plays back the Patterns as you programmed — repeats and all.
• Other octaves, more Patterns
Before starting the Pattern, use the [OCT <<]/[OCT >>] buttons to
change the octave range of the keys. That’ll let you select other Patterns!
• Assign them yourself
The Pattern-to-key assignments have been made for you. However, you
can make your own assignments, and put the Patterns you want to use
close together for easy access. (See page 40.)
16
Chapter 1 Pattern Basics
4 Playing it backwards
The Reverse function lets you completely turn the Pattern around, and play all the notes backwards.
Before you start the Pattern (or during playback, if you want), simply press the [REVERSE] button.
5 Changing the bpm
Now, that you’ve got a Pattern playing, try changing its speed. (This is also called “bpm” — beats per
minute.) The DX200 gives you two ways to do this — tapping out the speed manually, or using the [DATA]
knob to adjust it.
1 Tap the [TAP] button three or four times at the desired speed.
1
2
3
The new bpm is shown in the display. The [TAP] button and BPM lamp flash in time.
2 If you want, adjust the bpm by turning the [DATA]
knob.
BPM
3 Press the Start/Stop button to start the Pattern at the
new bpm.
You can also change the bpm while the Pattern is playing. T o do this , simply
start the Pattern before step #1 above.
Determines the speed or tempo of a Pattern.
Operation
Use [TAP] button to tap tempo; then adjust
with [DATA] knob. Or hold down [SHIFT]
and press [TAP/BPM]; then use [DATA]
knob.
Range
20.0 — 300.0 bpm
17
Chapter 1 Pattern Basics
6 Messing with the Beat
There’s more than one way to mess with the rhythm. Actually, the DX200 gives you a truckload of ways you
can disturb and deconstruct your beats. One of these is the (appropriately named) Beat function.
You’ll be meeting up with this control again when you record your own Patterns. But let’s see how you can
use it now to change the feel of a Pattern while it’s actually playing...
1 Select a Pattern and start it by pressing the Start/Stop button.
2 While the Pattern is running, hold down [SHIFT] and press [SWING]
(BEAT).
Now, you’ve got Beat called up and ready, so turn the [DATA] knob to
change the setting.
You can tell from the lit number buttons how the Pattern is affected. When
set to “16,” all 16 step buttons are lit and all 16 steps play back normally.
Change the setting to “12,” and Steps 13 - 16 drop out. Notice how the
Pattern not only slows down but “feels” different, too. Change Beat to “8,”
and you’ve only got Steps 1 - 8 happening. That’s half of the original 16step Pattern, and naturally, it plays back at half the speed.
Beat
Determines the number of steps in the
selected Pattern for playback: 16, 12, or 8.
To set, hold [SHIFT] and press [SWING], then
use the [DATA] knob.
Range
16, 12, 8 steps
7 Double time, half time
Here’s a dramatic way to instantly double the speed of a Pattern — or slow it down by one-half.
18
Simply hold down [SHIFT] and press the [OCT <<] button — just before the beginning of the Pattern — to
slow down the bpm by one-half. The first half of the Pattern plays at the new speed, before returning to the
original speed.
To double the bpm, hold down [SHIFT] and press the [OCT >>] button just before the top of the Pattern. The
Pattern plays back twice at the new speed, then returns to normal.
Chapter 2
Song Mode
Pressing the [SONG] button selects the Song
mode.
8 Playing a Song
Let’s select a Song now and play it.
1 Press the [SONG] button.
Song Playback
As we said before, the Patterns are the basic building blocks of the DX200.
But what can you build with them?
Songs!
Our team of expert programmers has created a few Songs using the various
Patterns of the DX200. Check these out and hear just how powerful and versatile the DX200 can be for recording your own material.
2 Select the desired Song by turning the [DATA] knob.
3 Press the Start/Stop button to play the Song.
For more about Songs and how to create your own, see page 81.
The letter “S” indicates
the Song mode.
19
Chapter 3
9 Playing the keyboard
The built-in keyboard is small — just one octave — but it lets you use all the features of the DX200 without
having to connect a separate keyboard. Try it out now.
1 Press [KEYBOARD].
The Keyboard
Small and compact as it is, the DX200 also features a one-octave keyboard for
playing and recording the sounds of the instrument.
2 Play the keyboard.
The buttons give you a full octave, from C to C. Keep in
mind that buttons 1, 4, and 8 don’t make any sound here —
they’re not part of the scale.
Db (C#) Eb (D#) Gb (F#) Ab (G#) Bb (A#)
C D E F G A B C
The button lights.
10 Changing octaves
Naturally, one octave doesn’t cover a whole lot of ground. That’s why we’ve included convenient Octave buttons, so you can shift the octave range of the keyboard up or down as needed — quickly and easily.
20
1 While the [KEYBOARD] button is lit, press [OCT >>].
The display shows “C4,” indicating the octave. (“C3” is normal.) Play
the keyboard and listen to the sound. Try some other octave settings,
pressing [OCT <<] and [OCT >>] as desired to shift the octave.
Octave
Determines the octave range of the built-in
keyboard. Press [OCT <<] or [OCT >>] to
change. ([DATA] knob can also be used after
pressing one of these buttons.) Press both
buttons simultaneously to restore normal
range. Some notes may not sound for the
maximum values.
Range
C-2 — C3 (normal) — C8
Chapter 3 The Keyboard
11 Playing the Rhythm track
The DX200 also has a special Rhythm track (actually there are three) that let you play and record drum, percussion, bass and other sounds — giving you the power to easily create your own ultra-hip beats. Naturally,
you can play all these sounds straight from the built-in keyboard...
1 With the [KEYBOARD] button lit, press [RHYTHM TRACK].
The button lights.
Press the button repeatedly to switch among the three Rhythm tracks: 1, 2, and 3.
2 Play the keyboard.
Remember — you can use the [OCT <<]/[OCT >>] buttons to change the range, and call up a whole different set of sounds. For more details on how to use the Rhythm tracks, see page 145.
12 Velocity
All the keys of the built-in keyboard play at a fixed volume — no matter how hard or how soft you play them.
However, you can set this fixed volume yourself, and make the sound as soft or as loud as you need it.
This Velocity setting also controls how loud the sounds are, when you record your own Patterns in Real-time
recording (page 70).
1 Hold down [SHIFT] and press button [16], repeatedly
if necessary, until “<EL” appears in the display.
Velocity
Determines the default Velocity setting for the
built-in keyboard of the DX200. This affects
the loudness of the Synth and Rhythm track
sounds, when played from the keyboard. It
also affects the loudness of Real-time
recorded tracks, when the built-in keyboard
is used to record notes.
Velocity is set in the Utility parameters. Hold
down [SHIFT] and press button [16], repeatedly if necessary, until “<EL” appears in the
display. Use the [DATA] knob to change the
value.
Range
1 — 127
2 Use the [DATA] knob to change the value.
Make sure the [KEYBOARD] button is lit, and try out different settings.
21
Chapter 4
13 Switching Scenes
Here we’ll switch between Scenes, for instant sound changes.
Scene Basics
Scene is one of the most powerful and exciting features of the DX200. It lets
you “morph” between two completely different sounds — in real time, as the
Pattern is playing.
Select a Pattern and start it up. While it’s playing, press the SCENE [2] button. Hear how the sound
changes? Press SCENE [1] to go back to the first sound. Try to do this on the beat, alternating between the
two in rhythm.
14 Morphing
Let’s try something more subtle now. While playing back a Pattern, turn the [SCENE] knob slowly, back and
forth.
Notice how the sound gradually “morphs” between 1 and 2 — in real time as you work the knob. Do this in
sync with the rhythm and create your own shifting textures.
For more details on Scene, see page 59.
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Chapter 5
15 What is an Effect?
The Effects are the last element in the sound chain — they are the last bit of processing done to the sound
before you hear it.
These real-time Effects — Delay, Flanger, Phaser, Overdrive/Amp — let you mangle the sound in wild and
exciting ways. Although it’s not in the Effect section, there’s also a Distortion effect that lets you add anything from a warm grunge to a full-on metallic assault.
The Effect controls are exceptionally simple and easy to use. Pressing the [TYPE] button changes the Effect
type, while the [PARAM] and [WET] knobs let you adjust the sound and depth of the Effect.
Effects
The effects of the DX200 are more than just icing on the cake — they’re powerful tools you can use to completely transform the sound, and put your tracks
over the top.
Changes the Effect
type (Delay, Flanger,
Phaser, Overdrive/
Amp).
Changes the depth or degree of the Effect.
When set to the minimum (all the way left),
the Effect sound cannot be heard.
Changes the sound of the Effect. (Each
effect lets you control a different key
parameter.)
[WET] knob
Range
0 — 127 (Same for all Effect types.)
23
Chapter 5 Effects
16 Playing with the Effects
Let’s take a look at each of the Effects, and try applying them to the sound.
Before you begin, set the [WET] knob up to about 2:00 or 3:00.
Generally, you should keep the knob at this position. This ensures that you can
properly hear the Effect. (Tweak it later as needed to adjust the Effect balance.)
Now, try out each Effect, and use the same procedure:
1 Select the Effect type.
Press the [TYPE] button, then use the [DATA] knob. Thirteen different types are available.
2 Adjust the Effect depth.
Use the [PARAM] knob.
● Delay
(Delay 1 — 3)
Delay is a popular effect that repeats the sound in rhythm. Play a Pattern and select Delay 1 (dLY1). Try
setting the [PARAM] knob to around 3:00. Hear how the Delay sound pulses with the original sound to create a different, more complex yet “spacier” feel. Try the other Delay types, too.
The key to using Delay effectively (no pun intended) is to keep it in sync with the Pattern. This is a little
tricky and may take some practice. Slowly work the [PARAM] knob and listen carefully for changes in the
rhythm. Keep in mind, there are no “wrong” or “right” settings here — use your ears to come up with settings that feel good.
● Reverb
Reverb (r<rb) is a “hidden” type in the Delay category and it lets you apply an ambient wash of reflections
to the sound. Used subtly, it can make your tracks warmer and more natural sounding — as if they were
being played in a concert hall. More extreme settings can drench the sound in reverb and produce spacy,
other-worldly effects.
24
Try this out on one of the Patterns. Select the Pattern and play it, then tweak the [PARAM] and [WET] knobs,
trying different settings, and hearing how they change the sound. Lower settings result in a shorter reverb
time as well as an overall brighter sound. Higher settings produce a longer reverb time and dampen the high
frequencies as well for a softer, more muffled sound.
Keep in mind that Reverb — like all the Effects — is applied to all tracks, Synth and Rhythm 1 - 3.
Chapter 5 Effects
● Flanger
(Flanger 1, 2)
This modulation-based Effect produces a “swishing” or “tunneling” sound. Play a Pattern and select Flanger
1 (FLG1).
Take the [PARAM] knob from minimum to maximum, and notice how the sound grows from a subtle sweeping, metallic sound — like a jet airplane taking off — to a virtually pitch-less sonic meltdown.
● Chorus
Chorus is another modulation effect (“hidden” in the Flanger category) that adds a subtle warmth and depth
to the sound — although you can go for some extreme effects, too.
Try Chorus (CHor) out on a Pattern. Play around with the [PARAM] knob, trying different settings — and
listen for the changes.
Start out with [PARAM] set to 7:00 (minimum). This is no Chorus modulation at all. Now, bring it up slowly
to 8:00, then around 9:00. Hear the modulation working? Doesn’t the sound seem more animated? Even
fatter?
Try higher settings, as well — going to 12:00, then slowly up to 3:00 and beyond. Notice how the pitch
wavers in strange ways — and hear how the sound even brightens up for the highest values.
● Phaser
(Phaser 1 - 3)
Another modulation Effect, Phaser is similar to Flanger, but much more subtle.
It’s perfect for adding some warm animation and movement to the sound.
Play a Pattern and select (PHS1). Set the [PARAM] knob to the minimum (0)
and gradually turn it up — and listen to how the modulation enhances the
sound. Go on to the other Phaser types as well, for more sonic variations.
● Overdrive/Amp
(Amp 1 - 3)
This Effect simulates the overdriven sound of a guitar amp, and lets you apply
varying degrees of distortion to the sound. Start a Pattern and try Amp 1
(AmP1), and tweak the [PARAM] knob. Notice how minimum values produce
a warm, edgy “bite,” while maximum values deliver a full, heavy metal
onslaught.
Try all three Overdrive/Amp types — the differences may not be dramatic, but
they give you a variety of warm and crunch-laden distortion effects to work
with. Some of the Patterns sound especially good with a little grunge...
Effect
Effect Type
Allows you to select one of thirteen Effect
types for processing the sound of the tracks
(Synth and Rhythm 1 - 3). Press the [TYPE]
button, then use the [DATA] knob.
Settings
Delay 1 - 3, Reverb, Flanger 1 and 2, Chorus, Phaser 1 - 3, Overdrive/Amp 1 - 3
Parameter (PARAM)
In general, this allows you to control the
depth of the Effect. (The actual parameter
differs depending on the selected Effect
type.) Use the [PARAM] knob to adjust.
Range
0 — 127
Wet
Allows you to control the volume of the Effect
— in other words, the wet/dry balance. Use
the [WET] knob to adjust.
Range
0 — 127
25
Chapter 5 Effects
17 Distortion
The last tip introduced you to a distortion effect, the Overdrive/Amp types. Here’s yet another way to dirty up
the sound — Distortion.
Although not strictly part of the Effect section, Distortion is a strong effect in its own right. Compared to the
warm Overdrive/Amp Effect types, it has more edge and bite. When applied to many of the DX200’s Voices,
it is capable of creating very convincing guitar-like distortion effects.
1 Press the DIST [SWITCH] button. (The lamp turns on.)
2 Adjust the balance with the [DATA] knob.
This lets you mix the “dry” no-Distortion sound with the “wet” Distortiononly sound. Try different settings and hear how they change the sound.
Notice how a fully wet “U63” results in a very brittle, edgy sound.
Distortion
Allows you to apply a distortion effect to the
Synth track. (Note that this does not affect
any of the Rhythm tracks.) Press the DIST
[SWITCH] button to turn Distortion on, then
use the [DATA] knob to adjust the dry/wet
balance. A value of “d63” has only the original, unprocessed sound, while a value of
“U63” has only the Distortion-processed
sound.
Range
d63 (dry) — d=U (dry = wet) — U63
(wet)
26
Frequency (pitch)
Volume
Resonance
Chapter 6
Filter (VCF)
The VCF or Filter section is one of the most powerful and dynamic on the
entire instrument. Used in the right way, the VCF controls are capable of
transforming sterile, boring sounds into something really dynamic and exciting. Try out the following Tips and see what we mean...
18
For your Filter explorations, here’s the best place to start.
These two Filter controls work interdependently — changing one of them affects the sound of the other.
Turn [CUTOFF] to the left and the sound becomes darker or “muffled.” Turn it to the right and the sound
becomes brighter. Turn [RESONANCE] to the right and the Filter peak becomes sharper and more pronounced. Turn it to the left and hear how the Filter flattens out.
Also keep in mind that the overall effect of Cutoff and Resonance is controlled by FEG Depth (Tip 20 below).
If FEG Depth is set too high or too low, you may hear little or no change in the sound — no matter how furiously you twist the [CUTOFF] and [RESONANCE] knobs.
Cutoff
Determines the frequency at which the Filter effect starts. The higher
the value, the higher the frequency.
Cutoff and Resonance
Darker Brighter Flatter More pronounced
Resonance
Determines the emphasis of the resonant peak of the Filter (at the Cutoff
frequency).
Volume
Range
0 — 127
Cutoff frequency
Frequency (pitch)
Range
Synth track : -16 — 100
Rhythm track 1-3 : -64 — 63
27
Chapter 6 Filter (VCF)
19 Wild, wild filter sweeps — VCF Types
The enormous power and versatility of the Filter section continues with the VCF Types. These hidden variations put some really heavy-duty sonic fireworks at your fingertips — just what you need to blow the crowd
away.
Try these settings out for size...
1 Call up a Pattern and press the Start/Stop button. Start out by setting
both [RESONANCE] and [FEG DEPTH] to around 1:00.
2 Simultaneously hold down [SHIFT] and turn the [CUTOFF] knob.
Keep your eyes on the display as you do this — the setting will change! For starters, select “12db” —
which should be around 11:00.
In this shifted condition, the [CUTOFF] knob becomes the VCF Type selector. (That’s why “TYPE” is
printed in black below the knob.)
3 Now, take your finger from the [SHIFT] button, and the knob reverts to its
original identity as the Cutoff control.
Turn it very slowly — especially between 8:00 and 1:00 — as you listen to the gradual changes in the
sound.
4 Not wild enough for you? Let’s move onto another type then...
Hold down [SHIFT] again and turn the [CUTOFF] knob to around 12:00, so that “bPF” is called up in the
display.
Is that any wilder? Still too tame? Let go of [SHIFT] and try tweaking the [CUTOFF] knob between 8:00
and 2:00.
5 Let’s try one more. Hold [SHIFT] and set the [CUTOFF] knob to around
2:00, so that the “HPF” type is selected.
Things can get kind of crazy here, too. Tweak the [CUTOFF] knob some more — especially between
12:00 and 3:00 — and hear what kind of madness you can generate.
28
Don’t forget the [RESONANCE] and [FEG DEPTH] knobs! Work with them too as you tweak the
[CUTOFF] knob. There’s a lot of sonic variation to be had in just these three controls.
VCF Type
Chapter 6 Filter (VCF)
Determines the filter type used for the VCF section. The filter passes only
a specified range of frequencies while cutting off the rest. There are several completely different types, as well as a variety of filter slopes (see
below).
Settings
24db (Low Pass Filter 24dB/octave), 18db (LPF 18dB/octave),
12db (LPF 12dB/octave), bPF (Band Pass Filter), HPF (High Pass
Filter), bEF (Band Eliminate Filter)
24db, 18db, 12db
The Low Pass Filter passes only those frequencies below the specified
cutoff point. Cutoff curves of 24dB/octave, 18dB/octave and 12dB/
octave can be selected.
Level
Cutoff frequency
Cutoff range
12dB/oct
18dB/oct
24dB/oct
Frequency
BPF
The Band Pass Filter passes only those frequencies in the specified
range, with a cutoff curve of 12dB/octave.
Level
Cutoff range Cutoff range
Range passed
Center frequency
Frequency
HPF
The High Pass Filter passes only those frequencies above the specified
cutoff point, with a cutoff curve of 12dB/octave.
Level
Cutoff range
Cutoff frequency
Range passed
Frequency
BEF
The Band Eliminate Filter passes only those frequencies outside the
specified frequency range. The Resonance setting (see page 27) determines the eliminate range.
Level
Range passed Range passed
Cutoff range
29
Chapter 6 Filter (VCF)
20
Technically, the FEG Depth controls how the Filter works over time. This is even shown on the panel for you:
With the the [CUTOFF] and [RESONANCE] knobs set respectively to 9:00 and
3:00 (see above), slowly turn the [FEG DEPTH] knob.
Depending on the Pattern selected, negative settings (setting the knob left of
12:00) may result in little or no sound. But once you turn the knob past the
halfway point (12:00), you’ll start to hear the filter “opening up.” Turn the knob
slowly for gradual filter sweep effects. Also try working the knob in time with
the rhythm for dynamic “wah” effects.
FEG Depth
Indicates a “dip” in the filter,
just at the start of each note.
Indicates a filter “peak,” just at
the start of the note.
FEG Depth
Determines the degree or depth of the filter
effect over time. Positive values result in a
normal EG; negative values use a “reverse”
EG — producing a filter sweep effect that
dips and comes back up, rather than one that
peaks and goes down.
Range
-64 — 63
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