Technics SX-AX7
PCM Synthesizer

About

Technics SX-AX7 is a PCM synthesizer without a filter. It has unique synthesis engine called PCM2 (PCM Square), which mixes 3 waveforms in different ways.


Technics SX-AX7 (1987)
CONTENTS:
SX-AX7 overview
Sound examples
Related models
Links

Overview

8-polyphonic, 4-part multitimbral PCM synthesizer workstation with a PCM drum machine.
3 OSC architecture without a filter. A sound is made of Attack Source (1 OSC) and Body Source (2 OSC).
The Attack Source is basically a short transient sample like Roland D-50 / D-110 .
The Body Source is a combination of 2 samples called Basic and Harmonics. They seem to be basically single-cycle waveforms, and some Harmonics waveforms includes 'Spectrum' type longer loops.
The Basic sets the overall character of the Body Source, and the Harmonics determines the second waveform added to it. Harmonics volume works like a static filter.
2 Amp envelopes for Basic and Harmonics. They have ADSR relative change parameters.
Both Basic and Harmonics have 2 LFOs for pitch and amp (that is, 4 in total), controlled by rate variation, depth, speed and delay.
Auto bend can be set differently for both Basic and Harmonics. Portamento is also available, which was a rare feature for PCM synths in the 80s.
2 FX - chorus and reverb.
Big custom LCD display with 10-step parameter graphics.
SysEx only supports bank dump. You can save your data through MIDI, but making PC editor is impossible.


Sound Examples

Here are .mp3 sound examples of SX-AX7. The demos are recorded without external effects and overdub.
See Roland GP-8 page for versions recorded with external effects.

Wavetable (103KB)
Africa (143KB)
Guitar (308KB)
Brass Steam (261KB)
Xmod (177KB)
FM (255KB)
Gong (190KB)
Bell (254KB)
Piano (283KB)
Pad Organ (259KB)
Pluck (228KB)
Tremolo (129KB)
Brass Vocal (142KB)
Pad HPF (228KB)
Lip Wind (159KB)
Chorus (590KB)
Ready (136KB)
16beat (303KB)
Pop (183KB)
Bossa (397KB)

Related Models

SX-AX7 is the highest version of the PCM2 AX series. SX-AX5 is the version without reverb, and SX-AX3 is the version with less waveforms.
Technics SM-PS50 is a dual channel PCM playbacker with analog chorus. Though SM-PS50 have longer samples, there is some shared sound character.


Technics SM-PS50 (1987)

Later Technics made standard PCM synthesizer with a filter. SX-KN2000 is one of them with unique samples and features like vibrato distortion.


Technics SX-KN2000 (1993)


SX-AX7's single-cycle waveform / attack transient combination is very much like the hybrid synths without proper digital filter - Roland D-50 / D-110 and KAWAI K1. SX-AX7 is like Techincs's answer to D-50, actualized by full PCM architecture and very easy interface.


Roland D-50 (1986)


KAWAI K1 (1988)

Links

. Initial setting list Techinics .pdf


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5. 11. 2007