Yamaha QX-7
click on the QX-21 for an enlarged photograph*
The Yamaha QX-7 is a digital (midi) sequencer featuring two tracks and the ability to record velocity, after touch response, pitch bend and modulation wheel data. The unit can also record in step time mode. The QX-7 allows you to store its memory to cassette or you can dump it contents via system exclusive dumps. I purchased mine used in 1989 for $99 because it was the cheapest sequencer I could find at the time and it was all I could afford. Today, its probably worth about $20 if not worthless. I would only recommend it if you don't have a computer and can't afford a better or more advanced hardware sequencer. The units biggest downfall is that it offers only two tracks (so data must be merged) and its menu based interface which can be very tedious to use. However I must admit there is something to be said for the unit as the compositions I made with it had a certain quality which I have never been able to achieve using a computer sequencing program.
The front panel features a two digit LED display which informs you of the current measure or the current command to be selected. The commands are separated into four job lists (A,B,C,D). There are two command buttons which control command lists A and B and these buttons when hit with the step button access job lists C and D. Each button offers six commands and you scroll through the commands by hitting one of the command buttons. The commands are listed on the top of the machine for easy reference and job lists A and B are repeated right on the front panel which is really helpful. There are measure/data increment decrement buttons, two large orange record and start buttons and one large blue stop/continue buttons. A large tempo knob sits on the ride side of the panel. The back of the unit has midi in, out and thru ports, a DIN cassette interface (see below) and a foot switch for start and stop functions. The unit measures 13-5/6" X 2" X 9-1/2" and weighs 5 lbs. It is a table top design almost identical to the TX-7 which means it will sit nicely on some boards with a little help.
Real time recording is quite simple and is performed by hitting the record button and then the start button. The unit will provide you with a two measure count in (signaled by the unit’s metronome beeps) and on the downbeat you begin recording. Its a shame that you cant trigger recording by hitting a note. To stop recording - just hit the stop key - however if you are in the middle of a measure the record mode will continue until it reaches the end of the measure. The time signature can be set to range from 1/4 to16/4 and 1/8 to 16/8 and the metronome can be set to off, record, record and play, and always. It is important to note that recording may only take place on track one but that is not really a limitation since the unit offers ways to move data from track one to the other. The QX-7 can store approximately 8,100 notes without velocity or 6,000 notes with velocity.
Recording can be also performed in step mode. Each note length is entered using the command buttons and range from 1/64 - infinity (using ties). 1/16, 1/8 and 1/4 triplets are also available. Note duration is automatically set to 80% and can be set to 100% for ties or legato phrasings.
The entire contents of track one or all of the data of track 1 after a specified measure may be erased and individual measures may deleted. Recorded material may be automatically repeated from 1 to 99 times and data on track one may be chained (linked) to the end of track 2.
Overdubbing is available and is a two command process. On the initial overdub the data recorded in track one must be ‘exchanged’ to track two. Exchange is a command that exchanges the between track one and two (i.e. the data on track 1 is moved to track 2 and the data on track 2 is moved to track 1). The overdub is recorded on track one and you may play back the data on track two at the same time. Upon conclusion of the recording of the overdub the data may be merged together by using the track down function. Track down combines the data on track one and track two and places the mix on track two. Track one is left empty. Subsequent overdubs are carried out on track one. In addition to track one and two, the QX-7 offers a temporary buffer which can be used a holding track for data. Data recorded in track one may exchanged with the temporary buffer
Quantization is available to correct ‘off time’ notes by forcing all notes to fall on the nearest quantize unit. The available quantize values are 1/4, 1/6, 1/8, 1/12, 1/16 and 1/24 notes. This feature may only be preformed on the data on track one. When quantizing track one data, the original data is sent to the temporary buffer which allows you to recall the original data it if the quanization of track one is not to your liking.
Upon power up the unit will record on the midi channel that data is being sent on. To independently sequence different synths each sequence may be assigned a midi channel 1-16 by assigning a midi channel before recording. The applicable midi channel is retained even after data is merged together using the track down command. Therefore each track may have midi data that plays on different midi channels. The QX-7 has a very nice internal clock which offers resolution of 1/384 per measure or 96 ppq. 40-250 beats per minute may be selected. The unit may synchronized to incoming midi clocks however resolution falls to 1/96 per measure or 24 ppq. The unit can record or ignore polyphonic aftertouch, control changes, after touch, pitch bender and key velocity. Each of these types of data may be filtered individually which is nice and very important since they all consume memory. The QX-7 allows you to echo data that is received from the in midi port to the out port. This will allow you to directly play a synth unit connect to the QX-7’s out via a keyboard connected to the QX-7’s in. The unit can also operate a midi status monitor rather than a sequencer with incoming data received at the midi in terminal displayed in hexadecimal form on the QX-7’s 2 digital display.
The unit allows you to store it memory contents on cassette tape using one of the most bizarre cables I have seen. It has DIN connector which connects to the back of the QX-7 and three male mini phone jacks to connect to a cassette deck’s line in and out. But what about the third phone jack- well it does nothing - its not used. Very strange - and the phone jacks are those made for cheap portable cassette recorders. My experience with the unit when it comes to saving to tape was very hit or miss. Sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn’t. However internal data can be sent via a system exclusive dump. It is very important to note that there is no internal battery for memory storage. Based upon my experience with the machine, you can turn on the unit for about 10 seconds and the memory will therefore stay intact for about 24 hours after you turn the machine off. The best way to get around this situation is to just leave the machine on or make sure you turn in on every day for a couple of seconds. I used to leave my machine on for days to weeks at a time with no problem.
* The above photograph is of the QX-21 which looks identical to the QX-7. It has the same menu command structure as the QX-7, except for command D-6 shows remaining memory which is not offered on the QX-7. On the QX-7, command D-6 activates the midi status monitor function.
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