Hw Yamaha dont sound the same with same patches. Still have a DX7II, Tx 802 and TG77 in my studio. So when comparing FM8 and the DX-line of synths I use another scale that is more relevant, and I mean that it is not exactly the same, there are a lot of difference, especially to the dynamic and the depth of the sound as mentioned by many, but would still state that it close enought as a substitute for a DX7 - and we still even talked about how much more the FM8 can do with the FM sound (and still in my heart I am a DX7 freak, among many other DX-things started the TX816 user group years ago as a super geak of these marvels). Of course, if using the detailed scale I, and many of us with trained ears, can hear a huge differnce of the same synth if it's summed in Logic or ProTools etc, what cable that was used for the recording of the synth - its a huge difference with the pan law energy, transients etc, no doubt at all. When I say that the differnce is small I reffear to a normal listening in a song in it's context. I agree to what is said above about that there are some major differences, BUT it depends of what scale one messaures with. I don't want to open a can of worms, but let me put this comparison in its context:

But at the end of he road, when everything is EQed, compressed, processed and mixed the differnce can only be heard if one know it's software, otherwise not. My DX7 and TX816 hardware is now stored in a closet until I have more space - the software is close enoght to me for recordings, even if the hardware is more fun and dynamic to play. Differnt soundcards gives differnt result. The main reason of the differnce is not in the algoritms but the D/A that are more dirty on the hardware. The FM7 sounded a little bit more harsh and closer to he DX7 to me than the newer FM8. But it is close.Īs mentioned by others in the thread the FM8 is a little bit more flat, especially when it comes to dynamic.

In my ears it sounds about the same in a mix, but slight differnt when just play around without other instruments.

I have dig deep with comparison with the hardware and software during the years. I am a FM freak (with 6 op FM, but hate 4 op FM) and have the DX7II (and before that DX7 classic) as well as the TX816 (8 DX7 in a rack as a super FM synth).

Fm8 dx7