This forum isn't strictly about computer hardware, right?

Picked up a new toy the other day - a [link|http://www.sonicstate.com/synth/yamaha_tx7.cfm|Yamaha TX-7] sound module. It was originally designed just to be an expansion for the DX-7 synth, however it works happily as a standalone device.
Yes, it's a child of the 80s, and since it uses FM synthesis it doesn't do a great job of generating any realistic instrument sounds. But it can produce all sorts of wonderful 'phat' bass sounds, and lots of suitably Jarre/Vangelis-esque ethereal noise as well. (Not to mention it's more than capable of sounding very cheesy, too)

It's not multi-timbral, and only holds 32 patches (instruments) in its memory at any one time. But on the plus side, there are thousands of different patches available on the net and it only takes a few seconds to dump each batch of 32 into it.

Amusingly (nowadays), you can even save and load the patch data via a cassette interface, if you're brave/foolish enough.

All in all, it's a fun cheap-n-cheerful musical toy.

That site you referenced has a [link|http://www.vintagesynth.org/yamaha/tx7.shtml|TX7 page] as well, with the following very scary information:

"It has been used by Genesis, Human League and the producers behind the Spice Girls"

Oh dear.

I'll cheat and steal some from the DX7 page, since it's effectively the same instrument. At least that's my story and I'm sticking to it :)

Crystal Method, Kraftwerk, Underworld, Orbital, BT, Talking Heads, Brian Eno, Sir George Martin, Depeche Mode, U2, The Cure, Vangelis*, Jean-Michel Jarre*..

(I'm conveniently neglecting to mention Supertramp and Phil Collins :)



* Guess that'd explain my previous 'suitable Vangelis/Jarre-esque sounds' comment earlier...