Skip to main content
Alex Annesty web logo

How to restore Yamaha DX7s factory voice and performance data

Go to the Yamaha DX7s main page

Introduction

This page details the procedure for restoring the original factory voice and performance data in a Yamaha DX7s sythesizer, using the original factory supplied data ROM cartridge. You may have to carry out this process if you've overwritten the original data, or lost them (e.g. as a result of replacing the battery). Details on battery replacement are available on my Yamaha DX7s battery replacement page.

Where to get Yamaha DX7s patch files

If you don't have a DX7s factory ROM cartridge you can still recover the factory voices by downloading the patches from the Yamaha DX7s SysEx factory voice and performance patches page and installing them via MIDI, using a patch editor / librarian application on a PC or Mac.

Patches and patch editors / librarians are available from many reputable websites. You can find out more at the world famous 'Dave Benson's DX7 Page' here:

Also, if you have access to a Yamaha TX802 FM tone generator, you could use the TX802 as a voice data source (though not performance data). Voice data can also be copied from the Yamaha DXII / DX7IIFD ROM cartridge. However, the order and location of voices in this cartridge don't match the DX7s ROM cartridge and you may have to do some additional work, depending on how you want to use the voices and performances. My thanks to Brett Kaplan for pointing this out to me.

For more information on the factory original internal voice and performance data and factory supplied data ROM cartridge voice and performance data, plus the contents of the data ROM cartridge itself and TX802 compatibility, please refer to my Yamaha DX7s factory internal voices and ROM cartridge voices page.

Yamaha DX7s factory supplied ROM cartridge
Yamaha DX7s factory supplied data ROM cartridge

PLEASE NOTE:
I accept no responsibility for any loss or damage to yourself, any of your property, including your Yamaha DX7s, or anything or anyone else, which may arise from you following the procedure detailed on this page. You do so entirely at your own risk.

Step 1. Insert the data ROM cartridge

Before inserting or removing a ROM or RAM cartridge, make sure your DX7s is switched off. Changing cartridges with the synthesizer switched on can result in permanent damage.

Switch the DX7s synthesizer off, plug the factory supplied data ROM cartridge in the cartridge slot, then switch the synthesizer back on.

Step 2. Select the ROM Banks

  1. Press the 'Voice' button
  2. Press the 'Edit' button
  3. Press button '15' repeatedly until the LCD display shows 'Set Bank'
  4. Use the 'POLY/MONO' and/or 'KEY SHIFT' cursor keys to move the cursor next to 'VP' (Voice & Performance) in the LCD display
  5. Use the 'DATA ENTRY' '-1/OFF' and/or '+1/ON' buttons to select ROM cartridge Bank 4 for Voice & Performance data

Set bank
>VP>FS>MT       = 4

  1. Use the 'POLY/MONO' and/or 'KEY SHIFT' cursor keys to move the cursor next to 'FS' (Fractional Scaling) in the LCD display
  2. Use the 'DATA ENTRY' '-1/OFF' and/or '+1/ON' buttons to select ROM cartridge Bank 3 for Fractional Scaling data

Set bank
>VP>FS>MT       = 3

Step 3. Disable internal memory protection

  1. Press button '14' ('TUNE' button) repeatedly until the LCD display shows "INT: protect"
  2. Press the '-1/OFF' button to switch internal memory protection off

Utility edit
INT protect :off

Step 4. Load the factory default data

  1. Press button '15' ('CARTRIDGE' button) repeatedly until the LCD display shows "Load cartridge"

Load cartridge ?
Bk: 4  Fm:DX7-2

  1. Press the '+1/ON' ('YES') button - display prompts "Are you sure?"

Load cartridge ?
Are you sure?

  1. Press the '+1/ON' ('YES') button again to confirm

Load cartridge ?
> Completed ! <

Step 5. Re-enable internal memory protection

  1. Press button '14' ('TUNE' button) repeatedly until the LCD display shows "INT: protect"
  2. Press the '+1/ON' button to switch internal memory protection on

Utility edit
INT protect :on

Step 6. Return the display to normal voice selection

  1. Press the 'VOICE' button

Voice
INT 1 MellowHorn

Further information

The following pages on this site also provide information on the Yamaha DX7s:

My thanks to Christian E, of Ten By Ten Software, for letting me know about free software for creating SysEx data to set the mod wheel parameters for voices:

Feedback

I'm trying to build an on-line repository of information, specific to the Yamaha DX7s synthesizer. Please get in touch via my contact page with any of the following feedback:

  • Requests for additional specific Yamaha DX7s information
  • Any errors or omissions in the information provided above and on other related pages on this site
  • Any specific Yamaha DX7s information you think may be of interest or use to others

Go to the Yamaha DX7s main page