Retro: Listen to the 1986 Yamaha DX100 demo tape

Before YouTube influencers, Spotify and SoundCloud demos music instrument manufacturers used to make demo tapes to show off their latest synthesisers and music tech. Over the weekend I came across a tape in my loft that I haven’t played for many years: A 1986 Yamaha DX100 demo tape. My Grandpa sent for the tape for me back in 1986 and the tape includes demos of the DX100 which was the baby brother of the 80s classic synth the DX7.

Side one includes relatively sensible demos of the DX100 sounds and side two is one of the most cheesy 80s sounding things I have ever heard. It’s a fake radio station with songs from the era recorded with the DX100 and RX15 drum machine, it has a brilliant fake American DJ and tracks from Tears for Fears, Duran Duran, Phil Collins and there is a very 80s rendition of the Star Wars theme.

Having found the tape again and just fixed my old Denon DRM-510 tape player I thought I would update the tape so you can take a listen.

So here is the tape, hopefully nobody at Yamaha UK will mind me uploading the tape. Make sure you listen to the fun quiz on side 2! BTW I still have the DX100 I bough in 86!

Side1

 

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