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Vintage 1986 Yamaha RX5 Drum machine in very good condition. Unit only no power supply, no cards.

Tested and working great.


The Yamaha RX5 Digital Rhythm Programmer is a legendary, flagship 12-bit programmable drum machine released by Yamaha in 1986. Famous for its crunchy, punchy PCM sound engine and highly flexible sound-shaping features, it remains a staple in synthwave, industrial, and retro electronic music production. The RX5 defined the late-1980s pop and electronic landscape. It was prominently utilized by era-defining acts like New Order, The Pet Shop Boys, and Vince Clarke.

  • Sound Engine: 12-bit PCM rompler.
  • Polyphony: 16 voices.
  • Hardware Interface: 24 non-velocity-sensitive pads, 12 individual channel mixing faders, and a backlit LCD display.
  • Memory Capacity: Stores up to 100 patterns, 20 songs, and 3 chains.
  • Connectivity: 12 individual audio outputs (allowing unique tracking and external effects routing), master stereo outputs, MIDI In/Out/Thru, and tape sync.
  • Expansion: Features dual cartridge slots for Waveform ROM data and RAM4 data cartridges

Unlike many static drum machines of its era, the RX5 is treated almost like a sampler/groovebox due to its extensive sound-shaping parameters:

  • Voice Parameters: Every voice can be edited for pitch, amplitude envelope (attack, decay, release), gate time, and multi-envelope steps.
  • On-the-Fly FX: Dedicated buttons allow for instant Reverse audio playback and a Damp function to choke open sounds.
  • Pitch Bending: Features programmable pitch bend rates and ranges that can be adjusted per step within a sequence.

Listeda month ago
ConditionVery Good (Used)
Very Good items may show a few slight marks or scratches but are fully functional and in overall great shape.Learn more
Brand
Model
  • RX5 Digital Rhythm Programmer
Finish
  • Black
Categories
Year
  • 1986
Number of Pads
  • 24 Pads
MIDI I/O
  • MIDI Through
  • MIDI Input
  • MIDI Output
Polyphony
  • 16 Voices
Analog / Digital
  • Digital

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Coast Sonic

Carlsbad, CA, United States
Joined Reverb:2013

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