Yamaha RM1x
Encyclopedia
The Yamaha RM1x is a groovebox
manufactured by Yamaha from 1999 to 2002. It integrates several, commonly separate, pieces of music composition and performance hardware into a single unit: a step-programmable drum machine
, a synthesizer
, a music sequencer
, and a control surface.
The front panel of the RM1x is angled slightly to facilitate tabletop use but Yamaha also produced an accessory to allow rack
-mounting the unit.
The RM1x is organized into five blocks: sequencer block, tone generator block, controller block, effect block, and arpeggio block.
All patterns, pattern chains, and songs are saved in non-volatile memory. The RM1x also has a 3.5" floppy disk drive for additional storage and archiving.
Patterns may be up to 256 measures long for looped playback, and up to 16 MIDI parts deep. Patterns may be grouped into named styles, with up to 16 patterns per style. Yamaha supplies 60 preset styles. Patterns may be programmed step-wise, like a drum machine, or recorded in real-time from MIDI input and control-surface buttons and knobs.
A sequence of patterns may be chained together in up to 999 chain slots.
The RM1x can save up to 20 songs at a time in memory, from sequenced or realtime recorded MIDI events.
Each voice has an independent filter
with cutoff, resonance, and envelope control.
s, and rotary encoder
s. The potentiometers are user-assignable and can control multiple MIDI parameters in realtime during recording or performance.
A two octave pushbutton keyboard may be played in real time or using during stepwise pattern recording. This keyboard does not generate MIDI velocity or aftertouch information but the AWM2 tone generator will respond to such information if delivered by one of the realtime knobs or an external MIDI controller.
Visual feedback comes from individual red and green LED
s, several red seven segment LEDs
, and a 240x64 pixel LCD with green backlighting.
The main sequencer CPU is a Renesas (formerly Hitachi
) model 7014 SuperH
-2 running at 28 MHz.
, and variations.
Reverb effects include hall, room, stage, plate, "white room", tunnel, and basement. Chorus effects include conventional, 3-phase LFO "celeste", and flanger.
Variation effects include delays, echos, cross delays, early reflections, gate reverbs, reverse gate reverbs, rotary speakers, tremolo, auto-pan, phaser, distortion, overdrive, amp simulations, auto-wah, and equalizers.
A digital low-boost with +/- 24 dB gain and selectable boost frequency is also available.
s can be played on the built-in keyboard or external keyboard in realtime, during performance or recording. Arpeggios may move up, down, or randomly with several sorting, holding, octave range, and transposition
options.
, Apollo 440
and Darude
are purportedto use the RM1x.
Groovebox
The term Groovebox was originally used by Roland corporation to refer to its MC-303, but the term has since entered general use. It refers to a self-contained instrument for the production of live, loop-based electronic music with a high degree of user control facilitating improvisation.A groovebox...
manufactured by Yamaha from 1999 to 2002. It integrates several, commonly separate, pieces of music composition and performance hardware into a single unit: a step-programmable drum machine
Drum machine
A drum machine is an electronic musical instrument designed to imitate the sound of drums or other percussion instruments. They are used in a variety of musical genres, not just purely electronic music...
, a synthesizer
Synthesizer
A synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones...
, a music sequencer
Music sequencer
The music sequencer is a device or computer software to record, edit, play back the music, by handling note and performance information in several forms, typically :...
, and a control surface.
The front panel of the RM1x is angled slightly to facilitate tabletop use but Yamaha also produced an accessory to allow rack
19-inch rack
A 19-inch rack is a standardized frame or enclosure for mounting multiple equipment modules. Each module has a front panel that is wide, including edges or ears that protrude on each side which allow the module to be fastened to the rack frame with screws.-Overview and history:Equipment designed...
-mounting the unit.
The RM1x is organized into five blocks: sequencer block, tone generator block, controller block, effect block, and arpeggio block.
Sequencer block
The sequencer block has three modes of operation: pattern mode, pattern chain mode, and song mode.All patterns, pattern chains, and songs are saved in non-volatile memory. The RM1x also has a 3.5" floppy disk drive for additional storage and archiving.
Patterns may be up to 256 measures long for looped playback, and up to 16 MIDI parts deep. Patterns may be grouped into named styles, with up to 16 patterns per style. Yamaha supplies 60 preset styles. Patterns may be programmed step-wise, like a drum machine, or recorded in real-time from MIDI input and control-surface buttons and knobs.
A sequence of patterns may be chained together in up to 999 chain slots.
The RM1x can save up to 20 songs at a time in memory, from sequenced or realtime recorded MIDI events.
Tone generator block
The RM1x has a Yamaha AWM2 tone generator block, producing sound in response to sequenced events, the controller block, and from the MIDI IN connector. Up to 32 notes of polyphony can be played simultaneously from 16 timbres selected from 654 voices and 46 drum kits.Each voice has an independent filter
Audio filter
An audio filter is a frequency dependent amplifier circuit, working in the audio frequency range, 0 Hz to beyond 20 kHz. Many types of filters exist for applications including graphic equalizers, synthesizers, sound effects, CD players and virtual reality systems.Being a frequency dependent...
with cutoff, resonance, and envelope control.
Controller block
The unit's control surface consists of a backlit graphic LCD, many pushbuttons, potentiometerPotentiometer
A potentiometer , informally, a pot, is a three-terminal resistor with a sliding contact that forms an adjustable voltage divider. If only two terminals are used , it acts as a variable resistor or rheostat. Potentiometers are commonly used to control electrical devices such as volume controls on...
s, and rotary encoder
Rotary encoder
A rotary encoder, also called a shaft encoder, is an electro-mechanical device that converts the angular position or motion of a shaft or axle to an analog or digital code. The output of incremental encoders provides information about the motion of the shaft which is typically further processed...
s. The potentiometers are user-assignable and can control multiple MIDI parameters in realtime during recording or performance.
A two octave pushbutton keyboard may be played in real time or using during stepwise pattern recording. This keyboard does not generate MIDI velocity or aftertouch information but the AWM2 tone generator will respond to such information if delivered by one of the realtime knobs or an external MIDI controller.
Visual feedback comes from individual red and green LED
LEd
LEd is a TeX/LaTeX editing software working under Microsoft Windows. It is a freeware product....
s, several red seven segment LEDs
Seven-segment display
A seven-segment display , or seven-segment indicator, is a form of electronic display device for displaying decimal numerals that is an alternative to the more complex dot-matrix displays...
, and a 240x64 pixel LCD with green backlighting.
The main sequencer CPU is a Renesas (formerly Hitachi
Hitachi, Ltd.
is a Japanese multinational conglomerate headquartered in Marunouchi 1-chome, Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan. The company is the parent of the Hitachi Group as part of the larger DKB Group companies...
) model 7014 SuperH
SuperH
SuperH is a 32-bit reduced instruction set computer instruction set architecture developed by Hitachi. It is implemented by microcontrollers and microprocessors for embedded systems....
-2 running at 28 MHz.
Effect block
Three effect systems are available simultaneously in the effect block: reverb, chorusChorus effect
In music, a chorus effect occurs when individual sounds with roughly the same timbre and nearly the same pitch converge and are perceived as one...
, and variations.
Reverb effects include hall, room, stage, plate, "white room", tunnel, and basement. Chorus effects include conventional, 3-phase LFO "celeste", and flanger.
Variation effects include delays, echos, cross delays, early reflections, gate reverbs, reverse gate reverbs, rotary speakers, tremolo, auto-pan, phaser, distortion, overdrive, amp simulations, auto-wah, and equalizers.
A digital low-boost with +/- 24 dB gain and selectable boost frequency is also available.
Arpeggio block
ArpeggioArpeggio
An arpeggio is a musical technique where notes in a chord are played or sung in sequence, one after the other, rather than ringing out simultaneously...
s can be played on the built-in keyboard or external keyboard in realtime, during performance or recording. Arpeggios may move up, down, or randomly with several sorting, holding, octave range, and transposition
Transposition (music)
In music transposition refers to the process, or operation, of moving a collection of notes up or down in pitch by a constant interval.For example, one might transpose an entire piece of music into another key...
options.
Notable users
Soul CoughingSoul Coughing
Soul Coughing was a popular New York-based alternative rock band. The band found modest mainstream success during the mid-to-late 1990s. Soul Coughing developed a devout fanbase and have garnered largely positive response from critics. Steve Huey describes the band as "one of the most unusual cult...
, Apollo 440
Apollo 440
Apollo 440 are an English band formed in Liverpool in 1990. Apollo 440 have written, recorded and produced four albums, collaborated with and produced other artists, remixed as Apollo 440 and as ambient cinematic alter-ego Stealth Sonic Orchestra, and created music for film, television,...
and Darude
Darude
Ville Virtanen , better known by his stage name Darude is a trance producer and DJ from Eura, Hinnerjoki, Finland. Debuting in 1995, he released the hit single "Sandstorm" in late 1999 and subsequent album Before the Storm...
are purportedto use the RM1x.