Vintage Digital
My Effects Rack

Yamaha RX Series

The Yamaha RX Series, introduced in the mid-1980s, brought programmable digital drum machines to a broad range of musicians and studios. Starting with the RX11 and RX15 and followed by models such as the RX21, RX5, RX7, and RX120, the series offered realistic PCM drum samples, flexible sequencing, and MIDI integration in durable, user-friendly designs. Known for their punchy sound and reliable timing, RX drum machines became a mainstay of 1980s pop, rock, and electronic production. The flagship RX5 in particular earned praise for its extensive sound editing, dynamic response, and expandability, helping cement Yamaha’s reputation in the rapidly growing world of digital rhythm programming.

1986
Drum Machines
/ Made In Japan

Yamaha RX5 Digital Rhythm Programmer

Released in 1986, the Yamaha RX5 was a flagship 12-bit digital rhythm programmer offering realistic PCM sounds, deep editing, and advanced MIDI integration. It became a key drum machine in late 1980s pop, funk, R&B, and early electronic music, prized for its flexibility and distinctive sound.
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Yamaha RX5
1987
Yamaha RX7
Drum Machines
Made In Japan /

Yamaha RX7 Digital Rhythm Programmer

The Yamaha RX7 is a digital PCM drum machine with 100 internal voices and a built-in sequencer. It offers per-voice editing (pitch, pan, decay, LFO), dynamic voice allocation, and pattern/song chaining. While it lacks individual outputs or onboard reverb, its editing flexibility and integrated sequencing made it a capable and versatile rhythm instrument of its time.
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1988
Drum Machines
/ Made In Japan

Yamaha RX120 Digital Rhythm Programmer

The Yamaha RX120 (circa 1988) is a preset-based digital rhythm programmer with 38 PCM voices and 12-note polyphony. It offers 40 presets each with 8 variations, 20 user-definable songs (up to 500 measures each), footswitch control, and MIDI I/O. It does not allow detailed voice editing, functioning more as a pattern-based rhythm unit than a full drum sequencer.
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Yamaha RX120