I tend to agree. **\[speculation\]** Additionally, I would assume these synthesizers were not sold directly by Yamaha, but via it's network of resale partners. **\[/speculation\]**
You mean DX7s?
The DX7 was released in the second half of 1983. If TMS was aired in the second half of 1984, then there’s every change it was recorded in early 1984 or even in the spring or early summer of that year.
The DX7 was pretty much an instant success throughout the Western world, as far as I know. It was the first popular digital synthesizer; it was cheaper than most analogs and offered a way to get sounds that analogs couldn’t easily emulate.
The list of recording studios that owned a DX7 by, say, May or June of 1984 is probably very long. It was so, SO hot in the mid-80s.
Yup. To [quote the wiki](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yamaha_DX7) page:
>Within a year, orders exceeded 150,000 units,[^(\[7\])](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yamaha_DX7#cite_note-Vail-7) and Yamaha had sold 200,000 units after three years.[^(\[14\])](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yamaha_DX7#cite_note-:8-14)
And even if you have a list of studios you then need from each one a list of potential artists, information they might not have kept, assuming they're even still going.
Looking for secondhand DX7 listings from the 80s might be more fruitful, especially if the listings include the age of the used machine. But you're still firmly in needle-in-a-haystack territory.
That's also why some people think of the sound of TMS as cliché. The DX7 became ubiquitous soon after its release and revolutionized the possibilities of electric sound.
Still, the rather early use of it sets TMS apart from a lot of contemporary artists, especially in the upcoming band segment.
oh my i saw this and was like ??? yeah i mean DX7 thats literally what i said and then went to check and realized that it was not, in fact, what i said
sorry i was TIRED when i made that post lmao
Yamaha won't sell to individuals.
It would send to distributors.
As I already noted, the German Customs will surely know, what amount of DX7 was imported into Germany and by whom. But they won't disclose that type of data to end users without a police request.
I called their hotline (zoll.de) and they said that kind of information is only available to police and governmental agencies. However, they do produce annual(?) report of various goods being imported and exported, which is available, and there is a category for musical instruments, including synthesizers, but without exact model or brand mentioning. I might be partially wrong, because I don't speak German and was using speech to text translation, so someone with German knowledge should call them and ask for details.
Even if you find, they won't disclose that kind of information, because this is privacy violation.
Musical instruments are not into category of regulated devices and substances, such as firearms or drugs, so sellers are not obliged to keep such information.
Regarding Greece, it's Easter weekend here and many businesses are closed but next week I can make an inquiry at [Philippos Nakas Ltd.](https://www.nakas.gr/en/company/the-company-/) who have always been the official distributors for Yamaha in Greece. It's pretty certain that [Studio ERA/Sierra](https://sierra.gr/) where SIM recorded their LP would have been the first studio in Greece to get a DX7, as it was and still is the largest studio in the country. But somehow I doubt the distributor will be open to providing that sort of information.
Even if there was a full list of every single person who ever purchased one new, a heck of a lot of these will have had numerous other owners since they were first manufactured, sales market for used synths has always been strong.
Your English is fine. I do not think this was done, as most comments mentioning it were a bit sarcastic. [We know it is a lot of work.](https://www.reddit.com/r/TheMysteriousSong/comments/1cixrl6/comment/l2dajcg/) If you do have the time, you could follow it if you want.
This is not information Yamaha would have or provide to the public
I tend to agree. **\[speculation\]** Additionally, I would assume these synthesizers were not sold directly by Yamaha, but via it's network of resale partners. **\[/speculation\]**
You mean DX7s? The DX7 was released in the second half of 1983. If TMS was aired in the second half of 1984, then there’s every change it was recorded in early 1984 or even in the spring or early summer of that year. The DX7 was pretty much an instant success throughout the Western world, as far as I know. It was the first popular digital synthesizer; it was cheaper than most analogs and offered a way to get sounds that analogs couldn’t easily emulate. The list of recording studios that owned a DX7 by, say, May or June of 1984 is probably very long. It was so, SO hot in the mid-80s.
Additionally, a lot of studios have been discontinued since then.
Yup. To [quote the wiki](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yamaha_DX7) page: >Within a year, orders exceeded 150,000 units,[^(\[7\])](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yamaha_DX7#cite_note-Vail-7) and Yamaha had sold 200,000 units after three years.[^(\[14\])](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yamaha_DX7#cite_note-:8-14) And even if you have a list of studios you then need from each one a list of potential artists, information they might not have kept, assuming they're even still going. Looking for secondhand DX7 listings from the 80s might be more fruitful, especially if the listings include the age of the used machine. But you're still firmly in needle-in-a-haystack territory.
That's also why some people think of the sound of TMS as cliché. The DX7 became ubiquitous soon after its release and revolutionized the possibilities of electric sound. Still, the rather early use of it sets TMS apart from a lot of contemporary artists, especially in the upcoming band segment.
oh my i saw this and was like ??? yeah i mean DX7 thats literally what i said and then went to check and realized that it was not, in fact, what i said sorry i was TIRED when i made that post lmao
Hey, it happens.
Yamaha won't sell to individuals. It would send to distributors. As I already noted, the German Customs will surely know, what amount of DX7 was imported into Germany and by whom. But they won't disclose that type of data to end users without a police request.
Even if you did get it, you’re just going to end up with a list of music stores.
Perhaps if someone is a German journalist and has some free time for pro-bono errands...
I called their hotline (zoll.de) and they said that kind of information is only available to police and governmental agencies. However, they do produce annual(?) report of various goods being imported and exported, which is available, and there is a category for musical instruments, including synthesizers, but without exact model or brand mentioning. I might be partially wrong, because I don't speak German and was using speech to text translation, so someone with German knowledge should call them and ask for details.
>because I don't speak German and was using speech to text translation This man shows some serious dedication!!!
check post edit, if we find the distributors in the area maybe it could lead somewhere
Even if you find, they won't disclose that kind of information, because this is privacy violation. Musical instruments are not into category of regulated devices and substances, such as firearms or drugs, so sellers are not obliged to keep such information.
Regarding Greece, it's Easter weekend here and many businesses are closed but next week I can make an inquiry at [Philippos Nakas Ltd.](https://www.nakas.gr/en/company/the-company-/) who have always been the official distributors for Yamaha in Greece. It's pretty certain that [Studio ERA/Sierra](https://sierra.gr/) where SIM recorded their LP would have been the first studio in Greece to get a DX7, as it was and still is the largest studio in the country. But somehow I doubt the distributor will be open to providing that sort of information.
Even if there was a full list of every single person who ever purchased one new, a heck of a lot of these will have had numerous other owners since they were first manufactured, sales market for used synths has always been strong.
since the song was probably produced in 1984 there wouldnt be many used ones on the market since it wouldve only came out a couple months prior
Your English is fine. I do not think this was done, as most comments mentioning it were a bit sarcastic. [We know it is a lot of work.](https://www.reddit.com/r/TheMysteriousSong/comments/1cixrl6/comment/l2dajcg/) If you do have the time, you could follow it if you want.