The CX5 Tapes: 1984 MSX Songs Unearthed

Introduction

For the uninitiated, the Yamaha CX5M Music Computer is a curious musical doohickey from 1984. We have an earlier article covers the machine in detail, but in short; the CX5M combines a 32K MSX computer (MSX being a standardized home computer architecture) with enhanced musical abilities: MIDI ports, 4OP FM sound and a range of dedicated music software:

YRM-101 FM Music Composer (Notation-style sequencer)
YRM-102 FM Voicing Program
YRM-103 DX7 Voicing Program
YRM-104 Music Macro (Use FM sounds within a BASIC program)
YRM-105 DX9 Voicing Program
YRM-301 MIDI Recorder
YRM-302 RX Editor
YRM-303 MIDI Macro & Monitor
YRM-304 DX7 Voicing Program II
YRM-305 DX21 Voicing Program
YRM-501 FM Music Composer II
YRM-502 FM Voicing Program II
YRM-504 Music Macro II
YRM-506 FB-01 Voicing Program

RetroSynthAds Blog Post: http://retrosynthads.blogspot.com/2014/06/yamaha-cx5m-music-computer-worlds-first.html

Original Brochure: http://www.synth-db.com/Synths/Yamaha/CX5M/Yamaha-CX5M_flyer.pdf

Unearthing the Tapes

Now in 2025, musician (and friend of the channel) P.R.O.B.E.S. has unearthed and digitized a number of compositions, CX5M relics if you will. These songs were written in 1984 using the YRM-101 FM Music Composer cartridge:

"1984: Slowly getting to understand the Composer Program. The CX5 was my first polyphonic synthesizer so I was able to create chord progressions for the first time, though I usually turned them into arpeggios so as to not eat up the number of sequenced parts available. Recorded straight to boombox stereo audio cassette tape. I have added some reverb and delay after digitising to give it a little more body."

At a time where MIDI had barely surfaced, it must have been amazing to compose polyphonic pieces on a self-contained consumer machine. Despite this tape's...err "dark" title, I find the tunes to be calming, even uplifting - with tape adding a pleasant, nostalgic haze to proceedings.

Do you have any old cassettes lying around? Perhaps it's now time to give them an airing!

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