Dexed vs PREMIER SOUND FACTORY

Dexed is a free synth plugin and standalone app modeled on the Yamaha DX7. It runs on Linux, macOS and Windows, with VST, AU and LV2 plugin formats. Its sound engine follows the original DX7’s characteristics and includes Modern, Mark I and OPL Series engine types. Dexed also serves as a MIDI cartridge librarian for the DX7: it can load and save DX7/TX7 SysEx programs, save an individual program to a separate SysEx file, and exchange DX7 SysEx messages, including controller change. A single panel exposes 144 DAW-automatable DX7 parameters, and each operator has a real-time VU meter. Microtuning and MPE support were contributed by the Surge Synthesizer Team. Dexed is free software under GPL v3, at free. The project says documentation is minimal and cautions against expecting a perfect DX7 clone. Release 1.0.1 fixes scaling issues and rebuilds the Linux binary for older glibc versions.

PREMIER SOUND FACTORY sells sampled software instrument libraries for music and other production work. Its catalog includes acoustic and electric pianos, Japanese instruments, drums, basses, and Mellotron sounds. KAWAI Legend is offered in 96kHz/24bit, with a 48kHz version for sessions at 48kHz and 44.1kHz; listed features include harmonic resonance, release-trigger, damper and half-pedal playback, and Velocity+. KAGUYA includes two koto instruments, 16 articulations, 36 Japanese scales, and 214 audio phrase patterns. Drum Tree, KAGUYA, and Shakuhachi Premier G work with Kontakt Player; other products require full Kontakt. Specifications list Audio Units, VST, AAX Native, ASIO, Core Audio, and WASAPI, along with support for several named DAWs. Standalone app and built-in samples are listed. Free products are available, and paid products start at $81. A license covers two computers, but cannot be transferred. Download links expire after one month.