Good software will help you get the most from your YAMAHA 4 OP instrument. Below is listed software that 4OP users as well as any aspiring musicians should find very useful. Most of the software listed is shareware or freeware. Freeware is FREE! Shareware usually means you can load it, try it (demo/trial) and if you decide to keep it, pay for it. Luckily shareware tends to be much more affordable than the more contemporary known softwares such as PROTOOLS, ACID, SONAR, CUBASE etc...

UPDATE: March 9, 2025 Unfortunately Unisynth is no longer available. We here at 4OPHQ felt that it was the the #1 must have patch editor for DX21, DX27, DX100, DX11 & TX81Z. It allowed real time control over the editing control parameters with a simple to use virtual knob like interface without having to use the instrument's on board LCD screen and buttons. Unisynth would let you edit your sounds on the fly boosting your creative potential effortlessly and intuitively. It also doubled as a SysEx librarian for your patches. Unisynth will be missed by us here at 4OPHQ very much!

UPDATE: March 9, 2025 We have gone through the links in the software page and removed any bad and/or dead links. If you have any good links to useful software for 4OP users please leave us a message on our Facebook page.

Sound Quest	Editor/Librarian and Virtualizer for Windows and Macintosh OS X. Software synths and effects do have advantages. They work right inside your sequencer; sounds are stored on the computer with easy access and on screen editing; and if you want, you can even automate sound edits while your sequence plays. All you have to do is twist the knobs of your soft-synth to record the changes. With Sound Quest's Editor/Librarian and Virtualizer software, you can give your Yamaha DX21 these advantages as well. You are even able to integrate the DX21 into your digital audio sequencer and use it the same way you use soft-synths. Now you can display, edit, tweak, organize, audition, archive and manage your synth from the center of your studio: the computer screen. Supports Yamaha 4 OP synthesizers.
DXM3 By FM-Alive	DX Manager is a graphical editor and patch manager for classic Yamaha FM synthesisers such as the DX7. DXM3 is the current release of DX Manager. It adds new support for 4-Operator FM synths such as the TX81Z and DX100.
SyeEx Solution By leafdigital	SysEx Solution A.K.A. "SysEx97" is a MIDI System Exclusive utility that can save and replay data from musical instruments. In addition to the basic function of storing System Exclusive data from musical instruments (handled through the 'Sysex Manager' module of the program), this software also provides librarian functions for a few selected instruments, and program editor facilities for the Korg M1 only. It requires Windows 95 or newer. This is an old program and is no longer being developed sadly, no new librarian definitions will be added. However, some people still find it useful. If you do wish to use this program you'll need instrument definitions. Definitions for the DX21 DX27 & DX100 can be found, here. (NOTE: the definitions for the DX27 & DX100 are the same in one "DX27")
MIDI OX	MIDI-OX is a Windows 95/NT program (also Win98/Me/2000/XP/Vista). It is a 32 bit program which will not operate under earlier versions of Windows. MIDI-OX is a multi-purpose tool: it is both a diagnostic tool and a System Exclusive librarian. It can perform filtering and mapping of MIDI data streams. It displays incoming MIDI streams, and passes the data to a MIDI output driver or the MIDI Mapper. You can generate MIDI data using the computer keyboard or the built-in control panel. You can even record and log MIDI data and then convert it to a Standard MIDI File for playback by a sequencer. Some additional information is available in the MIDI and Audio FAQ. MIDI-OX is copyrighted freeware, for non-commercial use. Commercial Licenses are available.
Audacity	The Free, Cross-Platform Sound Editor! Audacity is free, open source software for recording and editing sounds. It is available for Mac OS X, Microsoft Windows, GNU/Linux, and other operating systems. The latest release of Audacity is 1.3.12 (Beta). This is our active "work in progress" version with our latest features. Documentation and translations into different languages are not quite complete. We recommend this version for more advanced users, and for everyone on Windows 7, Windows Vista and Mac OS X 10.6. See New Features in 1.3 for more information about the 1.3 Beta series.
REAPER By cockos	REAPER's no-compromises 64-bit audio engine and 64-bit end-to-end signal path offer the maximum in resolution and headroom. Unlimited track counts, total routing freedom, draggable sends, beat-based audio templates, sidechain support for any plugin - REAPER gives you both power and flexibility. REAPER doesn't discriminate against MIDI. You can freely mix audio and MIDI routing, even within a single track. REAPER's parameter modulation allows you to creatively sidechain midi and audio: drive your synth's cutoff filter with an audio signal, or create midi triggers with an audio gate. You can even script your own JS MIDI processing plug-ins and customized game controller-to-MIDI support!
Anvil Studio	Anvil Studio is a free Windows 7 / Vista / XP / 2000 / 98 program designed for people who want to: record music with MIDI and Audio equipment, compose music for MIDI and Audio equipment, sequence music with MIDI equipment, or play with music using a computer and sound card.
leafDrums By leafdigital	leafDrums is a software drum machine for Windows 98/ME/2000/XP. You can easily put together a drum pattern using sounds from standard .wav or .ogg audio files (a basic set of drum sounds is included). Audio effects like distortion allow you to customize the sounds. The user interface was designed from scratch to be as simple and clear as possible. Everything you need is directly visible on the two program screens; nothing is hidden in menus or dialogs.
7 zip	7-Zip is a OPEN SOURCE freeware for all of your file zipping and unzipping needs.