Free Music Software: miniSoftMusik’s FEM 1 is a free FM synthesizer for Windows.

Download from the miniSoftMusik site.

via Making-Music

Free Music Software: de la Mancha has released FMMF, a 4 operator FM (Frequency Modulation) synthesizer plug-in for Windows, written as an entry into the KVR Developer Challenge 2009.

FMMF features

• 4 Operator FM Synthesis instrument with 17 FM algorithms
• 11 different waveforms per operator, with note sync option
• 7 Multi-segment Envelopes (up to 32 stages) for amp, pitch and effects modulatio
• 3 LFO’s for pitch and effects modulation
• All envelopes can be free or tempo-sync, each stage can have it’s own contour
• Envelopes can have user defined sustain and repeat points with flexible locking and zeroing options
• LFO’s can be free or tempo sync, with 20 waveforms and phase & note sync options
• Each LFO has it’s own ADSR envelope
• Arpeggiator with 6 modes and adjustable tempo-sync, note length and octave range
• Resonant low pass filter with key and velocity tracking, can be modulated by envelopes or LFOs
• Distortion effect with 18 flavours, can be modulated by envelopes or LFOs
• Delay with comb delay option, size, feedback and damping, modulated by envelope or LFO
• Harmonics can be adjusted from 1 to 256, with limit on frequency beyond Nyquist
• Polyphony adjustable from 1 to 16 voices
• Portamento time
• 64 presets by brian botkiller covering many styles

Details below.

FMMF is a 4 operator FM (Frequency Modulation) synthesizer with 2 primary aims:

• Make FM synthesis as accessible and user-friendly as possible
• Use multi-stage envelopes and LFOs to make give lots of movement and modulation

The default preset bank was created by sound designer brian botkiller and shows off the potential of FMMF to make atmospheric pads and leads with lots of movement, big fat bass sounds, funky arps and oddball sound fx

The waveforms, algorithms and envelopes in FMMF are all shown graphically, with the envelopes allowing dragging of nodes and clicking to change contour. Special attention has been paid to the envelopes to allow you to customise them in many ways, such as the number of stages, the contour of each stage, sustain and repeat points and tempo-sync. There are envelopes for the volume of each operator, the pitch, and the effects section (filter, distortion and delay) all with velocity and key tracking. Further modulation comes in the form of LFO’s for the pitch and effects section, with many LFO waveforms available, including my favourite, randomising.

For further sound design potential you have a low pass filter, a multi-mode distortion and a flexible delay (with comb delay option). An arpeggiator let’s you add even more movement to create rhythmic sequences.

The Yamaha DX-21 is a 61-key synth, based on FM synthesis, from the mid 80s.

It is 8-voice polyphonic, and while it sounds very close to other DX’s, it was a consumer keyboard, without velocity or aftertouch sensitivity.

If you’ve used the Yamaha DX21, leave a comment with your thoughts on it!

Features:

• Performance Memory – 32 Performance Memory System, programmable with data on play modes, key shift, detune and pitch bend. It will automatically recall these real-time performance parameters as well as the voice or combination of voices.
• FM Digital Synthesis – Instead of VCOs, VCAs, and VCFs, the DX21 uses “operators” (a digital sine wave generator combined with an envelope generator) to produce sound that can be used alone or in combination with other operators.
• Voice Memories – 32MB RAM (Random Access Memory) voice memories, organized in two banks of 16 voice selector keys.
• Pre-Programmed Voices Built In – 128 pre-programmed voices permanently stored in internal ROM (Read Only) memory. Organized into groups of 8, these voices can be loaded individually or in groups into the 32-voice RAM memory.
• Three Ways to Play – Two FM Tone Generators allow voices to be selected three ways: Single, Dual, or Split play modes.
• MIDI Functions – A broad range of MIDI functions make the DX21 exceptionally useful in virtually any MIDI system application.
• Cassette Storage – A built in cassette interface allows an unlimited number of voices to be programmed and stored on cassette tape. Cassette voices can then be loaded into RAM memory when needed.

Specifications:

• Keyboard 61 keys, C1 – C6
• Sound Source FM Tone Generators: 4 operators x 2 (A,B), 8 Algorithms
• Polyphonic 8 notes (Single), 4 notes (Dual), 4 + 4 notes (Split)
• Monophonic 1 note (Single, Dual), 1 + 1 note (Split)
• Internal Memory 128 ROM voice memory, 32 RAM voice memory, 32 RAM performance memory
• Controls Pitch Bend Wheel, Modulation Wheel, Volume, Balance, Data Entry
• Displays LCD (16 characters x 2 lines)
• Connecting Terminals Output Mix/A, Output B, Phones, Cassette
• Control Terminals Footswitch (Sustain, Portamento), Foot Controller (Volume), MIDI (In, Out, Thru)
• Dimensions 909(w) x 82(h) x 270(d) mm, 35.8(w) x 3.2(h) x 10.6(d) inches
• Weight 8 kg (17.6 lbs)
• United States and Canada 120 V, 50/60 Hz
• General Models 220 – 240 V, 50 Hz
• Power Consumption 7 W

Resources:

• burp.nl has a information on the Yamaha DX21, Yamaha DX27 & Yamaha DX100.
• Yamaha’s DX21 page
• DX21 Sound samples
• Soundquest DX21 Editor/Librarian
• Video demo via alphacode909

Image: Neil Vance

Vince Clarke with his Yamaha DX7 in 1984.

via the Synthtopia Flickr Group

This set of videos offers an overview of Native Instruments’ FM 8 FM synthesizer.

Odo Synths has released a new free/donationware Windows synthesizer,  Double Six XXL.

Double Six is a 6-operator FM synth with 32 DX7 algorithms and 16 4-operator algorithms.

Features

• 6-operator FM synth with 32 DX7 algorithms and 16 4-operator algorithms.
• Every operator has its own envelope. You can choose between 1 and 8 stages and set the sustain point from 1 to 7 or off.
• Every operator has a clipper,overdrive,lowpass filter,and a distortion.
• 2 octave sequencers with Destinations operator 1 to 6.
• 4 envelopes with retrigger mode on BPM rates.
• 3 LFOs with 19 different waveforms with 16 different BPM rates and free rate(manual) mode. Destinations of the LFOs are pitch operator 1 to 6,phase monulation 1 to 6 and cutoff
• The LFOs can start free (anypoint of the lfo waveform) gated starts when you hit a key or first (starts when you hit play in the sequencer).
• A octave pitch
• 14 different curves for the envelopes.All envelopes have a time knob.You can switch between the envelope and volume.
• The operators can be disabled, fixed or pitched and have a octave range from -6 to 3, fine-tune and pulse width.
• 11 different waveforms for the operators.
• The filter has the same envelope and there are 10 different filters types low-pass 12db,low-pass 24db,low-pass db32, hi-pass,band-pass,CK low pass,CK Band pass,CK hi pass,CK notch,CK,peak.
• Volume envelope.
• EZ preset: This allows you make new sounds fast. You can reset all fine-tunes with the hit of a button or change all waveforms, set all the octaves the same and the times of the envelopes.
• Phase modulation depth control and a feedback control
• Volume envelope.
• Note sequencer
• Built-in effects are Chorus, stereo delay, gater,clipper,ovedrive,distortion and phaser effects.
• Velocity controls
• Voice/poly control

Features

Any voice parameter can be changed on Editor window having direct connection with DX7 over MIDI.

If your Macintosh have a connection with the Internet, you can access to “DX7 Librarian Official Database”. Double clicking on a file in Database window, you can get the voice file on your Mac! As you can see in the voice list here, the total number of registered voices is 14566 as of today.

You can submit your original voice file via e-mail just by choosing Submit item in File menu. Then the file will be appended into the Database within a few days.

License

Even without registration, DX7 Librarian will work for simple editing purpose. – It’s free!
If you want to have database connection, you need to have Database Access Key. To get the Key, you need to register. You can get 32 times trial access key for free just by sending registration e-mail from the application.

After the trial, you can buy 1000 times access key for US$10.

Requirement

Mac OS X 10.4.0 or newer.
USB-MIDI interface.
Internet connection. (needed for Database access)

Warranty/Liability

DX7 Librarian is licensed on an “as is” basis. The author provides no warranty of any sort. The user of the software assumes complete responsibility for any direct or indirect damages due to use or misuse of the software.

via dontcrack

This is a great demo of the classic Yamaha DX7 – this shows that there’s a lot more to the DX7 than fake Fender Rhodes sounds and 80’s synth strings.

via Jexus

This is a demo of the classic Yamaha DX7 II FM Synthesizer.

The Yamaha DX7 was a synthesizer manufactured by the Yamaha Corporation from 1983 to 1986. It was the first commercially successful digital synthesizer, and its sounds can be heard on many recordings from the 1980s.

Three improved “DX7 II” models were released between 1987 and 1989, all of which featured updated internal circuitry and a new style case.

These were:

• the DX7 IID, which improved sound quality from 12 bit to 16 bit, and allowed bi-timbrality;
• the DX7 IIFD, which was identical to the DX7 IID except that it also had a floppy disk drive; and
• the DX7s, which had improved sound quality and the updated case, but otherwise had the same essential functionality of the original DX7.

There was also a TX802 rackmaount version.

DX7 IIs could transmit and receive on any one of 16 MIDI channels at a time.

If you’ve used the Yamaha DX7 II FM Synthesizer, leave a comment with your thoughts/ratings!

Specifications:

• Polyphony: 16 voices;
• Oscillators: programmable 6-operator A & B,
• 32-algorithm FM tone generator;
• Env: 6 Envelope generators with 8 parameters;
• Keyboard: 61 keys with velocity and aftertouch, Split and Layer;
• Memory: 128 patches, external cartridge;
• Effects: none

Resources:

• Wikipedia entry for the Yamaha DX7 II FM Synthesizer
• Manual for the DX7 II
• Unofficial DX7 resource center
• Info at Retrosound on the Yamaha DX7 II FD

Demo video via retrosound72

This is video overview and review of Native Instruments FM8 synthesizer, with a small side of sales pitch for some FM8 presets.

via thepluginguru:

John “Skippy” Lehmkuhl introduces Native Instruments FM8 – an FM based synthesizer.

This is Part 1 which covers an overview and power tips for optimizing the Browser to be more useful.

Part 2 is to come.

Glove FM Synth with Arduino & Max/MSP

This is pretty geektacular – this video demos using Arduino & flex resistors to control an FM Synth patch in Max/MSP.

The index finger controls the carrier frequency, the middle finger controls the harmonicity, the pot controls the length and the button triggers the synth.

via soundplusdesign

This video demos the DIY Appendage Touch Ribbon and Buchla 291 BPF Adaptation of Scott Stites with an analog FM patch. The Appendage is controlling the modulator and carrier VCO through my Buchla 291 Filter Adaptation.

Anyone familiar with Vangelis’ Beaubourg?

This sounds surprisingly similar to the effects Vangelis explored on Beaubourg – an album that is sort of a litmus test of his fans.

Odo Synths has released a new “donationware” software synth, Double Six version 2.

It’s a 6-operator FM synth for Windows with 32 DX7 algorithms and 16 4-operator algorithms.

Changes in this version:

• Operators have 11 different waveforms
• Every operator has a clipper
• 2 octave sequencers
• 3 envelopes with retrigger mode on BPM rates.
• 3 LFOs with 19 different waveforms .with 16 different BPM speeds And free rate mode.
• Midilearn
• Velocity controls for volume filter and phasemodulation depth
• One bug is fixed.There was some problems in the DoubleSix V1.0 algorithms view.
• Envelope stage looping
• gater effect
• the delay it has now 32 bpm rates

Native Instruments today released FM8 Transient Attacks, a new collection of synthesizer sounds for use in FM8, as well as in Kore 2 and the free Kore Player.

The 200 presets in this Kore Soundpack are tailored for the sound aesthetics of modern electronic music production. 

FM8 Transient Attacks is available for download purchase in the NI Online Shop for a suggested retail price of $59/€49.

Description:

FM8 Transient Attacks translates the unique sonic potential of advanced FM synthesis into a versatile sound collection full of character and edge. The arsenal ranges from lead, bass and pad sounds to percussion, mallets, soundscapes and beyond. With their highly dynamic, digital, gritty, metallic and sometimes experimental nature, the sounds in FM8 Transient Attacks make an intense acoustic impact while always keeping a strong focus on playability. All sounds are equipped with full metadata for efficient access via the Kore Sound Browser.

For even more sonic flexibility, FM8 Transient Attacks utilizes both the Morph Square feature of the FM8 engine as well as the Sound Variations of Kore, allowing producers to easily and expressively animate and mutate the character of any sound within a wide area. Within the Kore 2/Kore Player interface, every preset presents an individual control page that gives direct access to its crucial sound parameters, for immediate and intuitive sound shaping and tweaking.

Stuckey’s new portable, battery powered FM synthesizer by Critter and Guitari, Chris Kucinski, Owen Osborn

Yamaha DX7 Harps demo

via DX5