XFM Is A 32-Voice Polyphonic FM Synthesizer You Can Build Yourself

René Ceballos shared this quick demo of XFM – a polyphonic, 32-voice, 6-operator FM synthesizer stereo module that you can build yourself.

The module receives MIDI messages from a controller/sequencer, produces audio and delivers it via digital (SPDIF) and analog outputs. The sound range XFM can create and its feature set have a very broad intersection with most pure-FM synthesizers of the past (Yamaha DX series, OPL chip series, TX81Z/802/816 modules, etc.).

XFM Synthesizer Features:

  • 32-voice polyphonic
  • Polyphonic or Monophonic Legato modes
  • 6 operators per voice
  • Variable modulation algorithm
  • 8 waveforms per operator
  • A 6-segment Envelope Generator for each operator
  • 6-segment Pitch Envelope Generator
  • Per-voice LFO with Triangle, Square, Sine, S&H waveform
  • Per-operator adjustable LFO sensitivity for pitch and volume
  • Per-operator adjustable velocity tracking, keyboard tracking
  • Monophonic/Polyphonic portamento
  • Extensive MIDI implementation (pitch bend, mod wheel, aftertouch, sustain, breath ctl, foot ctl, volume, pan, etc.)
  • Auto-panner
  • Stereo Chorus
  • 256 programs memory
  • MIDI in, thru
  • 48kHz samplerate
  • Samplerate-grade modulations
  • Stereo, 24-bit SPDIF digital out
  • Stereo, 16-bit analog out
  • Battery friendly, low power operation
  • Fully programmable (connecting it to a PC via USB)
  • Extremely low latency (< 1ms)

See the futur3soundz site for details on the project.

7 thoughts on “XFM Is A 32-Voice Polyphonic FM Synthesizer You Can Build Yourself

  1. Too bad that it is a binary file. understandably the author wants to protect the efforts on the audio code, however it spans also I/O. Would be nice if that the audio generating part could be released in some kind of object format (for Zynq and othe FPGA as well) so that others can link it with modify the functionality how parameters/UART/MIDI and other I/O is handled to make this part of a larger design. if not, then it would be a lost opportunity.

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