Hello! Everyone!
The FM synthesizer confuses me now!
If a FM synthesizer has 4 operators(2 modulators and 2 carriers), for example YM2151 , but it has 8-voices poly . if I produced 8 different sounds together , so there should be 32 operators working together? But it has only 4 operators! How???

erm ...

which fm synth ???


slainte rob

YM2151 is a sound chip used in some street game machine and some old YAHAMA synthesizer

http://www.ylw.mmtr.or.jp/~hosino/ma-net/sndgen/japanese/ym2151.htm


but it is Japneses
I translated into English:

IC Model : YM2151
Sound Module : FM
Type : OPM
Numbers of Operators: 4
Sounds that can be produced simultaneity :FM8


SO the" Sounds that can be produced simultaneity " is polyphonic or multi-timbral?
but in fact ,it is a chip used in many street game machines , in a game often many sounds are prouduced simultaneity ,so is it true only 4 operator in this chip?


SORRY for my English ,neither English nor Japanese is my mother language

I think you're confused about definitions or something. polyphony has nothing to do with the number of operators. voice usually means 1 note.
8 voices = 8 notes played at the same time.
4 operators on each note.
same as subtractive synths.
for example using a synth with a saw osc, it happens on every note up to it's polyphony.
maybe I just confused myself, but it's not hard before my first cup of coffee.

THANKS bluedad
I just think about your problem and have just edited my post . should you please read it again? thanks so much

ah - i see now -

im not a coder but the way i understand polyphony is -

the basic synth architecture has 4 operators FOR EACH VOICE - if you need more than one voice [up to the 8 max in this case] the instrument duplicates the voice architecture internally as many times as you need

so yes - with all 8 voices of polyphony running you WOULD be hearing 32 operators - but each individual voice would be built using only 2

slainte rob

Consider an operator to be the same as an oscillator.So you have four oscillators per voice x eight voices.
BTW Rob-2 per voice?I guess you don't teach math
ew

would you believe me if i said it was an honest typo ???

and no - i dont use much maths in my art teaching [i even try to avoid all that golden section bollocks]

slainte rob

Golden showers in art classes??! Schools have obviously moved on a bit since I last darkened the doorstep of one.