KVR Audio

Equilibrium · Post by **Equilibrium** » Wed Jan 11, 2006 10:39 am

Just a few words of inspiration for anyone who is thinking of attempting to learn FM synthesis, or who is learning it.

It is possible. I have been trying to learn FM Synthesis for a fairly short amount of time and have been told a few times to give up, "it's just too hard". Well, finally it's all paid off, I'm creating some of the most amazing sounds, sounds that I couldn't have created in any other way. It is a fantastic feeling to be able to do it, and the truth is that it isn't half as hard as people make it out to be, it's just different, very different.

The first myth is that you need a degree in physics. That's not true IMO, you just need to understand the basics. Then, do it, sit down and do it. Copy other presets from start to finish until you understand why everything was set in that particular way. Then use that knowledge to create your own preset. repeat that many, many times and one day you'll have created the preset from heaven, and then it's all downhill from there.

I'm glad people told me how hard it was going to be, but I'm also glad I ignored some of the advice I was given. Afterall if it's impossible how come there are so many amazing presets in the FM7, made by so many different people? Are these people from another planet? Do they have superhuman powers? Or is it just fear that holds us back from trying to run with the best of them?

If you're thinking of trying to learn, do it, and devote hours and hours to it, it will pay off. I believe that the FM7 is just about the most powerful synth you can buy, and what's best of all is that now I know that I can program it with confidence.

Good luck!

speccyteccy · Post by **speccyteccy** » Wed Jan 11, 2006 11:27 am

That's encouraging news - I'm just about to attack Sytrus (which from a tech spec point of view has more functionality than FM7!). I aim to have 128 patches for it this time next year.

BONES · Post by **BONES** » Wed Jan 11, 2006 11:58 am

Which particular brand of FM are we talking about? I think the way Toxic does FM is way easier than the way Yamaha did it with the DX-7. With those f**kers, it was very difficult to take a patch and tweak it in a desired direction but with Toxic that is usually both simple and intuitive. Sytrus's multi-page GUI would, I think, make it a much harder row to hoe.

nuffink · Post by **nuffink** » Wed Jan 11, 2006 12:17 pm

Equilibrium wrote:I believe that the FM7 is just about the most powerful synth you can buy, and what's best of all is that now I know that I can program it with confidence.

You should meet it's uncle FS1R.

Failed Muso · Post by **Failed Muso** » Wed Jan 11, 2006 7:58 pm

nuffink wrote:
Equilibrium wrote:I believe that the FM7 is just about the most powerful synth you can buy, and what's best of all is that now I know that I can program it with confidence.
You should meet it's uncle FS1R.

The FS1r still makes me moist around the gusset

nuffink · Post by **nuffink** » Wed Jan 11, 2006 8:08 pm

Lovesign wrote:The FS1r still makes me moist around the gusset

Yeah. In a world full of me-too subtractives, it'd be nice to see someone push FM a bit further.

blue on blue · Post by **blue on blue** » Wed Jan 11, 2006 8:13 pm

any good free FM VSTi recommendations?

james0tucson · Post by **james0tucson** » Wed Jan 11, 2006 8:16 pm

Well, finally it's all paid off, I'm creating some of the most amazing sounds, sounds that I couldn't have created in any other way.

Are you able to say what you're creating before you've done it? Are you able to conceive of the sound you'd like to make and then make it?

It's one thing for Ty Cobb to have hit a home run, it's another thing for him to point to the seat in the stands before the pitch, and hit the ball to that spot...

Reverse Engineer · Post by **Reverse Engineer** » Wed Jan 11, 2006 8:18 pm

blue on blue wrote:any good free FM VSTi recommendations?

Hexter.

odo · Post by **odo** » Wed Jan 11, 2006 8:19 pm

toxic = very very good
sytrus = very very good
can also try my purple =very very ....
but free

ouroboros · Post by **ouroboros** » Wed Jan 11, 2006 8:20 pm

Equilibrium wrote:Just a few words of inspiration for anyone who is thinking of attempting to learn FM synthesis, or who is learning it.

It is possible. I have been trying to learn FM Synthesis for a fairly short amount of time and have been told a few times to give up, "it's just too hard". Well, finally it's all paid off, I'm creating some of the most amazing sounds, sounds that I couldn't have created in any other way. It is a fantastic feeling to be able to do it, and the truth is that it isn't half as hard as people make it out to be, it's just different, very different.

Way to go! Can't wait to hear it. FM is really wonderful. Sytrus has really opened a lot of sonic windows for me

fritzman · Post by **fritzman** » Wed Jan 11, 2006 8:22 pm

Reverse Engineer wrote:
blue on blue wrote:any good free FM VSTi recommendations?
Hexter.

Definitely!

blue on blue · Post by **blue on blue** » Wed Jan 11, 2006 8:27 pm

will download Hexter tonight...interface looks pretty intimidating, but i think i've read other good things about it here.

M'Snah · Post by **M'Snah** » Wed Jan 11, 2006 9:00 pm

and of course Octopus

. Not free of course, but neither are Toxic and Sytrus.

foosnark · Post by **foosnark** » Wed Jan 11, 2006 9:46 pm

VivaldiMX is another good freebie; it's basically 4 sets of 2-op FM.

FM is not impossible