FM/Additive - inherently more flexible than subtractive?

[quincy]

I've been playing around a bit with some demos of additive and FM VSTi, and although i'm far from an expert, it strikes me that this architecture is inherently more flexible and capable of more variety than subtractive VA type synths.

Now don't get me wrong, obviously subtractive synthesis in the right hands is capable of great sound design, and i love dialling up VA sounds as its fun and simple to do. But whereas i think i could probably make those sounds with aditive/FM, it seems like some of the sounds from these synths would be almsot impossible to get from subtractive methods.

There are patche in FM/Additive that sound like physical modelled acoustic stuff, cavernous soundscapes, all kinds of weird leads, pads, FX, formant vocal type stuff etc.

This is not intended as an argument starter, just as a starting point for some discussion. I wonder why more people don't seem to be involved with these synth methods. This is a bit of an assumption, but lets face it, a huge number of threads exist around here about subtractives and VAs, but i don't see many about other synthesis methods which are obviously hugely powerful.

Discuss

[Collusion]

I wonder why more people don't seem to be involved with these synth methods.

Simple - they aren't as quick and easy as VA/subtractive. Both methods require a great deal of patience to get the best out them.

[Benedict]

You are right in many ways but (despite the fact I sell some of each) FM and Additive just don't have the same meaty feel that a good subtractive generally has.

FM and Additive can cretainly go to places that Subtractive struggles with but as already mentioned, to be able to get to those places deliberately requires a depth of understanding that is far greater.

Also pure Additive for a long time to come (till CPU gets much faster) will tend to sound 'glassy' as there simply aren't enough partials and computational power to get everything right. The basic theory is right enough but by the same token greatly flawed in suggesting that enough sine waves modulated over time will ever realistically recreate the complexity of one 'instrument' let alone the Beatles or and Orchestra.

Fascinating things to play with tho and great for adding variety to a piece.