Some questions about FMO's

[coyote]

hello all,

i'm trying to learn about fm synthesis at the mo as subtractive just doesn't seem to give me some of the tones i'm after.

as zebra is the only synth i use now its the synth i'm tryin to lean it on.

so I guess my first Q is, is zebra a good synth to learn FM synthesis on?

but the main thing that is confusing me is everything i have read is that you have your normal wave being in frequecny modulated by another waveform.

so in the grid i have osc one with a simple sine in it, then below that. so as far as i can tell the osc one's sine is modulating the fmo, but is it also just adding its own sound to the mix as well like if i had to standard osc i would here both there out puts mixed.

i tried using a crazy wave to modulate the fmo and i could hear its effect onthe fmo but i could also just hear it, is this whats happen on other fm synths?

so yeah any help with this will be great,

cheers

[lazerkind]

Try this.

- Put one FMO in channel one and another FMO in channel two.
- Now set FMO on channel two to be FM by input, right click on it and select input1.
- At the bottom of the audio modules you have a small square that you can mute channels with. Mute channel one.

Now you only hear the FMO on channel 2.

Edit.
You can do similar things on most synths capable of FM.
Since Zebra is modular you need to do the patching yourself. On a DX7 you would first choose a the signal path you want to use by selecting a algorithm.
Some algorithms are connected in parallel, others in series and some are both.

If Zebra is a good synth to learn FM on?
I'd say it is as good as any Fm capable soft synth.
Sure there are some dedicated FM synths out there (FM7,Sytrus,ToxicIII/IV) but you should be able to get quite far with Zebra.

And there are some FM examples by Michael Kastrup here on the forum. Use the search Luke. (Search for "Zebra FM School")

//L

[dyiid]

Here are a couple of videos that you might find helpful:

http://insidesynthesis.blogspot.com/200 ... art-1.html

[Howard]

so in the grid i have osc one with a simple sine in it, then below that. so as far as i can tell the osc one's sine is modulating the fmo, but is it also just adding its own sound to the mix as well like if i had to standard osc i would here both there out puts mixed.

I guess you meant to write "then below that, the FMO". That's correct (lazerkind's suggestion of using another lane isn't necessary). The standard oscillator isn't adding its own sound to the mix - wiggle the two "Tune" knobs and see. Then you need to explore, experiment.

[coyote]

nice one thanks for the info peeps.

[mcnoone]

If you have a sound source on top of an fmo. You can also try moving the detune knob around for some modulation alternative. Depending on what mode the fmo is on.
You could also try to assign an envelope (or mseg/lfo) to the FM filter. Move that around to hear it's effect.