Free FM Synthesizer Dexed (VST Windows and Mac)
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- KVRist
- 33 posts since 16 Oct, 2012
Damn this synth is good! I struggled a bit with the original interface, but after the update (and having spent a while learning FM synthesis in Sytrus), I absolutely love it. I can finally create those old-school EBM basses that I love so much, and they sound really authentic. Honestly, if Togu can charge $60 for TAL-U-NO-LX, you can definitely charge the same amount for Dexed if you want to. Of course I'd much prefer it to stay freeware though, as there aren't many good freeware FM synths out there.
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- KVRAF
- 5510 posts since 6 May, 2002
where is the list of outstanding bugs?asb2m10 wrote:AU support is already committed in github; if you want to see the current development you need to change to the development branch (right now it is called work-0.8.1). Only code is listed there...pathworker wrote:Last time I looked at the github page I think it is still in the todo listdupont wrote:Any news for AU version ?
Once a beta builds will be available, I will notify this thread.
0.8.2 will address this (modulation wheel, foot control, *breath controlrayola1 wrote:are breath control or aftertouch on the way?*, aftertouch).
Intel Core2 Quad CPU + 4 GIG RAM
- KVRist
- 150 posts since 20 Dec, 2013 from Montreal
On the Dexed github page, look for the "ISSUE" on the rightelectro wrote:where is the list of outstanding bugs?asb2m10 wrote:AU support is already committed in github; if you want to see the current development you need to change to the development branch (right now it is called work-0.8.1). Only code is listed there...pathworker wrote:Last time I looked at the github page I think it is still in the todo listdupont wrote:Any news for AU version ?
Once a beta builds will be available, I will notify this thread.
0.8.2 will address this (modulation wheel, foot control, *breath controlrayola1 wrote:are breath control or aftertouch on the way?*, aftertouch).
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- KVRian
- 548 posts since 15 Aug, 2014
Started working on an outline of a user guide for Dexed, attached is an image of a possible front cover. feedback/alterations welcome. 
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Music is the language of the soul.
The best music comes from the heart of the performer or composer.
The best music comes from the heart of the performer or composer.
- KVRAF
- 4536 posts since 17 Jun, 2013 from very close to Paris, France
Hum... your graphic of the algorithms is tilted to the left. Beware, it's gonna crash on the ground!








Build your life everyday as if you would live for a thousand years. Marvel at the Life everyday as if you would die tomorrow.
I'm now severely diseased since September 2018.
I'm now severely diseased since September 2018.
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- KVRian
- 548 posts since 15 Aug, 2014
aaaargh....thanks for the heads up. that WAS a first draft after all.
maybe I will just remove the algorithm strip
maybe I will just remove the algorithm strip
Music is the language of the soul.
The best music comes from the heart of the performer or composer.
The best music comes from the heart of the performer or composer.
- KVRAF
- 43937 posts since 11 Aug, 2008 from clown world
I always appreciate having a full image of the GUI when I print out a manual and take it with me to read during the day.
Anyone who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities.
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- KVRAF
- 9144 posts since 7 Oct, 2005
Just little ideas about the cover. Maybe you can find sine waves image instead of the algorithm strip.pathworker wrote:aaaargh....thanks for the heads up. that WAS a first draft after all.
maybe I will just remove the algorithm strip
I also suggest the title to be 2 lines like below:
DeXeD [or DeXed] (with bigger font than the second line and Capital D and X!)
The Essential Guide
Using: Cubase Pro 15, Reason 13, Tascam US-4x4HR, MODX6, DM12D, LaunchKey 49, Yamaha guitar(Pacifica 612v) and bass (BB234) and some virtual instruments and synths.
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- KVRian
- 548 posts since 15 Aug, 2014
thanks EnGee i'll do a redesign. its not my best skill but hey, gotta start somewhere right? 
Music is the language of the soul.
The best music comes from the heart of the performer or composer.
The best music comes from the heart of the performer or composer.
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- KVRAF
- 9144 posts since 7 Oct, 2005
Thanks to you pathworker for starting this guide
You can leave the cover till the end because you will have many good ideas till then.
Using: Cubase Pro 15, Reason 13, Tascam US-4x4HR, MODX6, DM12D, LaunchKey 49, Yamaha guitar(Pacifica 612v) and bass (BB234) and some virtual instruments and synths.
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syntheticillusion syntheticillusion https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=247399
- KVRist
- 263 posts since 9 Jan, 2011 from Welland, Ontario, Canada
quick feature request just came to me when I went to the bathroom and was hit on the head
and came up with a idea...what if you get a user cart and you can share your user cart by making
presets and adding to the cart until all 32 patches are full then you can make a new user cart as
user cart 2, then share the syx of it or maybe a special user cart extension, when this becomes
version 2.5 I hope there is much user request implemented into dexed, like skinnable UI and
perfect algo's for 6 and others that were mentioned before as not working to the original myself
personally think that dexed 0.6.0 nailed it and has since then, I remember dexed when it was
the JUCE UI, I used it but now that 0.8.0 is stable, I think extra user carts should implemented.
just my two cents,
Joel.
and came up with a idea...what if you get a user cart and you can share your user cart by making
presets and adding to the cart until all 32 patches are full then you can make a new user cart as
user cart 2, then share the syx of it or maybe a special user cart extension, when this becomes
version 2.5 I hope there is much user request implemented into dexed, like skinnable UI and
perfect algo's for 6 and others that were mentioned before as not working to the original myself
personally think that dexed 0.6.0 nailed it and has since then, I remember dexed when it was
the JUCE UI, I used it but now that 0.8.0 is stable, I think extra user carts should implemented.
just my two cents,
Joel.
"Making music since the nineteen eighties, lets bring back the eighties."
http://jrmbisson.blogspot.com
http://joelbissonpoetry.blogspot.com/
http://soundcloud.com/joelbisson
http://soundcloud.com/syntheticillusion
http://jrmbisson.blogspot.com
http://joelbissonpoetry.blogspot.com/
http://soundcloud.com/joelbisson
http://soundcloud.com/syntheticillusion
- KVRAF
- 2784 posts since 18 Apr, 2001
Maybe because the GUI is not like the DX7 and therefore the DX7 manual does not map nicely to the user experience with the GUI.electro wrote:why do we need more than the DX7 manual?
I like to find original manuals for emulated synths, it helps to get the most of it. But there's always small (or even big) differences in an emulation that are not covered by the original's manual.
Seems pretty obvious to me
CrimsonWarlock aka TechnoGremlin, Moved to Reason and Rack Extensions exclusively (from Reaper and VSTs) several years ago.
- KVRAF
- 12522 posts since 21 Mar, 2008 from Hannover, Germany
I just checked the latest verson of Dexed. The new GUI is nicer than the old one and Dexed seems to be a nice emulation of the DX7 with import of Sysex etc.
Anyway FM is still difficult for me and personally for doing my own patches i still ptefer the interface of FM8.
What is especially confusing in the DX7 and also Dexed is having Envelope rates instead of times which means bigger rate values result in shorter envelope times. In FM8 you got times instead and could also edit the envelope in a grahical display.
In FM8 it is also nice that you could add operators if and how needed (including feedback and also multiple different feedbacks) and not really have to use fixed algorithms while there are also presets for that. This is very helpful when starting from a simple setup with 2 operator and want to get more complex step by step.
Also the spectrum/waveform display in FM8 could be helul to get a visula feedback on how certain parameters affect the resulting sound.
Besides that there are also lots of additional features not included with the real DX7 (e.g. additional waveforms besides Sine, Unison, FXs, programmable Apeggiator etc.)
I also like using Tome2 Nemesis which besides offering a more simple approach to FM offers the opportunity to use "real" FM (besides the phase modulation like it was used in the DX7 and also several other synthesis modes including phase distortion etc.) and using an almost unlimited amount f waveforms (including import of WAV files and creating your own with a simple additive editor). Having the ability to use more complex waveforms instead of only Sines (like in DX7 and Dexed) could offer a way to produce new result more easily and could also reduce the need for having more operators.
While Nemesis could also do DX7 like FM sounds i would not call it an emulation. It is a different approach on FM. IMO it is nice having either FM8 or Dexed for a more "traditional " apparoach (or even both) while also using Nemesis at the same time.
With analog/subtractive synths people usally have/use lots of different synths with a similar synthesis method so why not doing the same with FM synths? Not every FM synth has to be a perfect replication of the DX7 (while FM8 could do that quite well but also much more).
Anyway FM is still difficult for me and personally for doing my own patches i still ptefer the interface of FM8.
What is especially confusing in the DX7 and also Dexed is having Envelope rates instead of times which means bigger rate values result in shorter envelope times. In FM8 you got times instead and could also edit the envelope in a grahical display.
In FM8 it is also nice that you could add operators if and how needed (including feedback and also multiple different feedbacks) and not really have to use fixed algorithms while there are also presets for that. This is very helpful when starting from a simple setup with 2 operator and want to get more complex step by step.
Also the spectrum/waveform display in FM8 could be helul to get a visula feedback on how certain parameters affect the resulting sound.
Besides that there are also lots of additional features not included with the real DX7 (e.g. additional waveforms besides Sine, Unison, FXs, programmable Apeggiator etc.)
I also like using Tome2 Nemesis which besides offering a more simple approach to FM offers the opportunity to use "real" FM (besides the phase modulation like it was used in the DX7 and also several other synthesis modes including phase distortion etc.) and using an almost unlimited amount f waveforms (including import of WAV files and creating your own with a simple additive editor). Having the ability to use more complex waveforms instead of only Sines (like in DX7 and Dexed) could offer a way to produce new result more easily and could also reduce the need for having more operators.
While Nemesis could also do DX7 like FM sounds i would not call it an emulation. It is a different approach on FM. IMO it is nice having either FM8 or Dexed for a more "traditional " apparoach (or even both) while also using Nemesis at the same time.
With analog/subtractive synths people usally have/use lots of different synths with a similar synthesis method so why not doing the same with FM synths? Not every FM synth has to be a perfect replication of the DX7 (while FM8 could do that quite well but also much more).
Ingo Weidner
Win 10 Home 64-bit / mobile i7-7700HQ 2.8 GHz / 16GB RAM //
Live 10 Suite / Cubase Pro 9.5 / Pro Tools Ultimate 2021 // NI Komplete Kontrol S61 Mk1
Win 10 Home 64-bit / mobile i7-7700HQ 2.8 GHz / 16GB RAM //
Live 10 Suite / Cubase Pro 9.5 / Pro Tools Ultimate 2021 // NI Komplete Kontrol S61 Mk1
- KVRAF
- 24411 posts since 7 Jan, 2009 from Croatia
You can't really compare FM8 and Dexed, Ingo. Dexed was meant to be 1:1 emulation of DX7 engine. FM8 is not quite there - there are things missing when you import DX7 sysex, and it's quite obvious. As a standalone FM synth with a host of new features, FM8 is great, of course. But for straight DX7 emulation, Dexed pretty much kills it.
