F'em

[Wolfram Franke]

This is possible by using ALT-Left_Click.

Excellent! Thanks.
This revealed a new bug though: Typing 0.0 for operator phase just resets it to "free". You can get 0.0 by dragging the rotary (eventually) but the lowest value it will accept typing directly is 0.1

Quick tip: 360° is the same as 0°. So, just turn the phase control all the way to the right and you get a 0° phase.

[Wolfram Franke]

Sustain cutoff problem seems to be fixed in 1.0.4. yay!
This is really the virtual FM synth that I thought we'd have had from someone many years ago, finally realized and with so much detail made possible! Still, it's missing a few key things that make it difficult to use:

S0... three feature requests and a not-exactly-bug but an issue:
1. This is a big omission - limited external modulation sources. No expression pedal source options, no way to assign CCs and use something like a Touche or a sensel thunder in addition to the sustain/breath control - this synth cries out for real time expression via pedals and controllers that can be easily assigned per patch and configured in the same way as the other mod sources (including the ability to use them in modifiers) - as it is now we are limited to doing this via automation in a host, which is not at all the same as external(physical)>internal modulation routing per patch. Please at least at Expression, Volume, and a couple of CC pedal sources to the modulation sources. I'm sitting here playing it through an RD2000 and a Hydrasynth (as controllers) with their pedal inputs, multiple wheels, etc and no way to use them on a VST that seems otherwise built for them. (but thanks for at least including breath control and especially sostenuto, which so many leave out).
2. Maybe this exists and I've missed it? A button to turn off all "assign" buttons. Once you get into patching controls between operators and such, it's easy to get stuck in assign mode and lose track of where you need to turn it off.
3. Ability to type values into controls. It's painful to get exact values entered into parameters like frequency offset, especially if the values are close to control's default.

Which brings me to the issue:
When operators are in "free" mode they, as expected, begin to click when a key is played in polyphonic mode, getting worse as the number of simultaneous voices play, and even with declicked (or more) EG attacks. This is normal, but since the default is "free", it means resetting every single operator to 0 phase start... which is a gigantic pain (particularly given the need for request #3, above).

An additional issue which doesn't impact me personally since I use bidule and realearn in Reaper which bypasses the need but which I think will be a big problem for others: no midi learn or even midi assignment protocol. I get that there are way too many parameters to include anything but a subset, but at least operator levels, layer mixing, things like that really need to be controllable through midi CCs for many people.

1. MIDI Expression and MIDI Volume: they are both used to control the volume and MIDI Panning affects the stereo panning. Why two volume controls? This allows you to set a base volume via MIDI Volume and control the actual volume between zero and this maximum value via MIDI Expression.

1b. MIDI mapping in general: this is on the todo list for a future update. But in most hosts you should be able to find a MIDI CC > plugin parameter mapping so not all is lost.

2. When you are in the Assign view, there should be a purple (X) button in the top left to get out of it (not on the FM Matrix page, though).

3. You already found that out

4. Mono clicks have been reduced in V1.0.5. If you still experience clicks in certain (very particular) situations, pressing the Declick button on the amp envelopes of audible operators (i.e. not those that are only used as modulators) should help.

5. Right now F.'em allows to automate all continuous parameters. However, some hosts have problems with the huge number of parameters (Logic for example only allows 32767 parameters and if there are more, it disables automation for the plugin completely), so I plan to implement an automation assignment method. If any of you have hints for its user interface, just let me know.
The simplest implementation I can think of is to offer a menu upon right-clicking a parameter with the entries "Add to automation" or "Remove from automation", together with a list on some page that shows the currently automated parameters and save/load buttons for these setups. This raises the question: should this automation mapping be stored in the instrument or globally (I suppose it should be stored in the instrument)?

Best wishes,

Wolfram

[mouren]

Hi,

Great software guys. I didn't realize how deep this thing is until I read the manual. This synth is almost like Absynth + FM8 in one. Crazy.

Couple of thoughts:
1. It would be great if there is a way to quickly create an Init or Default patch. I find that once I navigate to a preset, I can't seem to go back to an init state.

2. It would also be great if there can be Full Window options for various parts of the software. Right now, there are so many things on screen, and there is no sense of visual priority or emphasis, I get very overwhelmed. I have ADHD, this thing is not ADHD friendly.

Thank you!

[mouren]

Couple of questions:
1. Is it possible to add exponential FM as an option? I figure these implementations are probably linear FMs? I have found exponential FMs pretty useful in the Eurorack world to get inharmonic sounds.

2. Is it possible to have a wave folder of sort in the effects section?

3. This last one is a wild one, would it be possible for say Layer 1's output as an operator in Layer 2 - 4? Because then Layer 1 can almost be used as a dynamic wave form generator and that really expands the palette of source material. Just a thought.

Thank you!

[raiderpdog]

having missed the early sale on it that I guess went by very quickly, I was glad yesterday to stumble on this on sale at JRR Shop. It is 107.40 there, but came to 91.29 in my actual cart, so almost 50% off. Really looking forward to this one.

[DJ Warmonger]

I also bought it with 40% discount. Forgot to check JRR shop, though

I tried to make a review for this one and learned that indeed it's a very powerful and streamlined FM synth. That made a deal. Video review coming this month.

[dune_rave]

I always adored fm synths. FM8 today is just an old toy, and Dexed is a cool alternative.
However F'em looks promising.
Question: can it import those sysex files I have in Dexed? I haven't found info about this....
(Arturia DX7 can import such files)

[GayeMoone]

I just recieved my copy with a lot if help from awesome Brian at Tracktion support (had SOO much trouble purchasing it...)
Anyway Im still learning it but on thing that Im having trouble with is the Arpeggiator.
When I click the on screen keybord the arp starts, but when I use my hardware keyboards (tried two) the instrument plays as if the arp was off.
Anyone else having trouble with this or is it just on my system?
Im running Cubase 11 pro on a Windows 10 PC.

EDIT:
I realized what it is now! The arp in F'em can only answer to MIDI Channel 1. If I send Omni or any other channel than 1 the arp just don't start. Is that on purpose? Is there some setting that can change that?

[dune_rave]

I always adored fm synths. FM8 today is just an old toy, and Dexed is a cool alternative.
However F'em looks promising.
Question: can it import those sysex files I have in Dexed? I haven't found info about this....
(Arturia DX7 can import such files)

Ok, I was smart and checked kvr audio product description. There i have found an opinion that says no dx7 import. besides that person lists another bad things.
For me no dx7 import is a show stopper.
It's unbelievable that we are in 2021 and the best FM vsti is the open source Dexed, than Arturia DX7, then NI FM8 ....

[Kott]

...
For me no dx7 import is a show stopper.
It's unbelievable that we are in 2021 and the best FM vsti is the open source Dexed, than Arturia DX7, then NI FM8 ....

Are you sure that F'em is capable to emulate DX7?

[dune_rave]

...
For me no dx7 import is a show stopper.
It's unbelievable that we are in 2021 and the best FM vsti is the open source Dexed, than Arturia DX7, then NI FM8 ....

Are you sure that F'em is capable to emulate DX7?

Of course I'm not sure. on the other hand its features makes it capable of sound somewhat similar, and that would be enough. I just want to load these existing dx7 sysex banks. and dont care if the result is not 100%

[digitallysane]

It's unbelievable that we are in 2021 and the best FM vsti is the open source Dexed, than Arturia DX7, then NI FM8 ....

That might be true if the features making something "the best FM synth" would be importing patches from an 80ies classic.
F'em washes the floor with Dexed in terms of actual FM synthesis power.

[bhinton]

Any hope of an M1 build? This is my only plugin that has NOT shown either equal or improved performance since I switched to an M1Max MBP - in fact, it's now glitch city, regardless of the AU or VST version, regardless of whether it's bridged by the host or running on an intel host under rosetta.

[Stiller]

I have trouble starting F.'em in Bitwig 4.2.5 on Linux (Debian Bookworm), it starts only after I push the "Restart plugin" button a couple of times (sometimes 3, sometimes 20). How can I make it work?

The error message according to Bitwig: "Could not read async reply: end of stream"

After I have pressed the restart button often enough (3-20 times), everything seems to work. But starting one instance of F.'em can crash another one.

The synth seems really nice, but this is not really usable, sorry.

[iheartleaven]

I would like to hear CPU specs from people whose systems actually run F'em efficiently and without glitching. I have some moderately CPU-intensive plugins, but it seems that F'em borders on "broken" for a lot of people. I know that anytime the animated LFO is visible, it's chewing my system to the ground. As far as I can tell there's no official guidance from Tracktion on the optimal system configuration. What gives?