GForce Halogen FM - 2 Operator Pair FM Synth

[whassup]

v1.0.1
- Fixes an issue that caused a crash for some users on occasional patch changes.
- Improves CPU usage during patch changes.

I installed the updated demo and:

Demo expired. LOL

Well, maybe next time you do it differently. No sale this time.

[foosnark]

Does Halogen do anything Vital can't?

Yes.

[ghostwhistler]

Does Halogen do anything Vital can't?

Yes.

Liiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiike?

[ghostwhistler]

Nah, it's not for me. Clearly it can produce some good patches but the workflow isn't my bag at all.

It seems like a 2op synclavier with cross modulation as well. But I'll stick with using Vital for FM. I have fm8 and the op6 anyway.

[crimsonwarlock]

It seems like a 2op synclavier with cross modulation as well.

The thread title is misleading, it is actually a 4op synth.

I don't need it either, as I have a whole host of FM-synths already, and I didn't hear anything from this synth that sets it apart from what's already available.

[MrJubbly]

It seems like a 2op synclavier with cross modulation as well.

The thread title is misleading, it is actually a 4op synth.

I don't need it either, as I have a whole host of FM-synths already, and I didn't hear anything from this synth that sets it apart from what's already available.

The name of the plugin is simply "Halogen FM"

The OP added the "2Op" part themselves to the title of this topic.

Perhaps, a moderator, or the OP themselves should correct the title to make it easier to search for other users in the future.

[Korg Supporter]

It seems like a 2op synclavier with cross modulation as well.

The thread title is misleading, it is actually a 4op synth.

I don't need it either, as I have a whole host of FM-synths already, and I didn't hear anything from this synth that sets it apart from what's already available.

The name of the plugin is simply "Halogen FM"

The OP added the "2Op" part themselves to the title of this topic.

Perhaps, a moderator, or the OP themselves should correct the title to make it easier to search for other users in the future.

I apologize for that. When I was OPR 1 and 2, I assumed it was just 2 complex operators and didn't look closely enough.

[nusound mind]

What's are anyone's thoughts on this vs. the other new affordable FM synth, the Fors one?

[Uncle E]

What's are anyone's thoughts on this vs. the other new affordable FM synth, the Fors one?

Halogen has the key tracking and looping envelopes, Pivot has a morphing filter. I'm using them for completely different things.

[revvy]

It seems like a 2op synclavier with cross modulation as well.

The thread title is misleading, it is actually a 4op synth.

I don't need it either, as I have a whole host of FM-synths already, and I didn't hear anything from this synth that sets it apart from what's already available.

The name of the plugin is simply "Halogen FM"

The OP added the "2Op" part themselves to the title of this topic.

Perhaps, a moderator, or the OP themselves should correct the title to make it easier to search for other users in the future.

I apologize for that. When I was OPR 1 and 2, I assumed it was just 2 complex operators and didn't look closely enough.

Perhaps edit the thread title then?

[foosnark]

What's are anyone's thoughts on this vs. the other new affordable FM synth, the Fors one?

I tried the free version of Pivot and it struck me as the plain 2-op synth that some people thought this one was. Nothing wrong with it but I didn't find it compelling.

Trying to analyze what it is that makes me appreciate Halogen. Again, as a big fan of FM, a maker of noisy drone/ambient-adjacent abstract music, someone who always patches their own sounds from scratch, etc.:

- The Distort knob interacts with the FM in tasty ways. It might be phase distortion or a combination of things; it's definitely not just overdrive.
- The nostalgic, low-res Yamaha chip sort of sound. It's not just sample rate reduction/bitcrushing or a DAC emulation. (I do wish there was a control to dial it back some sometimes, but overall, I like it -- I have plenty of cleaner alternatives.)
- Being able to turn things up to extremes. There are sweet spots where it's not just noise, and places where slight frequency offsets or LFOs can shift the timbre radically.
- The macro "Timbre" control, while not unique, is nice for assigning to an expression pedal.
- Fixed FM modulator frequency is also not unique, but this synth just seems to encourage exploring it.
- The repeating envelopes are cool.
- Randomization leads to fun patches.
- Even the FX section is kind of nice, for a sort of ambient wobbly reverb. I have plenty of other things I might rather use for any given patch, but it always seems to be worth a try at least.
- The overall package just works for me.

Even where I'm not using Distort, I find myself making different sounds with Halogen than I would with any of my other FM stuff.

[vitocorleone123]

Does Halogen do anything Vital can't?

Yes.

Liiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiike?

Vital is a wavetable / virtual analog synthesis.

Halogen FM is... as one could surmise... FM synthesis.

[kraster]

What's are anyone's thoughts on this vs. the other new affordable FM synth, the Fors one?

Halogen is kind of grittier and more characterful. It's also less of a pure FM synth like Pivot.

Pivot is super clean and more of a pure FM synth (albeit with a SVF filter). Its most unique feature is the floating third operator.

Halogen has a built in reverb and Pivot doesn't but you can download Sala from Fors which is a very nice reverb.

I think they're both fantastic and actually quite complimentary.

[wintoid]

I think they're both fantastic and actually quite complimentary.

Totally agree, two wonderful new FM options. Neither is distinguished by some killer feature. Both are distinguished by interesting ways of working that get results quickly. More like this please (and not just for FM)!

[ghostwhistler]

Does Halogen do anything Vital can't?

Yes.

Liiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiike?

Vital is a wavetable / virtual analog synthesis.

Halogen FM is... as one could surmise... FM synthesis.

Vital also does FM...you're not very good at this are you