f. 'em - a new FM synth from Tracktion

[iheartleaven]

I agree, the CPU usage is incredibly high. What CPU was this plugin actually designed for? Tracktion must have machines that will run it smoothly...?

[Ah_Dziz]

So now that this thing has been released, I am curious if it actually covers "FM" in all it's forms or if it is just another PM synth with a shiny new interface. I'd love to see something that can run at high oversampling rates while using live inputs, feedback and samples/wavetables in a full matrix that allows even the outputs of FX and filters to be routed freely as part of the modulation structure. I'd also love to see each modulation "output" switchable between PM linear FM and pitch modulation so that Op 3 could be phase modulated by op1 and could be linear Frequency modulated by
op2 and then the output of op 4 could modulate a sample of a toy piano with pitch scaled fm. Then this could all be fed into a audio rate modulated filter with a sample amount of feedback to Op 1. All of this is possible in many modular environments with great fidelity. For less adventurous sound fiddling FM8 or a stack of other plugins can do the job. From reading the post release info here on KVR it seems like a nice flexible FM synth that doesn't do "too much" more than what came before but at a rather large CPU hit. I would love to see something that can do any kind of FM from any kind of source with a high level of fidelity. So far it doesn't sound that way. I guess I'll have to give it a demo to find out.

[Tj Shredder]

You describe a modular synth. In modulars you have the problem that feedback introduces a block of delay. If you turn that down to 1 sample it will eat your CPU. Choose your tool accordingly. F’em is just a streamlined approach to FM and the one with the most operators, its what FM9 wanted to be…

[EvilDragon]

Actually most digital modular systems that I know of introduce a single sample of delay, not a whole block... Reaktor, VCV, even ye olde VAZ Modular - all single sample delay.

[Greenstorm33]

So now that this thing has been released, I am curious if it actually covers "FM" in all it's forms or if it is just another PM synth with a shiny new interface. I'd love to see something that can run at high oversampling rates while using live inputs, feedback and samples/wavetables in a full matrix that allows even the outputs of FX and filters to be routed freely as part of the modulation structure. I'd also love to see each modulation "output" switchable between PM linear FM and pitch modulation so that Op 3 could be phase modulated by op1 and could be linear Frequency modulated by
op2 and then the output of op 4 could modulate a sample of a toy piano with pitch scaled fm. Then this could all be fed into a audio rate modulated filter with a sample amount of feedback to Op 1. All of this is possible in many modular environments with great fidelity. For less adventurous sound fiddling FM8 or a stack of other plugins can do the job. From reading the post release info here on KVR it seems like a nice flexible FM synth that doesn't do "too much" more than what came before but at a rather large CPU hit. I would love to see something that can do any kind of FM from any kind of source with a high level of fidelity. So far it doesn't sound that way. I guess I'll have to give it a demo to find out.

It's supposed to be sort of a supercharged DX7. So, PM only. As far as something that supports all those different types of crossmod simultaneously, have you tried Phaseplant? The UI is not quite as quick to rig up complex algos as a grid-based synth like F'em, but it does almost everything you're describing and more. I like it a lot.

[gentleclockdivider]

You describe a modular synth. In modulars you have the problem that feedback introduces a block of delay. If you turn that down to 1 sample it will eat your CPU. Choose your tool accordingly. F’em is just a streamlined approach to FM and the one with the most operators, its what FM9 wanted to be…

You keep repeating this over and over again as a mantra and some excuse why Bitwig doesn't have it i their modular grid .
No , single sample feedback will NOT eat your cpu , as evildragon pointed out there are many programs that have it
Reaktor has it since 2001

[Tj Shredder]

Actually most digital modular systems that I know of introduce a single sample of delay, not a whole block... Reaktor, VCV, even ye olde VAZ Modular - all single sample delay.

Do they separate the feedback loop with a block size of one sample? Or how do they achieve it? Just wondering…

[WasteLand]

Actually most digital modular systems that I know of introduce a single sample of delay, not a whole block... Reaktor, VCV, even ye olde VAZ Modular - all single sample delay.

Do they separate the feedback loop with a block size of one sample? Or how do they achieve it? Just wondering…

you have VM, that is also quite capable for FM, the zeroscillator, or the 2VCO for example, the last one takes also audio rate PM an AM next to lineair? FM, and also expo.

i do use a lot of PM or FM, also the TAO is great for it.

every module is called 48000 times per second. processSample(). of course a module can 'decide' to use lower values of update. but most of them seem not really limited..

no strain on the cpu... and of course Reaktor or VCV.

EDIIT and the polygrid takes PM and FM (expo), don't know the update rate, but it seems quite enough..

[ATS]

I need to say very bad bad sound design on this synth ,what's wrong with you Wolfram?

I just downloaded and starting going through the presets. Some almost sound like they turned on a random button and some noise came out.

[EvilDragon]

Actually most digital modular systems that I know of introduce a single sample of delay, not a whole block... Reaktor, VCV, even ye olde VAZ Modular - all single sample delay.

Do they separate the feedback loop with a block size of one sample? Or how do they achieve it? Just wondering…

Feedback is just storing the previous value at whatever point to some variable, then acting upon it... No need to have a "block"...

[parnarules]

f.!em is on sale at only 29 dollars at Audiodeluxe. I am a sucker for FM sounds, is it worth it if I already own Opsix (FM perfection, imo) and Plogue OPS7?

I can run Opsix just fine with a 2012 i7 MacBook Pro. Would it struggle with f.'em? I've read it eats CPUs for breakfast

[zzz00m]

f.!em is on sale at only 29 dollars at Audiodeluxe. I am a sucker for FM sounds, is it worth it if I already own Opsix (FM perfection, imo) and Plogue OPS7?

I can run Opsix just fine with a 2012 i7 MacBook Pro. Would it struggle with f.'em? I've read it eats CPUs for breakfast

https://www.audiodeluxe.com/products/vi ... cktion-fem

[SLiC]

I didn't need another FM synths, but at the price I now own one.
I have a fast PC (i9) and it doesn't move the needle for CPU use...

[starflakeprj]

I didn't need another FM synths, but at the price I now own one.
I have a fast PC (i9) and it doesn't move the needle for CPU use...

I almost bought it again, it's a great deal

[BBFG#]

I didn't need another FM synths, but at the price I now own one.
I have a fast PC (i9) and it doesn't move the needle for CPU use...

I almost bought it again, it's a great deal

Me too. Although I have to admit I really don't even open it much.
With this price and the current sale on FM8 for $10. I wonder if these types of FM centric synths are nearing an EOD (or more hopefully to their next evolution.)