Your (favourite) FM synth?

[DeadZone]

I'd like to know what is your favourite hw FM synth or which you own and why? Anyone with SY-/TG-77 or SY-99?

[octatonic]

I have an SY77 and used to have a 99- they are both great, but I think the FS1R is the best fm synth of all time.

[Stevil]

the only FM's i really got my hands on were the DX7 & the V50. i didnt get the hype around the DX7 but i got some real sweet pads out of the v50.

[disturb]

I've been meaning to get a FM synth lately, so I'll be watching this thread...

I've looked into the vst option already, but didn't felt quite conviced by anything i tried (spent mostly time with sytrus and fm8).

cheers

[cynic one]

only one i have is fm7......but i use it on everything!

[studilaroche]

On my old Mix+ rig running OS9 I've got the McDSP FM synth; I don't recall the name of it right now....maybe the FM4? I've used it a bit and I quite like it, although I don't do that much FM synth-ing.
Ben

[Tibbon]

DX-7 has a special place for me.
I like using the FM on my Voyager Although I've never thought of it like a FM synth.
And the "Vector Synthesis" on my TG-33 is basically FM synthesis with a crossfader on the synth. Not as useful as they make it out to be.

The aliasing that you get with FM synthesis (in digital) is interesting, but I'd really like to mess with FM on a modular more.

[dlmorley]

I love FM.
I would say I have 3 favourites.

1) Synergy II+ Really unique and very musical sounding synth with GREAT programming features. Alas, mine is dead these days..

2) Yamaha FVX-1
This is wonderful sounding. 8 operator with some nice effects built in. Virtually unknown and not that programmable, but a superb sounding synth.


3) the ultimate for me is still the TX816. I prefer the first generation FM synths. something a bit soft about later ones and the power available when you layer 8 separate partials to make one sound and STILL have 16 note polyphony is incredible.
Superb. One of the most powerful synths no matter what form of synthesis they use, full stop.

[teknosmoker]

1. TX81Z (don't laugh) - I love this little guy! Non-sinusoidal waveforms, crunchy converters, pretty easy to program and a steal for under $100 too!

2. FS1R - 16 operators (8 voiced + 8 non-voiced) endless possibilities! A little harder to achieve aggresive sounds (not impossible though), but you get modulation heaven with it. When I got the new Mac-based software editor for the FS1R, it was like getting a new synth (the UI on the front panel is painful!),

[MonoBrow]

Yamaha Fs1r!
A true killer if you know how to programm it.

[Mario-C.]

another vote for the FS1-R ... incredible synth, but you do need a software editor, the interface is a joke.

[sleepwalker]

Individual detune on each channel makes for some fat sounds. The 8 channel output is killing me though. I'll probably need a submixer sometime soon.

Originally Posted by DeadZone

I'd like to know what is your favourite hw FM synth or which you own and why? Anyone with SY-/TG-77 or SY-99?

[Dave Peck]

Nord Modular G2. Tons of possibilities and a great interface. You can 'roll your own' FM patches and combine FM with analog style signal chains, use variations of FM like 'Zero Hz FM', use lots of different waveforms, or replicate a DX synth by using the dedicated DX FM operator modules connected to the special "DX Router" module, which provides all of the standard Operator routings from the DX synths. This screen shot shows a small 'DIY' FM patch (green modules), a "Zero Hz FM' patch with more complex osc waveforms (blue modules) and a DX replicating patch (all of the yellow modules with the DX router module). I believe there is a program available that transforms DX midi patch data into a G2 patch. Very useful if you want to get your old DX sounds into a new hardware synth, and then you can expand on them with all of the other resources in the G2.

DP

[parasitk]

Another + 1 on the FS1R, but I also dig the little DX200 FM "groove box" from Yamaha. I hate the groove box aspect of it, but it has a cool hands-on interface for doing FM.

I also built a fun little FM ensemble in Reaktor called FMonics which is in the online user library.

[Steve MacMillan]

I actually own a very nice DX7 IIfd, but my favorite by far is the Native Instruments FM8. Maybe the reason I like it so much is that it sounds so much better than any of the DX hardware. Definately one of my favorite soft synths.

STeve

[DeadZone]

Originally Posted by teknosmoker

1. TX81Z (don't laugh) - I love this little guy! Non-sinusoidal waveforms, crunchy converters, pretty easy to program and a steal for under $100 too!

I have heard only good things of this(preferably with later os), good complement for FS1r. Haven't tried one though.

[dlmorley]

Originally Posted by sleepwalker

Individual detune on each channel makes for some fat sounds. The 8 channel output is killing me though. I'll probably need a submixer sometime soon.

I run mine through an old Yamaha DMR8 which is perfect. it has 3 SPX1000's built in and auto so you can store the individual module outputs settings. That with the TX816 is a heavyweight synth and doesn't have the soft edge that later FM had (this being a good thing in my book)

[walth]

TX-816, DX7S, thumbsup

[Oliver Chesler]

I just wrote a mini article on why I really like the arpeggiator in FM8 you may like:
wire to the ear » Blog Archive » The Native Instruments FM8 arpeggiator is brilliant.

[lampmeister]

Blimey Mr Morley, I've never even heard of a Yamaha FVX-1.

Anyway, my fave is a Yamaha SY99, which is a beast and a half. So it's 17 years old and is a bit temperamental (I must take it apart and give it a clean sometime soon), but it sings, almost a Fairlight kinda quality in it's depth.

[roginator]

synclavier FM and FS 1R

[auxpot]

dx 100

[dlmorley]

Originally Posted by lampmeister

Blimey Mr Morley, I've never even heard of a Yamaha FVX-1.

It's hard to find. It came more from their high end organ range and was meant as an expander for those I believe. Shame they didn't carry on with it as it sounds great

[Oliver Chesler]

Here's my TX81Z sitting under a Kenton Pro-2000.



You can see the entire studio: click here

[Popbott]

If the FS1R is out of your budget, my vote also is also for the TX81Z. 1 rack space, 4 part multi timbral operation, no effects, 2 outs, with a MIDI Thru, it's almost like four DX100's in a box. My Nordlead2 and Virus synths have "FM" on them but sound nothing like my TX81Z. For around $150 you can't go wrong.

Someone correct me if I am mistaken, but this is the DX line of synths where the famous dance music bass sound "TX Bass" originated. This famous TX bass sound is often imitated or recreated on most newer Yamaha synths and other synths including my Virus TI.

I have heard this same preset coming from the DX100. For some reason, it sounds bigger coming from the TX81Z. Perhaps it is due to better quality "crunchy" sounding converters. Most of the sounds coming from the TX81Z are nothing but fat FM.

[joshelevator]

i see tx802s going for cheap these days...they are dx7ii's in rack form...use with a midi sound editor and your in fm heaven. i highly recommend midiquest.

[sexxy]

http://www.gearslutz.com/board/elect...softwares.html


NI FM7 nice, but i pray, hope, & dream that some day Korg updates Analog Legacy Collection with DS-8 , poly800 and poly61m

DS-8 has the chip of the Yamaha FB-01/DX-21, but routed diferent and that makes some really nice Trance sounds

just hear:
http://www.deepsonic.ch/deep/audio/ds8_pure.mp3
http://www.deepsonic.ch/deep/audio/ds8_pure_2.mp3
http://www.deepsonic.ch/deep/audio/ds8_pure_3.mp3




Korg DS-8 @ deep!sonic
Vintage Synth Explorer
KORG DS-8: FM Synthesis
Korg DS-8 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Kid Nepro Productions
Korg DS8 Synthesizer - Specifications, pictures, prices, links, reviews and ratings
Hardwareindex @ deep!sonic :D

[sexxy]

Vintage Synth Explorer - Yamaha SY-77

also yamaha tg77/sy77
verry nice trance, psy, goa sounds

sy22 also nice


FM-Alive X2Y
Matrixsynth: Yamaha SY77- 48 patches in 5 minutes
Analoguesque - Yamaha SY-77

[rolo]

yamaha DX5 ya get two DX7'S in one box with 76 keys... killer action... xlr balanced outputs that are WAY cleaner that the original outs on a DX7. HUGE sound!!!

[relayesr]

I, too, have a DX5. It sounds great. The keyboard action is so good that I have to pry my hands off. You have to be careful if you move it, though, because the endbells chip very easily. A DX5 can look in a lot worse shape than it actually is because the rest of the instrument is rock solid.

I also have an SY99. when I'm in the proper state of mind I try my hand at programming. A lot to keep track of and a lot of button presses, but I do get catch on after awhile. Sometimes I forget it's got filters on the FM side, which is still amazing to me. The most useful samples for modulators are the synth samples and the ones labelled as "Stuff" and even those you have to go lightly because they can cause more static then a regular feedback setting of 7. I can get the SY99 to sound pretty good by not overdoing it. Also the the preset panning options can do wonders.

Genesis was here this past week. I could see a TX7 in Tony Banks' synth rack.

-Steve