Audiotool board archive

FM synthesis

kurp · started 2019-10-28 23:44 · updated 2019-12-02 23:21

I think we should have a synth that is capable of FM synthesis, it would really open up a whole lot of new sounds for audiotoolers to play around with.

Comments (27)

2019-10-29 00:12 · 2019-10-29

I think that FM (frequency modulation) and PM (phase modulation) produce very similar results. Many commercial synthesizers advertised as FM (including the Yamaha DX7) use PM internally because it's easier to implement. The Heisenberg is a PM synth and capable of many sounds you could achieve with a "FM" synth. Here's a thorough explanation: https://moinsound.wordpress.com/2011/03/04/frequency-modulation-or-phase-modulation-synthesizer-technologies/

kurp · reply
2019-10-29 00:36 · 2019-10-29

that's really cool, didn't know that

kurp · reply
2019-10-29 00:38 · 2019-10-29

..but it does sound like you are trying to avoid work ;)

2019-10-29 00:49 · 2019-10-29

The Heisenberg is really a beast, you should try to explore it in depth. Normally FM/PM synths give you a limited selection of algorithms that connect carriers and modulators (all producing sine waves) to choose from. The Heisenberg gives you 49 different waveforms for its carriers/modulators and a matrix that allows theoretically 65535 different algorithms. On top of that, you have complex LFOs and envelopes to change those modulations over time. That's a huge sound design potential over traditional FM synths.

kurp · reply
2019-10-29 00:58 · 2019-10-29

alright, i'll try to play around with the heis, haven't really touched it much at all since it doesn't look that friendly.

2019-10-29 03:41 · 2019-10-29

As already explained on Discord: PM synthesis can produce exactly the same sounds as FM synthesis. But the user interface behaves differently. (unless someone proves me wrong ;)
However: the Heisenberg would need an increased modulation range (>100) to be capable of producing more FM-like sounds.

2019-11-15 15:35 · 2019-11-15

it doesn't already go to 100???

2019-11-15 15:47 · 2019-11-15

o no kurpo i love the berg i rarely touch the pulv, though the pulv has more harmonics and you can hear it as you go down in pitch.

2019-11-15 15:49 · 2019-11-15

at least on simpler waveforms

2019-11-19 18:30 · 2019-11-19

even in serum, thats what it is rly modulating when it does FM

virux · reply
2019-11-20 00:21 · 2019-11-20

It says more than 100

2019-12-02 22:42 · 2019-12-02

Thanks for the links. The animated visualisations at the right of each page help a lot to understand what goes on in each and why aren't they exactly the same.

2019-12-02 22:53 · 2019-12-02

i should make one for something audiotool actually doesn't have, a sampler

2019-12-02 22:59 · 2019-12-02

i guess wavetable prob exists, what about granular synthesis

Known As I · reply
2019-12-02 23:00 · 2019-12-02

"... only one request per topic. "

2019-12-02 23:04 · 2019-12-02

(Who the fork is requesting for granular synthesis when at doesn’t have a sampler what)

2019-12-02 23:14 · 2019-12-02

Well how do u feel now all these 3 features have been requested and will prob take months each to implement

Known As I · reply
2019-12-02 23:15 · 2019-12-02

I feel like not having enough time to implement everything.

2019-12-02 23:18 · 2019-12-02

Well of all the feature requests, ranging from ridiculous to actually good ideas, which ones do y’all feel ur most likely to implement