#fm-synthesis — Public Fediverse posts

Stream starts in 20 minutes! Today we look at using FM as a "side" technique -- using it with wavetables, VA, etc (rather than as the core/only technique) to spice up your patches and synth programming.

https://www.youtube.com/live/N4DRVu-XauM

#SoundDesign #SynthProgramming #FMSynthesis #ArturiaPigments

New FM synth added to the Mercury Playground @mercury, coded with a single AudioWorkletProcessor inside a ToneAudioNode from ToneJS

https://mercury-playground.cc/#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%3D

It's a basic FM with a single modulator-(envelope)->carrier setup, and can be extended with extra voices and detuning to run 2-3 or more operators.

Syntax: `new synth fm index() ratio() fmShape()`

Some tutorials available on the website

#mercurylivecoding #fmsynthesis #webaudio #audioworkletprocessor #javascript #mercury #browserbased

& here is the #crossfade for Disc #3 of this #Touhou #chiptune album:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1O8QoOApDU
Track #13 is my own visual-​novel-​style reinterpretation of two stage themes from #東方封魔録 〜 the Story of Eastern Wonderland, pairing #FMsynthesis instruments with spicy #PCM drums.
#東方Project #例大祭 #FM音源 #86音源 #YM2608 #OPNA #PCM61P #86PCM #PMD98 #PPZ8 #PC98 #PC_98 #PC9801 #PC_9801 #PC9821 #PC_9821 #16bit #16_bit #チップチューン #クロスフェード #MusicOnMastodon #FediMusician

TX7 Repair Test in Ms Mad Lemon’s Amiga Music Setup
#Amiga #YamahaTX7 #MsMadLemon #SynthRepair #RetroComputing #FMsynthesis #MIDI #HomeStudio #DX7 #AmigaMusic
https://theoasisbbs.com/tx7-repair-test-in-ms-mad-lemons-amiga-music-setup/?fsp_sid=3857

SGU-1 v0.1.0 Plays Monty on the Run
#X65 #X65Project #SGU1 #FMSynthesis #Chiptune #RetroComputing #8Bit #Synth #MontyOnTheRun #HomebrewHardware
https://theoasisbbs.com/sgu-1-v0-1-0-plays-monty-on-the-run/?fsp_sid=2767

SGU-1 Furnace Tracker Demo Shows Off X65 Audio Range
#X65 #SGU1 #FurnaceTracker #Chiptune #RetroComputing #HomebrewHardware #TrackerMusic #FMSynthesis #Amiga #Atari
https://theoasisbbs.com/sgu-1-furnace-tracker-demo-shows-off-x65-audio-range/?fsp_sid=2216

OPL3 Snooper on F256K2: A Hands-On YMF262 Explorer
#OPL3 #YMF262 #F256K2 #FMSynthesis #VGM #AdLib #SoundBlaster #RetroComputing #Foenix #AnyBitFeverDreams
https://theoasisbbs.com/opl3-snooper-on-f256k2-a-hands-on-ymf262-explorer/?fsp_sid=370

Wow, I haven't been on here since November. Where did time go?

Anyway, here's my latest musical experiment. I've been playing around with some microsound effects, specifically FM synthesis.

#Music #MusicProduction #Musician #Musicians #Indie #IndieMusic #IndieArtist #IndieMusician #Electronic #ElectronicMusic #Electronica #Experimental #ExperimentalMusic #ExperimentalElectronic #MIDI #MIDIMusic #Audacity #Microsound #FMSynthesis #AvantGarde #AvantGardeMusic #Weirdcore #Musodon #Audio

Klaus P. Rausch provides you with information about his book „DX Story“:
https://mis.backintimerecords.de/dx-story
FM synthesis - the magic formula for the #sound of the #80s

#fmsynthesis #dx7

Streaming time! At 12:30 PST today (just about 45 mins from now) I will be streaming a review and tour of the Korg opsix, for those looking for a new synth!

For convenience/by necessity I will be using the plug in version, but I WILL talk about the hardware version too. (I have both)

https://youtube.com/live/feDtrHlVduc

#FMSynthesis #opsix #Korg #gear #GearSquad #LiveStream

SeventhSentinel – Snap the Sentinel OST
#FMsynth #FMsynthesis #Soundtrack #chiptune #ost #sn76489 #snapthesentinel #snapgame #videogame #videogameost #ym2612 #UnitedStates
CC BY-NC-SA (#CreativeCommons Attribution Non Commercial Share Alike) #ccmusic
https://seventhsentinel.bandcamp.com/album/snap-the-sentinel-ost

Ready to make the inscrutable depths of FM synthesis scrutable? Dive into my FM Basics I guide, and learn how to make the weird approaches of FM synthesis (almost) as clear and obvious as a simple subtractive synth!

https://www.etherdiver.com/how-to-synth-a-guide-to-programming-synthesizers/fm-basics-i/

#SoundDesign #SynthProgramming #FMSynthesis

Made a playlist for all of my FM synth programming content. Two videos each on Korg opsix and Ableton Operator, about 4 hours total. Pretty good intro to FM programming on ANY synth, even if I do say so myself.

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLD1jH_IvoIsUVhDBR4MYf3I-G09KcCw6E

#FMSynth #SynthProgramming #SoundDesign #FMSynthesis

Let's stream! Today at 12:30 PST (Pacific/Los Angeles time) I'll be back with more basic FM programming. This time we'll get into algorithms and the rest of the core FM toolset.

https://youtube.com/@etherdiver

If you need to brush up on the necessary bits to engage with today's stream, you can read the FM Basics I lesson here:

https://www.etherdiver.com/how-to-synth-a-guide-to-programming-synthesizers/fm-basics-i/

And/or watch last week's stream, embedded at the bottom of the linked lesson.

#FMSynthesis #SoundDesign #LiveStream #FMProgramming #HowToSynth

Get started with FM synthesis with my easy-to-follow, simple guide to the basics of FM programming. Learn about operators, ratios and feedback, and how to wield those tools to make cool synth noises!

https://www.etherdiver.com/how-to-synth-a-guide-to-programming-synthesizers/fm-basics-i/

#MusicProduction #synth #FMSynthesis #FMSynth #SoundDesign #Sound

Just in time for today's Intro to FM synthesis stream, allow me to debut the next piece of my how to synth series: FM Basics I

https://www.etherdiver.com/how-to-synth-a-guide-to-programming-synthesizers/fm-basics-i/

This lesson will introduce you to the core components of FM synthesis in a simple way. Today's stream will illustrate its points. Enjoy!

#SoundDesign #HowToSynth #SynthProgramming #FMSynth #FMSynthesis #FM

If you are in the market for a new softsynth AND you love FM and weird digital, the plug-in version of the Korg opsix is currently on sale for $99 (along with Modwave & Wavestate plugins; Multi/Poly is $150).

The opsix is one of my favorite synths of all time!

https://korg.shop/software/natives.html

#synthesizer #FMSynthesis #synth #VST #SoftSynth #Gear #GearSquad #GearTalk

apollo bitrate – despectral maid
#Electronic #breakcore #digitalfusion #digitalhardcore #drillandbass #fmsynthesis #glitch #mathrock #neopsychedelia #noiserock #notchiptune #Derby
CC BY (#CreativeCommons Attribution) #ccmusic
https://caybee.bandcamp.com/album/despectral-maid-2

This episode of Sound on Sound's Electronic Music podcast is an excellent dive into FM synthesis, with veteran synth programmer Manny Fernandez.

Starting with the fascinating history of the early patch ecosystem (individual music shops sold their own unique libraries!) before getting into the technical details of different synth architectures and programming techniques. Recommended for synth nerds.

#FMSynthesis #ElectronicMusic #Podcast
https://pca.st/6b739mzr

Today a #Yamaha CX5M #MSX computer with a Yamaha YK20 keyboard arrived. Bought from "Kleinanzeigen" for 200 Euros the system looks nealy new and works perfectly!

Sadly the sender used the original boxes as shipment packaging (with Gaffa tape)!

Next step will be to put the music software (https://www.sequencer.de/blog/yamaha-cx5m/4916) on one of my msx SD cartridges ...

#RetroComputing #Synthesizer #FMSynthesis

Wow this is a great resource if you want to get to know your Yamaha synth chips...

https://gist.github.com/bryc/e85315f758ff3eced19d2d4fdeef01c5

I seem to have access to YM2413, YM3812, YM3420, YM2414, YM2164 and if I can get my RC2014 sound card up and running maybe a YM2149 too :)

#FMSynthesis #Yamaha #SynthDIY

Arduino Audio and MIDI Frameworks

I’ve been collecting bookmarks for interesting Arduino audio projects for a while now, and having now played with the XIAO SAMD21 I started looking back over my list for other things to try.  One thing that occurred to me is that there are a now a number of more powerful audio frameworks available for a range of microcontrollers, so in this post I’m doing an introductory “look see” at some of them, largely as “notes to self” to come back to them for some more detailed projects in the future.

Note: Many of these require a 32-bit processor, which is one of the reasons I’ve not looked at them so far.

Warning! I strongly recommend using old or second hand equipment for your experiments.  I am not responsible for any damage to expensive instruments!

If you are new to microcontrollers, see the Getting Started pages.

Mozzi

I’ve spent quite a bit of time with Mozzi of course, the synthesis library for Arduino that supports a large range of microcontrollers, including the “original” 8-bit Arduino ATmega328P, so I won’t go over that again here.

For a starting point with Mozzi, see: Arduino PWM MIDI Synthesis with Mozzi.  For using Mozzi on a 32-bit SAMD processor, there is more here and here.

But Mozzi isn’t the only game in town, especially if we’re expanding out to 32-bit microcontrollers.

The Arduino Sound Library

https://www.arduino.cc/reference/en/libraries/arduinosound/

This is an official Arduino library that supports SAMD21 based microcontrollers using an I2S digital to analog converter. It is designed for the MKR series of official Arduino boards.

Interestingly it appears to only support I2S audio devices for sound input and output.  That seems like a little bit of a missed opportunity to me in that the SAMD21 has a built-in DAC, but I guess analogWrite() deals with access to the DAC relatively easily.

It is designed for official Arduino SAMD architecture boards – so those in the MKR series.  It might work on other SAMD architecture boards, I haven’t looked into it in detail.

Phil Schatzmann’s Arduino Audio Tools

https://github.com/pschatzmann/arduino-audio-tools

This is a suite of open source code for audio stream processing, providing a range of audio sources (e.g. microphones, Internet streams, files, sensors, and so on) and sinks (e.g. DACs, PWM audio, MP3, codecs, audio modules, etc).

It can be used to build audio players, processors, effects, file processors, audio visualisers, networked audio tools, and so on.

I believe it supports the following microcontroller architectures:

• ESP32 (S and C variants)
• ESP8266
• RP2040 (MBED and non-MBED)
• AVR
• STM32
• SAMD

It supports several audio output boards too, including: ESP32-A1S based boards (ES8388 or AC101 codecs); VS1053 modules; and WM8960 modules.

I believe this is a library for audio processing, not necessarily audio synthesis.

Marcel Licence’s ML Synth Tools

https://github.com/marcel-licence/ML_SynthTools

This is a comprehensive synth library for producing synthesizers, organs and effects.  Most of the code is open source, but there are certain key elements that are provided only in pre-built library form.

It provides libraries for the following microcontrollers:

• ESP32
• ESP8266
• XIAO SAMD21
• Teensy 4.1
• Daisy Seed
• Raspberry Pi Pico RP2040
• STM32F407

As well as the synthesizer core oscillators there are modules for arpeggiators, effects, meters, scopes, and MIDI file playing.  Here are some example builds using the library:

• ML Organ (all platforms): https://github.com/marcel-licence/ml_synth_organ_example
• SAMD21 Synth: https://github.com/marcel-licence/samd21_mini_synth
• ML Synth (all platforms): https://github.com/marcel-licence/ml_synth_basic_example
• ESP32 FM synth: https://github.com/marcel-licence/esp32_fm_synth
• ESP32/RP2040 e-piano: https://github.com/marcel-licence/ml_epiano_example

Although it isn’t fully open source, this non-the-less looks like it would be worth taking a more detailed look.  The provided videos of Marcel playing are particularly excellent.

MIDI Controller Libraries

There are a number of Arduino libraries for building MIDI controllers. Here are a selection of some that I’ve found so far.

OpenDesk MIDI Platform – https://github.com/shanteacontrols/OpenDeck

This is a set of firmware and two official PCB designs for MIDI controllers. In addition to the official boards, it also supports many microcontrollers, including:

• Arduino Mega 2560
• Arduino Nano 33 BLE
• Raspberry Pi Pico
• XIAO RP2040
• Teensy++ 2.0

And many others. It includes a web-based configuration utility for defining the MIDI commands for the controls.  Official boards are available on Tindie and you can read more about them here: https://shanteacontrols.com/.

It supports a range of buttons, encoders, potentiometers, force sensitive resistors, certain touchscreens and can provided feedback using LEDs and displays.

Control Surface – https://github.com/tttapa/Control-Surface

This is a general purpose library for building MIDI input and output control devices.  It supports a wide range of microcontrollers, including:

• AVR (Uno, Mega, Leonardo).
• Arduino Nano Every and 33.
• Teensy.
• ESP8266
• ESP32
• Raspberry Pi Pico

It supports a range of MIDI transports, including serial, USB, “direct serial” (using Hairless MIDI) and MIDI BLE. It also supports a range of buttons, potentiometers, rotary encoders, switches, keyboard matrices, and so on and can provide visual feedback using a range of LEDS and displays.  It has built-in support for multiplexers, shift registers and LED drivers.

It includes a huge number of example projects to browse.

MIDIPal – https://github.com/pichenettes/midipal

This is a “MIDI Swiss Army Knife” that, with the additional of a display and rotary encoder, can provide a wide range of MIDI processing functions.  It includes an editor application for programming MIDI filters.

This is a “native” AVR application, not for the Arduino environment.

Notes and Volts MIDI Controller – https://www.notesandvolts.com/2016/04/arduino-midi-controller-buttons.html

This is provided for completeness as it is a fairly common codebase for people to find and use with an Arduino. It supports a range of potentiometers and buttons and makes the task of configuring them as a MIDI control device relatively straight forward.

Closing Thoughts

As I say, this post is really almost a bit of a “to-do list” of things that look interesting and that I might try to take a more detailed look at, at some point.

If you have experience of any of these frameworks or libraries; or have suggestions of others that might be worth a look, do let me know in the comments!

Kevin