07- The Arturia MiniFreak- Two Operator FM Oscillator

Here is a demonstration of the sound and functionality of the 2-Op FM Oscillator found on the Arturia MiniFreak.
The theme was created out of presets and crafted patches over an assemblage of fragments of GarageBand loops. For all intents and purposes, it is a MiniFreak-Only composition.
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/ automaticgainsay

[@luisbarrera5740]

Thank you for the demonstration Mr. Lord of the Rings

[@OmniTorch]

Thank you so much for making these videos! This is my first synthesizer and I spent a great amount of time learning how to play it from a keyboard perspective and a new synthesizer user perspective. This series is going to be so long! I'm really looking forward to seeing your section on the envelopes and the sequencer.

[@FailedMuso]

I am disappointed not to have received a name check, even in a derogatory manner! ;-) x

[@TobyBorrow]

Your presence enough Robbie is enough for Marc to straighten up and fly straight.

[@ProfessorSynth]

And why weren’t you at Synth East Robbie?

[@FailedMuso]

@@ProfessorSynth Because of an enforced and unexpected house move. No one was more gutted than I.

[@ProfessorSynth]

Such a shame, it was a truly great event. Hope the move went well

[@automaticgainsay]

I am the lesser for the omission! Forgive me!

[@EverettDudgeon138]

Other synths that mix analog and FM style waveforms with a filter.. Poly Evolver Prophet 12 Pro 2 Pro 3 Nord Lead 4 Nord Lead A1 Nord Stage 3 Nord Stage 4 Roland System 8 Roland JdXa Roland SH4D Korg OpSix Novation Peak Novation Summit Waldorf Quantum Waldorf Iridium Modal Cobalt 8. 3rd Wave. Just to name a few.

[@automaticgainsay]

My age AND my typical focus shape my perception in this instance. Since 2000, I have been all-analog, with rare forays into digital. As Nord was digital right in the midst of my analog obsession, I delved into it not at all. I’ve never explored any of the modern Rolands. Many of the synths you list, to me, are extremely recent.

[@normdurkin6425]

I have to disagree on 2 things you said.. FM synthesis shined the brightest in the mid 90's in hard abstract techno.. I can give specific examples, Regis, Inigo Kennedy, Surgeon, Claude Young etc.. ..and DCO's existed in the 80's they were incredibly stable in the Juno 106, HS-60..

[@automaticgainsay]

Well, it may be a regional thing. In the United States, techno was a small market… especially in comparison to the infinite prevalence of FM in the mid and late 80s. I have never heard of any of those 90s artists.

[@normdurkin6425]

@@automaticgainsay ..Regis, Surgeon and Inigo Kennedy are all European techno artist that speak English.. in fact Regis (Karl O'Connor) and Surgeon (Anthony Child) played together under the name.. British Murder Boys in 2001.. a perfect example of the power of Yamaha DX7 FM synthesis is Regis's vinyl double pack Gymnastics from 1996.. I agree that techno was a smaller market but the is no other compatible comparison to the power of the DX7.. 80's DX7 sounds were cheesey ..90's DX7 sounds were thunderous..

[@MrClarkio]

Well I guess it’s all subjective but to me 80’s were characterised by FM pads, bells and basses. By the 90s had moved into more hybrid/organic sounds such as the D50 etc. Im uk based and have never heard of those artists either, probably my bad, but when I think FM I think big hair, de loreans, skinny boys standing behind synthesisers and Michelle pope, although that last one might just be me.

[@normdurkin6425]

@@MrClarkio ..you both are talking about mainstream music.. I am talking about actually real deal hard abstract techno.. unfortunately you both missed out but I will show you a great example of what you missed on.. kzbin.info/aero/PL82wWESj32kZ_4VVgKreULEHPQl9kT8kE

[@VacancyOfDisco]

other synths in the mixing FM with other analog sounding oscillators and filters, Waldorf Quantum/Iridium. Which is quite the huge price difference

[@guysmiley7289]

I'm usually with you but you clearly don't understand FM. PM which is what most people call call FM is not modulating the frequency. It is modulating the phase. these days there are really exciting things you can do with PM in the eurorack area, a lot of which is analog.

[@oraz.]

This is itself a misconception. PM is not different from FM in a fundamental way, It's a minor implementation detail that justified the name, letting Yamaha avoid patent trouble, but modulating the phase rather than the frequency is a one line difference in the phase accumulator code that makes up a digital oscillator.

[@guysmiley7289]

@@oraz. That's wrong. You are modulating two different things. Phases is represented by X on a scope and there is separate math for determining each.

[@oraz.]

@@guysmiley7289 The only difference is how you calculate the increment into a lookup table which is the instantaneous phase. Read Bill Schottstaedt's article from ccrma If you want to an explanation of the distinction.

[@automaticgainsay]

Yep, I do not know much about PM. If that’s how the FM function in this software works, then they should have probably called it “PM.” I know that the DX7 employed it, but FM synthesis was created in the manipulation of frequency. The various usages and misnaming are a terrible morass which I rarely have the misfortune of wading into. :)

[@Hubson55]

note to myself: 6:13 sounds a bit like an intro from Colours by Prodigy

[@TobyBorrow]

Better you than me, I’ve skipped the whole FM oscillator on it successfully till now 🎉