FM Synthesis: A New Explanation - Synth Clips 30 -Daniel Fisher

[@sweetwater]

Now you're ready to start exploring the secrets hidden within the peaks and valleys of FM Synthesis🎛 See more from Daniel Fisher and Synth Clips by hitting that subscribe button!

[@jloiben12]

A great video series would be to use the DX1 and walkthrough how to make a wide variety of sounds (pianos, organ, brass, etc). If you show people how to get “common” sounds out of an fm synth I am sure you’ll see a lot more in sales of fm synths ;)

[@desktorp]

FM Synthesis: Wiggling A Wiggler

[@2ubyme]

Daniel's way of demonstrating with simplifications completely demystifies FM and makes it much easier to understand and start making own sounds. Great stuff!

[@HrafnNordhri]

Agree 100%

[@hisham_hm]

If you haven't, check out the Synth Wizards episode at the Syntaur channel where they show the epic tale of how they found and delivered this rare DX1 to the owner of Sweetwater! Nice that he's sharing his personal collection with employees for them to use in educational material for all of us!

[@sweetwater]

Chuck was very excited to get this: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rGaUZqylZaaXla8

[@danielaorrantia9758]

YES! I recognized it.

[@JonathanHatcher]

Best, easiest to understand explanation I've ever heard.. I'm getting busy with FM this weekend!

[@lundsweden]

I am using Dexed on my PC (free) and on my iPad (a couple of bucks). It's such a good program and is 100% DX7 compatible. It even has a DAC modelling option which captures a lot of that grainy DX7 MK1 sound.

[@RaniOsnat]

The DX’s design still looks futuristic almost 40 years later. What a beauty! And this is a great tutorial. I’ve owned a DX7 since 1983 and I know how to program it (apparently a rare thing), probably because it was my only synth at the time, for several years.

[@ohmgroan2363]

I can relate to that, and I would add that this is the best explanation of DX FM I have ever seen published anywhere.

[@stephenroldan5107]

I dont get why its so hard to understand. Of course has it learning curve.. But nothing crazy.

[@ohmgroan2363]

I think at the time of release it was so different to existing paradigms + programming on a small LCD wasn't as immediate as what folk were used to. Sadly that reputation has persisted so people are intimidated before they even give it a try.

[@MKA63]

Yep - same here, I used to get paid to program the DX7 for another band. Thanks though for this refresher. It explained some things in a different way to how I would have explained it, but I am always happy to learn. I'm thinking of getting my DX7 out of the shed, but I now own a MODX7 ... so... it would just be nostalgic.

[@ohmgroan2363]

@@MKA63 In the shed? Don't tell Rob Puricelli unless you enjoy watching people cold sweat.

[@brianvassallomusic]

I am finally getting somewhere with my DX 11 synth thanks to you Daniel. You are a wonderful teacher on FM. My first synth that I bought as a kid. Used mostly as a midi controller, used some sounds here and there, but I plan to know more about it now, after so much use of software plugins. I am noticing that there could be more possibilities for sound design with FM synthesis. Thanks again - Brian

[@Martin_Demsky]

Simply the greatest explanation of fm synthesis, thanks!

[@casspirburns]

Great video. Been bumbling around with FM and this explains how to design sounds instead of settling on happy accidents. I’ve found soft synths seem to be a good way to learn FM before taking the plunge with hardware. Arturia’s DX7 plug-in is great because you can visually overlay and edit all envelopes, seeing how they affect each other. Korg’s opsix gives a nice oscilloscope for each operator.

[@huntergalloway3944]

lol Daniel just wanted to show off the DX-1!

[@hificomics]

This was super helpful, a real fantastic explanation! Wondering what the best currently available $500-$1000 synth would be to really dive into FM synthesis? I had my eyes on a Korg Opsix recently, but apparently they are discontinued. Any suggestions?

[@orjis]

Hey! Awesome and great video! I found it very informative and appreciate the 2op only examples! I'm learning FM so I can make music with an old soundcard with the Yamaha OPL3 soundchip. I would have a loved a FM drum example in the FM series but I guess I can figure it out.

[@issiewizzie]

thanks for a simple and clear explanation Daniel

[@furrymonsta1591]

This is excellent. Looking forward to watching the next parts. Its amazing to see the UI of the DX1 and how it is used, seems crazy they didnt put it on the DX5.

[@DetroitMicroSound]

I'm not that crazy about Christmas, but I usually find myself playing chimes, bells, and other classically holiday season-related kinds of sounds. Right now I have some carillon sounds going in my Liven XFM. 😁

[@Jexus]

👉Great. I'm going to buy myself this Yamaha DX-1 thing and learn FM too.

[@sweetwater]

Hi Jexus. Excellent choice! I just saw two of them for sale. One was for $130k and the other was for $150k. So... choices. -_Daniel_

[@kre8a361]

Very interesting video of FM from the guru on this incredible synthesiser 🤖

[@vinnytube5]

“So, basically we’re wiggling a wiggler. That’s it.” 😄

[@markg5713]

Excellent. Thanks. Now please can I have a DX1?

[@BillVincent]

Thank you Daniel, for such an excellent introduction to FM! It brings back memories of me just burying myself in my brand new DX9 manual back in 1984. And I also remember the DX1 sitting in the music store, just teasing me, wishing I could afford an instrument so beautiful and amazing. It's funny that today I hear the cello and violin sounds from a DX7 and they sound so childlike and simplistic - but back when FM was new, those sounds were revolutionary. The DX series (except the DX9) were also among the first synths to have velocity, and that was an immediate game changer. The EPIANO1 and FullTines patches became so overused as to be hated by many keyboardists and producers by the 90's - but it's impossible to overstate how incredibly new sounding and how beautiful they sounded in '83. You and I are old school and both of us can remember - the DX7 was a must-have just for that sound alone, because prior to that, nothing could emulate a Fender Rhodes piano adequately - and the Rhodes weighed 150 pounds, whereas the DX7 weighed in at around 30 pounds. So for that practical reason alone, the DX electric piano sounds became a way to replace the Rhodes on stage and eliminate major back strain - and finally a keyboardist didn't have to find someone else to help them carry their gear! Such great memories. I still have a DX7IIFD, and it still works beautifully after a battery replacement a few years ago. There is absolutely no adequate way to explain to young players how huge the DX series was, and how much it changed music in the 80s. No synths before or since had the overwhelming impact that the DX's did at that time. It was probably the most magical time in synth history, at least for me. I'm really glad that I was a young musician at that time. The DX, MTV, and the birth of digital sound - it was a great time to be a keyboard player!

[@oliverwheatley9494]

this is incredible, thank you. i inherited a dx7 from my great uncle and I am excited to show him that I learned how to program it :)

[@mrbungledisco]

Unbelievably helpful video. Thank you!

[@shanehen]

Great explanations. Thank you.

[@axelf233]

Great video, thanks , I am not scared of FM synths anymore !

[@DoctorJezz]

Genius demonstration. That is all. Amen. Why has it taken over 30 years for someone to explain this so straightforwardly? Probably because we were waiting for you, and not reading papers. Thank you Daniel 👍

[@markhammer643]

Most of us are familiar with ring modulators, and know that modulating one frequency with another will produce "sideband products" - the sum and difference of the two frequencies. BUT, when a frequency is modulated by "itself" (i.e., the same frequency), the result is a doubling. So, if I modulate 1000hz with 100hz, I get 900hz and 1100hz sideband products. But if I modulate 1000hz with 1000hz, I get zero hz (their difference) and 2000hz (their sum). Aphex used this principle for one of their "exciter" designs that adds harmonic content to brighten acoustic sounds. We can extend this and modulate the sideband products themselves, with the result that we can end up with different proportions of harmonics that are simply multiples of the original frequency, created by selectively modulating X with Y. In the world of physical instruments, all that harmonic content is produced by the physical resonant properties of whatever the instrument is made of and how it produces sound (air, vibrating membranes, vibrating strings, etc.). Here, the synthesizer produces the harmonics one wants and in the proportions and duration one wants, on demand. The old Fairlight CMI could do a similar thing, albeit in a different way. The user could "draw" the level and onset/offset of the different harmonics, on the screen, with a lightpen.

[@johnmoser3594]

Fun fact, FM synthesizers use phase modulation. It's mathematically equivalent when using a pure sine to modulate another pure sine, but it's no longer equivalent when you use a non-sine modulator, which happens as soon as you have a modulated operator modulating another operator. Implementing an FM synthesizer in hardware is fun, there's a lot of stuff you can do; the hard part is data management-how do you organize the different configuration memories so you can simultaneously access them (do this right and you can run a single operator at OPL3 clock rate, but use that to provide FIVE complete OPL3 chips, yes I'm just a bit better at this than Yamaha). Also depending on pipeline forwarding, you can get infinitely-variable algorithms for free; but feedback is kind of limited, and requires storing the prior sample, which consumes quite a bit of memory (3 bytes per operator).

[@jloiben12]

My new favorite definition: FM is just wiggling the wiggler

[@thomp9054]

Shoot dang! Gotta love synth clips👍

[@rayderrich]

The clear layout of the DX1 combined with the perfect explanation from Daniel made FM open up to me for the first time in 55 years. Insta-subbed!

[@PeterJDeVault]

How cool that we get to learn FM synthesis on a DX1! :)

[@GTChris]

This was so helpful, can't wait for a second episode on FM. Are you selling Kodamo's EssenceFM, I would love to see more on that.

[@zoned7609]

Just having the opsix and VolcaFM for a few weeks has already got me to the point where I understood everything in this video. Goddamn I love the OpSix.

[@miekwavesoundlab]

Wow amazing DX-FM video!

[@resynthesizer4565]

That DX-1 is incredible !

[@traitortotheliving]

Very educational thank you!

[@mu_zines]

I'm here mostly for the slutty DX1 action! ;) That thing is beautiful, and this one has to be one of the most immaculate condition ones I've seen. Syntaur did a cracking restoration/service on that! Great clear FM explanation too - 5 stars! Thanks

[@eleven9286]

I love casual use of the word slutty.

[@AnnedakDragon]

I use a Mk 1 Yamaha DX7, so I'm one of those people who understand what this guy is talking about.

[@sweetwater]

Thanks, StormCloud3876! You'll like SYNTH CLIPS #32 Editing FM Presets (coming soon!) kzbin.info/aero/PLlczpwSXEOybYYaBCTcjxxKz1QmxytbIf -_Daniel_

[@jessewarren817]

You just wanted to show off your DX1!! … and I thank you for that. :)

[@sweetwater]

It's Chuck's, but he was cool to let me borrow it:-) -_Daniel_

[@6502phreak]

Wow, is that the DX1 Chuck got from Syntaur??? Neat

[@sweetwater]

The DX1 is one of Chuck's prized possessions. -Daniel kzbin.info/www/bejne/rGaUZqylZaaXla8

[@alanredversangel]

Such a good explanation, and the DX1 is a great tool for explaining it.

[@theoliviaarchives4794]

That was really helpful. Thanks.

[@mathumphreys]

Daniel on a DX1!!! Amazing!!

[@ronaldlundbohm815]

Thank You Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

[@mybachhertzbaud3074]

It's all about using the "main" operator with the sonic receivers on top of your shoulders😁 FM.......No static at all🎶🎶

[@stephenroldan5107]

Yamaha liked to use different names for the same thing.

[@hermask815]

To me the analog[1] synthesizers seem to be a one-trick-pony : having a wet blanket (the filter[2]) is all they’ve got. 15:00 [1] you know… the ones with that analog “warmth” [2] mostly low pass filters. O yeah , some even have high pass and band pass. But can you name one widely available synth with comb filter? And if it has, is it truly analog if it’s a virtually analog one?

[@WildernessMusic_GentleSerene]

Thank you Daniel for this! I have been a subtractive synthesist since the 1980s, can even make an acoustic piano on one. A few years ago bought the RefaceDX from you to learn FM. I understand the architecture fairly well now, but my BIG stumbling block has been that second ADSR. Obviously from subtractive I understand ADSRs very well, but when adding the second one I am confused. This video made it more understandable, THANK YOU, but still a bit confused. If I can get past this, the rest of my RefaceDX parameters/algo's are easy to understand. Maybe the next video will have a little more practice with the two envelopes?

[@dyacktman]

A good way to think of it is that the envelope on the carrier is functionally much like the envelope on a subtractive synth's VCA since it controls output level/volume. And the envelope on a modulator is functionally much like a filter envelope - it changes timbre, ie. it affects the levels of the various harmonics. Once you get to know all the ins and outs of FM you'll realize this is an over-simplification, but what matters is that this analogy should be good enough to get you past the initial learning curve.

[@unclemick-synths]

@@dyacktman good analogy

[@wilfcm8911]

Ą DX1 You got my attention

[@mishuga]

Great work, thank you!

[@MechanicalRabbits]

This is incredibly helpful! It's so hard to find FM tutorials on here where you feel like you actually understood what was going on, but this one is making all the pieces click in my head. Thanks!

[@AesculapiusPiranha]

Just casually appearing with a DX1

[@patriciooc]

Great approach and of course there’s a lot of us drooling of good envy: a DX1 is awesome🙏❤️

[@keithmurray9241]

@17:31 you got tongue-tangled without realizing it and called the upper row a carrier.. when I know you mean to call it a modulator. I know cuz you taught me that at 3:43. ;-) Great demo! I'll let you know if I see any other hiccups. ;-) Learning so much my head's gonna explode!! ;-) Great stuff amigo!!

[@keithmurray9241]

I love how each time you change a parameter you have to move the slider to 10 and then back it down to the value you want because (I'm 99% sure I'm right...) the slider's a variable resistor/potentiometer.. not a proper digital input like we take for granted these days. (like optical shaft encoder)

[@keithmurray9241]

You Sir... are an educator! I have learned so much! I've learned why nobody understood the DX7!! VERY educational! I don't know that I'll ever be a FM synth fan but at least now I'm 1000% more understanding of how that all works. You're amazing!! Give this man a raise!!!

[@powermix24]

The Man the Legend mr Fisher! Thanks for this great tutorial. Syntaur went across the country to deliver this extremely rare synth to Sweetwater they have the whole documentary on their channel, very cool!

[@Dcyde86]

I love Mr Fisher and the way he shows things. And Syntaur also. Funny thing I was watching their vids lately,I enjoyed the one with the CS-8 restoration ,they are a fam of craftsmen and I love that . Definitely going to see the one for Sweetwater

[@nsjx]

thanks for the interesting info! will check

[@sweetwater]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/rGaUZqylZaaXla8

[@nsjx]

Excellent doc! Fascinating 😃

[@Noone-of-your-Business]

15:50 - *VERY* true! _"Digital vs. analogue"_ has always been mostly on prejudice level, but equalling FM to "digital" meaning "harsh" and "lifeless" is one of the more disturbing ones. FM has nothing to do with A vs. D, it can be done completely analogue...ly while retaining its late 80s metallic tone - depending on _how_ you dial in your tone; but those were the ones that added something *_new_* to the well-known vocabulary of previous "analogue" substractive synths.

[@lundsweden]

FM is still criminally underrated. Let's make it our secret weapon, all the silly people can miss out!

[@ponkor]

DX1.....beastmode.

[@narfsounds]

Informative and easy to understand! Thanks for making this.

[@redsilver8847]

Nice tutorial on Fm. Using the Opsix from INIT , I like the wonderful organs we can get. Creating patch is more fun and rewarding that using subtractive synthesis, for me. Thanks for sharing your passion on sound design 🙏. I saw your name as sound designer, on Hydrasynth, too. Congratulations Daniel 👍🏼.

[@DarkSideofSynth]

Dan is the man! Stellar explanation. Isn't that the DX1 brought by Syntaur a few years ago?

[@karimsousse5500]

Thank you ! Nice interesting tutorial ! Waiting for next one ...

[@thaexception3406]

A great one right here!

[@everybodyhasoul5438]

Shout out to @Syntaur !

[@iliililiil3932]

insightful

[@ArthurStone]

Thanks. Well-comunicated.

[@Derrick_Evans]

Great video gave me some ideas with FM on my modular setup

[@Tvaroh]

Great tutorial, thank you so much - I needed it. Looking forward to the next episode, perhaps showing off some famous FM sounds.

[@Neuri]

how the heck did you read my damn mind? AWESOME!!!!!

[@jakedooom]

brilliant. very clear. (Thanks Daniel and Sweetwater.)

[@McTroyd]

Seeing it referenced many times in the comments, I actually found out you guys have a KZbin channel _because_ of the Syntaur video on this DX1. Especially given your CEO probably spent a mint on this thing, I'm glad to see it doing what it does best, rather than serving as a "shelf queen" in a display case. I'm a technical person that can handle math, but even I appreciate the simple acoustic breakdown of how this works. This also gives me some confidence to look at "lesser" (read: cheaper 😁🤑) Yamaha synths with fewer operators, knowing efficient wrangling can still produce quite a lot of sounds. Now if only I knew some place that sold synths...? 🤔😉👍️

[@musicthattouches17]

Top!

[@kristianTV1974]

My first 'proper' (non mini Casio) synth in 1991 was a Yamaha DX27 - a huge disappointment at the time as I had no clue about how to program it - I then moved onto subtractive and LA PCM systems, and never looked back - FM just always seemed too impenetrable. You just made this all make much more sense - subscribed for the next video on this, thanks.

[@MikeS-1969]

Simplicity in explaining is the key to teach a concept successfully but making things simple when teaching requires mastery. That is a very educational video that puts most of FM concepts into the correct perspective, even to those who think they know some things about FM. Very well done! thanks!

[@TechViewOpinions]

Great explanation and I'm a ham radio guy with an electronic education that up until this video could not explain how keyboard synthesizers worked!

[@lyh1]

I can try out on the Mega FM?

[@Mongoosh]

Thanks for this video, this is an epic explanation of Fm synth, I never heard before

[@nsjx]

FM is for programmers. Synth programmers, i mean ;) What I really mean is that it is for those who truly love puzzling together the various aspects of a TOTAL patch. This was a great primer Daniel. I think Many will get a lot of use from it. I'd def like to do some wigglibg with a DX1 lol WOTT a beauty👍👍👍

[@HrafnNordhri]

His explanation here has helped me see more of what my DX9 can do. I really enjoyed that Daniel obliterated the idea that since the DX9 is just 4 operators, I just can't be as cool as a DX7. I also appreciate how he showed us by using just one or two operators and then invited us to go and explore with more.

[@hawk194]

Really good tutorial Daniel. Looking forward to more. Thank you for this.

[@poofygoof]

it is great seeing this flagship DX1 in action and seeing someone create patches on it. the "flatness" of the interface and the visual feedback really help wrapping your head around FM synthesis. I understand the economics behind the interface choices for the DX7 but it's like only having a keyhole view of a much bigger room.

[@zenutopia2k708]

Thanks for including timestamps!

[@temporoboto]

Well done, thank you for your knowledge.

[@DrawbarPete]

Awesome content!!! Thank you for doing these kind of vids!!:)

[@PerryCodes]

That keyboard is AWESOME! And an explanation of FM to match!!

[@carlosserrano3985]

The king of FM synthesis, the Yamaha DX-1 on Daniel Fisher hands, Marvelous!

[@makers1958]

If you haven’t already seen it elsewhere, check out Syntaur’s video tracking down, refurbishing, and delivering this very Yamaha DX1!

[@sweetwater]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/rGaUZqylZaaXla8

[@carlosserrano3985]

@@makers1958 Yes, I saw that one I like the Syntaur videos, the string synthesizer history they made was fantastic.

[@dnashofficial]

thank you. thank you thank you thank you!!!!!

[@arxaaron]

Thank you Daniel! And love to Sweetwater from a loyal customer, too! I've enjoyed the stock sound patches of my DX21 for 35 years, starting in 1986 with my first MIDI explorations on a Commodore 64. Armed, at long last, with your very comprehensible explanation of how its FM synthesis actually works, I am encouraged to finally go beyond tinkering and dive deeply into this instrument's incredible capabilities. l'll be watching for the rest of the series! (PS: My DX21 is in excellent working condition and still sees regular use, plus I always have the original cassette tape for restoring the DX21 system & patches should I screw things up [grin] ).

[@hartware6155]

Nice, I have a DX7 but now I just scroll down the 1000s of sysex files I gathered from the internet so i’ll follow along these vids to get in there and make my own sounds! Very clear and no nonsense! Gr from Belgium ;) when is the next episode? 😁

[@sweetwater]

Thanks Hartware! The FM and LFOs videos are out now. Checkout these 30 Synth Clips videos as well: kzbin.info/aero/PLlczpwSXEOybYYaBCTcjxxKz1QmxytbIf -Daniel

[@arpalaser]

This is awesome. And the fact that it is being done with hadware makes it 1000% more awesome! thank you daniel and @sweetwater

[@unclemick-synths]

Great explanation 👍 the DXs are capable of so much more interesting and powerful sounds than those ubiquitous factory presets so the more people know about programming them the better. My DX27 is still in use!

[@wild-radio7373]

I really really appreciate your work!! Thank you for teaching me this ❤👍

[@_P_M_]

Thanks! Looking forward to more on FM. I have an SY77 and recently a Kodamo Essence FM. Love the EP's especially and would really like to be able to program my own.

[@dmreturns6485]

I learned things!

[@kurtslobodan3510]

Excellent video look forward to the next one thanks!!

[@danieldemayo6209]

I love the sound of wiggling wigglers.....

[@donmurowski9421]

Great video. Really comprehensive. Looking forward to more videos of these. Been struggling with getting good sounds on the elektron digitone and this helped a lot

[@sweetwater]

Thanks Don! Checkout the other 30 Synth Clips videos while waiting for my third FM video: kzbin.info/aero/PLlczpwSXEOybYYaBCTcjxxKz1QmxytbIf -_Daniel_

[@subomni]

Hi Daniel, I absolutely love this synth clip and I've also re-watched your other video on emulating guitars on keyboards where you're using the Yamaha modx6. I'm not sure where this FM series will go, but can you talk about FM acoustic guitar synthesis? I was absolutely blown away by the acoustic guitar sounds from the modx6 but I do wonder if these string sounds are possible on the old school FM machines.

[@davetbassbos]

That intro sequence is so 80s, lol!

[@RustediMac]

Is that Mr. Surack's DX1? Looks lovely!

[@sweetwater]

Hi John, the DX1 is one of his prized possessions. -_Daniel_ kzbin.info/www/bejne/rGaUZqylZaaXla8

[@flightsimmer7410]

Excellent explanation👍👍👍