FM synthesis tutorial, preparing for Volca FM (feat. Nord Modular G2)

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In preparations of my coming tutorial for the Volca FM, here's a sort of "get familiar with FM" kind of tutorial. I'm trying my best to explain the basics of FM and PM. Once you get the basic idea, creating sounds from scratch with the Volca FM should be much easier to grasp.
Used in this tutorial is the discontinued, but still great, Nord Modular G2, introduced in 2004. A multi purpose digital modular synth, used by many as a prototyping platform, a physical modelling hardware synth. Of course it's ready for Phase Modulation/ FM style.
Cheers!
CUCKOO

[@droid7500]

....5 years later. Your videos age very well.

[@grandmasterjo1]

Excellent start up to the volca fm. The best way to show what happens inside the Volca 👌👌👌👌

[@thomaskenneally219]

Dude, you real. Thanks for making a video about FM that is not nauseating to listen to.

[@thomaskenneally219]

@True Cuckoo - what is the oscilloscope app you're using?

[@beniywaisanen1231]

Really really helpful. I've had my Volca Fm2 for a year now, and your videos helped me actually get started playing. Thank you!

[@dovepaige]

Cuckoo you make the world a much richer place with your creativity and content, thank you for what you do it has been moving me along on a wonderful journey that started with your first video on the volca FM, I ordered mine 10 minutes after I watched your video about it, that was a little over a year ago and I have been exploring ever since

[@briansansone]

The accent is a bit thick for us over in the south east USA, but this is the best explanation I have come across concerning fm synthesis. It took a long time for me to start to wrap my head around FM. I wish I had seen this video when I was trying to learn. Very cool!

[@truecuckoo]

+Brian Sansone good to hear! Thanks! I bet there are more mathematically complete explanations out there, but at least this is a good start :)

[@brianwbuller]

Wow dude, you've made FM synthesis crystal clear to me now. Much thanks, consider me subscribed

[@truecuckoo]

Cool, thanks mate!

[@krisdelacourt3977]

subscribed, if only for the mirror idea! :)

[@thomasmacisaac1503]

Funny the difference it makes

[@bassmattes]

thank you so much for making fm-synthesis a little bit less confusing and more understandable

[@thedrunkmonkshow]

I've been searching for a couple weeks now for a video that can give an explanation of the fundamentals of FM. While I appreciate everyone else's efforts I've seen thus far, many of them are tailored to the quirks of a specific software VST while yours gets to an even lower and more fundamental scope in a really comprehensive way that can be used in any Synth. When you mentioned the Sega Genesis/Megadrive halfway through the video I laughed to myself because that's exactly what I was thinking as you were dialing and demonstrating the concepts based on the sounds it generated. While I previously knew FM was two sine waves working together I never considered the importance of Phase Modulation. I still don't fully understand what it's doing but the outcome is how you can get into those tinny and metallic sounds. I thought those sounds had something to do with 3 oscillators by the normal carrier/modulator but adding a white noise to get there but now I see you can get there just with the two main oscillators and then some depending on the phase. Thanks so much! 😇

[@davidstoneback6159]

Best explanation of fm synthesis I've seen to date. Thank you!

[@davidjacobik5451]

Your videos are always clear and informative, not too dry and not too silly either. Spot on. I just ordered a Volca FM, can't wait to sit in the woods or in the breakroom at work and design sounds far away from my computer. Soon I'm going to be working out a budget for crowd funding some of my favorite creators, since I appreciate this a lot, and you are on my list, bro. Also if you ever get a chance to play with Sytrus FM, a VST software plugin from Image-Line (FL Studio native, but works anywhere a VST works) I highly recommend it.

[@seanrichards8774]

This is excellent! Thanks for putting this together in such a straightforward manner. You are a great musician and a good teacher.

[@truecuckoo]

Thanks Sean! I'm glad you're finding it helpful! I was drifting off there a couple of times, I think. But I think the basics are there!

[@marcosmusacchio2379]

Hi cockoo ! Here Marcos from Argentina . You are a really good explainer about all this synths thing... Even when I am not expert as an english speaker. But you help me a lot on this. I'm recently started with "modular" electronic music and you are push me up to the top for keep learning about it... Anyway, thanks a lot for all your brain! Abrazo grande ! Y continua haciendo lo que amas hacer !

[@emokarlffm]

Thanks a lot for the tutorial! I came here from the Volca FM review and after watching your tutorial I kind of started to understand what's going on in the Ableton Live "Operator" I didn't have a clue about before. THANKS!

[@nodflenders3665]

Thanks for this dude. I have a Nord modular G2 sat next to me and I never bothered to create my own patches on it!.. I know, sacrilege. Anyway I hooked it up to my mac and I'm following along with this, really helpful for just getting the basics down before I go absolutely mental with it!

[@thayanaclasso4387]

omg Im about to buy a fm and this video made me realize that Im on the right way on synth's ride. thanks cuckoo

[@truecuckoo]

🙏🏼

[@cnaimc]

You are a great man, consider one of your followers. Soon I will donate. Thanks for such a clear explanation. Awesome. Greetings from Mexico.

[@allanroney]

Wonderful video - would love to see a series on more general synthesis basics, etc.

[@sanjayvarma7842]

Amazingly clear and helpful. My Volca is arriving next week and can't wait to alter the modulator and carrier!

[@00gavin]

Thanks, Cuckoo. I'm plugging away at a Reface DX. This was helpful. People without hardware should check out the free Dexed fm synth plugin and the Dexed Cart 1.0, which I believe contains many patches that the Volca FM will load, too. Cheers.

[@billyzman666]

Thank you so much! Got a volca and admittedly am over my head with the understanding. This plus your next video helped a ton. 💗

[@Pterrordon12]

This has been really helpful for digging into the Volca FM, also the dual oscillator example is a great tool for understanding the Monotron Duo.

[@Victor-lo6dg]

Thank you so much for your videos! It really helps me to understand the function and the uniqueness of pm/fm synths

[@jasoncaldwell0613]

Man i owe you $1000s you have taught me so much.. God bless you cuckoo.

[@MrLucasErler]

i like people who keep things simple. thanks man!

[@WerkPl]

You are so great sharing your gigantic knowledge!

[@cyprn6600]

Very concise! Never realised it was basically extreme pitch modulation. Stack em' modulators high

[@skyreadersociety6183]

... also nice to see how the G2 works and sounds!

[@mkusanagi]

yaaay, my fm arrive tomorrow, thanks for the lesson !

[@truecuckoo]

+mkusanagi cool! You're welcome :) Thanks for watching!

[@fusionistaaaa]

Love your style, music and videos. Fraction i think is what you mean by multiplicative :)

[@ShinobiTCG]

Thank you again very enlightening. Been watching your Volca tuts all the way through. Really proper of you you're a good man

[@neledegussem]

love your style of explaining, very clear and simple. keep up the good work!!!

[@nikima97]

man you are awesome, you'd really deserve like 100 times the subscribers, your videos are fantastic!!!

[@harungezici618]

I was looking for a tutorial about FM. You nailed it, ur the best!

[@dillipphunbar7924]

Very interesting tutorial Cuckoo. Useful software and oscilloscope app. I'm only starting to learn about synthesis and this was helpful. Thank you

[@ildarkinildarkin]

This is very informative video! Thanks Cuckoo!

[@TimShoebridge]

Great video, easy to watch, easy to learn from. Good job.

[@pizzamangargatuloth4804]

Wow that's it? Dude you broke that down like a boss! Thank you!!

[@riffswamp]

thanks for helping demystify this cool/powerful form of synthesis! fun times!

[@illegalgiant_]

ty dude. your videos are extremely helpful and informative!

[@knopfler2006]

Very nice video, as always. Works very fine also to understand the MOD-7 on the Korg Kronos!

[@Buildingempires101]

Thanks again Cuckoo, much love!

[@benjiwill]

Great video Cuckoo as always, really nicely explained. And nice to see the G2 editor, i've got and only used the G1 system, hope some day either Nord or another company revisits this hardware/software modular concept again now modular kit is so popular, the G2 are hard to get a hold of! Looking forward to seeing your FM Volca video next. :D

[@AngMoKio8]

this video is really so very helpful. Thanks a lot!!

[@gabrielkolim]

The BEST professor!!

[@85bryanc]

Hello good sir! I know you're a big fan of FM synthesis and I think it would be incredibly interesting to get your take on the Sonicwave liven XFM. Cheers!

[@iscariah71]

Very nice as usual.... my volca is on the way...

[@Ownd4h3r]

Fm = faze modulation and pm = phrequency modulation

[@edjwise]

Im not a Nord Modular owner... but I think that the G2 has an open source editor the community is working on. There is more about to on electro music www.electro-music.com/forum/forum-63.html

[@aaronfox5418]

this guy is the best!

[@JustASnack]

Such a brilliant tutorial, thank you so much

[@moose1689]

Would be cool if the Volca it self had that graph visualization in the console.

[@MartinDoudoroffLLC]

This is an excellent tutorial. Thank you!

[@truecuckoo]

+Martin Doudoroff thank you, Martin! Glad I could be of help :)

[@jello-tarzan]

You are FaMtastic and inspiring. Thank you! Keep those videos coming!

[@rockstarjazzcat]

Hey, congrats on things taking off for you!

[@truecuckoo]

+RockStarJazzCat thanks mate!

[@playinmyblues]

Very educational.

[@nickhatcher4519]

I get it FM synthesis now!!!!

[@ALTARBEATZ]

Just love the way Volca's let me think 2 make music .

[@MrScheller]

Thank you VERY much for that lesson!

[@geecen]

Nice job. Have you tried the Axoloti by the way? Reminiscent of the Nord modular system.

[@MatthewScheffel]

Clear introduction for FM on the Nord Modular G2, but I cannot get similar behaviour on my Volca FM. I used algo 1 with identical settings between 1 and 2 with 3->6 disabled and tweaked FrEC,FrEF plus envelopes and got drastically more confusing results. The carriers are definitely added together ("mixed"), but I'm still unclear on how the Volca's modulators interact with each other and with their carriers. It seems to be different than in this video, unless I am mistaken.

[@MatthewScheffel]

Baseline program config: EGr1_99 EGL1_99 EGr2_00 EGL2_00 EGr3_00 EGL3_00 EGr4_99 EGL4_00 LSbP_50 LSLd_00 LSrd_00 LSLC_03 LSrC_03 OrS_00 ANS_00 hus_03 OLUL_99 OSCN_00 FrEC_00 FrEF_00 detu_00

[@MatthewScheffel]

I've successfully replicated the output of my Volca FM with some python code by assuming that it is not adding a phase term to the sine wave's internals but rather it is multiplying against them. Hard to put that into words, but here's some math: modulator_output = modulator_output_level * sin(modulator_freq * time) carrier_output = carrier_output_level * sin(carrier_freq * time * modulator_output) If this were phase modulation, it would be a "+ modulator output" rather than a "* modulator output".

[@72ndHUMAN]

4min in I know I'm in for a great ride

[@SuperTinyeyes]

Hey man, really helpful stuff. I was wondering if it would be possible to have something that highlights your mouse in these sorts of videos, sometimes I struggle to see where it's gone. no big deal just a thought. cheers.

[@quueueq]

cuckoo, I adore your interjections * wzzzzsp * (14:04). they are so lovely

[@daviddaniel]

Very helpful, thanks. subscribed.

[@wyattari]

You are a hero

[@МихаилШульга-я9ы]

You are like synth Jesus :) Thanks for tutorial !

[@brokendamas]

Thank you so much

[@konstantinsmolin7663]

Hey dude :) like your Videos... I wold like to ask if you could make a tutourial for the volca modular pls

[@ashleymorton9623]

Anyone know how he adapts the I phone to work with the app

[@zetaTETI]

25:20 beautiful man!!

[@w124rr4]

27:42 best Moment! 😄

[@truecuckoo]

+rimisak redam ha ha.. ❤️

[@The0d0r4]

brillant, thx a lot

[@garyliddon]

Great video :) What app are you using on the iPhone as a scope? I'm just starting to mess with sound design on an A4 and something like that would be useful for me right now :D Thanks in advance

[@truecuckoo]

+Gaz Liddon thanks! The app is called oScope. There are many apps like that, but I particularly like the speed and simplicity of this one.

[@garyliddon]

Cheers man

[@gjb5864]

anotha great vid mayb u should have wrote original dx7 manual haha...

[@atmaloney7889]

True Cuckoo, where did you find that the Volca FM is phase modulation as opposed to frequency modulation? Not challenging just curious! Thanks!

[@truecuckoo]

I can’t remember anymore. Sorry.

[@hankrank9403]

Hey what app are you using for the oscilloscope? Only half way through the video and I think I should have been taking notes... Great video!

[@truecuckoo]

Ooh, yeah I forgot to mention. It's a basic but very clean app called oScope, with a very high refresh-rate. Thanks!

[@rostislavhulivets3163]

Still relevant in 2024)

[@JotesCreations]

so, how does the other kind of modulation work then? In comparison? Is there a video that explains that? Sorry If this is a total noob question, im new to this stuff

[@fender132435]

The most common form of synthesis is subtractive synthesis, which is much more simple. You just add up the waves of the oscillators and then the filters subtract from that wave. There are many tutorials on youtube demonstrating how subtractive synthesis works :)

[@rthlng4290]

Thank you! :)

[@nickhatcher4519]

i dont know if i missed you saying something about it but can you use other waverforms? (saw, square?)

[@truecuckoo]

+Nick Hatcher (HeadyPix) It appears it's only sine waves on the Volca FM as far as I know. But the LFO has multiple shapes. When trying out different sound waves in FM, sine is a magical one, in my opinion. These rounded sounds turning into sharpness. If you start out with a sharper sound, like a saw or square, the contrast between smooth and sharp is sort of lost. It can produce interesting results too, of course, but I think there's a mysterious power, bass and fullness with the classic sine waves. I've tried a nice iPad synth called FM4 which has some interesting half-sines, and other seemingly sine based waveforms that go well with FM. It's a good one.

[@dillipphunbar7924]

will try to support soon...have already sub'd...cheers

[@dimadamiable]

thank you for this video. mirror is top :)

[@LostStylus]

I am confused, isn't FM frequesncy modulations, not phase modulation?

[@Phantorion]

00:20:27 - siiiick riiifffff

[@mathieul695]

IS your g2 dead ? :P missing those videos

[@MrCrion1c]

Whats that scope app? Is it available for Android?

[@iain2053]

Hey cuckoo I love your videos. Could you please raise the volume of your videos? I have my macbook and youtube up to full volume and with two fans on low going in my room to combat summer heat I can hardly hear it. I can hear the synths but your voice is hard to hear.

[@pizzamangargatuloth4804]

I know what you mean but honestly those speakers are pretty shite. I have them too.

[@truecuckoo]

+Wasa Adsd yeah I know I forgot to the run the audio through a compressor/ maximiser this time. It's ok through headphones... Sorry! Will keep it in my mind for the next videos. I usually maximise the sound as a last step.

[@iain2053]

No worries. Thanks for all the videos. I'm looking at the analog keys for my next purchase and your videos have been really informative.

[@b00i00d]

Cuckoo! You look like Jared Leto!

[@vic-gallo]

Some analog of this soft?

[@christophermoody6840]

I don't know if you misspoke or not but at around 1:05 you said that The famous DX7 is actually FM and that so is... Then you rattle off a list including the volca thing. I've never heard that the DX7 wasn't FM??? Excuse me if I don't know what the hell is saying but it struck me...

[@truecuckoo]

+Christopher Moody I had this interesting read: moinsound.wordpress.com/2011/03/04/frequency-modulation-or-phase-modulation-synthesizer-technologies/

[@Oyoyoni]

@@truecuckoo so you are stating that most FM synths are actually PM according to just one article?

[@rokusho0100]

Do you know if the volca fm is velocity sensitive over midi, or is it only a function of the slider?

[@can__top2]

Unfortunately the Volca FM is not velocity sensitive over MIDI however there is a retrokid(?) cable which can recognise Velocity.

[@synthanatomy]

Over Midi only with the Retro Kits Cable ;) www.retrokits.com/rk002/

[@hazels7967]

Although that only adjusts the "velocity" CC.... it's not per voice. Still, it's better than nothing.

[@rokusho0100]

+Hazel Shanks thanks!

[@truecuckoo]

+rokusho0100 good here's a community that takes care of things while I'm sleeping! I suspect that Korg might be considering supporting velocity over MIDI in an update. There is absolutely no reason it shouldn't work. Perhaps they were overwhelmed of how many would like to do this. I totally dig the velocity control though. It's an expression slider.

[@monsieurzarf7212]

Nice :-)

[@truecuckoo]

Thanks :-) I hope so, he he..

[@akt67]

Hi, Are you scandinavian? I detect an accent.

[@truecuckoo]

Your Scandinavian radar is correct :D Grew up in Sweden. Live in Norway.

[@akt67]

Ha Ha!!!! My mother was Swedish! Died in 89, Ive never been there tho, my father was Scottish also died 89. So I can pick out certain hint, your English as per most Scandinavians is excellent, but its been a while since I heard such a clean English speaker with barely an accent. Anyway, enough of that, thank you for your tutorials. I only have one arm now and have waited for technology to allow me to play, making up for left hand with multi track software (fruity loops). Nice to meet you.

[@mathias_eugen_engen]

cuckoomusic Really! I was just thinking how your remind me of at least 2 of my Norwegian friends! Bor du i Oslo?

[@truecuckoo]

Ja. Oslo Yeah!

[@Hopskotchrecords]

G2 lust rising...

[@truecuckoo]

+hopskotchrecords. G2 is the coolest Nord ;-) I can't believe they discontinued it!

[@cglinuesa]

Hi cuckoo!! really interesting video!! I really love the volca FM and I'm waiting for your next video. I think you should know, there is a cable with you can have velocity sensitive on the volca fm. The cable is the retrokits rk-002 and it works with all the volcas (having a lot of things like arpegiator on the volca keys or chromatic sampling on the volca sampler). The cable is awesome. It have a small processor inside and transforms your midi information on real time with no latency. The only thing important to know is that your midi keyboard can be enough power to power it (it demands more power than a normal midi cable). Maybe you can make your video with this cable ;) Here more information: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hZmqY6Gil9x5rJI Sorry for my poor english!

[@truecuckoo]

Thanks mate! Yeah I've heard about that cable from a number of people! I'd be happy to check it out at some point.

[@GuitarsAndSynths]

The bargain Digitone and $600 less expensive too!

[@beatchef]

Would you say the Volca FM is still worth purchasing despite not being velocity sensitive over MIDI? I love the FM sound because of Megadrive and I'm now not sure what to get. I'm disappointed as I love Korg and the Volca layout but I don't think I'm going to find anything else that compact in the £150 to £300 range

[@Schtang]

Retrokits make a cable that completely solves this issue, check them out :)

[@beatchef]

Schtang I'll check them out if I can, their website is currently not working. Thanks for the heads up

[@Schtang]

They were recently featured on SonicLab and Nick and the guys gave them a 5 star review, so they've been sold out for a while :)

[@truecuckoo]

+Schtang it's totally worth it, in my opinion. It sounds lovely! The keyboard experience is probably better on The Yamaha Reface, but I think the Korg Volca FM sounds sooo much better! That alone makes it worth it.

[@beatchef]

cuckoomusic I will go for the Volca FM then, and get one of those cables at some point in the future when Retrokits gets off holiday and their website is fixed. Extra looking forward to the next video now :D