Yamaha DX7 FM Synthesis Tutorial | Filter Emulation

[@toskabyss]

Thanks for these tips! These 7 year old videos have been most helpful in grasping these concepts.

[@Andronicus2007]

Programming analog is so easy, programming FM requires you to have all the intricacies in your head... but that's why I love it, it's a great challenge!

[@lrblouie]

Awesome video - thank you!

[@MrSpasticdancer]

the best way to learn FM synthesis is like this. just simply getting satisfying and usable results as a beginner is the most important thing. getting familiar and comfortable with how it works is what gives beginners the confidence to experiment and discover other sounds. this is the right approach to teaching

[@______BS______]

thank you! very informative

[@thehimer3903]

wow...i learned a lot here today...

[@madFame]

That's the best compliment, check out the new version of this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/oYakp2yebrRgorc

[@Spludgeroo]

I've got a Volca FM on its way so I'm loving these vids. Thanks for doing them. The more I watch these though I am sceptical that many owners using these when they first came out would ever do any of this and instead just stick to the presets. I was always impressed by our keyboard players with these as I thought "How do they know what all those buttons do!". I now suspect they didn't. This was an era where most people were baffled by anything with more than 2 knobs on it. Typically only one person in a family could program a VCR.

[@keithdamron]

I got a dx7 a few days ago and I’ve been watching your videos as I wait for some midi cables to ship so I can upload the factory patches and all that. I was intimidated by everyone saying how hard it is to program but thanks to you I feel like I can actually understand this instrument. Thank you for all the time you’ve put into making these videos.

[@madFame]

Thanks Keith, I'm glad the videos are helping you with your new DX!! Theres a bunch of my custom patches on my channel you should try out too. I've used a lot of useful techniques in my custom patches that you will find valuable as you learn more about the DX7.

[@keithdamron]

I love your custom patches! I actually started there and then wound up here to get an a better understanding of how everything fit together. Hooked it up to dexed today, browsed countless patches, and your bass tones still stick out as the best. I do have a question, is there a way to upload a tone programmed on the dx7 to the dexed library? Thanks for all of your time and passion

[@madFame]

Yeah, you need to save your DX7 patches to your computer as a SYSEX file and then you can import that in Dexed. I have a video on saving sysex files here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hpiWmn2Hpc9kq80

[@kendrahummel407]

I could be wrong but in many months of searching I have found very little info on fm synthesis beyond the same introductory definition as can be found on Wikipedia. The longer the tutorial, the longer is taken to deliver the same information. Yours could be a training course. Thank you so much.

[@madFame]

Hi Kendra, thanks so much for watching! Yes, you are correct there are many attempts at explaining FM online but they all take forever, go on long scientific tangents and ultimately teach nothing. I had to do something, so that's why I have short intros, scripted dialogue and screen graphics to make it as easy as possible. I'm glad it's helping you and thanks for sharing your kind words. ps: I'm re-editing and filming this FM course to make it easier and I'll be going through as many topics as I can, stay tuned!

[@aycc-nbh7289]

One concern I might have is that pure analog synth fanatics may cry that their favorite synths only need one oscillator to do something the DX series needs two for. Though another point of contention could be that certain analog synths, such as the Yamaha Reface CS, only _have_ two oscillators.

[@SynthAddict]

very clever stuff - Inside Synthesis got me started on FM, and you have the master classes can't wait to try this on my TX802

[@pablorodriguez-trenchsdela7448]

Super interesting and useful! It's definitely better to start with simple combinations, I tend to explore complex 6 op patches and get confused :D

[@squishmusic]

What kind of Oscilloscope is that? DIY project?

[@madFame]

It's a JyeTech DSO138. It's really affordable and is normally sold as a DIY kit. I got mine pre-assembled for around $20. Amazing piece of kit for synth owners.

[@squishmusic]

oki brill! Does it accept normal audio cables/ports?

[@madFame]

It will accept an RCA cable but you need a BNC > RCA adapter. That will convert the probe input socket to an RCA audio socket.

[@squishmusic]

GR8. Off go I to Am@zon then :D

[@maraboo72]

Just an addition: You can also put the effect on the After Touch section instead of the wheel. It allows to keep both hands on the keys and put the effect differently on every single note depending on the pressure.

[@madFame]

Indeed, I sometimes use a foot pedal to execute a traditional filter sweep as well. The DX7's performance controls get ignored a lot when people do their FM synth comparisons and subtractive vs FM debates. The DX7 is extremely flexible and offers so much variety and dynamic range when implementing the assignable controls.

[@javiceres]

madFame It was incredibly well thought out. (Except for the interface; 6 faders and matching screen with 6 values could have really opened FM for the masses).

[@carmelsmith4861]

Thank you so much for your informative Tutorials am still learning and take pride in you work. Creating a filter effect using a Yamaha DX7 is great!

[@homeone4054]

Genius work...thank you so much for doing these tutorials!!

[@LivingCoolness]

Anybody, who can programm DX7 is a superhero.

[@rthrmusicofficial]

Thank you so much for these videos. I make 80s inspired music and pretty much know subtractive synthesis and wavetable synthesis like the back of my hand. FM I knew very little about and would spend hours just going through presets found online to try and find the closest thing to what I wanted with not so great results. Even something as simple as learning how to make the basic waveshapes makes the whole concept of FM start to make sense. Almost like when i show people a large mixing console and they say wow how do you remember what all those knobs do? When in reality you just learn one channel strip all the way down and then its the same across the board.

[@madFame]

@RthR Thanks for getting in touch, I'm glad the videos have made the process of FM a lot easier for you. I started on subtractive synths and when I discovered how to make Saw and Square waves on the DX7 I found the rest to be really easy and intuitive. I make 80's inspired music too so it's great to be able to help a fellow musician! Thanks for watching :)

[@madFame]

@RthR Hey I just subscribed to your channel and The Prime Thanatos! Great music, love it

[@rthrmusicofficial]

@@madFame Hey thanks! :) I'm also on soundcloud.com/rthrmusic and I am also on future city records. Is there anywhere I can listen to your music apart from your tutorials and custom patches, etc?

[@madFame]

@RthR at the moment on magicandsteel.bandcamp.com/ but I'll adding more music in the new year. Love your stuff man, super cool!

[@doyourownwaves4214]

Hello, what is the functions of EG BIAS? thank u! BTW: great channel!!

[@madFame]

Hi, thanks for watching! The simplest explanation is that the Mod Wheel can be used to control an operators output level. This function is turned on and off via the EG Bias on/off parameters. Which operators this Mod Wheel control affects, and by how much, is determined by adjusting the Mod Sensitivity parameter (pitch or amplitude).

[@doyourownwaves4214]

Thank u very much! I'm trying to replicate your tutorials in Pure Data, and how far I can get. Cheers

[@madFame]

That's awesome, I hope you have success!

[@doyourownwaves4214]

I'm kinda gettin there, but I have problems on how to match the values, speccially in envelopes

[@macronencer]

Now you've got me wondering whether it's possible to emulate resonance...!

[@madFame]

Yeah, that's a big one! I've been trying to figure out how to produce or emulate resonance on the DX7. So far I haven't found a way but I'm sure it's possible on the DX7... I want to believe it is anyway, haha.

[@MIDERA]

This is why I love my SY77 - you don't need to emulate it cuz it's got a great filter on it. However, I'd love to learn how to emulate it as well, because it sort of feels like cheating. There must be a way using perhaps feedback or another modulator? Thanks for the tutorial. It's really nice and nicely done. One thing that's odd is that it still sounds very FM-y, but that might be my speakers.

[@Javelin276]

Yes, you can emulate some resonance by extending the Release on the envelope. Increase the R in the ADSR.

[@yallimsorry5983]

This might sound kooky, but using the DX7ii, one thing that approaches resonance is actually just using the pitch envelope so it raises and drops from 0 to say 50 back 0, at the same speed as the main “filter” envelope. This is using two layered sounds btw. Also, using a fm synth app, I have noticed modulating a sine wave with a saw with a 1:1 index sounds similar to filter resonance as you increase and decrease the modulation. I Can’t combine both on the DX7 or the app I have, but maybe the sy99 can pull this off?

[@javiceres]

Y'all I'm sorry You mean using the pitch envelope on one of the sine wave oscillators? I was going to write that. And then using the feedback (at 6 or 7) Operator to modulate a carrier with a 1&1 ratio, the pitch envelope and modulator op envelope being set right the same

[@hartware6155]

Nice! Never thought of this really. I usually route the audio to one of my machines for filtering. I will def try this one

[@freeelectron8261]

Great tutorials - I`m trying to get a grasp on fm synth programming and your tutorials are really helping. Thanks for all your hard work making these videos.

[@madFame]

You're welcome! Have fun programming

[@TheSuperMrG13]

what parameter does the modulators wave form modulate in the carrier? thanks

[@madFame]

In FM synthesis, the modulators output level determines how much its waveform (sine) distorts and modulates the operator below it. It doesn't affect a parameter, it changes the waveform shape of the operator below it. In this case a sine wave is distorted to another complex waveform. This is true if a modulator is connected to another modulator or carrier in an algorithm.

[@animisticbeliefs7644]

Thank you! Love to see more DX7 tutorials :)

[@madFame]

Thanks for taking time to watch and comment. There will be more videos and soon I'll be doing a separate series on other synths and drum machines.

[@tobiaslangela2680]

Great Work! Thank you so much for this one.

[@madFame]

Hi Tobias, you are very welcome! Thanks for watching

[@Swanlord05]

How do I get a display like that

[@Naive773]

Do you have a KORG M1 ?

[@madFame]

No, not yet! I've had a few opportunities but never had the cash.

[@WARDISWARD]

Using just one operator set to feedback is enough to get a saw wave , you don't really need a modulator . Then applie a decaying envelope ,which also affects the feedback amount..going from saw ---->sine Simple

[@PeterWalkerHP16c]

Eh? Which algorithm has feed back on the carrier???

[@madFame]

Hi Peter, algorithm 32 has all 6 operators in the carrier position. Operator 6 has the feedback loop.

[@PeterWalkerHP16c]

Ha! All these years, never noticed it tucked away at the end.

[@buncho888]

These patches will definitely come in handy when I get my Volca FM next week. It will be interesting to see if I can get as proficient workflow making patches on that device compared to your awesome DX7.

[@madFame]

Hi, thanks for subscribing! From my understanding the Volca FM has a similar engine and most (if not all) editing parameters from the DX7. Creating the basic waveforms from my waveform creation video will get you on the right track for programming great sounds!

[@karzy93]

Awesome tutorial, thank you !! Did you add that oscilloscope yourself ? Also have you heard about dexed for DX7 and if so what do you think about it ?

[@madFame]

Thanks Karl! Regarding the scope, someone asked me about this on my other video, here's my response: "The scope is not built-in but just sits on top of my synth. It's a great little 9V unit that has a single input and I can run any synth through it to display audio waveforms. I also have a full-size analog scope which has a better image and response but it takes up a lot of room, so this smaller scope comes in handy for general use." Although I've never used Dexed it looks like a great piece of software. The layout and interface looks intuitive and the visual envelopes are very helpful too. I'm a hardware guy at heart though, even with one data slider and 16 character display I program faster than with a mouse, haha!

[@javiceres]

madFame Programming with a mouse is terrible :-(

[@coenraadjongenelen]

Fantastic, your videos! I recently got a TX-7, and I am learning. I find it easy to use Dexed, a DX7 emulation (free software: asb2m10.github.io/dexed/) to edit sounds, then you can send them your DX7 via MIDI. THis way I have more overview of all the operators, algorithms etc. together. Have you tried it?