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Beginning to study FM synthesis
I hadn't really given FM much thought before, but since Drambo has FM oscillators I've started to experiment with them.... Now I'm awed by the sounds that can be made.
I've done some internet reading on FM synthesis theory, it's cool to learn about it's origins, but I'm wondering what exists in today's world of FM synthesis?
Are there any iOS FM synths that have expanded design elements beyond those found in vintage type operators?
As I study FM I'm thinking about including delayed interval pulse oscillations, pulse sequencing, and intra-operator phase relation control. Conditional phase inversion, amplitude modulation, waveform morphing, cyclical parameter automation that includes multi-operator interconnectivity.
Can anyone point out any iOS/Desktop/Hardware that has advanced FM synthesis design capabilities?
I'm very interesting in researching any advanced work done in this area.
Thanks. 
Comments
The Digitone by Elektron
You can also check this study : https://www.synthtopia.com/content/2018/11/03/fm-synthesis-of-wood-sounds/
In many ways, classic FM synths and copycats are still great ways to learn. Phasemaker is a great synth that is similar enough to DX architecture to apply its lessons but with some nice wrinkles of its own.
@horsetrainer have a look at the synclavier go as a potential option. https://apps.apple.com/us/app/synclavier-go-app-and-plugin/id1378108734 It uses a mix of FM and additive synthesis. Very deep, very powerful.
MiRack is an especially good playground since almost every oscillator has an FM input.
Completely agree. Complex yet simple.
The tutorials are great ! Check the one from.Perfect Circuit.
Take care
FM Essentials by Yamaha on iOS. Not sure if it would count as advanced, but it is an awesome, free FM Synth on iOS.
I’m always on the lookout for an FM synth that is ‘one knob per function’ whether this is a hardware or an iOS/iPadOS synth. The closest I’ve found is Primal Audio’s FM4.
To get familiar with FM synthesis and its parameters, I would highly recommend NFM by Nikolozi. Also supports feedback from different operators which many other FM synths don't.
Another FM synth I enjoy a lot is Obsidian in Nanostudio 2. Only 3 FM operators but fun to use and still quite flexible, with a modulation system that is similarly capable as in the Digitone.
I really love FM synthesis. In my opinion with FM synthesis is important to have user friendly intuitive interface - personally i don't like traditional DX7 (cloned in KQDixie app) approach, it's too much "programming synth", and less "making music". I really liked DX200 and now i literally LOVE Elektron Digitone. Never had soo much fun and inspiration with any other FM synth in my life. It's great example how FM can be mate intuitive and fun to use, with still great potential for getting amazing and original sounds ... On iOS i think good example of this approach is @brambos Phasemaker - i anybody wants to start with FM synthesis (more than just browsing patches
) then my suggestion on iOS is always Phasemaker. I also love Obsidian's FM oscillator - it's simple, intuitive, just 3 operators so you can concentrate on details and better understand how sound is shaped with given settings.
From the archives, just in case:
https://www.soundonsound.com/techniques/introduction-frequency-modulation
https://www.soundonsound.com/techniques/more-frequency-modulation
Easiest way to study phase relations is modulating the frequency of operators. Either envelope with very short decay time, just enough to 'nudge' slightly out of phase, a very slow LFO with tiny amount of depth will reveal anything interesting.
https://patchstorage.com/4op-base/ if it's any use.
Anyone can give a reason why often Volca FM is not considered an also viable option for FM synthesis? Not often considered as an option and so less tutorials/sound patches available for it... What are your thoughts on Volca FM?
Why hardware when better software options are available?
I almost purchased one myself but now we have KQ Dixie with full DX7 sysex support as well plus more voices than the Volca, also NFM (much better editing), Obsidian, phasemaker...
Sugar Bytes Aparillo is my FM favorite by a long way. It's advertised as being "cinematic," which really means "inspired by Hans Zimmer." I'm using it to score my podcasts on Shakespeare's tragedies. Its presets are great for "brooding" and "menacing," but I wouldn't use it for the comedies. Aparillo's implementation of FM is powerful but idiosyncratic. I don't find it easy to transfer concepts from, say, DX7 programming; and I wouldn't expect Aparillo concepts to transfer back the other way. On the other hand, Aparillo has made me want to dig in with FM in a way that no other synth has.
Another vote for nfm
I got Dixie for the insane amount of patches, but ended up staying for the crazy shenanigans I got out of it spaffing gobloads of sysex at it with various mosaic scripts I cooked up.
I still haven’t figured out if there‘s a way to specify a target frequency (ideally with a midi note) and then direct the ops to get as close to that as possible while retaining whatever timbre horror you’ve cooked up with ‘bad / wrong’ settings - the latest one I’m working in takes midiguitar input and uses the pitch bend data to change the op frequencies by different amounts, rather than directly bending the note.
It’s interesting but not what I was hoping for yet, I might have another pass at it if it rains over the weekend. If anyone has a handle on how I might achieve that frequency seeking it’d be much appreciated
@Krupa If you're getting pitch issues, maybe you've mixed up carrier and modulator pitch?
Maybe that’s it, I do have a carrier mask in my sequencer though and that still affects the pitch when I send different values, I’m probably going for something impossible as the maths would likely be insane to calculate the perceived frequency in real time. If the ops aren’t synced, then I’m thinking thatsurely changing the mod frequency will change the base frequency? I’m probably wrong though
I’ve managed interesting sounds in Valley Audio’s Dexter on mirack, a “Complex FM / Wavetable Oscillator.” FRMS also has the intriguing feature of combining FM and granular synthesis.
I found these videos useful to understand what’s going on...
Thanks for all your suggestions!
I'll look into all of the links, synths, and videos.
I'm getting the hang of the vintage sign-based operator theory. I'm glad to see that that there are many existing "modern" advancements which add abilities to use other waveforms, and ways to integrate FM (& Phase) with other methods of additive and subtractive synthesis.
It's the mixing of different types of synthesis that I find most imteresting.
I'm discovering a lot just mixing synthesis types in Drambo.
But checking out all the modern mixed synthesis tools are really helpful for understanding which methods work best for creating "specific" characters of sounds.
Obsidian is an excellent choice for that.
Those videos teaching Computer Synthesis with SuperCollider look great for anyone
seeking to understand the math behind the oscillators.
But for making sounds I'm OK with presets and Drambo Racks.
The interface is fun for music making but not so fun for programming.
On desktop, Dexed is a free app and offers graphical control over the classic DX style FM engine.
Cuckoo has some good FM tutorials. https://www.youtube.com/c/cuckoomusicnerd/search?query=fm
Shockwave
Although, no algorithms as such, because only two operators.
Here's a patch I cooked up for flexibly messing with FM in miRack without having to do a lot of re-patching. It looks complicated, but the idea is pretty simple. The top row has the important parts. The bottom row is just for sequencing, to make it easier to audition sounds while tweaking.
The output of the six oscillators go to the inputs of the matrix. The output for each channel goes back to its FM input. The last two outputs go to the audio out. Now, each knob controls how much signal goes back into each FM input, or to the audio out. So, each oscillator can FM oscillate itself or any combination of other oscillators to varying degrees. Each can also be mixed into the overall output.
If anyone is familiar with the FL Studio Sytrus synth, they'll recognize this arrangement.
https://patchstorage.com/fmmatrix-6/
Here's a screenshot with the sequencer parts removed to simplify it a bit. Really, it's not as complicated as it seems once you understand what the matrix is doing.