FM4 Out Now!

Crabman

I wouldn't call an FM8"warm"although i agree about the"breadth".There are already enough clean sounding synth without a lot of own character be it on iOS or Desktop.I definitely prefer the"unperfect" sound of FM4.opinions of course,good to have them

[Deleted User]

@StormJH1 said:

@monzo said:

@StormJH1 said:

The glitches I was hearing on iPad2 are similar to clicking I hear on iFretlessBass

Sorry to take this off topic - is that a big issue? Just checking as I was thinking of getting iFretlessBass for my iPad 2

No, not really. It mostly works just fine and is the best dedicated bass app by far. There is a youtube video on how to reduce the issues, too. Was just giving an example on how other apps have issues too if you push them.

Thanks for the confirmation Storm - this and the guitar version are on my Xmas list.

Matt_Fletcher_2000

I like this synth.

As a non-synth expert... Initially I wasn't impressed with the presets particularly. But playing with the very bottom/last lead preset got me into it. ("Wavering Lead" or something).

Has a nice 'imperfect' slightly gritty sound to it, but still quite clean if that makes sense. Sounds lovely playing legato and using the glide.

The ability to LFO the 4 different operators to different degrees is cool. (Please bear in mind I have zero previous knowledge of FM synthesis). Also each operator having its own amp envelope is pretty cool.

The pitch envelope is also nice.

Questions:

• I'm a bit confused as to what is exactly being LFOed on each operator. It's not the pitch or a filter cutoff as far as I can tell.

• Could someone tell me what the 'model' switch in the top right is? It make a big difference. Is this switching between emulation of different hardware models?

• What other essentials do I need to know

It feels a bit like a basic version of Zeta (sound of some of the patches and the UI). But I'm sure someone will correct me (Zeta is waveshape synthesis not FM synthesis right?).

Anyway. Amazing for 69p. I mean ridiculous.

Midi from ProMidi worked. Midi learn for Ccs for all the controls would be great.

Samu

As far as i can see the LFO is modulating the output-volume of an operator.

When LFO-Mod wheel is 0 no modulation, and when it's at maximum the output is modulated by the LFO-Amount set for each operator.

To add 'vibrato' adjust the pitch setting on the LFO.

I don't have any information on the 'Model' switch but i think it refers to different hardware models, just like you said.(Internally i think just different wavetables).

As for the basics for any kind of FM-Synthsis experimentation is fun, learn how the 'Routings'(FM-Algorithms) affect the sounds (It's basically, which operator is modulating what operator).

As for the price, yes it's ridiculous considering what we get

fjcblanco

Compared with DXi FM ?...(I mean the sounds, not the interface).

Thanks.

Samu

@fjcblanco said:

Compared with DXi FM ?...(I mean the sounds, not the interface).

Thanks.

It's a matter of personal taste but if I'd have to choose DXi or FM4 I'd choose FM4 without hesitation, it has it's own 'character' while DXi sounds more 'clinical'.

Feature wise DXi has looping envelopes while FM4 has an arpeggiator.
DXi has a 'sequencer & recorder' and some effects (Delay and Filter) while FM4's LFO and Arpeggiator can be synced to host.

I own both of them, but FM4 gets more love due to ease of use and i really do like the sound more than DXi.

I do wish @PrimalAudio would give us an option to change direction of 'velocity' of the onboard keyboard.

So, if you don't have it yet, grab it before the sale ends...

fjcblanco

Thanks. I was a bit afraid of no effects, but arp is a plus.

Samu

@fjcblanco said:

Thanks. I was a bit afraid of no effects, but arp is a plus.

The sounds are nice even without effects, i still keep on just jamming with some of the presets

FM4 is at the moment IAA-Only so if effects are needed it's easy to hook it up in AudioShare or your favorite DAW and effects.

I'm also having a blast routing FM4 thru the new FLUX:FX using AudioShare...
(Sometimes it feels so good to be an App-Junkie).

Tritonman2

@PrimalAudio said:

Hello Tritonman2 and everybody else,

there seems to be a bug when trying to install FM4 on iOS 7.0.X. We are trying to fix this right now. You can also update your version of iOS in order to install FM4.

We are very sorry for this inconvenience.

@Tritonman2 said:

All I can figure is the corrupted version somehow went to the cloud so when I redownload it still will not launch! I am running out of things to try here any ideas?

Tritonman2

Any progress yet?

Zymos

You should try to contact the dev. I think he mentioned that they don't have an iPad with an older OS installed, and can't install an older OS because- Apple. He was asking for people to test on their devices for him...

Tritonman2

I am contacting him thanks no word yet. Still waiting to try it on my older operating system whenever it becomes available/ hopefully soon.

Matt_Fletcher_2000

Sorry to keep banging on - but I'm loving the sounds I can get out of this synth. Just the right amount of roughness mixed with glassy sounds at the higher end. And the interface is beautifully simple to use.

Currently my favourite ios synth. And 69p!

Tritonman2

I just sent another email off to Primal looking for info on how progress was coming on the ios 7 problems. I will let other users know as soon as I hear back from them.

Matt_Fletcher_2000

@Samu - thanks for the advice yesterday. Very helpful.

Re:

"As far as i can see the LFO is modulating the output-volume of an operator."

... yep I think that's the case. Although presumably the operator is not always producing sound itself, it's sometimes modulating another operator so perhaps technically the LFO is modulating the operators 'amount' rather than volume?

I'm liking my first introduction to FM synthesis so far. Although it does take a bit of getting your head around. As far as I can see it's all about a combination of things (LFOs and operators with envelopes) modulating a combination of other things (operators) using different wave shapes to produce a mad and somewhat unpredictable sonic result .

I really hope this app gets MIDI cc learn. I'm driving it with ProMidi - but it would be amazing to be able to automate it with the lovely automation in ProMidi.

Other questions (if anyone knows the answers?):

• What does the "track" slider mean?
• What does the "velocity" slider mean?
• Any idea what the 'Fine' button does under tempo?
• Bit odd you can't set a tempo without having to tap it out??
• It crashes for me when synced to external (loopy) clock (Air 1 iOS 7.1). Anyone had this?

Other than that I think i've got a decent understanding of what everything does now. It's fantastic that it's all on one page.

Be nice if you could share (or buy) patches. Because it's a lovely and versatile sounding synth IMO and a joy to use.

Tritonman2

Well,it has been 1 week since the release of fm4 today! Of course I have not been able to use it because of the insta crashes so that is a bit of a draw back as you might imagine. Here's hoping I was not Retronym'd. Hey I just made up a new word we can use for buying apps that do not work as advertised! At least I got something for my 99 cents! I am hoping week two and three do not go by without the fix mentioned earlier unless we want a synonym for Retronym'd! See I am having fun with this app too even if it is so badly broken.

Crabman

Man,just chill a bit.You have been burned because you spent a buck?Really?They clearly stated what's going on and they are working on it.No,you can't compare them to retronyms,they already released an update within a week.If you would have kept your device more or less up to date (i mean 7.1.x) you wouldn't have any problems now...

If you can't wait:refund.

Not that you'll get much else for a buck...

Tritonman2

No, YOU CHILL! I was having fun and nothing more. Perhaps you are getting your little panties in a bunch over my humor, no? I am certainly not losing sleep over it, get a grip man, life can be short so fix the tude dude!

Crabman

childish...

Tritonman2

Please try not to be so crabby. (Crabman, crabby, it is more humor, get it)?

Samu

@Matt_Fletcher_2000 said:

• What does the "track" slider mean?
• What does the "velocity" slider mean?
• Any idea what the 'Fine' button does under tempo?
• Bit odd you can't set a tempo without having to tap it out??

"Track" is 'tracking' the keyboard meaning the modulation amount is set based on the key on the keyboard from left to right...

"Velocity" is the same as LFO but reacts to how hard you hit the keys, or if playing on the onscreen keyboard it's upper or lower part of the key.

"Fine" allows for finer adjustment of the values when editing.

Tempo can be 'Synced' to your host too meaning if you set the tempo in your sequencer FM4 will use the same tempo.

Good luck with exploring the weird world of FM

Tritonman2

I was just contacted by Nis at Primal and they have identified the problem and it will be tested soon on my ipad! That was fairly fast. It is good to see developers staying on top of things like this. Cross your ipad tapping fingers ios 7 users!

Matt_Fletcher_2000

Thanks @Samu. That's very kind of you. All makes sense now.

I guess the onscreen keyboard doesn't control volume on the y axis of the keys? (Or at least it didn't seem to for me). Just LFO amount if you use the "velo" function.

Ext sync to an external clock completely crashes the app for me. I'll just get used to tapping for the time being.

I'll keep playing anyway. Really enjoyable 69 pence (the price of a chocolate bar!)

Goozoon

@Tritonman2 said:

No, YOU CHILL! I was having fun and nothing more. Perhaps you are getting your little panties in a bunch over my humor, no? I am certainly not losing sleep over it, get a grip man, life can be short so fix the tude dude!

Please make me unsee this

R_2

@Matt_Fletcher_2000 said:

I guess the onscreen keyboard doesn't control volume on the y axis of the keys? (Or at least it didn't seem to for me). Just LFO amount if you use the "velo" function.

It does control volume of the operators. Touching the key at the top is high velocity, bottom is low velocity.

Samu

@Matt_Fletcher_2000 said:

I guess the onscreen keyboard doesn't control volume on the y axis of the keys? (Or at least it didn't seem to for me). Just LFO amount if you use the "velo" function.

It is the Y-Axsis of the onboardkey that is velocity, up is highest velocity while bottom is lowest, quite opposite compared other synths and i wish there was a way to reverse the behavior in FM4.

Some of the factory patches use velocity quite a lot introduce drastic changes to the sound

Tritonman2

@Goozoon said:

Please make me unsee this

/
/Eye Bleach works like a charm.

Crabman

@Tritonman2 said:

I was just contacted by Nis at Primal and they have identified the problem and it will be tested soon on my ipad! That was fairly fast. It is good to see developers staying on top of things like this. Cross your ipad tapping fingers ios 7 users!

And that's exactly what i expected from them and tried to tell ya but you prefered to start a rant all over this thread instead of giving software development a couple of days time.Hope you feel better now and not even more dumb than your latest posts.

Tritonman2

Aww crabman don't be so crabby please. Please get a grip, you are the only one who is upset here lol.

Tritonman2

The recent attempts at a fix have failed so far but I will keep 7 users updated as to any progress that is made. I know they are working on a fix just no luck yet.