KVR Audio

kvotchin · Post by **kvotchin** » Sun Sep 16, 2018 8:45 am

This couldn’t go in the instruments (softsynths) forum, or the hardware forum, because...

I don’t care if you suggest hardware or softsynths. I just want a FM synth that’s really nice/easy to use, with a great interface.

Yes, I know that FM synths are not the easiest to master. That’s fine - I’ll put in the time. It’s just that they seem to vary a lot in other ways.

Bonus points if it features other synthesis types (e.g., additive, physical modelling, etc.)

Thanks in advance.

SLiC · Post by **SLiC** » Sun Sep 16, 2018 9:31 am

I just bought the Digitone (Elektron) which I can highly recommend. It is a little bit unique in the way they have implemented FM which is a sort of hybrid as the FM is sort of set up around sweet spots (easier to program) and it has filters. Of course you also get the amazing Elektron sequencer (including 4 tacks of midi control) but it is also a great multitimbral FM sound module with good FX (and instrument ins to use these FX on other gear). Once Overbride V2 comes out you will also be able to edit with a software VST AND route the sounds directly over USB as audio (and us the inputs as a soundcard)

You get a lot for your money and it sounds great

https://youtu.be/ZGHKm-CxSNQ

paradisebunny · Post by **paradisebunny** » Sun Sep 16, 2018 9:39 am

I happen to have FM8 for sale at the moment, it’s a classic FM softsynth with a really straightforward layout, great sounds and lots of tutorials out there. Lots of potential to go really all out with complex patches too! Might be a great choice to get your feet wet! I only sell it because I really like the Bitwig fm synths. Not much you can do wrong with it at that price (check my buy and sell thread).

Very quick overview https://youtu.be/lx_L9dPIa78

Distorted Horizon · Post by **Distorted Horizon** » Sun Sep 16, 2018 10:10 am

http://www.audionebula.ca/

AuroraFM is nice. No hidden tabs, all features visible and easy/fun to use

Also incredibly cheap.

DJ Warmonger · Post by **DJ Warmonger** » Sun Sep 16, 2018 10:16 am

There are not many hardware synths at all, and these which exist are either too simple or too difficult to realistically program. FM8 or IL Sytrus are your best bets in digital domain.

AsPeeXXXVIII · Post by **AsPeeXXXVIII** » Sun Sep 16, 2018 11:03 am

Maybe the Yamaha Reface DX?

anomandaris1 · Post by **anomandaris1** » Sun Sep 16, 2018 11:24 am

"I just want a FM synth that’s really nice/easy to use, with a great interface." You won't find such thing. FM synths look pretty ugly and most of them have some kind of aliasing (because most of them are old) - maybe using higher sample rate will fix this - modern sofsynths use oversampling, so there is no need to fiddle with DAW's sample rate. I like Linplug Octopus (mainly because of the microtonal support), but they went out of business, so it won't be updated anymore... There exist some free FM synths that look just as ugly as commercial synths, so check them first. Use the kvr search for synth (fm). There are just a few pages.

"Bonus points if it features other synthesis types (e.g., additive, physical modelling, etc.)" Check some hybrid synths - Rob Papen Blue, U-he Zebra, Synthmaster, Falcon, Halion.

Acid Mitch · Post by **Acid Mitch** » Sun Sep 16, 2018 11:52 am

anomandaris1 wrote:"I just want a FM synth that’s really nice/easy to use, with a great interface." You won't find such thing.

The original DX series had pretty good interfaces.
Also, editing with DX Manager you don’t have to touch the front panel and everything is nicely laid out on your computer screen. Works great with the tx models that didn't have such a good interface.

fmr · Post by **fmr** » Sun Sep 16, 2018 12:51 pm

DJ Warmonger wrote:There are not many hardware synths at all, and these which exist are either too simple or too difficult to realistically program. FM8 or IL Sytrus are your best bets in digital domain.

There are LOTS of GREAT FM soft synths in the market.

I think there were several threads on this before. But here is a small list, just out of my memory, besides the already mentioned FM8 and Sytrus, which I would include, of course:

Arturia DX7 V;
Arturia Synclavier V;
Big Tick Rhino;
Image-Line Toxic Biohazard;
DeXed;
discoDSP Phantom;
LinPLug Octopus
Native Instruments Reaktor - it has several top FM Ensembles in the User Library, like these:
https://www.native-instruments.com/en/r ... show/3127/
https://www.native-instruments.com/en/r ... show/1791/
https://www.native-instruments.com/en/r ... show/3647/
https://www.native-instruments.com/en/r ... show/6325/
https://www.native-instruments.com/en/r ... show/2505/
https://www.native-instruments.com/en/r ... how/10633/
(actually, basically ANY modular would allow you to experiment with FM too).
Rob Papen Blue;
Sound Guru Tangle;
Sugar Bytes Aparillo;
Tone2 Nemesis;
U-He Zebra;
U-He Bazille;
2nd Sense Wiggle;

Almost all of them (if not ALL of them) have demos you can download, to try yourself. Although both FM8 and Sytrus are good (even great) synths, I'm not sure if they are your best bets. Perhaps the Arturia DX7 V is what best suits you, based on what you wrote: "I just want a FM synth that’s really nice/easy to use, with a great interface.". Even if the "easy" part of the equation here may not be "that" easy.

Also, many of those included in the list above open new paths to FM, and use it in very different, although equally creative, ways. FM synthesis is so vast and offers so many creative options, that stick with just one implementation will be highly reductive.

deastman · Post by **deastman** » Sun Sep 16, 2018 1:24 pm

Elektron Digitone: I agree with everything said about this wonderful box.

Plogue PortaFM: An emulation of an old school gaming FM chip. Easy to use and quite versatile.

Sugar Bytes Aparillo: The weirdest FM synth you’re like to encounter, with a playful interface which invites experimentation.

Arturia Synclavier V: An emulation of the classic monster instrument, with a unique approach to FM which avoids a lot of the complexity while remaining powerful.

DJ Warmonger · Post by **DJ Warmonger** » Sun Sep 16, 2018 1:27 pm

fmr wrote:
DJ Warmonger wrote:There are not many hardware synths at all, and these which exist are either too simple or too difficult to realistically program. FM8 or IL Sytrus are your best bets in digital domain.
There are LOTS of GREAT FM soft synths in the market.

TL;DR

Highlighted the important part just for you. Read before you spend a lot of time on a reply

fmr · Post by **fmr** » Sun Sep 16, 2018 1:47 pm

DJ Warmonger wrote:
fmr wrote:
DJ Warmonger wrote:There are not many hardware synths at all, and those which exist are either too simple or too difficult to realistically program. FM8 or IL Sytrus are your best bets in digital domain.
There are LOTS of GREAT FM soft synths in the market.

TL;DR
Highlighted the important part just for you. Read before you spend a lot of time on a reply

I read it, but as you wrote yourself, if he is looking for an FM hardware synth, he will be spending money on something that is "either too simple or too difficult to realistically program"

Besides, you also suggested two sofsynths yourself

And the OP wrote. "I don’t care if you suggest hardware or softsynths". If you are objecting the fact that you wrote "not many hardware synths", yes, you wrote that, but you just listed TWO software synths. when there are LOTS. And probably those that you listed are NOT his best bets (IMO they are not).

Anyway, soft synths are unbeatable in this field. No hardware synth comes even close.

BertKoor · Post by **BertKoor** » Sun Sep 16, 2018 9:04 pm

The hardware synths in this category are under the hood all software. So kudo's for not caring about it.

Software will be cheaper though, if not even totally free.

imrae · Post by **imrae** » Sun Sep 16, 2018 10:25 pm

I was impressed with the Reface DX when I tried one in a store. Good amount of tweakability for FM: enough to feel like you have some control, but not so much that you get yourself into horrible unmusical areas of the parameter space. Demo one if you can, I see them in lots of music stores lately.

russeault · Post by **russeault** » Mon Sep 17, 2018 4:19 am

teenage engineering op1

Interested in buying a FM synth