Inside Synthesis - FM Synthesis, Part 1

This is the original first installment of FM Synthesis. It presents a method of understanding FM for those who know subtractive synthesis.

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  Howto & Style

[Richard van Bemmelen]

This was excellent indeed. The G2 part in the end, were these presets or did you program them?

[insidesynthesis]

I programmed them -- they're pretty basic, just using a couple of osc modules and routing between them (I didn't even use the FM module).

[PukkatronicAllstars]

this was a really good video but your face annoys me. thanks for your time.

[insidesynthesis]

How does my face annoy you?

[chrism216]

This is an absolutely great tutorial on fm synthesis. Unfortunately, to really master fm synthesis, you have to know a bit of math and signals theory.

[insidesynthesis]

I think that's true if you're trying to emulate realistic synthesis, using Fourier analysis and all that. FM used to be the best way for affordable realistic sounds back in the 80s.

But nowadays, FM is about having a different sonic option, and I don't think it's necessary to understand the exact math going on in the background. If you understand the basic principles and what will happen as you add new sounds, then it's just a question of making a sound more or less harmonically rich.

[jameswandii]

Fantastic, cheers :)

[Johnny Ciphe]

Wow i can't even explain how helpful this video was to me. The perfect explanation of FM Synthesis for someone who knows a good amount about music but not too much about controlling every aspect of their synths.

[Harry Love]

@insidesynthesis hey mate, another fantastic video. I have a Casio CZ1000 which I think is an absolutely magical synth but I'm not as much of a programming wizard as you are. I was wondering if you have that synth or know what it's capable of, I could really use some help from a synth master. It has a storage cartridge and someone was telling me about SysEx loadable patches. I know this thing can make some crazy noises! Much love.

[Jesse Ochoa]

Awesome vid! I hope you're still planning on uploading part 2 soon!

[Jesse Ochoa]

Yes, but it uses the Yamaha terminology.

[José Patiño]

Would this be applicable on an App version of a FM synthesizer?

The app is called Common FM synthesizer. :o

[Jakob Schmid]

Such a cute song on the Nord Modular.

[youngn420]

Have you looked at your own channel page by any chance?

[AKITM]

Please. Please finish part two. Your tutorials are the best! I've learned a lot from you, but I need to know more. Please make part two. I'm begging you. We all are.

[marie gonzalez]

it's an awsome explication!

I'm trying to synthetize a cello, do you have the ratio and envelopes of that?