3 ms·
Fiddling around with FM, I've found it easy to dial in interesting sounds but very difficult to find sounds that are "musical" so it's difficult to actually inc
by derriz 3y ago
Fiddling around with FM, I've found it easy to dial in interesting sounds but very difficult to find sounds that are "musical" so it's difficult to actually incorporate them into a piece of music. I guess the wild success of the built-in patches of something like the DX7 proves that this is down to my own lack of skill but FM synthesis seems somewhat chaotic - a small adjustment to one parameter can cause a wild swing in the sound.
- anigbrowl 3y agoTry to use modulation frequencies that are in some sort of integer ratio to the carrier wave; the lower the ratio the less tinny/fizzy the sound will be. Non-integer ratios are enharmonic, good for percussion and SFX but also quickly tailing off into noise.
- chillingeffect 3y agoUnderrated comment. This is one of the most inportant parts of FM, imo. Each integer ratio of carrier to modulator has a specific flavor. The "simpler" the ratio the less complex and flavorful the sound. Therefore, fading from irrational to rational ratios can make a crazy, inharmonic sound "stabilize." After working for years with FM, i have found a somewhat narrow range of sounds and the layering becomes more inportant than the algorithm. So getting to know of the ratios is important, 1:2, 1:3, 1:4, etc.