Ever wondered if FM can do bass sounds? In this tutorial, we show how to quickly dial in a bass sound that you can tweak to your liking or modify further!
I have both of these and man what a pair! The Digitone delivers on my dream of a self contained ALL FM playground for full songs. The Reface can go places where the other cannot tho like per operator detuning but the lfo mapping and added modulation in it's matrix (aftertouch, modwheels, etc) on the Digitone can have amazing results. To go even further, I have an SY77. The envelope looping was ahead of it's time and adds a lot of complexity. I wish it had been added to either one of these machines. I think it's the one thing that makes the FM on the SY77/99 unique. FM is only as lifeless as the programmer wants it to be. Great vids!
I am surprised at the low number of views, this is a great series on FM synthesis. It seems we have a gigantic world of pre-set folks not interested in creating sounds. This is strange to me, these non-designers should be buying romplers not synthesizers.
Ambient Sequential Synth Performer Disagree. With all the presets out there people can do what they want, of that means just trying out sounds. I like making sounds myself, but that's just a choice.i don't disrespect people for not bothering.
No disrespect intended, buying a Juno DS, or a Yamaha MX would be much more fulfilling to someone who does not design but could layer sounds easily. Layering is the next best thing to design, and will eventually lead some to design too. A synth like the Yamaha Reface DX is not going to keep them happy for long with its few available presets and few available online patches.
It sounds like you're just projecting your insecurities onto other people. Who are you to say who's worthy of buying synths? They're more affordable than ever before, and there's barely even a market for ROMplers anymore. Also, "few available online patches"? There are thousands. This video series is great and all, but a lot of people just like to have fun editing random parameters and seeing what they come up with.
Very nice job! I was excited to get this bad boy cause on DEXED I was not able to get the Monobass factory patch sound found in the DX100. Which seems to me because of the 4-op structure? So I appreciate how bottom-heavy and a cross between that patch and the lately one. Question: You did key scaling but only on Operator 3? if so, why is that?
It seems like you didn't init the voices this time. Is this continuing where part 5 ended? Love these tutorials by the way! I'm new to FM and this helps me so much :)
I just skipped over showing the init process and setting the carrier volume to 100, otherwise as I remember it, it was from scratch. It's been a while now, though :) Thanks for the comment, glad it's helpful to you!
Hey I have a question... I have the reface dx and enjoy making sounds with it but what causes the 'click' noise on a key press... sounds kinda like a bass drum? I'm trying to make a bass sound similar to this but without that click as soon as the sound is triggered
I think you should soften the envelope of the operator that is going main output, maybe just a bit of attack and a bit of release. The reason of this happening is that the signals oscillate between an absolute number (e.g: 1, -1) and if whenever you stop playing the value is not zero you'll hear that click because the output goes from whatever value was oscillating to zero suddenly. If you soften the envelopes as I mentioned, the signal always ends on zero, hence you should get rid of that I don't have a reface DX but this is a common scenario for FM, even VSTi. If you wanna go further, google for 'zero crossing'
Similar sound engine, but very different implementation. While the Reface is a scaled down (at times almost too much) retro flirt with the DX line from the 80's in a tiny, playable format, the Volca is a box of glitch (in a good way!) and riffs. It's fun to see FM return in such different packages, if anything, and we think they complement each other.
Man, I love that sound! I want to buy a synth but I'm not sure about buying the reface DX, novation mininova or Roland JD xi I want that kind of 80s pop sound. Could you help me? Please
I would say that the DX and the Mininova would give you the contrasts of FM digital and lush analog that make up the 80's pop sound, so it's hard to choose. Others may chime in with different advice but from my view, you need both.
What kind of 80s pop? If you want early-80s synthpop kinda sound, you probably want something that can do (or emulate) analog like Mininova or JD-Xi. If you want that late-80s glassy kind of sound then you definitely want an FM synth like the DX. I would say that if you're new to synths, the DX should be your last choice of the 3 because FM synthesis is a lot less straight-forward than subtractive. The Mininova is all around a great VA, but I think of the 3 you listed the JD-Xi is probably the best bang for your buck. It has a digital/rompler section, a sequencer, an analog monosynth section, and a built-in drum machine. A lot of its sounds/waveforms are derived from 80s Roland synths/drum machines, so you'll definitely be able to get that type of sound with a little work.
Fantastic tutorial, I learned more in these 30-40 minutes than in a year of endless tutorials and presentations.
Thanks very much for posting this series. Great explanation, and also very relaxing to watch
I rarely see FM synthesis in action like this. That graphical interface actually makes it easier to understand.
Agreed, many mistakenly think of FM synthesis as "static" or "lifeless". I think the new Elektron Digitone will help change that perception.
I have both of these and man what a pair! The Digitone delivers on my dream of a self contained ALL FM playground for full songs. The Reface can go places where the other cannot tho like per operator detuning but the lfo mapping and added modulation in it's matrix (aftertouch, modwheels, etc) on the Digitone can have amazing results. To go even further, I have an SY77. The envelope looping was ahead of it's time and adds a lot of complexity. I wish it had been added to either one of these machines. I think it's the one thing that makes the FM on the SY77/99 unique. FM is only as lifeless as the programmer wants it to be. Great vids!
Thanks! I've had my DX for a few years and I still forget a lot of the basics lol
You are the best! Thank you for these tutorials
Got my favorite tempo playing on the looper!
Great tutorial!
Thanks for making these videos!
I am surprised at the low number of views, this is a great series on FM synthesis. It seems we have a gigantic world of pre-set folks not interested in creating sounds. This is strange to me, these non-designers should be buying romplers not synthesizers.
Ambient Sequential Synth Performer Disagree. With all the presets out there people can do what they want, of that means just trying out sounds. I like making sounds myself, but that's just a choice.i don't disrespect people for not bothering.
No disrespect intended, buying a Juno DS, or a Yamaha MX would be much more fulfilling to someone who does not design but could layer sounds easily. Layering is the next best thing to design, and will eventually lead some to design too. A synth like the Yamaha Reface DX is not going to keep them happy for long with its few available presets and few available online patches.
It sounds like you're just projecting your insecurities onto other people. Who are you to say who's worthy of buying synths? They're more affordable than ever before, and there's barely even a market for ROMplers anymore. Also, "few available online patches"? There are thousands. This video series is great and all, but a lot of people just like to have fun editing random parameters and seeing what they come up with.
Thank you.
Perfect.
do you know a good way to recreate the ebass 1 sound from the DX7?
Very nice job! I was excited to get this bad boy cause on DEXED I was not able to get the Monobass factory patch sound found in the DX100. Which seems to me because of the 4-op structure? So I appreciate how bottom-heavy and a cross between that patch and the lately one. Question: You did key scaling but only on Operator 3? if so, why is that?
👏👏👏
It seems like you didn't init the voices this time. Is this continuing where part 5 ended? Love these tutorials by the way! I'm new to FM and this helps me so much :)
I just skipped over showing the init process and setting the carrier volume to 100, otherwise as I remember it, it was from scratch. It's been a while now, though :) Thanks for the comment, glad it's helpful to you!
01:07 from where comes the bite in all of a sudden? I was following step by step but here you skipped adding velocity sensitivity to an OP right?
Hey I have a question... I have the reface dx and enjoy making sounds with it but what causes the 'click' noise on a key press... sounds kinda like a bass drum? I'm trying to make a bass sound similar to this but without that click as soon as the sound is triggered
I think you should soften the envelope of the operator that is going main output, maybe just a bit of attack and a bit of release. The reason of this happening is that the signals oscillate between an absolute number (e.g: 1, -1) and if whenever you stop playing the value is not zero you'll hear that click because the output goes from whatever value was oscillating to zero suddenly. If you soften the envelopes as I mentioned, the signal always ends on zero, hence you should get rid of that
I don't have a reface DX but this is a common scenario for FM, even VSTi. If you wanna go further, google for 'zero crossing'
do you have any opinions between the reface DX and the volca FM?
Similar sound engine, but very different implementation. While the Reface is a scaled down (at times almost too much) retro flirt with the DX line from the 80's in a tiny, playable format, the Volca is a box of glitch (in a good way!) and riffs. It's fun to see FM return in such different packages, if anything, and we think they complement each other.
theycallmejpj buy both midi together.
Man, I love that sound! I want to buy a synth but I'm not sure about buying the reface DX, novation mininova or Roland JD xi I want that kind of 80s pop sound. Could you help me? Please
I would say that the DX and the Mininova would give you the contrasts of FM digital and lush analog that make up the 80's pop sound, so it's hard to choose. Others may chime in with different advice but from my view, you need both.
What kind of 80s pop? If you want early-80s synthpop kinda sound, you probably want something that can do (or emulate) analog like Mininova or JD-Xi. If you want that late-80s glassy kind of sound then you definitely want an FM synth like the DX. I would say that if you're new to synths, the DX should be your last choice of the 3 because FM synthesis is a lot less straight-forward than subtractive. The Mininova is all around a great VA, but I think of the 3 you listed the JD-Xi is probably the best bang for your buck. It has a digital/rompler section, a sequencer, an analog monosynth section, and a built-in drum machine. A lot of its sounds/waveforms are derived from 80s Roland synths/drum machines, so you'll definitely be able to get that type of sound with a little work.
Bass was perfect to my ears at 1.45 you had a gritty analogue sound going right they. I preder that over the finishef item.
You gotta know when to stop :)
I appreciate you took it further. Made it clear how the sound can be mangled and taken in different directions.
big NAWW for me. Compare the two. a 1.45, that sound is real thin and the finished has almost 2x the bottom end
Cool enough... but it sounds like the Factory bass... Oh no, this is the end?! Wanted to hear where this thing could be taken but I guess that's it.