FM Synthesis: How does it work?

Nice little joke in the beginning. However, that actually was all I really needed to understand, thanks! 😂 I’ll still watch and like

40 years later and we're still figuring out how the DX7 works! 😅

FM stands for "F****ing Magnets"

Best FM explanations I’ve seen are done with actual FM synths.

I get it now. Dexed has these things called EGs (envelop generators) and these shape the envelope that goes around each sine wave. The algorithm section arranges which operator affects the next one in a chain (leading to output). This from what I gather changes the timbre/tone and thus you get other sounds, like a square or saw wave.
One thing I don't get is why are the 6 oscillators called operators? All in all I have a lot more to learn yet. 😕

This is exactly what im talking about when a woman comes over to my place. But sometimes I feel like they don't really care about it.

goo bah

FM-Synthesis is for the guys and gals who don't have a problem with the RT part of FM (RTFM that is. 😀)

Bennn I love you but.... Dexed fucking blows

Nice clickbait. I thought there actually would be some math 😡

You should have represented the function in the frequency domain instead of the time domain. I mean, who thinks about audio synthesis in the time domain? Right? Am I right or what? haha Right? Anyone? ;)

Very few can combine the two disciplines like that. I've known a lot of software developers who are good musicians but don't necessarily focus on sound design like that. I've also known others who are into csound etc but are not so good as writing the visceral music (stuff with groove and emotion) that people actually want to listen to. I am starting to focus on the border between being a technician and a musician myself, its a great place to be because not many people are doing this. Benn Jordan is both a great musician and sound designer. This video actually makes me want to explore FM synthesis.

Replaced Dexed with KQ Dixie and haven't looked back since. No longer get the crashes I was getting with Dexed.

Is doing this stuff in reaktor much different than doing it in something like VCV rack?

In my city, there was an advertisement for the sale of the Yamaha DX7-2FD  at a price of $429. I really like the unique sound of dx7, but I'm not sure if the 2FD version sounds like the first dx7 version, since 2fd used a stripped-down version of fm-synthesis. Tell me if they sound the same and if the 2fd justifies the $420 price tag? Thanks. (Sorry, I don't know English well, so I used google translator)

That outro 🤙🏻🤙🏻🤙🏻

I am starting to think the synthesizer i bought in 8th grade in the 80s was an fm synth. My female brain actually understood what you were talking about. Now I am going to watch 3 years of your videos.

Great video, thanks!

This is a great explanation of FM synthesis.

Nice try I already own a dx7

Great playing at the end!

Love your videos and explanations but this video also made me once again realise how boring I find soft synths. All that mouse work just takes out all the joy of synthesis

Clicked to hear Benn's explanation of FM synthesis ...ended up getting a Reaktor lesson ...Thank's Benn!

Regarding the equation shown in the video there's another video by a guy called composing gloves that explanations how that equation works.

Looking at the quality of your content, I just had to subscribe and comment to push your algorithm rating. Great job!

This is awesome and I thought that EP sounded really good, loved the tremolo effect! Thanks for the tutorial :)

Thanks for the tips!

really love the ending song :)

awesome tutorial

dude i am so happy that you are doing this. i love your music for like 10-12 years - so weird and awesome seeing you talk synthesis/music production/stuff :D i hope your channel blows up, you more than deserve it

I think Akemie's Castle is my most used module, I'm so happy i bought it.

FM Synthesis is randomly turning a bunch of knobs until it doesn't sound like crap anymore, right?

why is sine wave used? simple, no harmonics, only fundamental.

FM synths are the most important musical instrument along with the sampler since the electric guitar, FM was not popular because of the lack of hands-on controls, it is way more powerful than subtractive synthesis, just have a play with the free DxD software, or buy a volca FM

Search: "Opzilla"
Google: "Maybe you meant Mozilla"
Tired of this

Sorry, but this hardly explained anything to me.

3 types. Linear, exponential, and through zero, which doesn't alter the carrier's pitch. Pretty sure a lot of the old fm synths used phase modulation instead of true fm for the same reason

Nice work on the Dexed.
A powerful recreation of the DX-7 but not the friendliest of programmers.
A darn sight easier than the little LCD window of the original though.

I had (still have ) a Yamaha CX-5M MSX Music Computer, got it as soon as it came out.
in '84.
There are sounds in there that I can't find anywhere else,
I've tried recreating them from my memory in various virtual FM synths but the sound I'm most eager to hear again must be relying on an aspect of zipper noise/quantization aliasing artefacts and just won't appear for me in the 64-bit world..
I'll just have to get the CX-5M going again if I can.
A tipped lightbulb melted the mini music keyboard but I should be able to trigger it via MIDI ... Hopefully

Excellent video, just a small point though, Linear FM is more to do with the variation from the central frequency rather than the frequencies being harmonically locked, though harmonic locking is useful for more pleasant sounding Exp FM. For example in Exp FM if you have a central frequency of 440Hz, modulation depth of 2 will create side bands at 880Hz and 220Hz so the relative distance of each harmonic from the central frequency is not even in terms of a linear frequency, resulting in a perceived change of fundamental pitch. In Linear FM this is the case, if there was a central frequency of 440Hz, the modulation sidebands would be even on both sides i.e. 440Hz +/- 220Hz, this means the average frequency is still 440Hz so it sounds more musical. With Exp FM you can see that the average frequency of harmonic content starts to increase. Of course, with Linear FM you might see a problem of increasing modulation depth. This is why through zero linear FM was developed.

LOL... each time he says oscilatior..... I can't help hear "now let's go from the asshole ator ! hahaha

and I liked this video before 5 seconds

I am producing for 4 years, watching tutorials everywhere, this is the most useful channel i have ever seen. Thank you!

I think I got some jizz in your hair, sorry.