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master logic · Full Member Joined: 16 Feb 2006 Posts: 176

I've never used a synth with FM / VPM capabilities, what kind of sounds can it create?

curvebender · Posted: Mon Sep 17, 2007 10:54 am Post subject:

Do a search for "DX7", as in Yamahas classic synth, I'm sure there are pages with audio examples.

Classic DX sounds (VPM is Korgs take on the whole FM thing, FM being "Frequency Modulation") are the very playable electric pianos, deep evolving metallic sounds, really deep and thumpy basses (the original factory sound on the DX7, "Slap Bass", is an instant recognizable classic!), tubular bells type of sounds that really sound great in the lower frequencies as well!

Besides these sounds, it also can produce nice brass and soaring leads.

But, we'll have to wait a few more hours for the details about the MOD7. The MOD probably stands for "modular", and that can give it all a completely new meaning. Wink

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Derm · Posted: Mon Sep 17, 2007 10:58 am Post subject:

Yep, its the sounds you will have heard on so many '80's records. The electric pianos, bells etc.
I'm sure there will be plenty more with this version of VPM.
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Kontrol49 · Platinum Member Joined: 04 Mar 2006 Posts: 1280

Does this mean that the Oasys with the VPM will now be able to replicate more of the internal workings and timbres of the Z1 too...

I'm wondering if this is the beggining of me being able to faze out my Beloved Zoop!! Laughing

curvebender · Posted: Mon Sep 17, 2007 1:26 pm Post subject:

We'll know in a few hours.

Patience..

It's killing me!
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peter m. mahr · Platinum Member Joined: 23 Apr 2006 Posts: 1030

Interstingly FM is associated mostly to E-Piano sounds, although it could do so much more. E-Piano sounds are not a bad thing at all and this history most likely has to do with .. was it Cartridge 1 Bank a #13? .. mhmm to long ago. The famous "rhodes" sounds... but to be honest a Rhodes - at least to me - sounds a bit different, but anyway. The sounds had character and were so dynamic to play.....

The character of "old" FM as it was used in GS and later DX series gave you sounds that were very dynamic to play and the sound character was somewhere between crystal clear and warm. It was a stupid rumour that Yamaha's DX could not provide warm sounds... it defentily was possible. Ok, the sounds were not as full as Oberheims.... but heij, this was FM not substractive synthesis.

As Derm already posted in the mid 80ies you could hear FM sounds nearly in every song and somehow it influenced the music into a more "jazz/pop" direction. Sade, Matt Bianco, Sting and of course Miles Davis are just some examples, Marcus Miller together with David Sanborn another etc. etc. On the other hand musicians like Brian Eno were using FM for completely different sounds. And it is this whole spectrum of different sounds that make FM still so interesting. If you have a look into the wishlist you will most likely find it to be the most often mentioned wish (beside the sequencer maybe... Laughing

).

Not to forget NED's Synclavier which had FM as well but sounded a little bit different - two famous examples you can hear on Michael Jackson's records. If I remember correctly "Dirty Diana" and "Beat it" had some FM Synclavier sounds... but I am not 100% sure as it is already one or two days ago since I heard those songs.

Do you know Starships's song "Sara"? Do you know the intro? This is a factory sound of the TX-816.. unfortunately I do not have the time to record some TX-816 examples in my studio to give you an idea how it sounded in the "good old days"... but on the other hand we do not know what MOD-7 will bring us. In 2oo7 and after we got STR-1 I expect something very, very good for OASYS... going much further then the synthesizers in the mid 80ies.

Hopefully in some hours we will know more about it.

peter

curvebender · Posted: Mon Sep 17, 2007 1:35 pm Post subject:

peter m. mahr · Platinum Member Joined: 23 Apr 2006 Posts: 1030

devix · Full Member Joined: 07 Apr 2003 Posts: 162 Location: ITALY

But VPM structure is similar to FM one?? E.g. Operators (6 in the dx7)??!?!!! Question

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curvebender · Posted: Mon Sep 17, 2007 2:05 pm Post subject:

peter m. mahr · Platinum Member Joined: 23 Apr 2006 Posts: 1030

ski · Posted: Mon Sep 17, 2007 4:24 pm Post subject:

I could give you a real answer...

About the Michael Jackson-related FM sounds! Very Happy

Yes, they were Synclavier. What made Synclav FM unique were:

• 8-bit waveform resolution

• the carrier was an additive synth oscillator, meaning that you could dial in harmonics above the fundamental and modulate that with the modulator (sine wave)

• only one "operator" (carrier/modulator pair)

• the sound of Synclavier detuning between oscillators (so if an FM sound was doubled on two "timbres" (layered) and detuned, the resulting chorusing had a particular sound unique to Synclavier)

master logic · Full Member Joined: 16 Feb 2006 Posts: 176

hhhmmm, bells & Electric Piano........not really my cup of tea but someone mention Brian Eno which brings a Very Happy

to my face. Is this going to good for wierd soundscapes, techno sounds, experimental type stuff? Not going to moan if not but curious none the less.

curvebender · Posted: Mon Sep 17, 2007 4:47 pm Post subject:

FM style synthesis is great for weird soundscapes!

I own a Yamaha FS1R, which is esentially a DX7 on steroids, and it's magnificent! Very Happy

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vEddY · Posted: Mon Sep 17, 2007 4:50 pm Post subject: