not only fm but check the yamaha FS1R out.. it's imho the best "current" fm hardware synth in this direction.

check out Yamaha's DX200. It's more hands-on tweakable than your average FM rig.

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All rhythm evolves around a kick...

We have one of those (FS1R) in Studio C at the Art Institute. It's pretty funky sounding.

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Last edited by wrzonance on May-18-2007 at 17:36

You may also want to investigate the Nord Lead 3. It a traditional analog synth with a lot of FM capabilities added.

You'll have to buy one used, because they just discontinued them.

thanks guys...


just looking over some of the suggestions...


they all look pretty powerful and are good suggestions and they all look pretty affordable...so good on that.

looking at the FS1R...this looks pretty powerful. i'm not too familiar with Formant Synthesis so i might have to read up on this abit...

looking at the Dx200...looks pretty comparable to the Sy-99, but with some expanded built in fx and larger preset bank. i might lean towards a keyboard synth however since my my main interest is pad sounds...unless i get a nice MIDI controller to go with everything...


anyway, anymore suggestions are welcome hehe...thanks for the responses so far. i'll have to look at all of these a little closer and decide in time which direction i'd like to go.

Nord Lead 3 might be a little pricey for a first hardware synth...also i'll have to check out Sinus Modulation...not too familiar with the similarities and / or differences to FM

edit: i see you have one in your studio though Eric J hehe...which is awesome . it is a very nice synth

Last edited by Floorfiller on May-18-2007 at 18:11

I wouldn't recommend you get a hardware FM synth, they're notoriously difficult to program, you need a book to even get a sine wave going on those things, people I know have them (DX7s mainly) and they say they sound crap exept for 80s style cheesiness. Get FM8 instead and a nord lead 3 or something. The reason I say that is because FM synthesis is really easy on your cpu because FM was always digital anyway, whereas virtual analogue is quite CPU heavy as you have to model various characteristics. So, basically its a waste of time and money to buy a hardware synth for FM.

Software FM synths are hard enough to use, I wouldnt go hardware.

I heard a quote somewhere that 90% of the DX7s that were returned for servicing still had the original patch bank. UNTOUCHED. lol.

A FM synth is not a bad idea since it costs far less than software and has a real resale value.
It all depends on whether you are comfortable using hardware or not.

quote:

Originally posted by Pjotr G check out Yamaha's DX200. It's more hands-on tweakable than your average FM rig.

I had one that I sold a year ago - great box with awesome sounds. Also somewhat easy to program when hooked in through your PC via midi. I sold it for more than I paid for it.

If you want to go the software route, the only choice is NI FM*, which is one of the best soft synths you can buy.

looking at some of the later responses i understand the reactions, but the programming is actually one of the things i like about FM Synthesis. i'm just as interested in the sound design aspect as actually making the songs. most of the people i look up to and strive to be like are master programers...one of the attractions of FM Synthesis to me at least is that it has endless possibilities and not everyone can handle it.