I got stuck looking for advice on FM. There's a lot out there that is either too difficult to grasp, so I'm unable to apply it (MW ...), or too simplistic, not addressing tuning and all that. This tutorial is a godsend!
Wish all YT tutorials were this detailed. I have recently started to get back into FM synthesis using a DX7 plus a scope and spectrum analyzer. I'm finally reading John Chowning's FM theory book from 1986 published by Yamaha and going through the exercises. Great videos !!! Cheers !!!
one of the best and clearest practical explanations of how FM actually works - just one tiny problem; as soon as i patch the square to the sync (around 6:55), the keyboard freezes and plays the same note up and down... (using VCV btw)
Great lesson on the topic! Personally, I use Intellijel Rubicon II for FM-patches and have Shakmat HiPass to „clean up the DC“ of the modulator which works excellent in these kind of patches that also stay consistent even with a third oscillator in the FM-network.
I am watching this video for the second time. Such great, clear explanations. I do want to put scare quotes around the use of the word "problem" though. The "problems" with FM synthesis that you identify here really help with the clarity of your explanations so I get why you call them problems. But mostly they are only really "problems" when seen from the point of view of attempting to play specific notes and have your FM patches track well across the keyboard. Otherwise these "problems" are just characteristics of the sounds that you get when building FM patches in certain ways.
The 2600m is going to be the centerpiece for my modular videos going forward, like the Mother-32 was in the past. I've already recorded another one showing some custom Ornament & Crime firmware which I'll be releasing soon.
@@LearningModular that’s great! I’ve got an arp clone and I’m just getting into eurorack mainly to extend its capabilities. I also wanted to thank you for all the after effects tutorials throughout the years! I’ve learned a lot and I’m very grateful. 😁
@@LearningModular yeah been into modular for about 6 years and fm as always been a bit like a cross between alchemy and quantum physics lol. Not come across an explanation of fm index that sticks in my head. Love the fm on my shapeshifter but not sure how many of aspects of your video it is capable of. Thanks again Chris your industry experience comes through when you explain things. All the best.
@@mixolydian2010 I just looked at its web page and it states "Extremely high resolution TZFM". Since it's a digital oscillator and largely self contained, they can really control things like that, and make sure the pitch behaves etc. It's much harder to do when patching together multiple modules to try to get the same result.
Thank you. This has been the most valuable information I've seen so far on analog FM. I had a good understanding of all the theory, but good demonstrations and practical advice seem much harder to find. If you haven't already and if you ever get the chance, I'd like to see you do a video on the Happy Nerding FM Aid.
In some cases, yes. Through Zero comes in when an oscillator is being asked to produce a frequency below zero Hz. A TZFM oscillator will just run backwards in that case; a non-TZFM oscillator will stall. If the main pitch control voltage is high, and the modulation depth is low, you may not ever hear this difference. But if the fundamental frequency is low, as the modulation depth goes up this difference will come into play.
I got stuck looking for advice on FM. There's a lot out there that is either too difficult to grasp, so I'm unable to apply it (MW ...), or too simplistic, not addressing tuning and all that. This tutorial is a godsend!
After all the years I've been tinkering with modular synths, I can't believe I've learned so much in the last 20 minutes... Thanks!
Happy to help!
Wish all YT tutorials were this detailed. I have recently started to get back into FM synthesis using a DX7 plus a scope and spectrum analyzer. I'm finally reading John Chowning's FM theory book from 1986 published by Yamaha and going through the exercises. Great videos !!! Cheers !!!
thanks for telling me about that book!
Fantastic demonstration, particularly motivating the need for through-zero FM
Whenever Chris Meyer publishes a video, I know I’m going to learn a thing or two! 🙏
one of the best and clearest practical explanations of how FM actually works - just one tiny problem; as soon as i patch the square to the sync (around 6:55), the keyboard freezes and plays the same note up and down... (using VCV btw)
I'm afraid I don't use VCV Rack, so I don't know what's going on there - sounds like a bug!
the oscilloscope from 2:47 is incredibly satisfying
Excellent tutorial. I shall now try exp. FM with sync on my Blofeld ...
Great lesson on the topic! Personally, I use Intellijel Rubicon II for FM-patches and have Shakmat HiPass to „clean up the DC“ of the modulator which works excellent in these kind of patches that also stay consistent even with a third oscillator in the FM-network.
I am watching this video for the second time. Such great, clear explanations. I do want to put scare quotes around the use of the word "problem" though. The "problems" with FM synthesis that you identify here really help with the clarity of your explanations so I get why you call them problems. But mostly they are only really "problems" when seen from the point of view of attempting to play specific notes and have your FM patches track well across the keyboard. Otherwise these "problems" are just characteristics of the sounds that you get when building FM patches in certain ways.
So happy to see you post again tutorials/tips/explanations/reviews. Great video as usual! 😁
Excellent explanation, Chris, as usual. Thanks!
Thanks for the great tutorials!
It’s great to see you using the arp 2600.
I’d love to see some more patches incorporating it with eurorack. ❤
The 2600m is going to be the centerpiece for my modular videos going forward, like the Mother-32 was in the past. I've already recorded another one showing some custom Ornament & Crime firmware which I'll be releasing soon.
@@LearningModular that’s great! I’ve got an arp clone and I’m just getting into eurorack mainly to extend its capabilities.
I also wanted to thank you for all the after effects tutorials throughout the years! I’ve learned a lot and I’m very grateful.
😁
Thanks a lot I had no idea about these techniques, cheers.
I'm happy to help. It's too easy for more experienced modular uses to assume that "everyone" knows techniques like this; I'm glad I could help out.
@@LearningModular yeah been into modular for about 6 years and fm as always been a bit like a cross between alchemy and quantum physics lol. Not come across an explanation of fm index that sticks in my head. Love the fm on my shapeshifter but not sure how many of aspects of your video it is capable of. Thanks again Chris your industry experience comes through when you explain things. All the best.
@@mixolydian2010 I just looked at its web page and it states "Extremely high resolution TZFM". Since it's a digital oscillator and largely self contained, they can really control things like that, and make sure the pitch behaves etc. It's much harder to do when patching together multiple modules to try to get the same result.
@@LearningModular thanks for checking on that for me.
Great examples and great explanations! Thanks a lot for taking the time to produce such high quality video clips!
My pleasure!
Fantastic workflow tutorial. Thankyou for sharing. Love your teaching style. :)
Great tour of FM basics Chris, thanks!
Thanks for the refresher !
Priceless Information
Masterful Delivery
Thank You
I use sub-harmonic oscillators in my FM patches. It helps with the sonority of the patch.
Great stuff as usual, Chris! I love the technical dive, and I learned a couple of things. 👍
Glad you enjoyed it!
Cool explanations!
Thanks!
Nice and clean explanation, as usual. Thx!
Wonderful walkthrough, thank you
Glad you enjoyed it!
Thank you. This has been the most valuable information I've seen so far on analog FM. I had a good understanding of all the theory, but good demonstrations and practical advice seem much harder to find. If you haven't already and if you ever get the chance, I'd like to see you do a video on the Happy Nerding FM Aid.
OK...I just found the video on the FM Aid.
Great - I was just going to post the link!
Very informative, thanks 👍
Great stuff!
"0hp" passive hp filters work well to remove DC offset. I use the mazzatron ones cuz they're cheap and I dig the utilitarian aesthetic.
What about cross modulation with two throug zero oscillators? Will they behave differently as with a normal lin fm and a though zero?
In some cases, yes. Through Zero comes in when an oscillator is being asked to produce a frequency below zero Hz. A TZFM oscillator will just run backwards in that case; a non-TZFM oscillator will stall. If the main pitch control voltage is high, and the modulation depth is low, you may not ever hear this difference. But if the fundamental frequency is low, as the modulation depth goes up this difference will come into play.