This was your best FM synthesis explanation? Don't brag about your degree then... Here, have a proper tutorial about FM from someone who actually explains the engineering behind it: th-cam.com/video/glvRz-ASpRs/w-d-xo.html
I'm working with the YM2612, a 4 operator chip. Was having difficulties grasping how it fully worked. This helps explain things a LOT. Thank you so much.
As a teacher (now retired) I had to constantly remind myself i was teaching stuff to people who didn't know what i knew. Here in synthi-land (or space) it seems most of the vids like to talk tech fast and complicated to show off their own knowledge. Finely! Somebody who knows how to explain some synth tech so we newbs can understand what the heck it is. The paper squares very nice - and the patch chords brilliant! I understand! A miracle!
I have been watching your videos for years now, inspired to create different music and slowly piecing together my sound equipment. Right at the doorway of acquiring Operator for live 11, I wanted to learn about FM and discovered your video. This is probably the most informative Neuro-Div friendly explanation I have ever received. Thank you Andrew, my sound design and musical understanding are forever changed because of your short video.
this stuff is what really sparked my intirest in electronics, its so much fun to wire digital circuits (for square waves) and using a digital to analog converter to make a sine wave. its so interesting and fun to me.
I for one welcome its return. I've been playing around with OPL instruments in OpenMPT a lot, and I feel like Andrew really explained the concept well to newcomers.
Ive been watching you for a long time and I have to say that you're skills with video design and production have really developed impressively. Your content is such high quality in every way. Thanks :)
Very clear and concise explanation - not droning on and on for 30 minutes without getting to the point. I never realized to what extent FM synthesis "branched out" in all directions - I thought there were never more than one modulator for a carrier.
Yes, second that Zack. I'm a music theory teacher and I love showing Andrew Huang videos to my class on Fridays. Andrew really is a model musician for the community on so many levels.
I live in the Gta to and I just appreciate how you inspire us. If you can keep teaching us how to learn the less common skills of music!! Love you dude:) (Dave from boy in a band is sick to!)
Dude! that would be great. that is so kind of you. If you are familiar with lmms I have learned my way around that and have a good idea of samples. I need work on my theory and notes but I play the drums. Thanks alot
Okay, I’m starting to finally understand how this all works. I’m mainly familiar with Subtractive Synthesis, both analog and digital. When doing Analog, I noticed when I used 2 different waveforms to modulate a patch it creates a far more interesting effect than if I had used just the one type of waveform. So how you explained FM synthesis with using different waveforms to modulate each other in order to build sounds, makes complete sense. Thanks Andrew
FM synthesis was mainly used in Yamaha synthesizers (such as the DX7) and Yamaha sound chips (such as in '80s arcade games and the Sega Mega Drive/Genesis console).
Oh my... Coming from the Berklee channel on the basics of synthesis, and I gotta say you surpassed their pedagogy and power of synthesis (yeeeyyy it's a pun) on this somehow complicated topic! Thank you Andrew! I've started a music career (based on live sound reinforcement) but we're seeing it from many different areas, and FM synthesis is one of the most interesting next to the Physics o sound. Your other video on harmonics (blew my mind) is astonishingly simple and entertaining 🎶❤
The modulation action is actually slightly more complicated than was explained here. The pitch modulation doesn't actually follow the shape of the waveform of the mlodulator like you'd expect, but instead follows the *derivative* of that waveform. Meaning, if you put a sawtooth wave modulating a sine wave, all you'd get is a slightly deeper sine wave. Use a triangle wave to modulate, you'll get the sine wave alternating between two constant pitches really fast. The derivative wave of the sine wave is just another sine wave (just phase shifted by π/2 radians), so this fact doesn't affect it's use as a modulator, but you have to keep this in mind when you want to use other waveforms.
Reydriel Why? Is this some special issue with the way Yamaha FM synths work? I can not imagine how this would apply to a simple custom modular patch of just some oscillators.
'sine wave has a vibrato that is slowing down over time because of this modulation' ... nice and succinct way to get my head sort of around what FM is about. A modulator doing something and you can also control how the modulator does that thing
One point that needs to be made is that while FM synthesis can be done in the analogue realm, it's tough because analogue is so, well, analogue. If you have 4 operators stacked up, the slightest oscillator drift could completely change the resutling sound. Chowning figured this out early on and did his research on computers, but affordable FM synthesis had to wait until that kind of processing power became reasonably affordable. The result was the Yamaha DX7.
Brian T Djdnt Chowning sell his patent for the idea to Yamaha as a result? So they could manufacture it and realise his idea because he didn’t have the means/money
I'm so glad you said this. Right at 1:10, Andrew describes that setting both operators to the same ratio, then raising the amplitude on the modulator, will make a laser shooting type of sound. But every time I try to do this on my Digitone (Digital FM synth), it does not sound like that. Which makes sense, considering the fact that a 1:1 ratio creates even harmonics. When the Frequency Ratio between Modulator and Carrier is 1:1, that is, they have the same value, this will create a Sawtooth Wave (a Sawtooth describes a wave that contains all harmonics). (source yamahasynth.com/yamaha-synth-rss/fm-basic-waveforms) So, on the Digitone, if you set your carrier and modulator to be the same pitch, then brought the volume up on the modulator to a level of 50, you've created a sawtooth waveform. And if you brought the level to 100, you've created more even harmonics in the spectrum. This doesn't, and shouldn't create a laser type of sound. There shouldn't be any movement happening, from everything I have read, and experimented with. However, if he is using analog oscillators, it would make sense, because they might be slightly detuned, resulting the movement that he created. Do you know if he was using analog oscillators to create this video?
Thanks Andrew, I was actually wondering this all week but didn't have time to dive into it. Your videos seem to always be so well timed according to my life
Great video Andrew! If someone is as curious as me, i need to let you know that what actually is being modulated is the phase of the carrier, and when the phase of the operator moves, creates this up and down pitch bending that we all love
At least modern and software FM synths, yeah. There were synths that actually modulated the frequency, but most now use phase modulation. It doesn't make a huuuuge difference, but the examples using saw waves as modulators in the video would actually result in the carrier holding a steady higher or lower tone, rather than the expected result of high to low or low to high. It also means that higher modulators cause more change in pitch than lower ones.
dude, first of all let me just say I love your videos! I think you should do a whole series on stuff like this, about how synths work and that kind of thing. It'd be really helpful to a lot of people who have just picked up a synth and don't know what they're doing or people who are starting to learn some basic music production.
Hi Andrew, I find you videos to the best out there for music production. You remain honest and humble and teach things in a fun and interactive way. Cheers mate, I have subscribed.
Watched this video a few months ago, and it was great to help understand. But we started FM synthesis in class today using Arturia DX7 and coming back to this video REALLY helped now that I’m truly diving into it. Thanks Andrew for you invaluable information 🙏🏽
Hi Andrew, what you are explaining is modulating with an LFO the pitch of the first sine wave, and then with other LFO the rate of the first LFO. FM instead bring new harmonics to the same tone of the first sine wave.
Nice video. A lot of Arcade boards, PC Sound cards and Video Game Consoles used FM Synthesis. One of my favorite consoles the Sega Mega Drive/Genesis uses a FM Synth chip and a PSG sound chip.
That's an awesome explanation! People could just make simple short videos like this to explain things that are Barriers to Entry for different things, and it would help a lot of people start getting into a subject! That's kind of like what is already out there, but I think people need to focus more on this. It's awesome! Thanks Andrew,
Nice video. This synthesis method was also used in some arcade, console and PC videogames in form of the YM2151, YM2612 or YM3812 yamaha sound chips used during 80s and 90s. They bring me such good memories of my childhood...
Operator is actually an oscillator that has its own amplitude envelope and sometimes filter. So in a sense, an operator is sort of a 1 osc mini synth within the synth.
Really interesting explanation. Could you maybe do another showing what kind of operators/algorithms would be required to make the kind of sounds most of us would recognise as 'FM synth' sounds, like say a standard bell sound from a DX7??
This is a very complex subject that I wasn't really trying to understand, I just enjoy your videos, but after watching this a couple of times I think I *do* actually understand it a little bit now. That's really cool. Thank you, you're such a great teacher
That was a quick and dirty way to get away with not uploading a "new" video... Also I'm not mad... I respect your work! Have a nice day! Ps. I really loved the oldish radiator video. That was some weird shit. ...and that is why i loved it so much!
What I like about FM (actually, Korg OPSix's implementation of it) is that you can use the carriers, mods and then the external filters to emulate various analogue synthesisers. FM synthesis is also an excellent choice to create some really crystal clear fat bass sounds.
This were really the most important aspects of FM synthesis in a nutshell. The only thing I would add is that the term "operator" really means the combination of an oscillator and its associated envelope generator (and possibly other pitch and amplitude modulation sources). The ability of FM synths to create a variety of *dynamic* tones stems to a great extend from the fact, that each operator has its own modulation section, the most important component of which is its envelope generator.
As someone starting to dive into synthing and feeling overwhelmed at times this is extremely valuable
hi Sammy
Keep up my guy, been doing this for almost 7 years now and still can learn something new.
Shut the hell up peasant. NO ONE CARES WHAT THAT YOURE EXPLORING SYNTHEZIZEEE!
samuraisynthesis
So cool to see you here Samurai!
Dude, that was THE BEST explanation of FM synthesis. Ever. And I have a degree in Electronic Music.
Michael Rinehart where u got to school for tht and is it paying off yet
This was your best FM synthesis explanation? Don't brag about your degree then...
Here, have a proper tutorial about FM from someone who actually explains the engineering behind it: th-cam.com/video/glvRz-ASpRs/w-d-xo.html
Larry Tough Love University of Tennessee. Go Vols. I wound up web developing instead of music making.
Cristi Ceausu Wasn't bragging. Just leaving a compliment for Andrew.
+HORNGEN4 you sound like an unnecessarily butt hurt idiot
rly happy you uploaded this separately!
my god, this is so easy to understand. thanks!
heiakim Music why tf are you here japanese translate music guy? lol
Hotto Doggo Hotto Doggo got stuck in my Mindoooo
Boi
Hooh
heiakim has been spotted
This is easily one of my favorite things you've done.
So glad you made this as a standalone video. This goes straight to my "best videos of February" list
I'm working with the YM2612, a 4 operator chip. Was having difficulties grasping how it fully worked. This helps explain things a LOT. Thank you so much.
That's the chip the Genesis/Mega Drive used.
This is fantastic!
As a teacher (now retired) I had to constantly remind myself i was teaching stuff to people who didn't know what i knew. Here in synthi-land (or space) it seems most of the vids like to talk tech fast and complicated to show off their own knowledge. Finely! Somebody who knows how to explain some synth tech so we newbs can understand what the heck it is. The paper squares very nice - and the patch chords brilliant! I understand! A miracle!
This has to be one of the best videos I've seen explaining synthesis. Well constructed!
MUCH NEEDED
You would make a great instructor. These videos are very helpful. Love learning about sound synthesis. I subscribed to your other channel! 👋✨
...you should replace the words "would make" with the word "are" 👍
Honestly, THIS CHANNEL IS ACTUALLY THE BEST!!! A GOLD MINE OF MUSICAL KNOWLEDGE!!! Any upcoming musical theory content?
I have been watching your videos for years now, inspired to create different music and slowly piecing together my sound equipment. Right at the doorway of acquiring Operator for live 11, I wanted to learn about FM and discovered your video. This is probably the most informative Neuro-Div friendly explanation I have ever received. Thank you Andrew, my sound design and musical understanding are forever changed because of your short video.
Yes! I was hoping you would do this thank you
same!!
Awesome! I thought this was such a creative and unique way of describing FM synthesis. I'm glad you decided to spin it into it's own video.
this stuff is what really sparked my intirest in electronics, its so much fun to wire digital circuits (for square waves) and using a digital to analog converter to make a sine wave. its so interesting and fun to me.
you did a really good job explaining this. I feel like FM synthesis is making a huge comeback, thanks to the digitone im sure
I for one welcome its return. I've been playing around with OPL instruments in OpenMPT a lot, and I feel like Andrew really explained the concept well to newcomers.
Ive been watching you for a long time and I have to say that you're skills with video design and production have really developed impressively. Your content is such high quality in every way. Thanks :)
Very clear and concise explanation - not droning on and on for 30 minutes without getting to the point. I never realized to what extent FM synthesis "branched out" in all directions - I thought there were never more than one modulator for a carrier.
I love how concise and on point this video is! No bullshit, just content. LOVE IT!
You are so talented. I strive to make music like you do. You are a model for the music community!
Yes, second that Zack. I'm a music theory teacher and I love showing Andrew Huang videos to my class on Fridays. Andrew really is a model musician for the community on so many levels.
I live in the Gta to and I just appreciate how you inspire us. If you can keep teaching us how to learn the less common skills of music!! Love you dude:) (Dave from boy in a band is sick to!)
Hey! You need any help starting music producting? We could talk sometime and i can help you with what you need to get started! :)
Dude! that would be great. that is so kind of you. If you are familiar with lmms I have learned my way around that and have a good idea of samples. I need work on my theory and notes but I play the drums. Thanks alot
Bow bow 🐶
visual learning is underrated, you're a genius. thank you!
Okay, I’m starting to finally understand how this all works.
I’m mainly familiar with Subtractive Synthesis, both analog and digital.
When doing Analog, I noticed when I used 2 different waveforms to modulate a patch it creates a far more interesting effect than if I had used just the one type of waveform.
So how you explained FM synthesis with using different waveforms to modulate each other in order to build sounds, makes complete sense.
Thanks Andrew
FM synthesis was mainly used in Yamaha synthesizers (such as the DX7) and Yamaha sound chips (such as in '80s arcade games and the Sega Mega Drive/Genesis console).
this is a wild overstatement, while Yamaha popularized FM with the DX virtually every modern digital synth incorporates FM
Oh my...
Coming from the Berklee channel on the basics of synthesis, and I gotta say you surpassed their pedagogy and power of synthesis (yeeeyyy it's a pun) on this somehow complicated topic!
Thank you Andrew! I've started a music career (based on live sound reinforcement) but we're seeing it from many different areas, and FM synthesis is one of the most interesting next to the Physics o sound.
Your other video on harmonics (blew my mind) is astonishingly simple and entertaining 🎶❤
This video breaks it down so clearly, simply and concisely. Great work.
The modulation action is actually slightly more complicated than was explained here.
The pitch modulation doesn't actually follow the shape of the waveform of the mlodulator like you'd expect, but instead follows the *derivative* of that waveform. Meaning, if you put a sawtooth wave modulating a sine wave, all you'd get is a slightly deeper sine wave. Use a triangle wave to modulate, you'll get the sine wave alternating between two constant pitches really fast.
The derivative wave of the sine wave is just another sine wave (just phase shifted by π/2 radians), so this fact doesn't affect it's use as a modulator, but you have to keep this in mind when you want to use other waveforms.
Reydriel Why? Is this some special issue with the way Yamaha FM synths work? I can not imagine how this would apply to a simple custom modular patch of just some oscillators.
these kind of things are massively helpful, thanks so much Andrew!
Very easily understandable. The post-its and some yarn as the wiring are good for explaining this stuff.
Simply brilliant presentation, Mr. Huang! Never could I have wrapped my mind around this content without such visual detail. Thank you!
Oh dude this is wonderful. I've always wondered what the range of the modulators were and whether or not they ever go into the audible range.
Best video I have ever seen about sound design.
'sine wave has a vibrato that is slowing down over time because of this modulation' ... nice and succinct way to get my head sort of around what FM is about. A modulator doing something and you can also control how the modulator does that thing
This is an absolutely amazing explanation!
oh man you've helped me understand this so much better than a 3 hour workshop I just did on fm synthesis could.
YOU ARE INCREDIBLE! ITS SO EASY TO UNDERSTAND! Now all i need to do is work out how to use that knowledge in soundation!
One point that needs to be made is that while FM synthesis can be done in the analogue realm, it's tough because analogue is so, well, analogue. If you have 4 operators stacked up, the slightest oscillator drift could completely change the resutling sound. Chowning figured this out early on and did his research on computers, but affordable FM synthesis had to wait until that kind of processing power became reasonably affordable. The result was the Yamaha DX7.
Brian T Djdnt Chowning sell his patent for the idea to Yamaha as a result? So they could manufacture it and realise his idea because he didn’t have the means/money
I'm so glad you said this. Right at 1:10, Andrew describes that setting both operators to the same ratio, then raising the amplitude on the modulator, will make a laser shooting type of sound. But every time I try to do this on my Digitone (Digital FM synth), it does not sound like that. Which makes sense, considering the fact that a 1:1 ratio creates even harmonics. When the Frequency Ratio between Modulator and Carrier is 1:1, that is, they have the same value, this will create a Sawtooth Wave (a Sawtooth describes a wave that contains all harmonics). (source yamahasynth.com/yamaha-synth-rss/fm-basic-waveforms)
So, on the Digitone, if you set your carrier and modulator to be the same pitch, then brought the volume up on the modulator to a level of 50, you've created a sawtooth waveform. And if you brought the level to 100, you've created more even harmonics in the spectrum. This doesn't, and shouldn't create a laser type of sound. There shouldn't be any movement happening, from everything I have read, and experimented with.
However, if he is using analog oscillators, it would make sense, because they might be slightly detuned, resulting the movement that he created.
Do you know if he was using analog oscillators to create this video?
Thanks Andrew, I was actually wondering this all week but didn't have time to dive into it. Your videos seem to always be so well timed according to my life
You're a great teacher.
Wow, the only person on the internet that uses grammar lol.
Next time: Do a video on Linear Arithmetic Synthesis *WITH HISTORY!!!*
Great video Andrew!
If someone is as curious as me, i need to let you know that what actually is being modulated is the phase of the carrier, and when the phase of the operator moves, creates this up and down pitch bending that we all love
At least modern and software FM synths, yeah. There were synths that actually modulated the frequency, but most now use phase modulation.
It doesn't make a huuuuge difference, but the examples using saw waves as modulators in the video would actually result in the carrier holding a steady higher or lower tone, rather than the expected result of high to low or low to high. It also means that higher modulators cause more change in pitch than lower ones.
dude, first of all let me just say I love your videos! I think you should do a whole series on stuff like this, about how synths work and that kind of thing. It'd be really helpful to a lot of people who have just picked up a synth and don't know what they're doing or people who are starting to learn some basic music production.
What I've struggled to find info about online is what the actual mathematical function ruling the modulation is.
Hi Andrew, I find you videos to the best out there for music production. You remain honest and humble and teach things in a fun and interactive way. Cheers mate, I have subscribed.
you are technically my hero dude. love the video
Thanks!
Hey man just wanted to say your videos are kickass. Educational, fun and truly inspiring. Keep it up!
One of the best videos explaining FM I found so far, thank you
Ive been looking for this explanation for a while and couldn't find anything. great video, really appreciate it.
Brilliant as always. I really appreciate your CREATIVE clarity. (Or clear creativity?) I have my students watch your videos all the time.
Watched this video a few months ago, and it was great to help understand. But we started FM synthesis in class today using Arturia DX7 and coming back to this video REALLY helped now that I’m truly diving into it. Thanks Andrew for you invaluable information 🙏🏽
Hi Andrew, what you are explaining is modulating with an LFO the pitch of the first sine wave, and then with other LFO the rate of the first LFO. FM instead bring new harmonics to the same tone of the first sine wave.
Dope video! love them patch cables!
the production and quality level of this channel deserves significantly more views
more of these types of videos, love them! Keep it up Andrew!
Sega Genesis brought me here
same
Really good video Andrew! I'm writing an assignment on FM for my production class and this explains things in a nice straightforward way.
Favourited! That was such a great crash course - you've explained everything so clearly and succinctly. Keep doing more videos like these! :D
Rhythm then is just a super slow oscilation and polyrhythms are combinations of oscilation with a certain ratio relationship
You should check out Adam Neely's "Harmonic Polyrhythms" video...
The moog subharmonicon is a synth that works with this idea
Perfect! I'll have to link to this in any videos I make about FM - fantastic explanation, very easy to follow.
Nice video. A lot of Arcade boards, PC Sound cards and Video Game Consoles used FM Synthesis. One of my favorite consoles the Sega Mega Drive/Genesis uses a FM Synth chip and a PSG sound chip.
Really unique presentation. Which is a quality I admire about your videos, but you really knocked it outta the park on this one.
As someone brand new to digital music making, you're the only person I've found who can explain such basic ideas so simply!
This is so clear! Incredible delivery of great info!!
This is so good. It is usually such a confusing subject, but that is such a good introduction. I'm off to Ableton Operator right now. Thanks Andrew.
What a great concise and well explained video! Huge props to you.
Stay Awesome
Rory @ Hyper Production
That's an awesome explanation!
People could just make simple short videos like this to explain things that are Barriers to Entry for different things, and it would help a lot of people start getting into a subject!
That's kind of like what is already out there, but I think people need to focus more on this. It's awesome!
Thanks Andrew,
Nice video. This synthesis method was also used in some arcade, console and PC videogames in form of the YM2151, YM2612 or YM3812 yamaha sound chips used during 80s and 90s. They bring me such good memories of my childhood...
FINALLY, someone who knew Yamaha was the FM Synthesis master!
Operator is actually an oscillator that has its own amplitude envelope and sometimes filter. So in a sense, an operator is sort of a 1 osc mini synth within the synth.
Really interesting explanation. Could you maybe do another showing what kind of operators/algorithms would be required to make the kind of sounds most of us would recognise as 'FM synth' sounds, like say a standard bell sound from a DX7??
3:18 every Sega Genesis explosion sound ever
This is a very complex subject that I wasn't really trying to understand, I just enjoy your videos, but after watching this a couple of times I think I *do* actually understand it a little bit now. That's really cool. Thank you, you're such a great teacher
Very well explained!
This is really one of the best educational videos I've ever seen on any topic.
Thank you, this was the clearest and most concise explanation of this concept I was able to find anywhere!
I love the use of the pieces of paper! Very creative Mr. Huang!
That was a quick and dirty way to get away with not uploading a "new" video...
Also I'm not mad... I respect your work! Have a nice day!
Ps.
I really loved the oldish radiator video. That was some weird shit. ...and that is why i loved it so much!
Videos like this are amazing! Thanks, I've been wondering about this recently.
Thank you! I've been trying to find out exactly what an FM Operator is and you finally explained it!
this is so great. the best video to watch if you have no idea what fm synthesis is
christ,.. .. i went to the wrong school..
Well-explained! One of the few tutorials on here that I thought was short, sweet, and to the point. Glad I found your channel ;-)
I would watch a full series of Andrew just explaining different musical things in this style
Thank you so much for this! I’ve always wondered how to use modulators. You’re amazing!
Great! That was exactly the starting point i needed to create my own synthesizer =)
very creative...visuals help anchor what is to some a very difficult concept to understand..thanks for thinking it through and offering it up!
Andrew this is so sick- very helpful!! And so simply laid out, thanks man- do more stuff like this!
What I like about FM (actually, Korg OPSix's implementation of it) is that you can use the carriers, mods and then the external filters to emulate various analogue synthesisers. FM synthesis is also an excellent choice to create some really crystal clear fat bass sounds.
What an original way to explain this topic! Great video, as always.
I love these kinds of videos
I love your videos, I being an electronic musician find them very informative and helpful. You really know your stuff, keep making awesome videos!
This were really the most important aspects of FM synthesis in a nutshell.
The only thing I would add is that the term "operator" really means the combination of an oscillator and its associated envelope generator (and possibly other pitch and amplitude modulation sources). The ability of FM synths to create a variety of *dynamic* tones stems to a great extend from the fact, that each operator has its own modulation section, the most important component of which is its envelope generator.
"Leme just grab another patch cable" 🤣
yes it was very helpful i needed this info on fm synths and was so relieved to find andrew huang made a video on it :')))
Simple and clear. Fantastic
This was awesome!! Keep doing content like this!!!
Thanks man. Your easy to understand introduction explanation, got me on the right track as a beginner learning about F.M. synthesis
Thank you for making this video, I’ve been looking for a video explaining FM synthesis :)
This is wonderful, thank you for this information! Youre a big inspiration of mine and I wish you the best in the future with your career and hearing!
The best and most concise explanation on FM synthesis. Thanks man!