The one thing that modern wavetable synths like vital are really missing, that FM8 and Sytrus have, is allowing you to use ratio and offset for your oscillator pitch instead of semitone/octaves. And you will be way faster at trying out stuff with modern serum-style LFO's and visual feedback. I would heavily recommend you to first learn using vital which already allows you to do osc1<-osc2<-osc3 fm routing (plus the audio rate modulation of phase using the lfos when setting them on keytrack + FMing by the sample oscillator where you can simply load a waveform) which combined with wavetables already allows for way more than the oldschool 6-operator-fm synth gang can ever hope to do. Now the thing with FM is that it just synergizes really really well with wavetables. That loss in functionality and slowdown in workflow is a pretty hefty price for 2/3 additional (weak) oscillators and frequency ratios. Long answer: Did you get it bundled with NI Komplete? otherwise there isn't really a reason to buy it when you can wait for a sale to get phase plant for under 100$ (ignoring the overpriced effects you have better versions for in your daw anyway).īut even then, FM8's modulation system is archaic and it is pretty limited (only a handful of waveforms to choose from, versus sytrus that allows you to load in any waveform or phaseplant that allows whole wavetables, and a total lack of RM/AM). All of you who have maybe forgotten bout FM8 - it's time to give it another look because it is indeed very awesome, and it's probably the FM synth you're looking for.3 Wavetable oscillators ( + 1 sample oscillator where you can load any waveform) that you can FM from and a way more efficient workflow. Nothing wrong with basic of course, but I was looking forward to something bit more substantial, powerful, elaborate and just a little more MORE.įM8 combines modern with digital vintage, and some would even say it does modern better. That's when I realized Algoritm was a bit too basic for me. When I first tried it, I was definitely impressed by the Reason "rackness" of it, but that wore off as I spent more time with it. It's definitely NOT a PX7 replacement because it only has ADSR envelopes and can't import DX7 patches. In my opinion, Algoritm is a synth that is great for the audience it was designed for. JK, it's actually more advanced than Algoritm. FM8 also has an "easy edit" mode, which is basically Algoritm. Analog introduces random variations in the voices (like analog synths) and Digital changes the bit resolution, so you can make FM8 sound like the 12-bit DX7 (and it goes lower than 12 if you want).ġ4. If you want to color the sound quality, FM8 has 2 quality modes: Analog and Digital.
There's a high resolution mode in FM8 which improves the sound quality at a cpu cost of course.ġ3. FM8 thinks you're smart enough to handle less-approachable envelopes. FM8 can import DX-family, DX7 and TX81z patches.ġ1. FM8 has a separate and special Operator called Operator X that features noise and wave shaping.ġ0. You can morph between 4 different patches in FM8's Morph Grid.ĩ. FM8 has a dual parallel/serial multimode filter. FM8 has an arpeggiator with step sequencer functionality.ģ. If you were like me, then you immediately recognized that when you saw it.Ģ.
Algoritm's matrix is inspired by (or copied from) FM8's. I think you'll be surprised how advanced it is.ġ. It's still the most powerful FM synth on the planet, and for all of you more experienced synth users who didn't fall for the Algoritm hype, here are 14 FM8 fun facts that you maybe didn't realize were a thing. FM8 is still my favorite FM synth, even though it was introduced FOURTEEN years ago in 2007.