FM Synthesis 101
FM Synthesis Explored
Genre: Audio
  • 22 Videos
  • 1h 50m
  • Quiz Available
Do you think FM synthesis is too complex and confusing to use? You won't anymore after watching this course by artist and trainer Rishabh Rajan. Add FM synthesis to your sound designer's toolkit now!
Rishabh Rajan is an award winning composer, producer, songwriter, synthesist, sound designer and Logic Pro expert currently living and teaching in New York...
Watch Free Previews!
View the first 3 videos of every course.
Get A Library Pass!
Watch this course – and ALL Ask.Video courses – for as long as your pass is active.
Purchase just this course! Watch it anytime, for life.
Overview
Status: Available
FM (Frequency Modulation) synthesis always had a reputation of being challenging to program, but once you learn it, it's a very rewarding synthesis method for sound designers and musicians. The most popular hardware FM synth is the vintage Yamaha DX7, but nowadays FM is available in a variety of software instruments. Thankfully it's much easier to program on a big computer screen than on a tiny DX7 16 x 2 LCD display! With its soft synth shootout approach, this course explores the creative possibilities offered by FM synthesis.

FM synthesis is very different from more traditional synthesis methods, so that's why Rishabh starts the course by diving into some important FM synthesis theory. Operators, carriers and modulators are clearly demonstrated using Reaktor Blocks. The differences between Exponential, Linear and Linear Thru Zero are also explained in an easy-to-understand fashion.

First in the synth shootout is the appropriately named Operator synth that comes bundled with Ableton Live. Rishabh reveals how to harness the FM power that lurks under Operator's deceptively simple user interface. He applies FM concepts by creating a deep and wide pad sound with Operator. Next, you get a tour of a Logic classic, the EFM1. This synth may date back to Logic's Emagic era, but as you will see and hear it still packs a lot of FM punch!

FL Studios user will like the following tutorials, where Rishabh covers Sytrus in detail, complete with a sound design example. Native Instruments FM8 is next on the menu. Like the other synths, all parameters are explored with another sound design demonstration.

Next, Rishabh covers a recent addition to Logic, the Retro Synth. The rich-sounding synthesis possibilities hidden under the FM tab are explored and demonstrated. The course concludes with the Arturia DX7 V, which is a virtual recreation of the most famous synth of all time, the Yamaha DX7.

So get ready to delve in Frequency Modulation synthesis with this course by Rishabh Rajan!
Outline
Forum discussions on this course
Other courses in this series
What to do next
Reviews
No reviews are available yet. Why don't you leave the first?
Feedback
Course Advisor
Don't Know Where To Start?
Ask A Course Advisor
Ask Us!
Copy the link below and paste it into an email, forum, or Facebook to share this with your friends.
Make money when you share our links
Become an Ask.Video Affiliate!
The current affiliate rate is: 50%
Classes Start Next Week!
Live 8-week Online Certification Classes for: