NI FM7 or FM8

ihavezippers1 · Post by **ihavezippers1** » Sat Apr 02, 2011 3:45 pm

FM7 has a higher user rating on this site than FM8. Just wondering if FM7 is in some way preferable to FM8, or is this a case of dissatisfaction with FM8 (not necessarily in comparison to FM7). Seems like a lot of the negative comments on FM8 relate to the "soft-synth will never be as good as hardware" argument.

tekkentool · Post by **tekkentool** » Sat Apr 02, 2011 4:13 pm

It's a completely ridiculous argument at that, fm8 is a completely different synth and isn't meant to emulate any specific hardware synth. It's multitudes better than fm7 and an amazing bit of software to own.

CS_TBL · Post by **CS_TBL** » Sat Apr 02, 2011 8:30 pm

Listen to the link in my signature, and judge for yourself. All these comparisons at websites make no sense if you don't know who the voters are. You can't know whether voters are sound design novices or die hard experts, because it's still FM, not a ROMpler with instant-ready piano sounds. And as a rule of thumb; presets suck!

dustinh · Post by **dustinh** » Sun Apr 03, 2011 6:32 am

FM8 is definitely better. It's basically the exact same thing except it has a few added features and easier programmability. In fact, the FM8 comes with all the patches from the FM7 along with the new FM8 patches.

Know what else is cool about it? It can actually load patches from the DX7! You can download sound banks from the DX7 online and play them on the FM8 and tweak them to your heart's content.

optimus prime · Post by **optimus prime** » Sun Apr 03, 2011 11:46 pm

dustinh wrote:Know what else is cool about it? It can actually load patches from the DX7! You can download sound banks from the DX7 online and play them on the FM8 and tweak them to your heart's content.

FM7 does that too. And looks kinda simpler and cooler. But I'd agree that FM8 is better overall.

FarawayWave · Post by **FarawayWave** » Thu Apr 14, 2011 6:22 pm

FM8 has an improved synth engine and better sound quality than FM7. Both can import DX7 patches but neither sounds like a DX7.

Synth Buddha · Post by **Synth Buddha** » Wed Apr 20, 2011 12:18 pm

Another vote for FM8 from me. I've used both of them a fair bit over the last few years, but FM8 is the only one I can see myself using in the future. I'm not exactly a masterful FM programmer, though, so this is hardly an expert opinion. The FM7 may - for whatever reason, I wouldn't know - be more programming friendly. Still, what little FM programming I do, I do on the FM8.

Jinsai · Post by **Jinsai** » Wed May 04, 2011 10:34 pm

Actually, they both sound exactly like a DX7 in all the ways that are important. And they have vastly superior programming interfaces. I say this as someone who owned a DX7 and DX7-II

Antonino · Post by **Antonino** » Tue Jun 07, 2011 10:47 pm

I wanted to ask the same exact question

Basically I have a licensed FM7 and now there's this super summer offer from NI to upgrade to FM8: it's very tempting, it's like only 35€, but I'd like to know if it's really worth it sound wise.. talking about the GUI in my opinion FM7 > FM8

CS_TBL · Post by **CS_TBL** » Wed Jun 08, 2011 10:30 am

Yes it is. Don't underestimate the new effects section! For me it's an integral element of the sound, not just some extra cherry on your desert.

Antonino · Post by **Antonino** » Sun Jul 03, 2011 2:18 pm

I tried the demo and in the end I kept my FM7 license, it's still a really fantastic VST imho and I actually prefer it over FM8, mainly because of the better GUI, better legacy patches import and the randomize function. Also in general I prefer keeping extra stuff (arpeggiator and FX) separate from the actual synth

iProg · Post by **iProg** » Tue Sep 04, 2012 1:23 pm

With my new Roland A-500 Pro MIDI controller, the FM8 is my favorite softsynth along with Arturia JP-8V.
To be able to tweak FM sounds with a hardware controller, based on patches from the DX-7 and FM7 library and other downloadable famous FM sounds has made FM synthesis much more fun!

vladimotor · Post by **vladimotor** » Sat Sep 08, 2012 3:04 am

I own both. I also think FM7 has a better GUI, but otherwise FM8 is much better.

Post by **Ashe37** » Sat Sep 08, 2012 3:59 am

I prefer FM3. It sounds more vintage.

Black Tomorrow · Post by **Black Tomorrow** » Sat Sep 08, 2012 11:31 am

FM5 is like two FM7's in one! And if you prefer wood sides, there's FM1!

Sorry, I just had to...

NI FM7 or FM8

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