Vintage Synth Explorer Forums

Hello!

I am starting to experiment creating sounds with the DX7s, however being smart but not experienced at all in FM synthesis and the manual says nothing about it I am not sure what things really do.

having searched the net I have failed to find a definitive site/reference that tells you fully how things work and are related, so if you know where to look please tell me!

In the mean time I will post a series of (probably stupid) questions which may also help other newbies to the FM synth scene who use this site.

There are two EG settings EG-L and EG-R. What is the difference between L and R, and each has 4 parameters, what do they do and how/are they interrelated???

Did you really try looking around? I don't think so - it only takes a few well-phrased searches to get good info.

oak.cats.ohiou.edu/~phillipm/BasicFM.pdf
http://digitalmedia.oreilly.com/2006/04 ... orial.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frequency_ ... _synthesis
http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/apr00/a ... ecrets.htm
http://digitalmusics.dartmouth.edu/~boo ... synth.html
http://www.thedx7.co.uk/
http://www.maths.abdn.ac.uk/~bensondj/html/dx7.html

There are TONS more - EASILY found.

BTW - EG is Envelope Generator - the L & R stand for level and rate. It's rather more complex than simple ASDR envelope generators - you'll need to read up on how these work and what they apply to before you can really use them effectively.

Seriously, you might want to just get a more conventional synth that uses a subtractive synthesis paradigm - you'll probably understand your DX a good deal more if you do. However, do understand that FM is quite difficult to master and you should not expect anything like classic analog sounds to be produced. Expect frustration for some time.

Thank you! I shall enjoy the challenge of FM synth!!! I think in my ignorance I did not realise that FM synth is more than a DX7 only thing, so there a few sources and books I have looked past thinking they won't apply but obviously they do!! I think what I was/a, looking for a definate DX7 orientated FM synth manual that explains what each parameter in the DX7 actually does. Is such a thing available? I think my concern is because its all new to me that a generic book might not really help when it comes to what the parameters in the DX7 actually do in terms of not just sound/tone but the actual waveform, is there any help out there??