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furnace/doc/4-instrument/fm.md

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FM synthesis instrument editor

The FM editor is divided into 7 tabs:

  • FM: for controlling the basic parameters of FM sound source.
  • Macros (FM): for macros controlling algorithm, feedback and LFO
  • Macros (OP1): for macros controlling FM parameters of operator 1
  • Macros (OP2): for macros controlling FM parameters of operator 2
  • Macros (OP3): for macros controlling FM parameters of operator 3
  • Macros (OP4): for macros controlling FM parameters of operator 4
  • Macros: for miscellaneous macros controlling volume, arpeggio, and YM2151 noise generator.

FM

The FM synthesizers Furnace supports are four-operator, meaning it takes four oscillators to produce a single sound.

These apply to the instrument as a whole:

  • Feedback (FB): Determines how many times operator 1 returns its output to itself. (0-7 range)

  • Algorithm (AL): Determines how operators are connected to each other. (0-7 range)

    • Left-click pops up a small "operators changes with volume?" dialog where each operator can be toggled to scale with volume level.
    • Right-click to switch to a preview display of the waveform generated on a new note:
      • Left-click restarts the preview.
      • Middle-click pauses and unpauses the preview.
      • Right-click returns to algorithm view.

  • LFO Frequency Sensitivity: Determines the amount of LFO frequency changes. (0-7 range)

  • LFO Amplitude Sensitivity (AM): Determines the amount of LFO amplitude changes. (0-3 range)

These apply to each operator:

  • The crossed-arrows button can be dragged to rearrange operators.
  • The OP1, OP2, OP3, and OP4 buttons enable or disable those operators.
  • Amplitude Modulation (AM): Makes the operator affected by LFO.
  • Hardware Envelope Generator (SSG-EG): Executes the built-in envelope, inherited from AY-3-8910 PSG. Speed of execution is controlled via Decay Rate. YM2610/YM2612 sound source only.
  • Attack Rate (AR): determines the rising time for the sound. The bigger the value, the faster the attack. (0-31 range)
  • Decay Rate (DR): Determines the diminishing time for the sound. The higher the value, the shorter the decay. It's the initial amplitude decay rate. (0-31 range)
  • Sustain Level (SL): Determines the point at which the sound ceases to decay and changes to a sound having a constant level. The sustain level is expressed as a fraction of the maximum level. (0-15 range)
  • Secondary Decay Rate (DR2) / Sustain Rate (SR): Determines the diminishing time for the sound. The higher the value, the shorter the decay. This is the long "tail" of the sound that continues as long as the key is depressed. (0-31 range)
  • Release Rate (RR): Determines the rate at which the sound disappears after KEY-OFF. The higher the value, the shorter the release. (0-15 range)
  • Total Level (TL): Represents the envelope’s highest amplitude, with 0 being the largest and 127 (decimal) the smallest. A change of one unit is about 0.75 dB.

FM ADSR chart

  • Envelope Scale (KSR): Also known as "Key Scale". Determines the degree to which the envelope execution speed increases according to the pitch. (0-3 range)
  • Frequency Multiplier (MULT): Determines the operator frequency in relation to the pitch. (0-15 range)
  • Fine Detune (DT): Shifts the pitch a little. (0-7 range)
  • Coarse Detune (DT2): Shifts the pitch by tens of cents. (0-3 range) YM2151 sound source only.

macros

Macros define the sequence of values passed to the given parameter. Via macro, along with the previously mentioned parameters, the following can be controlled:

FM Macros

  • AM Depth: amplitude modulation depth. YM2151 sound source only.
  • PM Depth: pitch modulation depth. YM2151 sound source only.
  • LFO Speed: LFO frequency.
  • LFO Shape: LFO shape. Choose between saw, square, triangle, and random.
  • OpMask: toggles each operator.

OP1-OP4 Macros

All parameters are listed above.

Macros

  • Arpeggio: Pitch change sequence in semitones.
  • Noise Frequency: specifies the noise frequency in noise mode of YM2151's Channel 8 Operator 4 special mode.
  • Panning: toggles output on left and right channels.
  • Pitch: fine pitch.
    • Relative: pitch changes are relative to the current pitch, not the note's base pitch.
  • Phase Reset: Restarts all operators and resets the waveform to its start. Effectively the same as a 0Cxx retrigger.

links

FM instrument tutorial: A great starting point to learn how create and work with FM sounds. This was made for DefleMask, but all the same principles apply.