Super JX and the MPG-7X

video upload by Starsky Carr

"The Roland Super JX (MKS-70 / JX-10) is one of Roland’s most underrated analogue polysynths. Released in 1986, it was effectively two JX-8P synth engines in one instrument, giving you 12 voices of DCO analogue synthesis, huge pads, powerful basses, and classic mid-80s Roland character.

In this video I take a deep dive into the Roland MKS-70 Super Jupiter rack synth, paired with the Retroaktiv MPG-7X programmer and the Vecoven PWM upgrade, which massively expands the capabilities of the original synth.

We explore how the controller transforms the experience compared with the original menu-driven interface, and look at the additional synthesis power introduced by the Vecoven upgrade including true PWM, additional envelopes, extra LFO, and expanded modulation routing.

Along the way I demonstrate a range of sounds including pads, basses, evolving textures and layered patches, showing why the Super JX became famous for its huge analogue pads and rich detuned sounds.

I also look at some of the performance features of the MPG-7X such as assignable controls, patch generation, chord mode, velocity crossfading and MIDI integration, which make this combination feel like a modern analogue synthesizer despite the vintage hardware.

If you're into vintage Roland synths, analogue polysynths, or classic 80s synthesis, the Super JX is a fascinating instrument sitting right at the transition between the analogue era and the rise of digital synths like the DX7.

In this video
Roland MKS-70 Super Jupiter overview
Retroaktiv MPG-7X controller deep dive
Vecoven PWM upgrade explained
Sound design examples and patch demos
Dual-layer patches and detuned pad sounds
Performance features and MIDI control

Gear used
Roland MKS-70 Super Jupiter
Retroaktiv MPG-7X controller
Vecoven PWM upgrade"

DiscoDSP Releases Retromulator Based on The Usual Suspects dsp56300 Engine

via DiscoDSP

[Note: although DiscoDSP gives credit to The Usual Suspects, it's my understanding TUS is not happy about it. From a forum:

"He basically took our source, put his own wrapper on it and is trying to sell it and use it to promote his own business. Can't prevent it, but frankly this is reprehensible IMHO.

Yes. He knows he cannot legally "sell" it due to the licensing model our code is published under. Therefore he sells "support" of "his development efforts" to include difficult things like "git clone" and other Arcane and extremely difficult stuff. sigh... I'd strongly advise anyone using it not to actually pay him for it, but that is just my opinion.]

What isn't clear is whether the UI is just the player above or includes the full editors by The Usual Suspects. I'm hearing it's just the player, which in effect might be an upsell for the full editors by The Usual Suspects.

That said:

"Retromulator brings legendary hardware cores back to life through authentic low-level emulation. The virtual analog synths are powered by a faithful recreation of the Motorola DSP 56300 processor, the Yamaha DX7 runs a full emulation of its original chip set, and the Akai S1000 sampler plays your SF2, SFZ, and Bliss sample banks with studio-quality interpolation. Each core runs its actual firmware or sample data — delivering the unmistakable character of hardware that defined electronic music from the early 80s through the 2000s.

Unlike traditional software emulations that recreate synthesizer behavior by approximation, Retromulator emulates the original integrated circuits at the hardware level. The virtual analog synths run on a cycle-accurate Motorola DSP 56300, the Yamaha DX7 runs a full emulation of its Hitachi HD6303R sub-CPU and Yamaha YM21280/YM21290 EGS/OPS chip set, and the Akai S1000 sampler runs on the SFZero v3.0.0 engine with 8-point sinc interpolation supporting SF2, SFZ, ZBP, and ZBB sample banks. Each core executes its authentic firmware or sample data exactly as intended.

Load the ROM firmware from your own hardware or sample banks from your library, place them in the designated folder, and Retromulator takes care of the rest. The result is not an approximation — it is the real hardware running inside your DAW.

Retromulator is built on Gearmulator, an open-source synthesizer emulation project by the dsp56300 team. We are grateful for their extraordinary work in bringing these classic instruments back to life."

You can find demos of the dsp56300 engines in previous posts here.

Featured synths:

CLICK FOR MORE »

Våld Labs Tresse: a multiengine synthesizer based on Plaits, for desktop.

video upload by Våld Labs

This one was sent my way via Meska who had the following to say: "It's 'basicaly' a standalone MI Plait with 3voice and extended oscilator models."

Video description follows:

"Tresse — 3-voice polyphonic desktop synth, 38 engines

Hey all,

Been working on this for a while and it's finally at a point where I want to share it.

*Tresse* is a standalone polyphonic synthesizer built around Mutable Instruments' Plaits DSP code, running on an ESP32-S3 with a custom PCB. Three voices of polyphony, 38 synthesis engines, USB, DIN/TRS and Bluetooth MIDI, and perhaps Ableton Link and our upcoming stack (VMB) Våld Modular Bus, expected to ship this summer, and which will a new wireless comms protocol with negligible latency, auto discovery and machine mesh capabilities (to be released soon).
Also enough knobs and encoders to actually play the thing without menu-diving, and a battery for when you're bored outside of your studio.

*The core idea:* take the full Plaits engine library — all 24 algorithms — and make it polyphonic in a self-contained hardware instrument. Then keep going and add 14 more custom engines on top.
There are hundreds of options similar to this in modular systems and i thought why not bring all these god-level creative tools to bedroom, desktop producers who don't have the money or the space (or will) to mingle in the modular space, and bring them one contained box with all they need.

What's inside

*ESP32-S3* doing all the DSP across both cores (voices 0+1 on Core 1, voice 2 on Core 0, parallel render)
**PCM5102A DAC**, 24-bit output, 32kHz sample rate
*4 pots + 4 rotary encoders* through CD74HC4067 mux and MCP23017 I2C expander
*OLED display* (128×64) for patch info, engine select, preset browsing
*USB MIDI + BLE MIDI* — works with everything, no adapter needed for wireless
Custom PCB, all through-hole friendly

38 engines

The first 24 are straight from Plaits — East Coast, Phase Distortion, all three DX7 variants, Terrain, String/Chords, Chiptune, Wavetable, Speech, Swarm, Particle, the Rings modes, the three drum engines, etc.

Then 14 custom engines built from scratch:

*Karplus-Strong* — proper physical string modeling with excitation morphing (noise → impulse → tonal)
*ByteBeat* — 8 classic formulas with pitch-tracked rate, gets wild
*CZ Phase Distortion* — Casio CZ-style, three distortion shapes
*Supersaw* — up to 7 detuned saws with PWM, the obvious one but it needed to exist
*Formant* — vowel synthesis with 3 bandpass resonators, gender shift control
*2-Op FM* — clean FM with 13 ratios and operator feedback
*Wavefolder* — sine/tri/saw/square source into a proper folder with bias
*Noise Drums* — SVF-based with pitch envelope, covers kicks through metallic hits
*Modal Resonator* — 8 tuned bandpass partials, morphs from harmonic → bell → bar inharmonicity, with a bowed excitation mode
*Sympathetic Strings* — 3 coupled Karplus delay lines with controllable coupling and interval ratios
*Comb Resonator* — 4 parallel comb filters with spread control
*Drawbars* — organ-style additive with 8 Hammond-ratio partials
*Complex Oscillator* — FM into wavefolder, Buchla-adjacent territory
*Grain Noise* — granular noise with smoothing, good for textures and pads

Controls

Three parameter layers accessible via toggle buttons:

*Normal* — Timbre, Morph, Harmonics, Color on pots; Attack, Decay, FM, LFO Depth on encoders
*MOD* — Fold, Detune, Ring Mod, Chorus on pots; LFO destination/shape/speed/sync on encoders
*SHIFT* — Filter Cutoff/Reso/Env/Type on pots; Portamento, Octave, Vibrato depth/speed on encoders

Hold both buttons → engine select overlay. Double-tap MOD → system menu (randomizer, MIDI config, play mode). Double-tap SHIFT → preset browser across three banks (own patches, generated, branches).

Play modes: Poly, Mono, and chord modes (Major, Minor, 7th, Sus4, Power, Octave).

The randomizer is one of my favorite things — it generates random patches with procedural names (stuff like "Velvet Moth" or "Iron Shard"), you scroll through them with the encoder, and save the ones you like to a generated preset bank. 512 slots each for generated and branch presets, 128 for your own.

What it sounds like

Honestly covers a lot of ground. The Plaits engines already span everything from classic analog to FM to physical modeling to noise, and the custom engines fill in some gaps I wanted — proper supersaw, real Karplus-Strong, the modal/sympathetic stuff for metallic and evolving tones, and the ByteBeat engine for when you want to go full chaos. The global FX chain (filter, wavefolder, ring mod, chorus) ties everything together.

The project should be available from April 2026, in kit or assembled units! Price to be discolsed once i have the final FINAL prototype, but shouldn't hurt the wallet.

This is a *Våld Labs* project from Lisbon Portugal. Much more to come.

Would love to hear what people think, and happy to answer questions about the build or the DSP. Be aware that this is a pretty advenced prototype, but still a prototype"

https://valdlabs.com

Note they also have the Consequencer pictured left but no additional info aside from the following on it yet.

"A portable, desktop-first sequencer with modular DNA — built for the art of shaping chaos."

CubuSynth also has a Consequencer announced back in 2024, but they appear to be unrelated.

Three New Synths — The M0SS Family Kickstarter Launch

video uploads by Ultrapalace

Playlist:

1. We Made Three New Synths — The M0SS Family Kickstarter Launch
2. M0SS-201 Demo: Wave Folder Bass
3. M0SS-201 Demo: Krell Patch
4. M0SS-416 Demo: Presets
5. M0SS-416 Demo: Brian Eno's Tambura patch
6. M0SS-309 Demo: Mellow Horns and FX

"The M0SS-201, M0SS-309 and M0SS-416 are 3 new members of the M0SS line of synthesizers from UltraPalace, expanding on the flagship M0SS-101 released in 2025.

This line of instruments packs the power of an advanced synth in to a tiny, rugged enclosure, and offers a unique user interface, designed to be intuitive, hands-on, and fun. Press a button to select a parameter in the synthesis engine, and turn the encoder to modify its value.

Coloured LEDs positioned across the face will pulse and toggle to show the signal flow, indicate settings, and show the current parameters magnitude.

These synths feature USB MIDI Host, as well as 1/8" MIDI, so you can connect any MIDI controller, and map knobs or faders to any parameter using MIDI learn, allowing you to transform your inexpensive MIDI controller into a powerful and fascinating vintage-style synth, or to integrate the synth into your existing MIDI setup.

https://www.ultrapalace.com/"

On Kickstarter here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/...

"The M0SS-201 is a west coast synth, which takes some inspiration from the Buchla Easel. This modern monosynth is packed with features that will inspire experimentation into advanced synthesis. It is capable of an incredibly broad spectrum of sounds, and diving in, you might find yourself wondering if the sounds you are creating have ever been heard before by human ears, and the answer may well be no!"

CLICK FOR MORE »

1984 Post-Apocalyptic Inspirational Beat | Yamaha DX7 & Roland TR-808 ‘Back Ups on the Way’ #808

video upload by Keyboard Kingpin

"Bringing you a beat made with the legendary Roland TR-808 — the real deal, no samples, no emulations. Just raw analog power.

All synth sounds come from the iconic Yamaha DX7 — smooth, gritty, and 100% hardware. Nothing virtual here. This track, “Back Ups on the Way”, is for those moments when Shits hitting the Fan... but you keep pushing. Stay strong. Stay ready. Help is coming.

Much love and respect to everyone listening. 💥
#808 #dx7 #analoggear #hardwarebeat #retrofuture"

1980's Power couple. Yamaha DX 7 & The Roland Tr-808 A love story like no other..#808 #synth

video upload by Keyboard Kingpin

"Join us Friends AS we look into that fire 80s couple know as the Yamaha Dx 7 & the Roland Tr-808 This Synthesizer / Drum machine combo took the 1980s and early 90s by storm. So many excellent songs where made with this fire combination. Lets explore the sound combination , discuss songs made with the 2 instruments and of course...Make a beat with the 2! Watch like comment, Share and subscribe. Much love from Keyboard Kingpin. Thanks for watching!

0:01 intro
0:49 impact of this power couple
2:22 Yamaha analog drum machines
3:15 Roland's version of Fm synthesis
3:46 Songs that use both the dx7 and tr808
5:16 A beat made with nothing but the dx7 and tr808
8:14 Outro"

Sci Fi Synth by TronixSynth

Note: links to listings are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.
video upload by TronixSynth

"I've started making custom platform/bases for the synth circuits I make. Here is the Phase3 MIDI Synth with a newly designed base/platform, made with a Sience Labs LongMill cnc machine." You can find a demo of the Phase3 here.

via this eBay listing

"Experimental MIDI controlled FM synth (frequency modulated synthesis, same synthesis method used in classic synths such as the Yamaha DX7, early 90's sound cards and arcade video games).

Can be used with PC or Mac MIDI software such as Max/MSP, Ableton, Pure Data, and any hardware/keyboard with standard MIDI output (MIDI controller).

Controls are: 1. Wave shape, 2. FM Intensity, 3. Modulation Rate, 4. Modulation Level, 5. Note Attack, 6. Note Release.

Operates on 9V power adapter plug (2.1mm, positive center @ approximately 1A), or it can be used with a 9V battery.

Standard 1/4" audio jack output."

CLICK FOR MORE »

Yamaha DX7S Programmable Algorithm Synthesizer SN M030037

Note: links to listings are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this listing

Additional SYNTH CITY Listings

"Used DX7S in very good condition, this unit includes a power cable, an original hard shell case, and a DX7S ROM cartridge.

Even with it's god-tier status in the 80's synth world, the Yamaha DX7 and its counterparts still remain reasonably priced (all things considered). Don't let the word digital throw you off, these things are truly starting to become cult classics. This DX7S may not be as iconic as the DX7 it succeeded, its upgraded 16 bit digital to analogue converter and doubled memory capacity make it a solid upgrade from the original. The synth works well and its Taco Bell bell sounds even better than you remember! As with any vintage/used device, this synth has some minor scuffs and scratches present. Its overall condition is quite good however with very little wear and tear (not major dents or plastic knockout and almost no signs of play wear to speak of). The DX7 family definitely won't stay this cheap for long, so get them while they're hot!"

CLICK FOR MORE »

HUGE Yamaha FM Rolls-Royce PACK

Note: links to listings are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this Vemia listing

Click the auction link on top when you get there for additional listings.

"Here is a very rare and amazing FM 'package' to sell All have been recently serviced (DX7 +TX816 new batteries, total TX816 internal power supply recap), MINT DT-7 D-tronic, 5 rare Cartriges for DX7 and DX1/DX5 ! and very usefull 8 voices Yamaha mixer MV-802 to have a perfect control of each of 8 TX816 modules (professional XLR-6.35mm jack cables included)"

CLICK FOR MORE »

Metasonix - T1 & D-2000 [The Happy Couple]

Note: links to listings are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this listing, also on Reverb

NOISEBUG Reverb | Noisebug eBay

"Both units are preowned. Both units are in incredible condition. Each comes with the original PSU.

In a world where fury once ruled their independent hearts, T1 and D-2000 have forged an electrifying bond that transcends their explosive tempers. Once two of the angriest souls around, they discovered that beneath the surface of their rage lay a profound connection. Together, they channel their frustrations into a unique form of expressive tube warmth—Their voices resonate with a powerful mix of raw energy, screaming passion, and valve-charged melodic noise. In their whirlwind of emotions, they’ve found happiness not in calming the storm alone, but in celebrating it together.

The Metasonix T1

is incredibly rare. With only ten ever made, this unit is number 2.

From the Metasonix T1 owner's manual:

The T1 is our FLAGSHIP instrument! Our best/worst! It is an intentionally primitive device, using late 1950s technology for the entire signal path. Do not expect it to sound or behave like a Moooooog! Do not expect it to sound or behave like a copycat machine trying to sound like a Mooooooooooooooog! Do not furiously twist the knobs in search of the 1980s DX7 tone. F*** you and f*** the 1980s! Oh, and PS: there are no presets!

Metasonix - D-2000

WARNING: this is an extremely abnormal product . If you purchased it expecting to get 'TR606-like' or 'vintage-like' drum sounds, you will be sorely disappointed. WARNING: The D-2000 is NOT a 'Linndrum' or a 'TR606 simulation' or a sample playback device! Do not expect it to sound or behave like a classic drum machine or a real drummer! Do not expect it to sound or behave like a machine trying to sound like a drummer! It is ABNORMAL. It does NOT behave like other music products. Also, please do not power it up, experiment for a few minutes, and then quickly contact us, claiming it is 'broken' or 'bad'. Each new D-2000 was tested at the factory very carefully. Many of our past products were often returned with a warranty claim that they were 'broken'. And most such 'broken' units turned out to be working perfectly. We will publicly mock anyone who returns a working D-2000 claiming it is 'broken'. The D-2000 contains five drum 'voices', which use vacuum tubes, plus a monophonic mixer also using a tube. Pushbuttons are provided to trigger each of the drum sounds. The mixer also has a CV input that can be used to completely mute the output if desired. At the far right of the panel is an 8hp space for a Eurorack synthesizer module."

CLICK FOR MORE »

John Chowning, Computer Music, DX7 & FM Discovery

video upload by Anthony Marinelli Music

"It was an honor for me to interview John Chowning who is directly responsible for the way we create music today in every genre! His visionary ideas have profoundly shaped contemporary music creation, including the integration of computers, AI, digital synthesis, sound sharing, and surround sound.

He stands as a monumental figure in 21st-century music, renowned for his pioneering contributions as a composer, musician, and educator. As the founding director of the Center for Computer Research in Music and Acoustics (CCRMA) at Stanford University, Chowning made groundbreaking strides in the field. His historic discovery of FM synthesis not only became one of Stanford’s most valuable patents but also paved the way for Yamaha’s DX7 synthesizer through their licensing of FM sound synthesis technology.

Another important aspect of Chowning's work is the simulated motion of sound through physical space creating an illusion of a continuous 360-degree space using only four speakers. John’s boundless curiosity and groundbreaking achievements have established him as a bright shining beacon of inspiration for musicians everywhere.

00:00 - Cold Open
00:42 - intro
02:27 - Read to Discovery
06:15 - Stanford & Early Electronic Music
14:26 - Discovering FM Synthesis
19:25 - The FM Enlightenment
23:14 - Yamaha DX7
31:09 - Synclavier VS Yamaha
36:02 - FM Made Simple
43:04 - The Power of Timbre
51:09 - Where are we now?"

Here We Are by ThorF

"So, here we are. Me and you, together in this very moment.Thank you for reaching this point. You make it all worth while. The music on this album, was written/recorded in the last 4 years. Everything ,except mastering, was done in my home studio in LA. To sculpt the atmosphere you are listening to I used various synths and efx. All hardware. Clicks & pops, mis-timed midi messages, live mistakes and other things :) It’s all on it. For few good reasons. It’s how the hardware I own, sounds. It’s how I play my instruments, sounds. From the computer that records the audio to the end of the FX chain.

The machines have character.
I hope their character gets delivered to your ears with these recordings.

Instruments: Novation Summit, BC Deckards Dream MKII, Roland Juno 106, Roland JX-3P, Yamaha DX7, Jomox Alphabase Drum Synthesizer, Custom Eurorack System, Coffee. FX: Strymon Big Sky/Timeline, OTO Machines BIM/BAM/BOUM, Hologram Electronics Microcosm, TC Electronics Hall Of Fame 2/Helix Phaser, Coffee. Recording Hardware: PC Desktop/Windows 64 bit, Quad Core 4.0 MHZ, 32 GB RAM, 5TB SSD Combined, MOTU 828es/16A/Midi Express, Furman Power Conditioner, Roland Gold Instruments Cables, Coffee. Recording Software: Reason 12, Coffee."

https://moatun7.bandcamp.com/album/here-we-are

Stanford CCRMA open house, day 1

video upload by SynthAddict

The above is a walkthrough of a Stanford CCRMA open house from Thursday the 16th by supporing member SynthAddict. Take a look at what he walks into when he enters the building. A Yamaha GS1 with working voice programmer. The GS1 was the first commercial FM synthesizer released in 1980, three years prior to the DX7. John Chowning, discoverer of FM synthesis performed that night. According to SynthAddict: "The Chowning curated show last night was very eye opening - so much cool electronic music even going back to the 60s and it was digital."


And below :) "Today I got a shot of the Yamaha power synth stack in the lobby, with the best baseball cap on top. 😀"

Synth Addict

Update: looks like the stream was here: https://ccrma.stanford.edu/live/. It's not working for me at the moment, but feel free to check and comment if it works for you.

The Venerable Moog Memorymoog - Inspiration for the Moog Muse?

video upload by Vintage Synthesizer Solutions

"Please join us while we explore the infamous, but actually quite venerable Moog Memorymoog synthesizer. As is widely recognized, the Memorymoog was developed too late and was rushed to the market. By 1982/83, the era of extremely expensive flagship analog polysynths being ubiquitously adopted by professional musicians and studios was coming to an end. Synths like the Sequential Prophet 5, Oberheim OB-X/Xa, & Roland Jupiter 8 had dominated the market, but new digital technology - both in synthesis and sampling, was quickly gaining a substantial foothold in the music industry. The Memorymoog was notorious for reliability issues right out of the box while innovative instruments like the Yamaha DX7 were cheaper, much more reliable, and had a unique new sound.

In hindsight and considering the analog renaissance we've expereinced of late, one can evaluate the Memorymoog from a different and more forgiving perspective... It sounds absolutely fantastic and offeres an incredibly unique & fat tone relative to competetive products of both its era and modern times. Additionally, once a competent technician has sorted common issues with the power supply/fan, connectors, etc. the instrument can be quite reliable from a functionality and tuning standpoint.

The audio is DIRECT, with a just a touch of OTO Bam reverb added on an aux bus - You are hearing the raw audio as it comes directly from the synthesizer. There is NO EQ, Dynamics, etc. Listen on good headphones or monitors!

Thank you so much for watching! This channel is a passion project. These videos are recorded off the cuff. We are just two hobbyists who share a deep passion for synthesizers."

Yamaha TX16W Sampler w/ Upgrades

Note: links to listings are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this auction

"This is an especially cool unassuming black rectangle from the 80’s. There are tons of those, and I contend they’re all good in their own way, but this one is notable. Not just for being Yamaha’s first foray into the sampler game, but for offering a very wonderful niche possibility: what if you could run any sound you could think of through the grimy, grungy DX7 converters? If you’re like me, you love the sound of primitive digital & analog circuitry colliding. The TX16W is great because it’s one of the last 12-bit samplers before the sea change to 16-but. As such, it’s as lo-fi, crunchy, and gritty as you could hope, but with the Typhoon OS, it’s powerful & versatile enough to still be useful in a modern studio. Check it out! If it’s good enough for Aphex Twin…

This TX16W, in addition to the standard refurbish job I do, is tricked out as all heck. New blue display (which was hard to get a good picture of), Gotek floppy emulator running Flashfloppy, upgraded op-amp in the output… oh, and the new full memory upgrade retrofit to bring the total potential sample RAM up to the max 6Mb. The power supply was rebuilt, the gremlins were evicted, every nook & cranny cleaned, and retouched solder joints all over. This wonderful anachronism will keep rocking for another 40 yrs.

The sale comes with the sampler, a power cord, a Sandisk Fit with every TX16W sound library disk I could find, and my guarantee as a trained gear tech."

CLICK FOR MORE »

Elektronika EM 05 string-piano analog synth Synthesizer vintage USSR soviet

Note: links to listings are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.
video upload by Наталия Ямбор

via this auction

"The synthesizer has been fully serviced: all keyboard contacts have been cleaned, all capacitors have been replaced, and the power supply has been adjusted.

Elektronika EM - 05 is a polyphonic strings/piano EMI. It has 2 sound types: orchestral and piano. Keyboard's range is 5 octaves. The instrument has a black metal case. Controls on the front desk change sounding during playing. There is a possibility to connect an external sustain's pedal.

Controls:

Pitch, level, orchestral (ON, level, decay 2-3), unison (ON 1-2), piano (1/2/3), vibrato (ON. depth, frequency). Back desk: connector (220V), output, input for pedal. Sustain pedal suitable for Yamaha DX7.

Output - 1/4 jack

The supply voltage of the unit - 220-230V/50Hz. For use it with 110/127V, a voltage converter is necessary/ not added.

MADE IN USSR"

CLICK FOR MORE »

SFUK 2023 - From DX7 to MODX+ - 40 Years of FM Synthesis

video upload by Sound On Sound magazine

"From DX7 to MODX+ [40 Years of FM Synthesis]

Filmed at SynthFest UK 2023

To commemorate the 40th anniversary of the launch of the Yamaha DX7, Sound On Sound podcaster and music technology journalist, Rob Puricelli, reflected on the history and legacy of this game-changing instrument.

Rob was also joined on stage by celebrated FM programmer from America, Dr. Manny Fernandez, who demonstrate the impact of FM synthesis and how it has been implemented over the last four decades using a range of classic and modern FM synthesizers on stage.

There was also a demonstration of the Yamaha Computer Assisted Music System (Y-CAMS) which wowed audiences with the power of an FM-based, MIDI connected suite of tools."

FM Synthesis Made Easy on Aalto Modular Synth for Your Computer by Madrona Labs

video upload by Madrona Labs

"Try patching in the DAW on Aalto Modular Soft Synth VST today.
Free demo download at madronalabs.com

FM SYNTHESIS!
By using two simple waveforms — one, as the audible 'carrier' whose frequency is modulated by the other (our LFO) — we can create harmonic or inharmonic tones using very rapid vibrato, based on the frequencies of these waveforms and the depth of the modulation.

FM synthesis was first discovered in the 1960’s by an ex-GI turned artist, John Chowning, who was initially scorned by his academic composer peers for his desire to make music with an //inhumane//computer. The speed by which a computer can modulate a waveform created new sounds beyond the capabilities of acoustic and analog instruments: the birth of a new sound! ✨

We can thank FM synthesis for the sounds of the 1980’s w the popularization of the Yamaha DX7 which allowed FM synthesis to infiltrate video games, movie soundtracks, and of course the power ballads! (Take My Breath Away! Take On Me!)

You can try FMing on Aalto w a free demo download at madronalabs.com ///
// What FM sounds will you make on Aalto?

🌒🕹💥 #madronalabs #fmsynthesis #modularsynth #modularsynthesis #vst #vstplugins #1980s #aaltosynth"

And a short:

Aalto: A Modular Synthesizer for Your Computer (Space Kit!)


"Madrona Labs makes Modular Synthesizers for Your Computer. Try a free demo-download of Aalto at madronalabs.com || This patch preset is called Space Kit-- Aalto comes with a ton of preset patches made by synth wizards from around the world so that you can go modular today, even if you're still learning.

Aalto's complex oscillator and lopass gate modules are a modern take on Don Buchla's classic West Coast designs. Aalto's advanced capabilities make it an endless playground for the seasoned modular synthesist, while its accessibility and ease of working in the DAW makes it a perfect launching point for those new to modular.

If you want to learn how to patch in the DAW and get those modular sounds at a fraction of the price of a hardware rig, try Aalto, by Madrona Labs.

FREE DEMO DOWNLOAD: madronalabs.com/products/aalto"

Aenaos Analog Guitar Synthesizer & Yamaha DX7 by TSL Studio Equipment

video upload by TSL Studio Equipment

"Limited Edition
Aenaos Analog Guitar Synthesizer by TSL Studio Equipment
100% Handmade Pure Analog Synthesizer with Point To Point Construction.
You can make any audio signal to be analog synthesizer with this device.
It has:
- Freq Filtering Knob
- Frequency Control Knob
- Analog Passive Eq with Bass and Treble Baxendall
- Master Out Volume Control

- Rotary Switch with Wavefoarm Options

Its True By Pass and Working with 9V Dc Power Supply

Handmade Made In Greece
www.TsomokosAudio.Com"

FM60P & ODT3 by NYZ

Two new releases from NYZ - FM60P composed w/ Kodamo's essenceFM, and ODT3 below, composed with GForce Software's Oddity3.

https://noyzelab.bandcamp.com/album/fm60p

"Appropriately, FM60P is the sixth NYZ release to focus directly on FM synthesis, and the first six-operator variant of the FMX0P releases (which was incidentally also the first conceptual iteration of the sub-series of FM synth works, despite being released this far down the line). Given this provenance, those familiar with FM synthesis might assume Burraston would begin a six-operator exploration with the ubiquitous Yamaha DX7 - perhaps the most iconic FM synthesizer of all time - but instead, he's taken a different tack entirely, and opted to use a modern machine - the Kodamo EssenceFM, a megalith of FM processing power with a mind-numbing 300 operators available within its outwardly unassuming racked interface - albeit acting in an ascetic sense by limiting himself deliberately to only six operators. Longtime Psoma listeners will also note a referential connection with PMFM, a prior release that also utilized the EssenceFM in its construction.

On a technical level, FM60P manifests itself through the arcane pathways of Burraston's cellular automata research, which informs both the sequencing information sent into the synthesizer, and the microtuning of the voices also. Beyond this initial working ethos, the designs and numerical relationships of the operators' ratios have been arranged with the use of three different sets of Fibonacci number sequences, as well as tuning dispositions referencing Alain Daniélou's Harmonic Division of the Octave. Fibonacci freaks will be pleased to know that this arrangement of operators will form intricate setups of Golden Ratio based FM timbres.

For many listening and reading, these points of reference may have no meaning whatsoever, and we here at Psoma would like to offer the consolation that there is no right or wrong way to listen to or interact with any sound matter found in our catalog, or anywhere else for that matter. It could even be said that part of our initiative in publishing works such as these is defined by a desire to simply introduce more challenging and concept-driven music into the world, in order to bring new and stimulating experiences to people who are both familiar and unfamiliar with the deeper details of sound itself.

So what does that leave us with then? The sound of FM60P could be described as a chiming din of glassy tones playing in serpentine unison with sub-bass hum - but this is only a small prologue of two minutes, quickly pulling back the curtain to reveal a massive hour-long drone wall, presented in Burraston's characteristic style of rippling heavily modulated swaths of energy, underpinned by a more midrange foundation of a pulsing alien plinth. Filter sweeps reveal many more dimensions to the layers that are not initially obvious, bringing incessant bass tones and arpeggiator-like sections into focus before the wavering sea reclaims them.

Burraston's music is unlike anything else in the space it is able to inhabit, simultaneously sounding artificial and unnatural to an almost impossible degree, while also functionally conveying itself in elemental and naturalistic ways. Everything is an object, an outline, a weather system or a color, each possessing a specific set of attributes that communicate synaesthetically with the listener, as temperatures and spatial indicators, rather than confining themselves to much more arbitrary traditional sensations.

NOTE: After some confusion from listeners, we'd like to make clear the fact that all NYZ/Noyzelab catalog releases at Psoma are available ONLY as abridged digital versions for name-your-price/free download, and in their full unabridged editions as physical CD-Rs. There is not an unabridged digital version of anything from NYZ at Psoma, and the physical editions do not ship with unabridged digital versions either (that is, if you do not count the digital music present on the compact discs). For listeners only interested in unabridged digital versions, we encourage you to visit noyzelab.bandcamp.com to purchase those directly from NYZ, or even better, subscribe to his Bandcamp output and just get everything."

https://noyzelab.bandcamp.com/album/odt3

"Continuing from SEM with his exploration of GForce software instruments, Burraston builds a wall with the Oddity3, an expansive modern iteration of the ARP Odyssey that includes several new additions and functions. ODT3 consists of two such instances of the Oddity3 to accomplish the wide stereo image, both focusing on the 4035 ladder filter from the short-lived Odyssey mark II (only one of three filter types present within the softsynth). Landing somewhere on the map between the Cell Meditations and the subharmonic hums of TESCO SYNFETIX, ODT3 pulses in shallow waves that betray the depth beneath their softened surfaces. Close listening yields wondrous results, especially in headphones, as the swirling mass of the frequency spectrum slowly rises like a shipwreck called back to shore. Almost imperceptibly, the true substance of this piece is revealed in microscopic increments, until it overtakes the senses and surrounds everything, filling the air with vibrating particulate and soporific electricity, glimmering like a portal to an adjacent dimension."