FM
August 26, 2006
Sir Mix-a-Lot’s Testarossa, despite it’s HORRIBLE vocals and awful samples, has one of the best FM synth-based rythem parts ever recorded. It just simply sounds wonderful.
Then again, lots of this cheesey 80s/90s rap has some wonderful backing music.
When at Guitar Center earlier today I got to play with a real DX7. That was nifty. I still wish I had purchased a TX816 on eBay a few years ago when I had a chance. It would have been only about $150.
Trance and trance offshoots are so totally abusing subtractive synthesis lately that I have been digging on DX7/FM a lot more lately, just for relief from the onslaught of trite filtered supersaw sounds. Kinda like back in the late 90s when everyone on mp3.com was abusing the RB303.
It all makes me wish that I really could ‘get’ FM synthesis. I’d wager there’s probably only 10 people or so in the world who can make it do all their bidding. Heh.
Hrm… Maybe it’s time to snag another FM module off of eBay, or build one of those MIDIbox FM things based on an OPL3.
Just pick up a TX81z. Cheap and great. It may only be 4-OP FM, but with the additional waveforms you can do pretty much anything you want. The only thing better is a SY/TG77 or the mighty FS1r. The TX81z is by far the best bang-for-buck in FM, as far as I’m concerned. I sure love mine. The only reason I keep my TG77 is the ability to FM the built-in samples.
At one point I had one. the problem is the physical size of them. :\
Wait, too small or too big? If you think it is too big, there’s always the FB-01 or the TQ-5. If it’s too small (i.e. no keyboard) you can get a V50 for pretty cheap. Or a DX-11 or one of the other “lesser” FM keyboards. Cheaper than a DX-7, that’s for sure.
DX7, as in, Yamaha DX7? Heh. I have one of those in my office right now. :)
Yep, that DX7. I love how those sound.
Yeah – I do too.. that’s why I ended up getting one. The problem is, I got it, and then I haven’t had any time to do anything with it. The possibilities are endless with it, and I haven’t really played at all. It’s still on my ‘to-do’ list. :)