FM Essential Synthesizer App for iOS: Download for Free

FM Essential is a free FM Synthesizer app for iOS. Learn how to get it and unlock it for free!

What Is FM Essential?

FM Essential is an synthesizer app for iPhone® and iPad®. FM Essential uses Frequency Modulation (FM) synthesis to create sound – a technology popularized by the legendary DX7 synthesizer in the 1980s. FM synthesis is capable of producing incredibly dynamic sound. When combined with the effects, controls and control sequences included in the app, it's possible to create amazingly unique sounds. In addition, FM Essential features legendary Yamaha FM synthesizer sounds from the DX100, TX81Z and V50.

Check out the sounds of FM Essential in the video below:

How Do I Get FM Essential?

You can download FM Essential free from the Apple App Store here.

The free version of FM Essential contains 10 preset Voices. Connecting FM Essential to the MX BK/BU/WH Music Synthesizer unlocks a full set of 271 Voices - plus the ability to save your own Voices.

How Do I Unlock FM Essential?

You will need the following to unlock FM Essential:

iPhone or iPad with the FM Essential app installed
Apple Lightening to USB adaptor
USB Printer Cable
MX49 or MX61 BK/BU/WH or MX88

To unlock the free version of FM Essential: Connect an iPhone/iPad to the USB-to-host port on the back of the MX with the Apple Lightning USB adaptor and USB printer cable. Now launch FM Essential. There will be a confirmation screen that will say “Thank you for using MX BK/BU/WH series! All functions are available now!” indicating that the app has been unlocked.

There is a demonstration of the unlock procedure available below:

So are you ready to start? Get your app here and get started!

And share your adventures in FM Synthesis and the app on the Forum here.

About the author

Blake Angelos

Yamaha Synthesizer Product Specialist Blake Angelos has over thirty years of experience with music hardware and software. An expert in music technology, Blake has conducted numerous clinics, master classes and presentations throughout the United States, Europe and Canada. In his role as Product Specialist for the Synthesizer Department Blake appears in many product videos and artist interviews, writes many articles for YamahaSynth.com and co-hosts a regular Podcast called “Behind the Synth”.

Before his work with Yamaha, he taught music theory and jazz studies courses at Arizona State University; managed a technology-focused music store in Seattle and was a production supervisor at Microsoft, where he led a team that developed groundbreaking interactive music content for the Microsoft Network. Blake holds a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Northern Colorado and a Master of Music degree from Arizona State University. Blake currently resides in Bellingham, Washington with his family, and between his travels around the world for Yamaha, he performs as much as possible with several jazz and creative music groups in Bellingham, Seattle and other places in the Pacific Northwest.