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Manny's FM-Xpert #5: “Everybody’s Doin’ the Knob-O-Motion”

Dr. Manny Fernandez's epic 5 part series ends with cool Super Knob programming tips and one last pun. 
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Manny's FM-Xpert #4: "The Envelope(s), Please"

Last month FM-Xpert Manny Fernandez showed us that he's pretty good at math in article 3, "It's Just a Phase, Man". This month he shows how envelope generators affect an FM-X sound and require much less math!
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  5212 Hits

Manny's FM-Xpert #3: "It's Just a Phase, Man. "

FM Synthesis Grandmaster Dr. Manny Fernandez's third article in the "FM-Xpert" series is his most advanced yet. Are you ready to snatch the pebble from the Grandmaster's hand? Then enter the FM-Xpert temple and begin the training...
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  3623 Hits

Manny's FM-Xpert #2: "I'm Fixing a Hole Where the Timbre is Thin..."

The second article in Manny Fernandez's FM-Xpert series continues with a great study in filling out an FM-X sound. This advanced tutorial will help you add fullness and detail to FM-X sounds in your MONTAGE and MODX!
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  3226 Hits

Manny's FM-Xpert #1: "Acoustic Eccentricities and Stuff"

Ready for some next level FM-X programming? Let FM-Xpert programmer Manny Fernandez show you the way!
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  6404 Hits

Manny's FM-Xplorations Article 5

Manny's FM-Xplorations Article 5
Welcome to the fifth and final article in the Manny Fernandez FM-Xplorations series! A longtime FM programmer who contributed sounds to the DX7II, SY77, SY99, FS1R, DX200 and reface DX, Manny has lots of tips and tricks to share in this highly informative series. So let's join him now . . .
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  3957 Hits

Manny's FM-Xplorations: Article 1

Manny's FM-Xplorations: Article 1
Welcome to the first article in the Dr. Manny Fernandez FM-Xploration Series! A longtime FM programmer who contributed sounds for the DX7II, SY77, SY99 FS1R and DX200  - Manny Fernandez shares lots of tips and tricks in this highly informantive series.
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  14642 Hits

Manny's FM-Xplorations Article 4

Manny's FM-Xplorations Article 4
Welcome to the fourth article in the Manny Fernandez FM-Xplorations series! A longtime FM programmer who contributed sounds to the DX7II, SY77, SY99, FS1R, DX200 and reface DX, Manny has lots of tips and tricks to share in this highly informative series. So let's join Manny now . . . 
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  3475 Hits

Manny's FM-Xplorations: Article 2

Manny's FM-Xplorations: Article 2
Welcome to the second article in the Manny Fernandez FM-Xplorations series! A longtime FM programmer - contributing sounds to the DX7II, SY77, SY99, FS1R and DX200 - Manny has lots of tips and tricks to share in this highly informative series!
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  3647 Hits

Manny's FM-Xplorations: Article 3

Manny's FM-Xplorations: Article 3
Welcome to the third article in the Manny Fernandez FM-Xplorations series! A longtime FM programmer who contributed sounds to the DX7II, SY77, SY99, FS1R and DX200, Manny has lots of tips and tricks to share in this highly informative series. Let's join Manny now . . . 

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  4113 Hits

Manny's Modulation Manifesto: Synth Pads

Manny's Modulation Manifesto: Synth Pads

An FM Synthesis Programming Tutorial focusing on the Yamaha Reface DX architecture - Lesson 4.

For this article, I'm going to delve into an area where FM synthesizers like the Reface DX are especially versatile -- the creation of pad sounds. Because of the amount of harmonic (overtone) content that can be created by even just a single modulator, FM synthesis is capable of creating a vast array of evolving and shifting pad sounds and timbres. The first place to start in constructing your pad sound is the Algorithm – which one to choose?
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  14917 Hits

Manny's Modulation Manifesto: Bass Sounds

Manny's Modulation Manifesto: Bass Sounds

An FM Synthesis Programming Tutorial focusing on the Yamaha Reface DX architecture - Lesson 5

For this installment, I'm going to discuss another area where FM synthesis is very versatile across the wide spectrum of musical styles – Bass sounds. From the Bass 1 and Fretless presets in the original DX7 to the LatelyBass and SolidBass patches in the TX81Z & DX100, the legacy of FM for Bass sounds is well known. So, starting from the "bottom up" as it were, let's build some Bass sounds.
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  16264 Hits

Manny's Modulation Manifesto: Bass Sounds

Manny's Modulation Manifesto: Bass Sounds

An FM Synthesis Programming Tutorial focusing on the Yamaha Reface DX architecture - Lesson 5

For this installment, I'm going to discuss another area where FM synthesis is very versatile across the wide spectrum of musical styles – Bass sounds. From the Bass 1 and Fretless presets in the original DX7 to the LatelyBass and SolidBass patches in the TX81Z & DX100, the legacy of FM for Bass sounds is well known. So, starting from the "bottom up" as it were, let's build some Bass sounds.
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  4373 Hits

Manny's Modulation Manifesto: Synth Pads

Manny's Modulation Manifesto: Synth Pads

An FM Synthesis Programming Tutorial focusing on the Yamaha Reface DX architecture - Lesson 4.

For this article, I'm going to delve into an area where FM synthesizers like the Reface DX are especially versatile -- the creation of pad sounds. Because of the amount of harmonic (overtone) content that can be created by even just a single modulator, FM synthesis is capable of creating a vast array of evolving and shifting pad sounds and timbres. The first place to start in constructing your pad sound is the Algorithm – which one to choose?
Continue reading
  3157 Hits

Manny's Modulation Manifesto: Lead Sounds

Manny's Modulation Manifesto: Lead Sounds

An FM Synthesis Programming Tutorial focusing on the Yamaha reface DX architecture - Lesson 6

Hopefully with the articles so far, you've been able to gain a reasonable understanding and 'ear experience' with how FM synthesis behaves. This article is going to put together many of the concepts discussed prior in this series and take a little deeper dive into FM than in the previous articles. We are going to do this as we go into another area where FM synthesis is very effective and powerful – lead sounds.
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  10675 Hits

Manny's Modulation Manifesto: Wrapping up – Advanced Tips, Tricks & FM Quirks

Manny's Modulation Manifesto: Wrapping up – Advanced Tips, Tricks & FM Quirks

An FM Synthesis Programming Tutorial focusing on the Yamaha reface DX architecture - Lesson 7

For this final article, I'll build on the concepts covered in prior articles and discuss some advanced tips, tricks - and unusual FM quirks - I've learned in my 30+ years of programming Yamaha FM synthesizers. These advanced concepts can help you to twist your sound creations in some unique and personal ways. Four tricks & quirks I'm going to discuss are: Velocity Tricks; Envelope Level Tricks; Detuning Quirks; and, Fixed Frequency Sub-Audio Carriers. So, off we go!
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  11766 Hits

Mannys Modulation Manifesto: Lead Sounds

Mannys Modulation Manifesto: Lead Sounds

An FM Synthesis Programming Tutorial focusing on the Yamaha reface DX architecture - Lesson 6

Hopefully with the articles so far, you've been able to gain a reasonable understanding and 'ear experience' with how FM synthesis behaves. This article is going to put together many of the concepts discussed prior in this series and take a little deeper dive into FM than in the previous articles. We are going to do this as we go into another area where FM synthesis is very effective and powerful – lead sounds.
Continue reading
  1508 Hits

Manny's Modulation Manifesto: Wrapping up – Advanced Tips, Tricks & FM Quirks

Manny's Modulation Manifesto: Wrapping up – Advanced Tips, Tricks & FM Quirks

An FM Synthesis Programming Tutorial focusing on the Yamaha reface DX architecture - Lesson 7

For this final article, I'll build on the concepts covered in prior articles and discuss some advanced tips, tricks - and unusual FM quirks - I've learned in my 30+ years of programming Yamaha FM synthesizers. These advanced concepts can help you to twist your sound creations in some unique and personal ways. Four tricks & quirks I'm going to discuss are: Velocity Tricks; Envelope Level Tricks; Detuning Quirks; and, Fixed Frequency Sub-Audio Carriers. So, off we go!
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  4099 Hits

Manny's Modulation Manifesto: Solo Brass Voices

Manny's Modulation Manifesto: Solo Brass Voices

An FM Synthesis Programming Tutorial series focusing on the Yamaha Reface DX Architecture - Lesson 2.

In this session we will embark on our first example in programming specific Voices from scratch: solo brass voices. Brass voices permeate and inform the many sounds of our life - from pop, jazz, R&B to movie soundtracks. Let's get started.
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Manny's Modulation Manifesto: Ensemble Brass Voices

Manny's Modulation Manifesto: Ensemble Brass Voices

An FM Synthesis Programming Tutorial focusing on the Yamaha Reface DX Architecture - Lesson 3.

In the last lesson, you learned how to program Solo Brass Voices (if you missed it, check it out here). Now experience how to enrich your repertoire - and sound - by creating Ensemble Brass Voices.
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  10010 Hits

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