Today is the first of hopefully many guides explaining, from the ground up, how a type of synthesis, technique, or effect works. Feel free to play along with me for free using Dexed!
Dexed is great, but I needed some time and a few unsuccessful attempts to wrap my head around its ADSRs or ADDSRs or whatever they call them, after being used to a typical ADSRs in subtractive synths. It is not a Dexed thing but more a DX7 thing, but anyway. After I realised that I can use them, I feel like my dive into the FM rabbit hole is about to begin.
I get it now. Dexed has these things called EGs (envelop generators) and these shape the envelope that goes around each sine wave. The algorithm section arranges which operator affects the next one in a chain (leading to output). This from what I gather changes the timbre/tone and thus you get other sounds, like a square or saw wave. One thing I don't get is why are the 6 oscillators called operators? All in all I have a lot more to learn yet. 😕
You should have represented the function in the frequency domain instead of the time domain. I mean, who thinks about audio synthesis in the time domain? Right? Am I right or what? haha Right? Anyone? 😉
Very few can combine the two disciplines like that. I've known a lot of software developers who are good musicians but don't necessarily focus on sound design like that. I've also known others who are into csound etc but are not so good as writing the visceral music (stuff with groove and emotion) that people actually want to listen to. I am starting to focus on the border between being a technician and a musician myself, its a great place to be because not many people are doing this. Benn Jordan is both a great musician and sound designer. This video actually makes me want to explore FM synthesis.
In my city, there was an advertisement for the sale of the Yamaha DX7-2FD at a price of $429. I really like the unique sound of dx7, but I'm not sure if the 2FD version sounds like the first dx7 version, since 2fd used a stripped-down version of fm-synthesis. Tell me if they sound the same and if the 2fd justifies the $420 price tag? Thanks. (Sorry, I don't know English well, so I used google translator)
I am starting to think the synthesizer i bought in 8th grade in the 80s was an fm synth. My female brain actually understood what you were talking about. Now I am going to watch 3 years of your videos.
Love your videos and explanations but this video also made me once again realise how boring I find soft synths. All that mouse work just takes out all the joy of synthesis
dude i am so happy that you are doing this. i love your music for like 10-12 years – so weird and awesome seeing you talk synthesis/music production/stuff 😀 i hope your channel blows up, you more than deserve it
FM synths are the most important musical instrument along with the sampler since the electric guitar, FM was not popular because of the lack of hands-on controls, it is way more powerful than subtractive synthesis, just have a play with the free DxD software, or buy a volca FM
@graywolf2004ru
April 23, 2026 at 1:52 pm
Dexed is great, but I needed some time and a few unsuccessful attempts to wrap my head around its ADSRs or ADDSRs or whatever they call them, after being used to a typical ADSRs in subtractive synths. It is not a Dexed thing but more a DX7 thing, but anyway. After I realised that I can use them, I feel like my dive into the FM rabbit hole is about to begin.
@Raffael-Tausend
April 23, 2026 at 1:52 pm
This was very well explained! Thank you for giving practical examples right away 🙂
@Avodroc42
April 23, 2026 at 1:52 pm
its me, I write my list of groceries in the order they are in the store…
@mlyten67
April 23, 2026 at 1:52 pm
If you understand Fourier analysis and transforms, then you’ll be able to get your head around FM.
@abc12wha
April 23, 2026 at 1:52 pm
Best explanation so far ^_^
@ulfrohdin
April 23, 2026 at 1:52 pm
My attention span is really tested with the electric piano creation, I needed that!
@bchspace
April 23, 2026 at 1:52 pm
You modulate my heart every time I see your dashing eyebrow.
@djd829
April 23, 2026 at 1:52 pm
Nice little joke in the beginning. However, that actually was all I really needed to understand, thanks! 😂 I’ll still watch and like
@lundsweden
April 23, 2026 at 1:52 pm
40 years later and we're still figuring out how the DX7 works! 😅
@brandonhabera
April 23, 2026 at 1:52 pm
I appreciate confident and verbose Ben of 2023, but can relate humble and up-and-coming-Youtuber Ben of 2018 much more personally.
@ragequitredux
April 23, 2026 at 1:52 pm
FM stands for "F****ing Magnets"
@Coowallsky
April 23, 2026 at 1:52 pm
Best FM explanations I’ve seen are done with actual FM synths.
@herrpez
April 23, 2026 at 1:52 pm
9:38 My mind instantly went "Syndicate!"
@electropocalypse5877
April 23, 2026 at 1:52 pm
I get it now. Dexed has these things called EGs (envelop generators) and these shape the envelope that goes around each sine wave. The algorithm section arranges which operator affects the next one in a chain (leading to output). This from what I gather changes the timbre/tone and thus you get other sounds, like a square or saw wave.
One thing I don't get is why are the 6 oscillators called operators? All in all I have a lot more to learn yet. 😕
@freimutspitzkopf2258
April 23, 2026 at 1:52 pm
This is exactly what im talking about when a woman comes over to my place. But sometimes I feel like they don't really care about it.
@kamalmanzukie
April 23, 2026 at 1:52 pm
goo bah
@hermask815
April 23, 2026 at 1:52 pm
FM-Synthesis is for the guys and gals who don't have a problem with the RT part of FM (RTFM that is. 😀)
@miloradowicz
April 23, 2026 at 1:52 pm
Nice clickbait. I thought there actually would be some math 😡
@bradschumacher419
April 23, 2026 at 1:52 pm
Anyone else hear Melve by Autechre when Benn played around at 14:08? This guy….
@mc2engineeringprof
April 23, 2026 at 1:52 pm
You should have represented the function in the frequency domain instead of the time domain. I mean, who thinks about audio synthesis in the time domain? Right? Am I right or what? haha Right? Anyone? 😉
@firehandszarb
April 23, 2026 at 1:52 pm
Very few can combine the two disciplines like that. I've known a lot of software developers who are good musicians but don't necessarily focus on sound design like that. I've also known others who are into csound etc but are not so good as writing the visceral music (stuff with groove and emotion) that people actually want to listen to. I am starting to focus on the border between being a technician and a musician myself, its a great place to be because not many people are doing this. Benn Jordan is both a great musician and sound designer. This video actually makes me want to explore FM synthesis.
@TeddyLeppard
April 23, 2026 at 1:52 pm
Replaced Dexed with KQ Dixie and haven't looked back since. No longer get the crashes I was getting with Dexed.
@neonblack211
April 23, 2026 at 1:52 pm
Is doing this stuff in reaktor much different than doing it in something like VCV rack?
@MIMSMIMS1
April 23, 2026 at 1:52 pm
In my city, there was an advertisement for the sale of the Yamaha DX7-2FD at a price of $429. I really like the unique sound of dx7, but I'm not sure if the 2FD version sounds like the first dx7 version, since 2fd used a stripped-down version of fm-synthesis. Tell me if they sound the same and if the 2fd justifies the $420 price tag? Thanks. (Sorry, I don't know English well, so I used google translator)
@AnnedakDragon
April 23, 2026 at 1:52 pm
FM is best synthesis, change my mind. #YamahaDX7
@chrismillett
April 23, 2026 at 1:52 pm
That outro 🤙🏻🤙🏻🤙🏻
@Gutterlip
April 23, 2026 at 1:52 pm
I am starting to think the synthesizer i bought in 8th grade in the 80s was an fm synth. My female brain actually understood what you were talking about. Now I am going to watch 3 years of your videos.
@MattDiamondMDE
April 23, 2026 at 1:52 pm
Great video, thanks!
@krystianseibert6610
April 23, 2026 at 1:52 pm
This is a great explanation of FM synthesis.
@ChurroLightyear
April 23, 2026 at 1:52 pm
Nice try I already own a dx7
@Nachtdwaler
April 23, 2026 at 1:52 pm
Great playing at the end!
@JacobSkriver
April 23, 2026 at 1:52 pm
Love your videos and explanations but this video also made me once again realise how boring I find soft synths. All that mouse work just takes out all the joy of synthesis
@audioartisan
April 23, 2026 at 1:52 pm
Clicked to hear Benn's explanation of FM synthesis …ended up getting a Reaktor lesson …Thank's Benn!
@bm1259
April 23, 2026 at 1:52 pm
Regarding the equation shown in the video there's another video by a guy called composing gloves that explanations how that equation works.
@harvestgoon5291
April 23, 2026 at 1:52 pm
OK, so I've seen what FM synthesis is explained, but at 10:40+ I feel like I learned how to use FM synthesis. Thanks for this, Benn!
@Flix-f6q
April 23, 2026 at 1:52 pm
Looking at the quality of your content, I just had to subscribe and comment to push your algorithm rating. Great job!
@lateralshiftmusic
April 23, 2026 at 1:52 pm
This is awesome and I thought that EP sounded really good, loved the tremolo effect! Thanks for the tutorial 🙂
@mattlagan8662
April 23, 2026 at 1:52 pm
Thanks for the tips!
@beat2009
April 23, 2026 at 1:52 pm
really love the ending song 🙂
@Conforce
April 23, 2026 at 1:52 pm
awesome tutorial
@dariosusu1529
April 23, 2026 at 1:52 pm
dude i am so happy that you are doing this. i love your music for like 10-12 years – so weird and awesome seeing you talk synthesis/music production/stuff 😀 i hope your channel blows up, you more than deserve it
@SamsTheBams
April 23, 2026 at 1:52 pm
I think Akemie's Castle is my most used module, I'm so happy i bought it.
@vampires-from-mars
April 23, 2026 at 1:52 pm
FM Synthesis is randomly turning a bunch of knobs until it doesn't sound like crap anymore, right?
@earlsfield
April 23, 2026 at 1:52 pm
why is sine wave used? simple, no harmonics, only fundamental.
@DavidGossettMusic
April 23, 2026 at 1:52 pm
8:02 stopped to download the plugin and spent the next 15 minutes making some sweet lofi jams. Thanks for introducing me to Dexed.
@valley_robot
April 23, 2026 at 1:52 pm
FM synths are the most important musical instrument along with the sampler since the electric guitar, FM was not popular because of the lack of hands-on controls, it is way more powerful than subtractive synthesis, just have a play with the free DxD software, or buy a volca FM