John Chowning "Origins of FM Synthesis"

The Moog Forum Moog Music General Topics Forum
1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4g92vX1YF4&feature=player_embedded
Thought you might like this.

Eric

2

Wow! Thanks for the excellent link, Eric.
How cool to hear the inventor describe his discovery process!

I’ve been a fan of John Chowning’s FM synthesis since the first
day I learned about his contribution to the DX-7 (I bought one
right when it first came out in 1983).

Listening to early (1978) FM experiments shows just how far
FM could still go if it were pushed harder:

I own a Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab CD called “Computer Music”,
by Michael McNabb, that will truly open your ears to FM (beyond
the Boy George harmonicas and '80s Chicago ballads that featured
DX-7 Electric Piano).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DOg2cmov2IU

http://soundcloud.com/sven-duehring/12-michael-mcnabb-love-in-the

The original CD was mastered directly from the digital output of the
computer, which had to render the sounds all night long before they
could be heard.

3

Thanks for the links.

I have been a fan of FM ( the DX7) since it came out in 1983. Sure some of the sounds were :over used: in the mid 80’s, sure some could be a bit weak. I think many associate only those sounds to the DX and do not realize what potential for great sounds there are in there. I bought one in early 8 right before the DX7 II line came out, no regrets, and still use it today. For several years it was the only synth I used, so I worked on programming a wide variety of sounds for it.

4

No problem and thanks for the additional links. Interesting stuff!