Green Xenon

Are you talking about PM vs. FM?

Hi: Most so-called "FM synths" actually use Phase Modulation Synthesis. So why are they still referred to as FM? Wouldn't it be more appropriate to call them "PM synths"? Also, isn't the math involved in PM Synthesis significantly different from that in FM Synthesis? Does studying the math of FM synthesis do much good when it is actually a PM synth you're trying to design/build? Thanks, Green Xenon

Hi: What is the difference between AFM [Advanced Frequency Modulation] synthesis and FM [Frequency Modulation] synthesis? The former is used by synths like SY99, SY77 and TG77. The latter is used by synths like OPL3. Thanks, Green

Thanks. By AFM I mean Advanced Frequency Modulation, not Asymmetrical Frequency Modulation. However, the site you gave me discusses the latter, not the former. If you read the specs of SY99, SY77, and TG77, you'll find they use Advanced Frequency Modulation [AFM].

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yamaha_TG77 doesn't say what they "data" and "waveform" slots are for.

This is the ebay page selling TG-77 -- http://cgi.ebay.com/Yamaha-TG-77-TG-77-Rackmount-Synth-Module-MINT_W0QQitemZ290328825239QQcmdZViewItemQQptZKeyboards_MIDI?hash=item4398f24d97&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=65%3A1%7C66%3A2%7C39%3A1%7C293%3A1%7C294%3A50 If you look at the images, you'll see two slots on the bottom-right of the front of the TG77 module -- these slots are "data" and "waveform". What are these slots for? Can they store MIDI files?

So all the YMF262s are OPL3 chips?

Hi: http://www.ic-distributors.com/HTML_ICD_Y-2.shtml lists three different types of YMF262s: YMF262-M YMF262MEZ YMF262S How are the above 3 different from each other? Thanks, GX

Hi: MBFM has uses a wavetable sequencer. Does this mean it sounds significantly different from OPL3? OPL3 uses pure FM. Also, is there a way to disable the sample-playback and just use the FM? I have an SB16 ISA card with OPL3, I like playing MIDIs through it. Will those MIDIs sound the same if I play them through MBFM. I hope so. Thanks a bunch, Green

In Motif, is there a way to use FM without the sample-playback synthesis? Does Motif's FM qualify as AFM? Also does Yamaha MM6 and MB-FM use AFM? I hope at least one of them does. I googled both of them and no sites gave me any info on whether or not they use AFM. There are times when I think I should build my own AFM synth so I can really make it the way I want. However, I need in-depth knowledge of complex mathematics -- such as Bessels functions. I am hoping I can learn it.

If I want it new but inexpensive, is my best bet to build it myself? Would this be less expensive than having someone else custom-building it?

Hi: Are there any companies that make customized MIDI keyboards from scratch? If so, how much would they cost? I asked because I would like a new SY99 keyboard. I like AFM [Advanced Frequency Modulation] synthesis and SY99 is the most advanced keyboard that uses it. I've checked throughout the internet for sale of SY99, all of them are "used". I don't trust used products. I prefer that they be "not used". Pretty much all keyboards using AFM synthesis are available as "used" only. Is there anyone out there who I can hire to build me an SY99 keyboard from the bottom-up? Will the cost be reasonable? Or I am better off learning AFM synthesis myself and then building my own AFM keyboard? Thanks a bunch, Green

What is best modern version of SY99? I am looking for a keyboard that has at least 61 keys [hopefully 88] that uses AFM [Advanced Frequency Modulation] synthesis and hopefully with RC&M synthesis as well. Is there any hope of me finding some AFM keyboard that is not "used"?

Again, I will have to go off-topic but thanks for your understanding. I'm not at all a germophobe. In fact, I like bacteria. It's the allergens [such as pollen, soil, and grass dust] that makes me sick. Also, I hate anything with a sticky texture [such as syrup]. If there is any sticky substance to any extent, there is a good chance I will feel it. Anyways, I like the idea of distilled water. I wonder if giving the entire SY99 a bath in distilled water will ruin it. Hopefully not. I'm used to the dust of my skin cells, so I could ignore it. If it gets too much I can wipe it off. As for a totally-sterile environment, I don't really need or want that. Majority of bacteria in the environment are harmless and many even protect us against the bad bugs.

So I can wash the SY99 in distilled water w/out harming it?

Usually the used ones don't work properly or are too dirty to use. No offense. Sorta off-topic but I'm very sensitive to outdoor dirt. There is a good chance the used ones came in contact with grass, soil, pollen, asphault, concrete, and other outdoor dirt. I'm allergic to amounts of those substances which others can tolerate. That's why I'm an indoor person. If I touch the outdoor floor, I immediately have to wash my hands with clean water. I can't use soap or other chemicals either -- just pure clean water. I can handle small amounts of dirt particles that are present in most habitable environments, however, construction work just gets my nostrils flaring. I also have Asperger's syndrome which further increases my sensitivity to physical discomfort. This is why I am very particular about the clothes I wear. Discomfort which most can ignore, feels like pain to me. Sorry for getting OT but that's my main concern about getting a used product. Because SY99 has electric parts, I can't wash it with water. Water-safe products I don't mind buying whether used or new.

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Is it possible that some of the second hand ones are not "used"?

Hi: Where can I find a new SY99 keyboard? I don't trust the used ones. Thanks, Green Xenon

Software is used for the SB16 ISA's OPL3 chip, however the synth itself is purely-hardware. In OPL emulation, the synth is software.

Not necessarily. The SB16 ISA cards use OPL3 which is a digital hardware synth. The SB16 PCI cards use opl emulation, which is done by software synth.

Hi: My dream MIDI keyboard is a musical keyboard that has 88 keys and relies purely on digital AFM [Advanced Frequency Modulation] synthesis [not sample playback or analog synthesis] to generate tones. It has a headphone jack. It can store and produce .mid files. In addition, it is able to somehow record and store songs digitally [as .wav files] so I can directly burn them into a CD. It has an internal HDD. It also has a CD burner/player which can record/playback any and all formats of CD-sized discs. It also has an external HDD which I can use to import/export to/from the keyboard and my PC. In addition, the keyboard’s synth is purely-hardware [not a softsynth] and freshly generates its tones [i.e. it does not use any sampling or sampled sounds to any extent]. The AFM synth in my dream MIDI keyboard has as many operators, voices, channels [OPL3 has 18 channels, OPL2 has 9], voices-per-channel, and operators-per-voice as physically-possible with the size of my keyboard being the same as that of the current highest-quality keyboard available. This keyboard also has a display screen as well as controls, settings, and effects which are as sophisticated as that of the most advanced keyboard. The audio from my dream keyboard is stereo but it sounds exactly the same in both the L and R channels. When audio is played back, the audio signals in the left and right channel are exactly the same in terms of amplitude, frequency, and phase. There are no settings to change this. Last but not least, my dream MIDI keyboard makes the most efficient use of Realtime Convolution and Modulation. I would like to make karaoke tracks using this hypothetical keyboard and then burn the karaoke songs into CDs. Sadly my dream MIDI keyboard is way too good to ever be true. Regards, Green Xenon

Hi: From what I read, FM synthesis is used for audio. Is it ever used for video? I've done a google search but did retrieve any info on FM synthesis being used to generate video signals. Thanks, Green

Hi: OPL3 generates digital signals from scratch. So why does it need an ADC? I can understand it needs a DAC to convert the digital FM audio to analog so we can hear the music. But why an ADC? Thanks, Green

Sorry. The fact the phase-modulation is used in OPL3, stirred my curiosity again.