Nord User Forum

[zahush76]

On my NS3 when i choose FM, i get control over the amount of FM and also control over the pitch of the modulator.
I read the user manual of the Wave 2 and noticed that there are more FM algorithms etc. But, when it comes to control i only found something written about using the OSC control for setting the amount of FM, but didn't see anything mentioned about the controlling the pitch of the modulator.
Is there an option to do that? Seems trivial but i'm asking since i didn't see this mentioned in the manual.

[Mr_-G-]

I think you got it right. Semitone units make sense for LFOs/vibrato when the value of the modulation amplitude is static (i.e. you reach those extreme values in every cycle of the modulation), but not so intuitive for FM synthesis as (most often) it does not use a fixed modulation amplitude, but it is governed by EGs and sometimes a chain of modulators.
These are quite good, perhaps you've seen them:
https://www.soundonsound.com/techniques ... modulation
https://www.soundonsound.com/techniques ... modulation

The Nord FM engines are a nice thing to have, but they are quite simplistic when compared to current FM synths like the MODX/Montage.

[Mr_-G-]

I read the user manual of the Wave 2 and noticed that there are more FM algorithms etc. But, when it comes to control i only found something written about using the OSC control for setting the amount of FM, but didn't see anything mentioned about the controlling the pitch of the modulator.

I think the ratio of frequencies is fixed for each algorithm and you can control the amount of modulation (Level in DX speak) via OSC CTRL (Page 21 of the NW2 manual).

[Mr_-G-]

To me it is not so much the "unpredictability", but the "unintuitive" nature of the FM oscillator/algorithms. I do not think you are alone, virtually everybody struggles with FM despite that it can generate some incredible sounds.