preenfm Forum

PreenFM => preenfm2 and preenfm3 => Topic started by: proxima on December 23, 2020, 08:51:45 PM

Title: FM Drum synthesis tips and tricks
Post by: proxima on December 23, 2020, 08:51:45 PM

everything is in the title, the 6 parts and 6 separate outputs of the PreenFM3 would make a great drum machine, any tips for drum synthesis using the preen (or FM in general) would be welcome !

Title: Re: FM Drum synthesis tips and tricks
Post by: SMF on December 23, 2020, 10:13:53 PM

Hi,

this is a very short summary of what to do to get the "typical" drums (808/909-alikes):

Basedrum: Single OP (just the carrier), sine, in fixed frequency at approximately 60-120Hz (taste), frequency modulated with an envelope. The starting frequency should be chosen approximately 50-200Hz higher. Decay at taste fast to very fast.

Snaredrum: Basically the same as the basedrum. Lowest-frequency around 200-400Hz. Starting-frequency 100-400Hz higher. As a second layer add noise. Either white noise (only one OP on the preenFM) or spectrally shaped noise (Modulator: noise, Carrier: Sine, medium to high modulation-index. Frequency of the noise-carrier (center peak of the noise-spectrum) as you like it.

Hi-Hat: Basically the same setup as for the snare-drum-noise but with a center-frequency of the noise at around 4-10kHz. Fast envelope for a closed, longer decay for an open HiHat.

Clap: LFO-Envelope (three to four distinct "hits"/peaks) in the beginning, moderately fast decaying envelope for the end-section. Single Operator set to white-noise.

I'm not too sure that this explanation is really understandable for someone who has not done that before (all others probably wont need one as creating at least the "typical" drums is straight-forward/dead-easy if you have done it, once -- and the not so typical drum is BTW just experimentation in most of the cases). If you don't understand the short hints from above, please don't be afraid to ask for more details. I will try to explain it in more detail/better, then...

best,
Stefan

Title: Re: FM Drum synthesis tips and tricks
Post by: ericd on December 24, 2020, 07:23:19 AM

Robert Henke (aka Monolake) has some videos on this. He uses Ableton Operator but it is fairly simple to translate across to the Preen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rfeY0_k1ctk

Title: Re: FM Drum synthesis tips and tricks
Post by: proxima on December 24, 2020, 11:38:28 AM

Thanks guys, keep them coming !