Having successfully upgraded/modified the SFG-01 sound module in a 1984 Yamaha CX5M to SFG-05 specification I have been enjoying designing my first few sound patches and testing them as dual layers as I have to say I've rather fallen for this thing - its producing considerably warmer and more complex results than I was expecting for a sine-only 4 OP FM synth.  Push it hot through a transformer coupled DI box and it sounds lovely!

I have to say the difference between the non-velocity sensitive SFG-01 and the upgraded velocity sensitive SFG-05 is like night and day - FM is so very much more potent and emotive a form of synthesis with expressive control.

The CX5M is basically an MSX1 computer with a built in 4-OP sine-only FM sound module based on the YM2151 which is almost identical to the YM2164 4-OP FM sound chip found in the FB-01.

With a bit of experimentation and spending some time discovering these synth's sweet spots its really quite surprising what you can conjure up from both the CX5M and the FB-01 once you move beyond the rather cheesy original factory patches.   Its no real wonder there has been a rekindled interest in both synths in recent years.

Upgrading to SFG-05 spec allows the CX5M's sound module to be played via MIDI with velocity sensitivity as opposed to relying on a proprietary non-velocity keyboard that the SFG-01 required.

This is simply the CX5M recorded directly into reverb - any perceived chorus effects are the result of careful use of the LFOs in both the patch and dual layer programming.

Sound Design & Recording Copyright D.A.Wilson, Hideaway Studio 2022.

1984 Yamaha CX5M Mk II: New Layered Patches.. (UPDATED)

Having some fun trying out a new patch on my beloved 1986 Sequential Prophet VS I programmed with Stereoping's superb "ProVessor S" hardware patch editor which really does open up this wonderful digital-analog hybrid vector synth...

I have always liked the sonic aesthetics of cold crunchy digital into warm analog filters!

Original Composition & Recording Copyright D.A.Wilson, Hideaway Studio 2023.

1986 ProphetVS: Voxscape Orbit...

Sad Whales

For Daytime

Felt Jacket

- - -

59.197611, 17.739410

salle d'attente

Quiet Evenings - Fault (excerpt)

taken from the forthcoming double tape retrospective CRUSHING WAVES OF GLOOM. limited copies available @ www.strangerules.com

Life In The Dark - Loveisnofuture

“Conspiracy Means Breathing Together” is the first single from “La terre et la force” by Anarchist Mountains Trio. Due on February 15 on tape & vinyl via Amek Collective: http://amekcollective.bandcamp.com

Quiet Evenings - Fault (excerpt)

Adversary

Recent comments

bifurcationpoint

Related tracks