Behind the synth showcases the people bringing you Yamaha synthesizers. In this episode Nate and Blake talk FM synthesis with renowned sound designer, Manny Fernandez. Manny has been involved with sound design and synthesizer development for over 30 years. His FM programming articles are among the most popular on YamahaSynth.com. Check out the links below, and check out Manny's episodes in the Behind the Synth playlist :

https://yamahasynth.com/learn/synth-programming/mannys-fmxplorations-article-1
https://yamahasynth.com/learn/synth-programming/mannys-fm-xpert-1-acoustic-eccentricities-and-stuff
https://yamahasynth.com/learn/synth-programming/basics-of-fm-synthesis

BTS063: FM-X With Manny Fernandez

Dave Bessell Chromatic Lightning Cage DiN84

Release date 15th March 2024
Limited to 250 copies Digipak CD

This new release from synthesist Dave Bessell sees him completing a quartet of albums loosely based on the Greek philosophy of the Four Elements, namely Fire, Water, Earth and Air. There’s certainly no doubting that “Chromatic Lightning Cage” with its vivid cover is referencing Fire but this personal odyssey started with the concept of Water on his inaugural solo album, “Analogue” released in 2010. This was followed by “Black Horses Of The Sun” (DiN47) - Air, and “Reality Engine” (DiN62) - Earth.

Bessell has also released three collaborations with Parallel Worlds on the DiN imprint as well as being part of the synth supergroup Node. It is interesting that whilst the Berlin School inspired sequencer riffs of the latter dominate the soundstage Bessell largely eschews this approach on his own albums. Rather on this and his other DiN solo releases he explores interesting harmonic progressions with a series of interlocking delicate arpeggios. This is most evident on the opening track “After Hours” as well as the beautiful closing piece “Elegy”. Elsewhere Bessell blurs the line between guitar and synth using his stringed instruments as controllers for his modular systems. His music has always had an element of the soundtrack to it and this is certainly highlighted in the track “Ariel” which has a mystical, unearthly quality to its soundscapes. Bessell has noted that the ghosts of Amon Tobin and Nils Frahm wander through this album at times which is certainly an intriguing thought.

Always one to push the boundaries Bessell has included a QR code in the Bandcamp download version of the album that opens up an augmented reality vista from the cover image. Lovers of Electronica, Downtempo, Ambient and Soundtracks will find much to admire in “Chromatic Lightning Cage” and this new album once again showcases the unique talent of this highly individual musician.

 
 01 After Hours   05:43
02 Forest Under The Sea   03:41
03 Darkening Air   07:17
04 Dream Of The Red Chamber   07:10
05 Ariel   05:01
06 Unheimlich   08:36
07 Nightshade   08:55
08 Moths   09:34
09 Elegy   06:31

Total Time :  62:46

Chromatic Lightning Cage

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Chromatic Lightning Cage by Dave Bessell (DiN84) Demo Mix

Funky June 001

Between 1990 and 1994 researchers at CCRMA Stanford collaborated with Yamaha making the VL1, VL1m, VL7 and VP1. These synthesizers set the standard for Physical Modeling technology and are yet to be rivaled by modern DSP platforms(Kyma, Tassman, Reaktor, Max/MSP, Korg Oasys-PCI, Sculpture, etc.). The VL1 series of synths remain a sound designers playground and have been used in many film and television shows. This quick demo explores the unusual reactive tones and textures of the VL1.  No external processing or FX was applied to this recording, everything you hear is direct from the synth. 

Yamaha VL1 - Prime Synth Programming Demo

Demo example for the Yamaha Reface DX.  An EDM style remix of Victor Feldman's "Viva Zapata" from his 1984 album "Fiesta".  All original sound design created by Reface DX and recorded straight into Garageband, with only some master reverb added.  Uses the following Reface DX sounds:
-The main bass sound is Refacely Bass 1, switching to That DX Bass 1 for the middle 16
-The synth mirroring Refacely Bass 1 in sections is Klaviona Keys 3, and as featured arppegios in the ending section (right panned)
-The intro and 'middle 16' comp synth sound is Krunch Organ
-The melody leads are FM Lead 1 (main) and Klinkk Lead (harmony)
-The drums and percussions are Lectro Beats 7, Snare 24, Rhythm Box Cymbal 1, Claps 4, Charp!, China 1, Splash Percussion, and Smakk

-Phase Sync Organ is the middle 16 melody
-Numana is the melody synth in the ending section 
-Clox Vox is layered at the ending in lots of reverb
-Jibbishy is the buzzy & metallic sitar like texture that crescendos in and out in that ending section
-The final ambient synth at the end of the track is L Dopa

You can find the original Vic Feldman (Piano, Rhodes), Chick Corea (DX7 lead & solo), Nathan East (bass)& Trevor Feldman (drums) track on YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJbNTW7gcoM

Viva Zapata Remix

Yamaha VL1 and original Motif Synthesizer

Yamaha Demos

FloboeSong

Blake and Nate look back at the MOTIF Series in the Yamaha Synth Space. The MOTIF Series (MOTIF, MOTIF ES, MOTIF XS and MOTIF XF) were highly-regarded music production synthesizers from 2001 until 2016 when MONTAGE was introduced.

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BTS010: MOTIF-series Retrospective

Behind the synth showcases the people bringing you Yamaha synthesizers. In this episode, re-discover the EX5 - an Extended Synthesis (AWM2-sampled-based, AN-virtual analog, VL-virtual acoustic, FDSP-formulated DSP, sampling, whew!) workstation from 1998. Join Blake and Nate as they get re-acquainted with the EX5 sounds, discuss the technology inside like what is FDSP "Seismic," "Tornado" and "Water" and attempt to "out-jazz" each other!

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BTS013: EX5 Retrospective

Behind the synth showcases the people bringing you Yamaha synthesizers. Blake and Nate discuss the legendary DX7, their first experiences using it and recreate a Manny Fernandez sound from the December 1985 issue of Aftertouch Magazine. 

To hear the full editing session keep listening after the BtS theme at the end at 17:28. MONTAGE and MODX users can check out that sound on Soundmondo.com here: https://soundmondo.yamahasynth.com/voices/48960




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BTS015: DX7 Retrospective

Behind the synth showcases the people bringing you Yamaha synthesizers. In this episode, Blake and Nate chat with Ben Israel. 

Ben is the Planning, Development and Research Manager for Content, Research and Development (CRD). Part of his work is managing content creation for Yamaha Synthesizers. He also conducts future product research and administrates the YamahaSynth IdeaScale community. Or as Ben sums up:

"I get to come up with wacky ideas for experimentation."

Ben's role combines sound design and musicianship with project management and serious attention to detail. This is a cool chat for anyone interested in synthesizer product development.

BTS044: Ben Israel SynthChat

Behind the synth showcases the people bringing you Yamaha synthesizers. In this episode we chat with keyboardist, producer, and author Howard Massey. Howard literally wrote the book on digital FM. His first two books were “The Complete DX7” and “The Complete DX7II.” 

Beyond synths, Howard is also an authority on music recording and production. "Behind the Glass" features interviews with the world’s leading record producers. Howard also co-authored "Here, There and Everywhere" with legendary Beatles engineer, Geoff Emerick. 

Howard recently finished a new article series for YamahaSynth called "FM 101" (https://www.yamahasynth.com/learn/synth%20-programming/fm-101-article-series). As the author of the DX7 opuses from the 80s he had this to say about writing FM 101 and MONTAGE: "I had not had an opportunity to work with MONTAGE before this project and it was fascinating seeing how far along the technology has come since the 80s. There is much more power and flexibility, but the basics of FM are the basics of FM-that doesn't change."

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Viva Zapata Remix

Manny Fernandez

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