Three great plugin alternatives
NATIVE INSTRUMENTS FM8
Native Instruments’ FM8 is the successor to one of the first hardware emulations to make a splash, their FM7. Though it sports a six-operator architecture, it includes all of the waveforms of the TX and a lot more besides. Algorithms may be freely designed in a routing matrix, and the multi-stage envelopes are to die for. www.native-instruments.com
DIGITAL SUBURBAN DEXED
FM synths have long been a favourite subject of freeware developers, and Dexed is one of the best we’ve ever seen. Free and open-source, it’s available to users of OS X, Windows or Linux computers. It’s so accurate that it can act as a remote editor for an actual DX7. It’s a straight DX7 clone, so more (and less) than a TX81Z. asb2m10.github.io
KATSUHIRO CHIBA OPFOUR
Part of the free Classic Synths bundle, the Opfour is a direct copy of the Yamaha TX81Z for Ableton Live’s Max for Live users. A-bang on clone of the original, there are even some SysEx import/export options onboard. The sound is pure 80s FM, although thankfully the interface isn’t – it makes programming as easy as can be. www.ableton.com