FM fundamentals
Bazille CM might only have two oscillators, but the way in which they can interact with each other – or themselves! – makes them way more potent than your average VA synth. One of the most powerful tools in this regard is frequency modulation (FM) synthesis, where oscillators are used to modulate the frequency of one another. Think of an LFO gently wobbling an oscillator’s frequency to create vibrato – FM is the same thing, but using audio rate signals, with the result that a new waveform is created.
Actually, we just told you a little white lie there, because one oddity about FM is that most FM synths don’t modulate oscillator frequency at all – they modulate phase. This gives equivalent end results but ensures pitch stability, making it more suitable for musical applications.
This is exactly how Yamaha’s famous DX7 did it, and Bazille CM is fully capable of this method. All you have to do is hook one oscillator’s output up to the other’s Phase Modulation input and increase its amount for instant FM tones. If you do want to try ‘real’ FM, directly modulating frequency, you can do so too, as explained in our below tutorial. And while classic FM relies only on sine wave oscillators, , there’s there’sres nothing stopping you using much moreor re complex source waveforms in Bazille CM CM. M.
Of course, with only two oscillators, there are limits to the complexity of FM tones you can create, but, as hintedd by u-he’s own Urs Heckmannn himself over the page, there is a crafty workaround that effectivelyectiv vely gives you three ‘operators’ (FM-speakFM-speaks for oscillators). The trick is to usee the Filter module as the third one – simply mply disconnect its inputs, set Cutoff to zero, Key Follow to full, and crank the Resonance till you hear a whistling tone. Now you have an extra modulator or carrier for three-operator FM fun!