Fagear wrote on 2018-07-18, 08:06:
NewRisingSun wrote:The term "FM" only refers to the Yamaha OPx chips, at least on PCs. Tandy 3-voice, CMS and SID are not "FM".
You are right, I've used incorrect terminology. Let me rephrase that. All of those are frequency synths with different types of modulations. Some have primitive amplitude modulation (for ADSR), some have ring modulation on top of that (SID), some have frequency modulation as well (OPLx).
The term 'FM', although strictly meaning 'Frequency Modulation', is not applicable to ALL modulation - no amount of rephrasing will make your erroneous statement correct. Instead of 'rephrasing' (and thus rationalize and explain your mistake away), maybe it's better to just admit you made a mistake, correct it and move on.
SID's ring modulation has _NOTHING_ to do with FM.
ADSR is not PRIMITIVE, but it's extremely flexible and capable in the right hands, and can create a plethora of sounds not available otherwise! Please have some respect.
ADSR is also not called 'modulation', it's an ENVELOPE. Otherwise ANYTHING is modulation, including your coffee maker. In other words, your coffee maker and ADSR are equally "FM".
There is no such term as "frequency synth", because you can't just take the "F" and "M" separately and start applying them every which way and apply them all over the place.
OPLx doesn't "have frequency modulation AS WELL" (implying they have all the other features). First of all, Yamaha synths are FM synths, they ARE Frequency Modulation, that's their whole basis. This is not true of ANY of the other chips / synths you mentioned.
Second of all, 'having' and 'being' something are completely different concepts. Third of all, Yamaha synths / chips do not have ring modulation, it's a completely different mindset, completely different structure, completely different way of creating and synthesizing a sound.
You have to understand that SID, for example, is based on ADDITIVE synthesis, whereas Yamaha FM synths and chips are based on SUBTRACTIVE synthesis. There's a carrier and modulator.
SID has waveforms and filters (many different kinds), synchronization, ring-modulation and combinations. The waveforms are the basics, on top of which, things are added to create and synthesize the sound.
FM chips don't have filters, ring-modulation or synchronization. The principle on which the different chips work is entirely different, so it's a bit insulting that you try to lump them all as 'FM', when they factually, certainly aren't, and on top of that, try to weasel out of your ERROR and MISTAKE just to keep lumping them all into the 'FM' category!
FM only applies to the Yamaha chips and synths, period.
You can't just say SID and the others are also 'manipulated frequencies' (because of course then you can say that anything and everything is, including your coffee maker), and then use THAT flimsy rationalization as proof that SID is FM and Tandy is FM.
Loosely thinking, any sound is 'frequency', and if you manipulate any sound in any way, then you can call it 'manipulated frequency', or 'frequency manipulation'. But this does _NOT_ give you free pass to call SID and Tandy FM synths, since 'FM' is a standard industry term that means a VERY SPECIFIC THING, and SID and Tandy do NOT qualify for that thing.
I HOPE this is now clear.
Yamaha chips and synths = FM.
SID, Tandy, Atari ST chip, Neo-Geo chip, NES chip, Amiga chip, Dreamcast chip, Super Famicom chip, Atari Lynx chip, and your coffee maker are _NOT_ FM, no matter how you try to force them to be FM.