Tutorial 11: Synthesis—Frequency modulation

[From the MSP tutorials documentation]

Elements of FM synthesis

Frequency modulation (FM) has proved to be a very versatile and effective means of

synthesizing a wide variety of musical tones. FM is very good for emulating acoustic

instruments, and for producing complex and unusual tones in a computationally efficient

manner.

Modulating the frequency of one wave with another wave generates many sidebands,

resulting in many more frequencies in the output sound than were present in the carrier

and modulator waves themselves. As was mentioned briefly in the previous chapter, the

frequencies of the sidebands are determined by the relationship between the carrier

frequency (Fc) and the modulator frequency (Fm); the relative strength of the different

sidebands (which affects the timbre) is determined by the relationship between the

modulator amplitude (Am) and the modulator frequency (Fm).

Because of these relationships, it’s possible to boil the control of FM synthesis down to

two crucial values, which are defined as ratios of the pertinent parameters. One important

value is the harmonicity ratio, defined as Fm/Fc; this will determine what frequencies are

present in the output tone, and whether the frequencies have an harmonic or inharmonic

relationship. The second important value is the modulation index, defined as Am/Fm; this

value affects the “brightness” of the timbre by affecting the relative strength of the

partials.

The frequencies of the sidebands are determined by the sum and difference of the carrier

frequency plus and minus integer multiples of the modulator frequency. Thus, the

frequencies present in an FM tone will be Fc, Fc+Fm, Fc-Fm, Fc+2Fm, Fc-2Fm, Fc+3Fm, Fc-3Fm, etc. This holds true even if the difference frequency turns out to be a negative number; the negative frequencies are heard as if they were positive. The number and strength of sidebands present is determined by the modulation index; the greater the index, the greater the number of sidebands of significant energy.

Tutorial 11 Synthesis: Frequency modulation

An FM subpatch: simpleFM~

The simpleFM~ object in this tutorial patch is not an MSP object; it’s a subpatch that

implements the ideas of harmonicity ratio and modulation index.

• Double-click on the simpleFM~ subpatch object to see its contents.

The simpleFM~ subpatch

The main asset of this subpatch is that it enables one to specify the carrier frequency,

harmonicity ratio, and modulation index, and it then calculates the necessary modulator

frequency and modulator amplitude (in the *~ objects) to generate the correct FM signal.

The subpatch is flexible in that it accepts either signals or numbers in its inlets, and the

harmonicity ratio and modulation index can be typed in as arguments in the main patch.

• Close the [simpleFM~] window.

Producing different FM tones

In the main patch, the carrier frequency and harmonicity ratio are provided to simpleFM~

as constant values, and the modulation index is provided as a time-varying signal

generated by the envelope in the function object.

Providing values for the FM instrument

Because modulation index is the main determinant of timbre (brightness), and because

the timbre of most real sounds varies over time, the modulation index is a prime

candidate to be controlled by an envelope. This timbre envelope may or may not

correspond exactly with the amplitude of the sound, so in the main patch one envelope is

used to control amplitude, and another to control brightness.

Over the course of the note, the timbre and the amplitude evolve independently

Each of the presets contains settings to produce a different kind of FM tone, as described

below.

• Turn audio on and click on the first preset in the preset object to recall some settings

for the instrument. Click on the button to play a note. To hear each of the different

preset tones, click on a different preset in the preset object to recall the settings for the

instrument, then click on the button to play a note.

Preset 1. The carrier frequency is for the pitch C an octave below middle C. The noninteger value for the harmonicity ratio will cause an inharmonic set of partials. This

inharmonic spectrum, the steady drop in modulation index from bright to pure, and the

long exponential amplitude decay all combine to make a metallic bell-like tone.

Preset 2. This tone is similar to the first one, but with a (slightly mistuned) harmonic

value for the harmonicity ratio, so the tone is more like an electric piano.

Preset 3. An “irrational” (1 over the square root of 2) value for the harmonicity ratio, a

low modulation index, a short duration, and a characteristic envelope combine to give

this tone a quasi- pitched drum-like quality.

Preset 4. In brass instruments the brightness is closely correlated with the loudness. So, to achieve a trumpet-like sound in this example the modulation index envelope essentially tracks the amplitude envelope. The amplitude envelope is also characteristic of brass instruments, with a slow attack and little decay. The pitch is G above middle C, and the harmonicity ratio is 1 for a fully harmonic spectrum.

Preset 5. On the trumpet, a higher note generally requires a more forceful attack; so the

same envelope applied to a shorter duration, and a carrier frequency for the pitch high C,

emulate a staccato high trumpet note.

Preset 6. The same pitch and harmonicity, but with a percussive attack and a low

modulation index, give a xylophone sound.

Preset 7. A harmonicity ratio of 4 gives a spectrum that emphasizes odd harmonics. This,

combined with a low modulation index and a slow attack, produces a clarinet-like tone.

Preset 8. Of course, the real fun of FM synthesis is the surreal timbres you can make by

choosing unorthodox values for the different parameters. Here, an extreme and wildly

fluctuating modulation index produces a sound unlike that produced by any acoustic

object.

Preset 10. Use this preset when you click on the two messages to the right. This will allow you to hear a very slow evolution from vibrato to sidebands.

• You can experiment with your own envelopes and settings to discover new FM

sounds. When you have finished, click on the ezdac~ to turn audio off.

As with amplitude modulation, frequency modulation can also be performed using

complex tones. Sinusoids have traditionally been used most because they give the most

predictable results, but many other interesting sounds can be obtained by using complex

tones for the carrier and modulator signals.

Summary

FM synthesis is an effective technique for emulating acoustic instrumental sounds as well

as for generating unusual new sounds.

The frequencies present in an FM tone are equal to the carrier frequency plus and minus

integer multiples of the modulator frequency. Therefore, the harmonicity of the tone can

be described by a single number—the ratio of the modulator and carrier

frequencies—sometimes called the harmonicity ratio. The relative amplitude of the

partials is dependent on the ratio of the modulator’s amplitude to its frequency, known as

the modulation index.

In most acoustic instruments, the timbre changes over the course of a note, so envelope

control of the modulation index is appropriate for producing interesting sounds. Noninteger harmonicity ratio yields an inharmonic spectrum, and when combined with a

percussive amplitude envelope can produce drum-like and bell-like sounds. An integer

harmonicity ratio combined with the proper modulation index envelope and amplitude

envelope can produce a variety of pitched instrument sounds.