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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-GB link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72"><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>Hi all<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I finished my first DIY build synth the other day:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="http://ixox.fr/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=63513.0;attach=340;image">http://ixox.fr/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=63513.0;attach=340;image</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The whole build cost about 250euro.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I know Andy is loving his sexy Yamaha Reface but if you want something smaller, I would defo recommend the PreenFM2.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I have been frustrated with FM since owning a FS1R many years ago. It seems to be a technology that never evolved into a single “ultimate” design. Lots of synths over the years have sexy factors but no single synth contains all (or even most) of the key factors..<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>If I were to describe the ultimate FM synth it would be:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoListParagraph style='text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>1)<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span><![endif]>6 Operators<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoListParagraph style='text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>2)<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span><![endif]>Multi waveforms (some FM synths are sin wave only)<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoListParagraph style='text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>3)<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span><![endif]>Lots of algorithms (20 or more)<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoListParagraph style='text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>4)<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span><![endif]>Simple and easy interface<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoListParagraph style='text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>5)<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span><![endif]>Patch randomiser (vital for FM which is always a bit of guess work)<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoListParagraph style='text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>6)<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span><![endif]>Filter <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoListParagraph style='text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>7)<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span><![endif]>Should be small! (otherwise the DX7ii could have been a contender)<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoListParagraph style='text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>8)<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span><![endif]>DX7 Patch compatibility<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoListParagraph style='text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>9)<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span><![endif]>Proper modulation options in addition to the Operator envelopes<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoListParagraph style='text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>10)<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span><![endif]>Arpeggiator<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoListParagraph style='text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>11)<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span><![endif]>Multitimberal<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Coincidently, and perhaps with a little bias <span style='font-family:Wingdings'>J</span>, the above describes most of the PreenFM2 <span style='font-family:Wingdings'>J</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Extra comments:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoListParagraph style='text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2'><![if !supportLists]><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>1)<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span><![endif]>The interface is a complete joy<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoListParagraph style='text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2'><![if !supportLists]><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>2)<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span><![endif]>3 LFOs<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoListParagraph style='text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2'><![if !supportLists]><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>3)<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span><![endif]>2 Free form envelopes (in addition to the Operator envs)<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoListParagraph style='text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2'><![if !supportLists]><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>4)<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span><![endif]>2 step sequencers<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoListParagraph style='text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2'><![if !supportLists]><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>5)<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span><![endif]>Arpeggiator (one of the best I have come across in hardware with 22 patterns plus 4 user patterns)<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoListParagraph style='text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2'><![if !supportLists]><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>6)<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span><![endif]>12 row Modulation matrix : 16 sources, 32 destination<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoListParagraph style='text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2'><![if !supportLists]><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>7)<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span><![endif]>Very easy to build (they quote 2-3 hours / took me 4-5 hours but Im crap)<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoListParagraph style='text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2'><![if !supportLists]><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>8)<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span><![endif]>Randomizer is a fantastic implementation allowing separate styles of randomizing for different sections (envs = pad/percussion/low/med/hi randomization etc etc)<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Off to play more.. <span style='font-family:Wingdings'>J</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-GB'>Paul<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-GB'>London<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-GB'>www.punkdisco.co.uk</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>