Webb Master

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FM Synthesis Ratios

Just a reference for myself the kinds of sounds I can get from different ratios in fm synthesis (I’m more into analog, but I almost always end up using both analog or virtual analog and fm synthesis in songs)

carrier:modulator vague description
2:1 Darker
4:1 Rougher
3:2 (fifth/7 semitones below) Metallic/bell-like. Better if modulation level not too high
3:1 (octave & 7 semitones below) Same as above
4:3 (forth/5 sems below) Metallic but less reedy
8:3 (forth/octave & 5 sems below) Same as above
1:1 Subtle/reedy
1:2, 1:4, 1:8 Bright
4:5, 2:5, 1:5 (4 sems) Open, not chime-like
3:4 (5 sems) Dull, kinda chime-like
3:8, 3:16 (1, 2 oct + 5 sems) Chime-like
2:3 (7 sems) Classic/cliché fm sound
1:3 (oct+7sems) Clean but piercing
1:6 (2oct+7sems) Pinging metalic
3:5 (9sems) Classic bright
3:10, 3:20 (1,2oct+9sems) Classic 80s chime tones