Freq Monster 801
FM synthesizer frontend for OPL3 compatible sound cards
How to operate Freq Monster 801.
Table of contents
  1. Setup
  2. FM Synth
  3. Circuit Bend
  4. Clock
  5. Control Change
  6. Keyboard
  7. LFO
  8. Sequence
1. Setup

Platform specfic setup can be found in its own section.

  • For Windows, follow the guide found here.
  • For Linux WINE read the Windows setup section then follow this guide.

When you have completed the setup for your particular system return here with main application window open.

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2. FM Synth

After setting up Freq Monster 801 you are presented with the main application window named `FM Synth'.

An overview of the panels in this window are as follows.

Input

  • Input - The midi input device the application listens to.
  • Channel - The midi channel the application listens on.
  • Tuning - The global tuning adjustment for note events.
  • Release (Damper) - Indicates when a damper pedal in pressed.
    This increases the release time of notes played (increases their duration) when activated.
  • Velocity - This allows adjustment of keyboard velocity sensitivity.

Preset

  • Preset - The current preset patch name.
    If you enter a name here it will find it in the curent `Bank' and you may notice the index of the preset will appended to `Preset' above. Pressing enter will load the preset if it has been found.
  • Bank - The current preset bank.
    • 2op - Preset will occupy the two operator slots 5 and 6.
    • 4op - Preset will occupy slots 1 through 4.
    • 6op - Preset will load into all 6 operators.
  • Save - This saves the currently edited preset with the name given in the currently selected bank.
    It's a good idea to only save presets in the 6op bank and to leave the others as they are.
  • Delete - Deletes the current preset.
  • Reset - Reloads the window with the preset's original configuration.
  • Default - Clears the preset configuration.
  • Perf. - Open the performance editor (see below).

Preset - Performance

This is accessed from the preset panel when selecting `Perf.'.

The performance editor allows you to save the state of all the features of Freq Monster 801 as a performance preset.

  • Performance - A list of previously saved performance presets.
    Clicking an item here loads its state into the window, double clicking loads the performance into Freq Monster 801.
  • Title - A name for the performance preset.
  • Save - Clicking Save will store the performance and exit the window.
  • Preset - The preset patch to use.
  • Bank - The bank to find the preset patch in.
  • Clock - The clock source.
  • BPM - The beats per minute used to configure the clock when using the multimedia timer.
  • Control Change - The control change preset.
  • LFO - The LFO preset.
    The enable checkbox determines whether the LFO module starts enabled or not.
  • Sequence - The sequence preset.
    The enable checkbox determines whether the sequence module starts enabled or not.
  • Circuit bend - The circuit bend preset.
    The enable checkbox determines whether the circuit bend module starts enabled or not.
  • Close - Closes the window.
  • Delete - Delete the performance.
  • Reset - Reload the window.
  • Load - Load the performance into Freq Monster 801.

Optional features

The optional features are enabled from the setup window.

  • Key - The keyboad module.
  • Clock - The clock module.
    This isn't actually enabled from the setup window but is a requirement for both the LFO and Sequence modules.
  • Bend - The circuit bend module.
  • CC - The control change module.
  • Seq. - The sequence module.
  • LFO - The LFO module.

Clicking a module button shows that module's window. Double clicking will hide that modules's window.

Output

  • Volume - The mixer output volume.
  • Pan - The channel balance between left and right.
  • Attenuator - Volume attenuator (ForteMedia FM801 only).
  • Mute - Silence the output volume.
  • Poly. - The current playback polyphony count.
    The max. polyphony is 6.

Schematic

  • This displays the currently selected FM modulator/carrier algorithm in use.

Operator group 1,2,3,4

  • Tuning - Tuning adjustment for operators 1 to 4 only.
  • Feedback 1 - Modulation feedback depth for operator 1.
  • Output L/R - Hard left and right output enable and disable.

Algorithm

  • Algorithm - The FM modulation algorithm.
  • Tremolo - The tremolo depth.
  • Vibrato - The vibrato depth.

Operator group 5,6

  • Tuning - Tuning adjustment for operators 5 and 6 only.
  • Feedback 5 - Modulation feedback depth for operator 5.
  • Output L/R - Hard left and right output enable and disable.

Operators 1 to 6

  • Waveform - The currently select operator waveform.
    The waveform names are approximate based on their appearance. A right click popup allows selection based on the actual waveform shape.
  • Modulation (Tremolo) - Enables tremolo.
  • Modulation (Vibrato) - Enables vibrato.
  • Key Scaling (Level) - Adjusts the volume of notes toward the upper end of the scale.
  • Key Scaling (Rate) - Adjusts the ADSR of notes toward to the upper end of the scale.
  • Tuning - Tuning modifier for this operator.
    This uses hardcoded multiplication factors in the device.
  • Edit - Allows editing of the available tuning modifiers (see below).
    Editing the available modifiers is useful when under LFO control.
  • Envelope (A) - The waveform attack phase.
  • Envelope (D) - The waveform delay phase.
  • Envelope (S) - The waveform sustain phase.
  • Envelope (R) - The waveform release phase.
  • CC - Enable control change events for this operator.
    Possible events include modifying the ADSR from a controller.
  • Hold - Whether the sustain phase holds when a key is held down.
  • Volume - The operator modulation or carrier level.

Operators 1 to 6 - Edit

This is accessed from an operator when selecting `Edit.'.

The checkbox items allow selection of what tuning modifiers should be shown in the `Tuning' list box.

  • Default - Sets the checkboxes to the default.
  • Clear - Clears all checkboxes.
  • Reset - Reloads the checkboxes.
  • Cancel - Cancels the edit and closes.
  • OK - Accepts any changes and closes.
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3. Circuit Bend

The circuit bender is accessed from the main window `FM Synth' when clicking `Bend'.

Circuit bending emulates the logical operations achieved when physically circuit bending a real device.

Preset

  • Preset - The current preset name.
  • Save - This saves the currently edited preset with the name given
  • Delete - Deletes the current preset.
  • Reset - Reloads the window with the preset's original configuration.
  • Default - Clears the preset configuration.
  • Enable - Enables of disables the module.

Register - Data - CC

  • Short - The bit is either forced low (left) or high (right).
  • Invert - The bit is inverted.
  • Connect - The bit is replaced by another bit.

CC - Receive

  • Reg. AND / OR / EOR - Midi control messages are applied to registers.
  • Data AND / OR / EOR - Midi control messages are applied to data.
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4. Clock

The clock is accessed from the main window `FM Synth' when clicking `Clock'.

The clock is used to either control or synchronise the LFO and Sequence modules.

  • Stop - Stops the clock.
  • Start - Starts the clock.
  • Cont. - Continues the clock.
    Continue may not be accurate for LFO control dependant upon the internal state of the LFO when stopped.
  • Source - The clock source.
    • Multimedia timer - Internal application timer using windows multimedia.
    • Midi sync clock - Sync clock received on the midi input.
    • Midi time code - Time code clock received on the midi input.
  • Multimedia timer - Windows multimedia timer.
    • Delay - Millisecond delay between cycles.
    • Resolution - Timing accuracy.
    • BPM - Beats per minute.
    • ? - BPM tap tempo.
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5. Control Change

Control change is accessed from the main window `FM Synth' when clicking `CC'.

The control change window allows us to map midi messages to internal controls and also map external auxiliary controls.

Preset

  • Preset - The current preset name.
  • Save - This saves the currently edited preset with the name given
  • Delete - Deletes the current preset.
  • Reset - Reloads the window with the preset's original configuration.
  • Default - Clears the preset configuration.

Continuous Controllers

  • Function / Number - Items here are the events and their configured message number.
    Right clicking on an item opens a popup where you may start a learn process which can be used to detect a controller on an external device.

Log

  • Number / Value - Midi event log.
  • Enable - Enable or disable midi event logging.

Reserved Controllers

  • Number / Function - Event numbers which may not be user configured and are used internally.
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6. Keyboard

The keyboard is accessed from the main window `FM Synth' when clicking `Key.'.

Use this to audition patches. The computer keyboard may also be used and the preset up/down buttons cycle through the current bank of presets.

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7. LFO

The LFO is accessed from the main window `FM Synth' when clicking `LFO'.

The top bar is the Preset panel and below that we find the LFO tab control. The tab control has two groups of four LFOs which are selected from the tab control as 1 - 4 and 5 - 8.

Preset

  • Preset - The current preset name.
  • Save - This saves the currently edited preset with the name given
  • Delete - Deletes the current preset.
  • Reset - Reloads the window with the preset's original configuration.
  • Default - Clears the preset configuration.
  • Aux - This is the midi output device to send auxiliary CC control messages.
  • Calc - Opens the tick calculator (see below).
  • Enable - Enables of disables the module.

Preset - Calc

The tick calculator is accessed from the LFO preset panel when clicking `Calc' or may also be accessed via a popup menu on a trackbar in an LFO.

This is used to calculate the number of midi ticks for a specific number of bars. The beats referred to here are midi beats which are 6 ticks in length.

  • Bars - Enter the number of bars in the left and right entries.
    The right bar entry is subtracted from the left entry to create the total number of bars.
  • Beats/bar - The number of midi beats per bar. 1 midi beat is 6 ticks.
  • Beats - The total number of midi beats.
  • Ticks - The total number of midi ticks.
  • OK - Closes the calculator storing the result in a trackbar if opened from one.

LFO 1 - 4 and LFO 5 - 8

  • Send - This is the midi controller message to send.
  • Destination - Where the midi controller message is sent to.
  • Receive - What a received message affects.
  • CC Modulation - Whether midi modulation is listened to.
  • Automate - Automates flipping and mirroring of a function per cycle.
    • Flip - Flips the function top to bottom.
    • Mirror - Mirrors the function left to right.
  • Enable - Enables or disables the LFO.
  • Trigger - The method used to prime the LFO.
  • Note - A note that can trigger the LFO.
  • Octave - The octave of a note that can trigger the LFO.
  • Del1 - Delay in ticks before a cycle begins after triggering.
  • Del2 - Delay in ticks between multiple cycles.
  • Function - The functional waveform produced by the LFO.
  • n - A parameter for a function when available.
  • Duty - The duty cycle of square or triangle wave functions.
  • Amp - The amplitude of the waveform.
  • Att - The period of attack of the initial waveform.
  • Flip - Flips the function top to bottom.
  • Mirror - Mirrors the function left to right.
  • Cycles - The total number of cycles produced which may be infinite.
  • Phase - The initial offset into the waveform.
  • Offset - The bias of the waveform.
  • Dur - The length of a cycle in ticks.
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8. Sequence

Sequence is accessed from the main window `FM Synth' when clicking `Seq.'.

The top bar is the Preset panel and below that we find 12 event panels 1 - 12.

Preset

  • Preset - The current preset name.
  • Save - This saves the currently edited preset with the name given
  • Delete - Deletes the current preset.
  • Reset - Reloads the window with the preset's original configuration.
  • Default - Clears the preset configuration.
  • Enable - Enables of disables the module.

Events 1 - 12

  • If - This is a trigger clause. If this triggers then the event is primed.
  • wait - After triggering the event waits this number of ticks.
  • play - Once triggered and after waiting a new note is played.
    The new note is offset from the trigger note by the amount specified here.
  • for - This is the duration in ticks the new note is played for.
  • Enable - This enables or disables the event.
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