Superbooth 21: Jomox Mod FM, 8-voice poly FM synth voice with analog filters

Superbooth 21: Jomox Mod FM is an 8-voice poly FM Synthesizer voice for Eurorack with analog SSI filters and hands-on control, first look.

Almost two years ago, Jürgen Michaelis from Jomox presented the Mod FM for Eurorack at Superbooth 2021. An 8-voice hybrid FM Synthesizer voice with analog filters.

The development of the Mod FM is now finished and is now available. The first units will be delivered in September. It looks from the features very promising.

Mod FM

According to Jomox, the Mod FM is an 8-voice fully multi-timbral FM Synthesizer with four operators per voice. hosts 26 algorithms and offers 2 LFOs per voice with 64 waveforms.

Jürgen Michaelis’ new synth voice also features an analog metal noise mixable into the filter independently of the digital sound engine.

The special thing is that the voice is not purely digital but hybrid. You can find true SSI2140-based analog filters per voice here with either 24dB lowpass or 12dB multimode lowpass/highpass/highpass. There are also analog VCAs per voice. A control and modulation matrix gives you complete control over all controls and the modulators. A digital reverb and two stereo delays conclude the engine.

Patches can be saved right in the module in 128 presets and 118 multi-sets, including all CV settings. It also has full MIDI support. On the connection side, you get individual outputs for the voices, CV/gate sockets per voice and CV modulation inputs per operator. Two OLED displays provide visual feedback of the parameter settings.

First Impression

Sound demos of the finished voice are currently only available on the developer’s website. In this first demo, the module sounds very good. Very snappy. At first glance, an exciting synth voice with an impressive feature set. I like the analog filters in combination with the FM synth. These give the often overly clear and digital sound beautiful analog warmth and character.

Mod FM will be available this month for 1057,80€.

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October 4th, 2021

The easiest way to enter the Eurorack world are semi-modular synths or complete Eurorack voices. Here you usually have everything you need in one module. From oscillators, filters, envelopes, etc., all in one.

Jürgen Michaelis aka Jomox, the Berlin-based developer of the Alpha base and many other products, was also at Superbooth 21. He brought two new products to his booth. The first is a new hybrid synth voice for Eurorack.

Jomox Mod FM

Mod FM is a hybrid synth voice that offers a digital oscillator side an analog side with 8 SSI filters. The digital core uses a 4-operator FM synthesis engine. All parameters we know from FM synthesis like frequency, feedback… are onboard. And many of them have dedicated knobs. Each operator also has its own digital envelope. To simplify programing, the developer will add algorithms to the engine.

The engine is also equipped with dozens of LFOs that can also operate as single VCOs. Thus, you can have for each of the 4-operator two additional VCOs with multiple waveforms. This gives you up to 6 oscillators per voice. For the modulation, there is an internal matrix where you can map the parameters to the modulators.

The modules have 8 individual outputs for the voices with a handy mixer for splitting off voices if you wish. On the input side, you have 4 dynamic FM CV inputs with audio-rate capabilities, 4 CV ins for the FM amounts, and 4 others for controlling each operator’s pitch envelope. Don’t forget, the Mod FM has 8 analog SSI filters onboard with which you can add character and saturation to your digital sounds.

Jomox Mod FM First Look

Jürgen gave me a first look. The module is very complex, and FM synthesis is certainly not super hands-on. The module does not want to be a DX-7 in Eurorack but tries to be a bit simpler and easier to use FM synthesis.

The idea of combining FM synthesis with analog filters is very tempting. How good the module will be, we have to see when it is on the market. For me, it’s more interesting to see how well and smoothly the operation will be.