Twisted Electrons Twist FM, previewed at Superbooth 24, is a new polyphonic hybrid FM Synthesizer based on Sound Blaster chips. It’s now ready for pre-order
Last May, Alex from Twisted Electrons showed the Twist FM hybrid FM poly synth at Superbooth 24. This new FM synth’s unique feature is its hybrid core, which uses Sound Blaster FM chips and analog filters.
Now Twist FM is about to be released. You can pre-order the synth now, and it will be delivered in December.
Features
- 8 voices
- Yamaha OPL-3 YMF262 FM chips oscillators
- layered FM Synthesis: 4-operator and 2-operator FM engines for complex or simple sound design.
- dual YAC512 stereo DACs
- analog multimode Filters with HEAT & Resonance Modes: 15 filter modes, HEAT for subtle saturation to analog distortion, and dual resonance options (LIQUID, MS20).
- three LFOs per voice,
- an envelope per voice in addition to the envelopes per operator
- full MPE and polyphonic aftertouch support
- dynamic preset system with presets from Limbic Bits: save, load, and randomize presets with fader position recording and morphing.
- chord modes and various scales for deep harmonic exploration.
- flexible Connectivity: USB MIDI, MIDI DIN I/O, and two inputs for external sound processing.
- vibrato & tremolo with customizable waveforms, arpeggiator.
- customizable ribbon for pitch bends, modulation, and preset morphing.
- polyphonic sequencer with 128-step sequencer with MIDI sync and looping options
The new sound demos show nicely the character of the synths. It’s lovely crunchy.
Twisted Electrons Twist FM is available now for pre-order for 998€ + VAT. Shipping starts in December 2024.
More information here: Twisted Electrons
Article From May 21, 2024
Pittsburgh Modular, Cre8audio, and Twisted Electroncs shared a tent at Superbooth 24 this year. No wonder, Alex from TE is part of the development team of Cre8audio.
In addition to the new mighty analog Voltage Lab 2 Synthesizer, there was also a new prototype on display here. Twisted Electrons previewed the new Twist FM Synthesizer.
Twisted Electrons Twist FM
Yes, that was a surprise at Superbooth 24. You could only see the new Twisted Electrons synth when you visited the tent. There was no press release or so.
Twist FM is a new 8-voice polyphonic FM Synthesizer with hands-on control powered by Sound Blaster chips (YMF262/OPL3 FM). It uses two chips to create the 8-voice polyphonic FM sounds.
It offers a dual-layer engine with stacking option. The first layer features four operators with five algorithms, while the other uses two operators and two algorithms. Unfortunately, you can’t combine the layers into one 6-OP FM Synthesizer.
Then, both layers go through a Mutable Instruments-inspired analog filter with head and dual resonance modes and a dedicated ADSR envelope, making it a hybrid synth. I think the analog filter is a great addition as it adds a nice warmth touch to the colder FM sound.
On the modulation side, it has three multi-wave LFOs, a dedicated envelope per operator, and an additional envelope assignable to various parameters.
Like the previous Twisted Electrons synths, this one also has a very hands-on interface with lots of sliders. Twisted Electrons also added a little screen to the Twist FM with an encoder. The only one on the whole synth.
Plus, you get a built-in ribbon control for real-time action, including note playback. There is also a 128-step sequencer, an arpeggiator, and a chord mode.
First Impression
With the Twist FM, Twisted Electrons will make retro sound fans very happy again. I’m sure. Looks very lovely and I’m looking forward to the final release.
Twisted Electrons Twist FM will be available in late Summer/Autumn of this year (estimated). The price is TBA but should be under 1000€.
More information here: Twisted Electrons
would rather have a … well anything else.
How about a Korg Opsix II? and a lot less than 1000€
different FM synth with a different engine and workflow. The Twist FM will be an hybrid FM synth with 4OP based on vintage chips with analog filters while the Opsix II is a modern DX-7.
make the next one out of a Simon.
some years ago i got a yamaha pci soundcard, the ones with the olp3 synth chip and installed it on a old pc [like $40 – anything from winxp and under supports these, unsure about vista onwards though, because of drivers – but i believe dosbox plays nice with these on modern systems but might be wrong] – i use adlibtracker & radtracker and its amazing fm synthesis insanity.
and for those that hate trackers you can use software to create your own sounds on windows with freq-monster [there are good guides online how to set this up, super easy] and send midi into it and have fun.
there’s even a tracker for the pc speaker! much more cheaper than this one, which looks really nice but too expensive. you could also get a pentium3 motherboard or older with ISA slots and get an old soundblaster or yamaha or any old sound card with those fm synths and again, go apeshit.
sound is dirty and grimy as hell, i love it.
I love my MEGAfm despite janky firmware (that got a lot better when it went open source) and failing LEDs. Twist looks amazing, but the price… I guess 998 is *technically* under 1k.