Jun Murakami Synth81Z is a new authentic emulation of the legendary 4-operator Yamaha TX81Z hardware FM Synthesizer.
Many FM synthesizer emulations have hit the market in recent months. Virtual 4-operator FM synths like the FB-01 are particularly popular right now. Plogue recently released the OPMZ, a synth that replicates the characteristics of four vintage FM chips and many hardware units.
Jun Murakami, who recently released the Roland MKS-80 Super Jupiter emulation, is now showcasing the Synth81Z—an emulation of a large FM synth. Nope, not another DX-7.
Jun Murakami Synth81Z
Synth81Z is a new FM Synthesizer plugin for macOS and Windows, which, according to Jun Murakami, is heavily inspired by the legendary Yamaha TX81Z. The original hardware is based on the single FM chip, the YM2414, also known as OPZ.
However, because the feature set matches the original, I describe it as an emulation rather than just an inspired plugin.
The developer employed the same method used for the Roland synth—one based on detailed measurements, comparisons, and so on. The developer also used AI tools during development to speed up the process.
Jun Murakami writes that in the end, it matches the hardware in detail, including the phase resolution of the operators, routing of the waveform tables, the fine detail of each of the eight waveforms, and more.
Comparisons with the original hardware would have to show whether that is actually the case. I can’t do that; I don’t have an original unit. The plugin offers all the original features, plus some improvements.
Eight FM Parts
Synth81Z has 8 parts, but unlike the Yamaha TX81Z, it supports up to 32 voices of polyphony. The developers say eight voices match the hardware, and higher settings are like stacking several chips.
It also includes an eight-part performance mode compatible with the hardware’s layers, with splits and multitimbral setups.
There is also a mode with continuous pan and an independent LFO for every part, making it comfortable to use as software. Each instrument features the same waveforms and parameter sets.
This emulation also includes a 5-slot multi-FX processor with effects taken from the Synth-80 plugin: four choruses (Synth, Studio, Pitch and Digital), delay, phaser, flanger, EQ, compressor, distortion and reverb. Also onboard is an arpeggiator.
Users who have the hardware also have an advantage. Jun Murakami Synth81Z works as an editor and librarian with SysEx send/receive for voices, performances, and tables, .sys/.mid import, and a blank builder.
No downloadable demo version is available. However, the developer offers the plugin in its full scope as a virtual instrument playable directly in the browser.
First Impression
The wave of new FM synthesizers shows no signs of stopping. Synth81Z looks like an interesting release; hardware users will surely weigh in over the coming days on how authentic it is.
I just hope we won’t see 100 other TX81Z emulations over the next few months. However, in the current plugin time, I can imagine it.
Jun Murakami Synth81Z is now available at an introductory price of $39 (regularly $59) for a limited time. It runs as a VST3, AU, and AAX plugin on macOS (native Apple Silicon + Intel) and Windows.
More information here: Jun Murakami
i think i paid like 59.– for my hardware tx81z lol