FM Zone

What it does

An FM synthesizer for iPad with the operators kept behind a simplified front panel. Sections for pitch, sub, shape, detune, spectrum, timbre, filter and level each take a hand-drawn multi-segment envelope, with envelope shape presets, snapping, reverse, flip and mutate. A sample layer runs alongside the synth engine with its own pitch, filter and FM depth, fed from bundled samples or your own. Behind the panel sit selectable operator algorithms with editable levels, a long filter list including comb, crusher, ring modulation and wave folder, a modulation table and a bank of effects. Version 2 later added a second envelope per section with a dial blending A into B, new reverbs and a new colour scheme.

In the demo

Jade builds up from the init patch in AUM, drawing envelopes onto pitch, shape and spectrum, opening the operator editor, then working the filters and the modulation table before running the preset banks, which lean hard on Sega-era arcade FM.

Worth knowing

It is iPad only and heavy on CPU, one instance taking around 37% DSP on her iPad. A desktop version is sold separately by ToyBox Audio.