Yamaha • FB-01

Yamaha FB-01 Image

The FB-01 is simply an inexpensive, 8 part multitimbral digital FM synth module. It's only a 4-operator synth which is less than, say a DX-7. This simply means its sounds are not quite as good. You will need an external MIDI system exclusive editor to edit the patches. This can be accomplished by a dedicated editor program like Unisyn, or by creating SysEx control messages within your sequencing program. The FB-01 has a lot of organ, piano, brass, bass, guitar, percussion, and lead sounds. Basically this is a good source of typical FM-sounds at a low price. It is used by Hardfloor and Moog Cookbook.


VISITOR COMMENTS (12)

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Vincent
Posted 49 days ago
To those been interested by an open source editor (for windows only for now but normally been ported on MacOsx and linux), click on this link to discover the project : https://sourceforge.net/projects/fb01editor/ and have fun !
Alex Mauer
Posted 153 days ago
If you search for this on youtube, you can find my videos showing off custom sounds i made for the FB01.

If you want your FM synthesis to sound as raw as an old arcade game like Marble Madness then it is ideal. Also if you like the DX100 or DX21 keyboard... this module has nearly the same sound engine... plus multi-timbral features for 8 seperate voices playing at once.
Jules
Posted 168 days ago
I bought one of these new back in 1985 or 86....... I still have it. So I suppose that says something about it.

To be honest, I think it sounds thin by DX7 standards... That's a result of only being 4 op FM. It has a tendancy for the sound to almost vanish in a mix it kind of just blends in with whatever else is going on in the track. The presets are not astounding but it does have some good chopper type Bass sounds and a couple of leads that are OK... the real power comes when you start to actually create your own sounds with it. I also tend to run it through a couple of filters, that actaully beef it up a bit.

Get one very cheap! Maximum £30 or £40 and you got a bargain. Otherwise leave it alone and put the money towards something more powerful.

Best Regards,
Julian (Fozzy The Bear)
Nick
Posted 205 days ago
I just bought one of these a few days ago an I'm in love with it. It's my first hardware synth and im very happy with the organs, basses, leads and electric pianos. I'm using SysEx Librarian and an Axiom25 to save my banks, but I cant for the life of me find and editor for mac OS X. All in all im very happy with this purchase.
Andy_Planck
Posted 217 days ago
I bought this one for 350 Swedish kronor. It got lovely effectsounds, i use it mainly for that but also dx-ish sounds. Its a great fxsoundmachine. I have sampled it off in ESI32 format.