Open Source FM Software Synthesizers
====================================

---
**Author:** Christopher Arndt  
**Date:** 2018-08-15
---

Dexed
-----

**Formats:** VST  
**Custom GUI?:** Yes (JUCE)  
**License:** GPL3

Homepage:
:    http://asb2m10.github.io/dexed/

Repo:
:    https://github.com/asb2m10/dexed

AUR package:
:    https://aur.archlinux.org/packages/dexed/

AUR VCS package:
:    https://aur.archlinux.org/packages/dexed-git/

Sound demos:

* http://linuxsynths.com/DexedPatchesDemos/dexed.html
* https://sites.google.com/site/kvrosc/osc-74-dexed

Patches:

* https://www.kvraudio.com/product/dexed-by-digital-suburban/downloads
* https://musical-artifacts.com/artifacts?apps=dexed

Notes:

* An older version is available in LV2 format, but doesn't have the nice new GUI


DX10 (MDA)
----------

**Formats:** LV2, (VST)  
**Custom GUI?:** No  
**License:** GPL2 (LV2 version), MIT or GPL2+ (VST version)

Homepage:
:    http://mda.smartelectronix.com/ (https://sourceforge.net/projects/mda-vst/)

LV2 port:
:    https://git.drobilla.net/cgit.cgi/mda.lv2.git/about/

Repo:
:    LV2: https://git.drobilla.net/cgit.cgi/mda.lv2.git
:    VST: https://svn.code.sf.net/p/mda-vst/code/

Arch package:
:    https://www.archlinux.org/packages/community/x86_64/mda.lv2/

AUR VCS package:
:    https://aur.archlinux.org/packages/mda-lv2-git/

Sound demos:

* http://linuxsynths.com/DX-10PatchesDemos/DX-10.html

Patches:

* http://linuxsynths.com/DX-10PatchesDemos/DX-10.html

Notes:

* Linux VST version currently available only from source (?)
* Closed-source VST version with custom GUI previously available commercially
  via tracktion.com


Hexter
------

**Formats:** DSSI  
**Custom GUI?:** Yes (GTK3)  
**License:** GPL2

Homepage:
:    http://smbolton.com/hexter.html

Repo:
:    https://github.com/smbolton/hexter

AUR package:
:    https://aur.archlinux.org/packages/hexter/

Sound demos:

* http://linuxsynths.com/HexterPatchesDemos/hexter.html

Patches:

* https://musical-artifacts.com/artifacts?apps=hexter


Oxe FM Synth
------------

**Formats:** VST  
**Custom GUI?:** Yes (OpenGL)  
**License:** GPL3

Homepage:
:    https://oxesoft.wordpress.com/

Repo:
:    https://github.com/oxesoft/oxefmsynth

AUR package:
:    https://aur.archlinux.org/packages/oxefmsynth/

AUR VCS package:
:    https://aur.archlinux.org/packages/oxefmsynth-git/

Sound demos:

* http://linuxsynths.com/OxePatchesDemos/oxefmsynth.html
* https://sites.google.com/site/kvrosc/osc-81-oxe-fm

Patches:

* http://linuxsynths.com/OxePatchesDemos/oxefmsynth.html
* https://www.kvraudio.com/product/oxe-fm-synth-by-oxe-software/downloads


Honourable mentions
-------------------

* [6PM](http://sourceforge.net/projects/mv-6pm/) - Phase modulation (PM)
  synthesizer
* [Mx44](http://web.comhem.se/luna/) - Cross-modulating synthesizer
* [JuceOPL](https://bsutherland.github.io/JuceOPLVSTi/) - Synthesizer based on
  the Yamaha YM3812 (OPL2) sound chip. LV2 port available
  [here](https://distrho.sourceforge.io/ports.php)
* [OpulenZ](http://linuxsynths.com/OpulenZPatchesDemos/opulenz.html) - An 
  emulation of the Yamaha YM3812 (OPL2) FM synth chip included in
  [LMMS](https://lmms.io/)
* [VOPM](http://www.geocities.jp/sam_kb/VOPM/) - An emulation of Yamaha's 
  YM2151 OPM sound chip
  ([OSC 63 Sound demos](https://sites.google.com/site/kvrosc/osc-63-vopm))
  (Linux version off-line?)
* [DXconvert](http://dxconvert.martintarenskeen.nl/) - Yamaha FM synth patch
  converter



Resources
---------

* [LinuxSynths](linuxsynths.com)