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 - Phase modulation (PM) synthesizer
• Mx44 - Cross-modulating synthesizer
• JuceOPL - Synthesizer based on the Yamaha YM3812 (OPL2) sound chip. LV2 port available here
• OpulenZ - An emulation of the Yamaha YM3812 (OPL2) FM synth chip included in LMMS
• VOPM - An emulation of Yamaha's YM2151 OPM sound chip (OSC 63 Sound demos) (Linux version off-line?)
• DXconvert - Yamaha FM synth patch converter

Resources

• LinuxSynths