I printed these out and gazed at them for a while:
TX81Z, an older 4op FM synth: 
Digitone:
Looks to me like only 7 and 8 aren’t represented in Digitone (and they’re quite similar), although the X Y outputs make it hard to compare.
5 Likes
Maybe it’s not the amount of algo’s , but what they do and how all the other parameters impact the sound.
I’ve been happy with the sounds from digitone , seems to cover a wide range , I haven’t turned on any other fm box since I’ve had it.
Plus nice external fx processing and clean overbridge stream into my Mac which seems unique .
3 Likes
which Digitone algo would you say corresponds to the DX algo 3? obviously Digi 2 and DX 5 are matches but less sure there is a Digi match for DX 3
I made an overview for myself regarding DX vs DN algos some time ago. Not sure if I’m matching them entirely right but still it’s probably helpful to anyone.
Edit: Apologies for posting into this very old and somehow unrelated thread… I’ll leave it there. Feel free to mod it away if there’s an urge to do so. 
4 Likes
Not that it really matters but the DN does not have an equivalent to the DX 8 algorithm, which has 4 carriers. The most any DN algorithm has is 3 carriers.
I suppose if you are a fan of pipe organ sounds, and your only synthesis source is FM, then you would appreciate the multi carrier algorithms.
Don’t know if the number of carriers impacts voice count/polyphony?
The Digitone has a solid set of easily understandable algorithms that all produce useable, varied sounds.
It is an FM synth with depth and variety that rewards tinkering and allows for a fast workflow.
Is there a place for an Elektron FM synth with 20 algorithms and 6 to 8 operators? Yes. Its a different product tho and could sit along side the A4 and Rthm.
Trying to force the Digitone to do more, when it already occupies a sweet spot in FM synths, would more easily detriment it than enhance it.
BTW if you want to get crazy with FM synthesis on a modern device, go look at the Waldorf Iridium
Carriers and polyphony are unrelated element of the Digitone.
I was thinking about FM synths in general.
Does the carrier count impact polyphony much like playing stereo samples impacts polyphony on romplers/samplers?
The way I read DN algo 7 is that it can do exactly what DX algo 8 is doing. Mainly it’s just additive synthesis of four operators without any FM happening. Algo 7 can do the very same, right?
In the DX 8 algo it is possible to hear 4 unmodulated carriers, i.e 4 pure sine waves.
In the DN 7 algo, carriers C and B1 are modulated by A and B2 respectively. It would not be possible to hear 4 pure sine waves.
The DX8 algo allows you to recreate a basic 4 stop organ sound and use the carrier volumes like drawbars.
Of course non of this detracts from the DN’s sound shaping capabilities mainly because it excels at having wide sweet spots which is unusual in a FM synth.
The solid lines in the DN algo diagram indicate a direct output of the respective operator. So you can have 4 sine waves and (de-)tune them against each other. I’ve seen it in the manual.
But with regards to individual volume levels this is obv not possible like with a DX.
Generally speaking, I don’t see so much use for more algo variations. I’d rather have a broader range for ratios and fixed ratios probably.
Yes but carrier C is being modulated by A and carrier B1 is being modulated by B2 so C and B1 will not be pure sine waves unless you turn down the level of A and B2 (which is interlinked with the level of B1).
If you have access to Ableton Live and Operator you can compare and hear that a 4 carrier sound is different to that where carriers are being modulated.
There. I said it. Sorry if that wasn’t precise enough. In the end it really doesn’t matter. The DN offers a very capable interpretation of FM synthesis plus some nice extras - nothing less and nothing more.
I think you’re asking the wrong question here. The number of algorithms is limited because that’s what Elektron decided it would do, just like the way the wave harmonics are limited, etc. It’s not a limitation of hardware, it’s a limit imposed as a design decision.
3 Likes
That’s a good way of looking at it. They wanted to make a very focused product which is great in many ways (speed, ease of use, accessibility for folks not experienced with fm, etc) but focus always has a narrowing effect. That narrowing of the technical scope is neither good nor bad, it’s a trade off for the positive gains they wanted.
We often think of fm as a totally open, vast environment where you can do anything but a misstep can lead to chaos. This is not one of those fm machines. This has guard rails to keep you on the road. The 8 algorithm limitation is not the biggest limitation either. Someone said on here the other day that it’s like a subtractive synth but with an fm engine for the oscillator section which I think is apt.
Personally I’m permanently teetering on selling mine because it’s not quite as “fm-y” as I’d like but that’s not a fault of the dn, that’s just me being a self punishing fm nut.
Considering a lot of FM synths I’ve used aren’t as ‘in depth’ in terms of settings for a lot of the parameters (frankly, I’m mostly an OPL3 guy, which is basically a TX81Z for computers) I think it’s still quite capable especially with the ‘harmonics’ section (despite it being, unfortunately) not settable per operator independently). I’ve gotten quite a few ‘classic’ FM sounds out of the machine by simply leaving the filter alone or just using the secondary filter to, as Elektron puts it, tame the sound.
I’ll probably get an OPSix at some point for more exploratory/sample factory type stuff to feed my sampler, though. Maybe get a used one in 5 years or something.
1 Like
I didn’t mean to say it wasn’t capable. As a synth, in a broad sense, it’s very deep and powerful (etc), it’s just that if viewed purely as an fm synth (which in reality is only part of the dn) it feels restrained for the sake of focus which is fine.
I’m a big dx7iifd user (the bi-timbral version) and I love how much control it has. I’m sure I’ll end up with an opsix at some point. I don’t know whether I’ll keep the dn long term. It may grow on me more the longer I have it.
Edit: To clarify, the dn is an amazing little box, no disparagement intended. Every synth has compromises baked in. We’re just comparing and contrasting here.
My problem with the baked in compromises is it’s not always for sake of a clear vision but for money or some concept of it’s ‘intended audience’. Take the 303 for instance…it’s intended audience is literally the opposite of what it’s audience actually became.