Twisted Electrons Mega FM synthesizer

General

When DX keyboards were unleashed on the world in '80s, computers weren't left behind. Since FM was the synthesizer-based buzz-word back then, FM-chips slowly but surely found their way into the guts of fledgling computers and sound cards. One of these chips was the YM2612 (OPN2): a teeny tiny thing with a humble yet effective polyphony of six, and with four operators. The now iconic soundtracks of Sega Megadrive games were driven by this very chip and as such, Twisted Electronics present a much bigger ode to that chip in the form of the Mega FM, complete with Sega-style logo. Make no mistake, the Mega FM comes loaded with two YM2612s, amounting to a double-teamed polyphony of twelve which can be divided over two outputs, or combined in one output.

The Special Moves of the Twisted Electrons Mega FM

One look at the face of the Mega FM gives you an idea of where the strengths of this synthesizer lie: control. Traditionally, FM hasn't been the easiest synth-form to rein in due to its sheer mass of parameters, that back in the '80s, were just hidden away in week-long menus that took just as long to navigate. Thankfully, and somewhat considerately, the Mega FM offers a refined level of physical control to make things much, much easier. In terms of algorithms, you're given the essential eight pieces, so you can build things like organs out of four partials, or shape the sound of the renowned E-pianos of the '80s, build a synthetic slap bass, and ... well, since the potential of this unit rests on your love for experimentation, plenty more.