Creating a Multifunctional FM8 Sawtooth

In this video tutorial, Steven Folds, MassiveSynth.com founder, shows how to create a useful FM8 Sawtooth that is suitable for genres such as acid house, minimalism and many others!

In this video tutorial, Steven Folds, MassiveSynth.com founder, shows how to create a useful FM8 Sawtooth that is suitable for genres such as acid house, minimalism and many others. When we talk about Sawtooth waves, most people imagine the overused fat saw lead that is known especially in trance. This FM8 Sawtooth was built with the Acid genre in mind. The patch that Steven creates is one from the collection of 50 Sawtooth sounds that was offered free to MassiveSynth.com subscribers!

Start the FM8 Sawtooth by assigning OSC1 a Polysaw II waveform. Set the Wt-position to 30%, and the Amp to about 70%. Make sure that OSC2 and OSC3 are set to Square-Saw I. For OSC2, drop the Wt-position to 30%, the Intensity to 10%, and keep the Amp of full. Turn the Pitch of OSC3 down to -12 semitones (octave), and turn the Wt-position completely down. Slightly turn down the Intensity, and leave the Amp on full.

This FM8 Sawtooth uses two Lowpass 4 filters. Filter 1 will be automatically opened when a key is pressed, adding character to the sound. While Filter 2 will act as a traditional cutoff filter. For Filter 1, set the Cutoff to about 40%, and turn down the Resonance. For Filter 2, turn down the Cutoff all the way, and slightly boost the Resonance to about 55%.

Add a Brauner Tube to FX1. The amount of effects is optional, but for the sake of following the video set the Dry/Wet all the way down, and set the Drive to about 40%. Assign a Dimension Expander to FX2. Then turn on the EQ and max the High Shelf. Assign a Sine Shaper to Insert 1. Set the Dry/Wet to 30%, and the Drive to 60%.

Under the Modulation OSC of the FM8 Sawtooth, turn on the Phase Mode for Oscillator 1. Turn on the Position Mode for Oscillator 3. Then turn on the Filter Fm Mode for Oscillator 1. Turn up the Pitch of the Modulation OSC to 24 semitones.

Assign LFO 5 to modulate the Intensity of OSC2, and the Cutoff of Filter 1. Assign LFO 6 to modulate the Intensity of OSC1 and to modulate the Wt-position of OSC2. Reduce the Rate of LFO 6 to 25%. Under voicing set the Unisono to 2 and turn on the Pitch Cutoff. Now play around and fine-tune the the FM8 Sawtooth sound!