Got one today after a long research on certain FM chips (I was trying to get gear that would give me certain sounds and textures). For those wondering, this module uses the YM2164 chip, which is also found in Yamaha's SFG-05 FM unit for the CX5M computer. It is very, very similar to YM2151, which some of you may know as the chip used to produce the soundtracks for game classics such as Out Run and After Burner (the SFG-01 FM unit uses one too). As for DX synths, DX21, 27 and 100 are the ones that contain this very same chip. On a side note, the CX5M computer is great but people ask a lot of money for it, and no home keyboards from that era have the YM2151 or 2164 chips, so the FB-01 seems to be a cheap alternative, thankfully! Of course, the CX5M has its charm - but being able to produce the same sounds and still have money in your pocket is better, IMO. :)
When I started playing solo gigs in 1987, this was the recommended unit for my bass sounds. I combined that with a Yamaha PF10 piano, Roland Juno1 synth, Korg Poly61 synth and Yamaha RX15 drum machine; bass/drums powered by a Korg SQD-1 sequencer. I sang atop that. I still own the FB-01 but don't really use it. I pulled it out the other night to record a background track of Eleanor Rigby and it was flawless.
WOW 90,000 Views on this unit. I can tell you that Digital is coming back slowly, especially FM and Phase Distortion synths like the CZ-101, just ordered one.
I still have my FB-01. I bought it used in perfect shape back in the eighties during my first excursions into midi. It still works perfectly, and it is built like a tank.
people need to understand why classic yamaha synths are so good. for a rich fm sound look no further. here a 5 reasons off the top of the head why they're so good. 1. they're cheap 2. they're not nearly as difficult to program as they're made out to be 3. 4op is good fm for beginners to learn 4. they have an extremely powerful fm signal 5. not being able to use like a vst makes you think and be more creative about how you're going to sample from it for the price you pay you're getting the classic yamaha fm sound. once these are re-sampled (kontakt) with solid processing, automation etc you quickly learn why these old cheap synths are so great. a lot of these presets on their own can be worked into current house, garage,electro type tunes with ease. but if you are really serious buy a sy99. one of the most powerful and rewarding synths ever created in my opinion. long learning curve but wow what a synth. gives you lord status amongst fellow producers if you can program one also
I was just recently given a yamaha fb01 and love it! I can't weight to interface it with my craigslist kawai q-80. Hopefully those 2 are compatible lol. I will be using a m-audio axim49. Wanna try sequencing oldschool 80s/90s style for a change lol. Most of my stuff up till now has been made with flstudio
I got mine about a million years ago to replace my cx5m for its 4 operator fm sounds. Of course its better thru reverb but it's actually a fave module of mine. Who needs a TX81Z? This saves space & sits next to my Emu Prof + piano module.
I have 2 of these. I had 3,but sold one. I wished I had not. The presets are correct and indeed why I bought 3 at one time! Yes, it is the same engine as the DX100,DX21,DX27,DS55,V50,DX reface,and I think DSR1000/2000,YS100/200,B200,etc. If you use a editor for any of those 4 op FM synths,you can use it for this!
The V50 was the last development of the 4 Op FM engine. It had an extra envelope devoted to pitch, 16 voice polyphony and some additional feats I can't remember now...
This is true. I have the V50 but sadly the majority of the buttons are bad and won't work. I have to rebuild the keyboard and then I can jam on it too. I forgot to mention that the FB01 like most Yamaha synths, has an internal lithium or nicad memory battery that will need to be upgraded/changed! That is why my FB01 units are collecting dust right now. Minor major electronics hacking involved since NON of the classic synths use a removable battery clip! To make things easier I bought 2 DX200 groove boxes with FM synth board in them. They do use modern computer CMOS battery and removable battery clip so no worries!
OMG! I have this module but haven't tried it out yet, but this brings back so many memories when it comes to LucasArts and Sierra games from the early 90s!! I'm keeping this one :D
great video! i've bought a FB-01 myself and it arived today! it's really a great sounding synth and yes what you hear in this clip a the real presets :)
It's not quite as capable as a six-operator synth at creating layered atmospheric sounds, but it is capable of creating great lead sounds, such as the classic DX Rhodes.
This synth has more character than all the other 4-op FM's put together. I made better sounds on mine than on the TX-7, I will be uploading a vid soon, I'm not kidding, this is 'the' FM module to get and it's pennies.
Halbert 84 maybe people didn’t have attractive patch editors back then. Also if I had lived at the time I probably would have looked at it like an expasion for the real thing?
I used the opening bass tone on one of my solo cuts. I had arrived in New York City at the end of 2010, and my roommates had a Roland MKB-300 MIDI keyboard and an FB-01 module. The following summer, I got a Yamaha S90XS synth and immediately began writing music on it. For this recording, I laid down 2 parts from the S90 and used it as the controller for the bassline out of the module. Unfortunately, when a new owner of the MKB came to take it, the module went with it. I should’ve tried to keep it. ruclips.net/video/IiDr6Aog5I8/видео.html
Sounds about the same as my tx81z, good on the bass sounds but pretty average on everything else. No doubt in the right hands it can sound good. I prefer the DX7 by a long shot.
PaK Deville DX7 has 6 operators, and DX7II has a 16 voice polyphony with ability to play 2 diferent presets at the same time with split or dual functions, also DX7II have 16bit less noisy DACs...
Got one today after a long research on certain FM chips (I was trying to get gear that would give me certain sounds and textures). For those wondering, this module uses the YM2164 chip, which is also found in Yamaha's SFG-05 FM unit for the CX5M computer. It is very, very similar to YM2151, which some of you may know as the chip used to produce the soundtracks for game classics such as Out Run and After Burner (the SFG-01 FM unit uses one too). As for DX synths, DX21, 27 and 100 are the ones that contain this very same chip.
On a side note, the CX5M computer is great but people ask a lot of money for it, and no home keyboards from that era have the YM2151 or 2164 chips, so the FB-01 seems to be a cheap alternative, thankfully! Of course, the CX5M has its charm - but being able to produce the same sounds and still have money in your pocket is better, IMO. :)
MitsuharuSan the sera genesis used the YM2612/OPN2 chip - I was revisiting those genesis games and sounds lately great stuff
When I started playing solo gigs in 1987, this was the recommended unit for my bass sounds. I combined that with a Yamaha PF10 piano, Roland Juno1 synth, Korg Poly61 synth and Yamaha RX15 drum machine; bass/drums powered by a Korg SQD-1 sequencer. I sang atop that. I still own the FB-01 but don't really use it. I pulled it out the other night to record a background track of Eleanor Rigby and it was flawless.
WOW 90,000 Views on this unit. I can tell you that Digital is coming back slowly, especially FM and Phase Distortion synths like the CZ-101, just ordered one.
I used the heck out of one of these in the 80s and early 90s - very useful little box it’s a hidden gem
It helps that Wolfgang is playing this with beautiful tones and not just random tinkering! Smashing,I will dust off my 2 units today!
I still have my FB-01. I bought it used in perfect shape back in the eighties during my first excursions into midi. It still works perfectly, and it is built like a tank.
people need to understand why classic yamaha synths are so good. for a rich fm sound look no further. here a 5 reasons off the top of the head why they're so good.
1. they're cheap
2. they're not nearly as difficult to program as they're made out to be
3. 4op is good fm for beginners to learn
4. they have an extremely powerful fm signal
5. not being able to use like a vst makes you think and be more creative about how you're going to sample from it
for the price you pay you're getting the classic yamaha fm sound. once these are re-sampled (kontakt) with solid processing, automation etc you quickly learn why these old cheap synths are so great. a lot of these presets on their own can be worked into current house, garage,electro type tunes with ease.
but if you are really serious buy a sy99. one of the most powerful and rewarding synths ever created in my opinion. long learning curve but wow what a synth. gives you lord status amongst fellow producers if you can program one also
KUPHSER I can also recommend the old casio synths. CZ-1 and cz5000 for example. Cheap as shit and sound fantastic
Aske Floppykat that is true, I've been keeping my eyes out for a cz5000 for a while now :)
my CZ-1 demo ruclips.net/video/K-uwtStrDbQ/видео.html
I was just recently given a yamaha fb01 and love it! I can't weight to interface it with my craigslist kawai q-80. Hopefully those 2 are compatible lol. I will be using a m-audio axim49. Wanna try sequencing oldschool 80s/90s style for a change lol. Most of my stuff up till now has been made with flstudio
Love the bass
E-Piano sounds great.. I got to re-install it in my setup. Great demo 🙏👌
Very nice basses..... actually pretty good all round. This unit was used on Biosphere's Substrata album so I'm looking for one.
I got mine about a million years ago to replace my cx5m for its 4 operator fm sounds. Of course its better thru reverb but it's actually a fave module of mine. Who needs a TX81Z? This saves space & sits next to my Emu Prof + piano module.
I still use mine. Its thinness can be an advantage when layering with an analog synth.
😂
I have 2 of these. I had 3,but sold one. I wished I had not. The presets are correct and indeed why I bought 3 at one time! Yes, it is the same engine as the DX100,DX21,DX27,DS55,V50,DX reface,and I think DSR1000/2000,YS100/200,B200,etc. If you use a editor for any of those 4 op FM synths,you can use it for this!
The V50 was the last development of the 4 Op FM engine. It had an extra envelope devoted to pitch, 16 voice polyphony and some additional feats I can't remember now...
This is true. I have the V50 but sadly the majority of the buttons are bad and won't work. I have to rebuild the keyboard and then I can jam on it too. I forgot to mention that the FB01 like most Yamaha synths, has an internal lithium or nicad memory battery that will need to be upgraded/changed! That is why my FB01 units are collecting dust right now. Minor major electronics hacking involved since NON of the classic synths use a removable battery clip! To make things easier I bought 2 DX200 groove boxes with FM synth board in them. They do use modern computer CMOS battery and removable battery clip so no worries!
OMG! I have this module but haven't tried it out yet, but this brings back so many memories when it comes to LucasArts and Sierra games from the early 90s!! I'm keeping this one :D
ive got one of theses as well been in the carboard for decades ... with the Rolland organ strings and the korg dw 8000..
1:33 that Sonic/Sega Bass for the epic win!
Just bought my 2nd one of these after selling my first one a few years ago
Bass sounds are excellent!
Excellent sound demo. Very cool!
These are some of the best Synth sounds ever
I have an FB-yamahaf50
Never knew what it could do.Thank u i'll put it to work
Love the fm sounds on this
great video!
i've bought a FB-01 myself and it arived today! it's really a great sounding synth and yes what you hear in this clip a the real presets :)
such a nice lowend to it, this demo is very convincing good job
6:31-8:10, best part. Very Sim City 2000-ish in areas.
The FB stands for Fart Box (I actually have one of these).
Yeah, I was thinking I can do such sounds with my ass.
No, no THE Fart box is the Casio SK-1, aka the Fart Sampler!
I always imagined it stood for "Fat Bastard". (Though it probably didn't, tbh.)
Hahaha!
thanks for the video, just confirmed my next purchase 100% can't wait for it to arrive and start cracking out the basslines!
I have a DX21 and many of the sounds sound exactly the same?
Good demo!
yeah, I think its the same thing 4 ops fm yamaha synth in a box, I love the rawness of it, great for techno sounds
@@aramis844 - Have you made a demo yourself?
@@monsterjazzlicks Hi, I no longer own the dx21 and boght the fb01 after that, to my ears sound pretty the same, but I could be wrong
@@aramis844 OK, that's a shame.
It's not quite as capable as a six-operator synth at creating layered atmospheric sounds, but it is capable of creating great lead sounds, such as the classic DX Rhodes.
Spot on, 4 op first gen DX can't do atmospherics
Some bass presets are stellar!
I can def. hear the medieval arcade Rastan music here! :D
very good sound demo!! thx!
I'm getting one.Easier to carry around than a DX7.And cheap as fuck.Cool demo!!!
It was used in "Spider-Man vs. The Kingpin" development for Sega Mega Drive/Genesis....
I still have one of these. I thought the pipe organs were on of the most realistic sounds. It's been on the shelf for 10 years collecting dust :(
Thanks for the effort put into the vid!! Much appreciated!! :)
This synth has more character than all the other 4-op FM's put together. I made better sounds on mine than on the TX-7, I will be uploading a vid soon, I'm not kidding, this is 'the' FM module to get and it's pennies.
What did you use to edit it?
@@justingoers I use myself this max4live device by midierror and works great: gumroad.com/l/fb-01
This is a really very cool Box!
Have you heard of FM4 for iPad and Reason? I heard it's a very good emulation of the TX81Z
Great 4-OP soft synth, but a different take on FM than the TX81Z.
I was hoping for a walkthrough that showed the preset's name and then what it sounded like.
Thanks for the Demo. I'm totes getting one🤗
Still uses the same chip as the other 4-sine FMs. The benefit is its tiny size, owing to not being tethered to a non-velocity-sensitive keyboard.
thanks from the usa.
So its a stripped down DX7?
Sine waves only, but only 4op instead of 6op
damn it sounds like garbage. I'll take two
Im pretty sure that these fm gear in late 90s was seen as junk and probably you could buy it dirty cheap, anyone can second this?
It doesn't.
@@aramis844 I did. But not now.
@@camulodunon so it was always seen as a gem?
Halbert 84 maybe people didn’t have attractive patch editors back then. Also if I had lived at the time I probably would have looked at it like an expasion for the real thing?
Thanks I'll look into that.
DX7 is a more advanced bit of kit, but even so the FB01 can be awesome value for money.
love the fat bass sound and the lead sound,impulsive~~
ovaj synth je zamalo zavrsio u garbidzu...ali slusajuci ovaj demo, dacu mu jos jednu sansu... :)
I used the opening bass tone on one of my solo cuts. I had arrived in New York City at the end of 2010, and my roommates had a Roland MKB-300 MIDI keyboard and an FB-01 module. The following summer, I got a Yamaha S90XS synth and immediately began writing music on it. For this recording, I laid down 2 parts from the S90 and used it as the controller for the bassline out of the module.
Unfortunately, when a new owner of the MKB came to take it, the module went with it. I should’ve tried to keep it.
ruclips.net/video/IiDr6Aog5I8/видео.html
Had a listen to your track, really nice thanks for sharing it! Great solo's also. Is the piano sound from the S90XS?
a lot of these presets remind me of the Arturia Microfreak.
thanks!!
👍
sound just like a genesis console!
Good ear! They use nearly the exact same chip. It's glorious!
+Facemeltingsolos Not really, they are based on the same technology but Genesis did 2 Op only FM. This is 4 op, aside from the polyphony etc
Javi G 4 op? Nice. I love the sound of all those old fm chips.
thats what I love about it! A sega genesis on steroids!
Unfortunately that's not true.
The Genesis had six monophonic 4 op channels:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yamaha_YM2612
Ho Wolfgang, can this load dx21 sounds?
Sounds like Isle of the Dead OST
@emperorbulblax90 All Presets are FB-01 factory presets
I currently have one for sale on eBay UK
kid chameleon, ahh those were the days.
11:20 sounds cool
Sounds about the same as my tx81z, good on the bass sounds but pretty average on everything else. No doubt in the right hands it can sound good. I prefer the DX7 by a long shot.
Of course. 6 op is way better
I have an FB01 but so far have not found a good editor for it, any ideas?
sourceforge.net/projects/fb01editor/
nikako nije za djubre! vrlo je mocna sprava, zato ih imam 2 komada :)
which is the one at 2:52 ?
I ment an FB-o1
Thnx for your comments!
How manny presets it have?
pls, read video description
I used to have one. it sucks. Having 4 operators make a huge difference, for worse. Sounds like a crippled DX-7.
fat !! i bought one after hearing this
05:43 - SEGA MEGADRIVE!
Yesss!!!!!
Sounds slightly better than a Yamaha PSS 460 Keyboard. You pay 40€ for a PSS 460. I don't understand why these FB01 are so expensive.
are they? I bought mine for 90 euros last year
11:19 Superstitous intro; same sound?
Hohner clavinet : Stevie
... i heard it is the same soundengine like the dx7...
FB-01 has the same engine as DX-21, DX-7 is something completely different.
PaK Deville DX7 has 6 operators, and DX7II has a 16 voice polyphony with ability to play 2 diferent presets at the same time with split or dual functions, also DX7II have 16bit less noisy DACs...
+Михаил Алёшин The 4 op machines have 8 different waveforms for the operators though (DX / TX are only sine wave).
any way to plug this to a guitar?
+Julian Cullars Guitar midi note pickup
I play this with my guitar using a gk-3 pickup and a gr-55 to convert my guitar output to midi
Sonuus G2M
one short demo song created only with Yamaha FB-01 sounds:
ruclips.net/video/9PNWplwf0-Y/видео.html
Better than I remember but lets face it, it's only good for bass sounds. Strings or atmospherics a def no
Ima li ovo cudo finger portamento?