Some FM instrument examples

When implementing simple FM instruments, we have several basic parameters that will effect the overall sound:

1. The duration,
2. The carrier and modulating frequencies
3. The maximum (and in some cases minimum) modulating index scalar
4. The envelopes that define how the amplitude and modulating index evolve over time.

Using the information taken from John Chowning's article on FM (details of which appear in the text Computer Music (pp. 125-127)), we may develop envelopes for the following simple FM instruments:

• bell-like tones,
• wood-drum
• brass-like tones
• clarinet-like tones

Figure 16: Envelopes for FM bell-like tones, wood-drum tones, brass-like tones and clarinet tones.