FM Essential - US 1.1.8

Yamaha Corporation of America ❘ Freeware ❘
iOS
out of 63 votes

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FM Essential is a synthesizer app available for both iPhone and iPad devices. It features an FM tone generator that allows for real-time synth performances and voice editing.

Specifications:

FM sound
Tone Generator: FM
Part: 1
Polyphony: 16
Preset Voice: 271
Arpeggiator patterns: 64
Chord pads: 20
Scales: 25

Drum Part:

Tone Generator: Audio
Part: 1
Drum Pad: 16
Drum Pad Set: 3

Features:

Plug into MX! - When connected to Yamaha music synthesizer MX BK/BU series, you can access all 271 voices and use the voice store function.
Effects/EQ edit - Adjust parameters to customize effects and equalization.
Ball controller - Modulate the sound by simultaneously changing multiple parameters based on the ball position. Simply touch and drag in the ball controller.
Step sequencer - Store the ball position in the currently selected scene box.
Arpeggiator and chord pads - Play arpeggiator and chord pads along with the keyboard using various scales.

For more information about the MX BK/BU/WH series, please visit: http://jp.yamaha.com/products/music-production/synthesizers/mx_bk_bu/?mode=series

Support:

Compatible with Audio Bus and Audio Unit Extensions.
Compatible devices: iPhone 5S, 6/6 Plus, 6s/6s Plus and SE, iPod Touch 6th Generation or later, iPad Air 1st Generation or later, iPad mini 2nd Generation or later, iPad Pro.

Overview

FM Essential - US is a Freeware software in the category Audio & Multimedia developed by Yamaha Corporation of America.

The latest version of FM Essential - US is 1.1.8, released on 12/18/2024. It was initially added to our database on 02/01/2024.

FM Essential - US runs on the following operating systems: iOS.

Users of FM Essential - US gave it a rating of 3 out of 5 stars.

Pros

Authentic FM tone generator — provides classic FM synthesis sound palette.
Real-time performance features — responsive keyboard, arpeggiator, chord pads and ball controller for expressive play.
Large preset library — 271 preset voices covering a wide range of FM tones.
Useful performance tools — 64 arpeggiator patterns, 20 chord pads and 25 built-in scales.
Integrated step-sequencer — can store ball-controller positions per scene for evolving patterns.
Effects and EQ editing — onboard effects and EQ parameters allow sound shaping without external apps.
Drum part included — dedicated drum pad (16 pads) and 3 drum pad sets for rhythm creation.
iOS audio plugin compatibility — supports Audiobus and Audio Unit Extensions (AUv3) for integration into iOS DAWs and workflows.
MX series integration — can unlock full 271-voice playback and voice store functionality when connected to Yamaha MX BK/BU series hardware.
Free to download and modest app size (~92 MB) — low barrier to try and use on iPhone/iPad.

Cons

Single-part synth (1 part) and not multitimbral — limits layering and complex arrangements within the app itself.
Polyphony limited to 16 voices — can be restrictive for dense patches, pads or multi-note FM textures.
Drum capabilities are basic — only one drum part, 16 pads and 3 pad sets (not a full drum machine/sequencer).
iOS-only — not available for desktop platforms (macOS/Windows) or Android.
Some advanced features require Yamaha MX hardware to unlock full functionality.
Mixed user reception — App Store rating around 3.0 (67 ratings) indicates varied user satisfaction and possible usability or stability concerns.
Documentation and support are routed through Yamaha general support pages — may require extra effort to find app-specific help or troubleshooting.
No visible mention of recent updates or long-term maintenance in the store listing — potential risk of becoming outdated over time.

Screenshots (Click to view larger)

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Latest Version
1.1.8

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