Kasser Synths DAFM Genesis YM2612 Bedienungsanleitung
YM2612
YM3438
dafm synth
genesis ym2612 and ym3438
user manual
firmware v 1.98
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introduction
thank you for purchasing the DAFM synth genesis YM2612 / YM3438
synthesizer. this FM multitimbral synthesizer allows you to create
unique sounds using the Yamaha chips that were used in the SEGA
genesis / megadrive home console during the 80s and 90s.
this manual will help you to get started with the DAFM synth genesis
YM2612 / YM3438, including information about how to control the synth
through an external MIDI controller. it will cover the basic features of
the synthesizer, including how to navigate the menu, use the rotary
encoders, and modify the ADSR envelopes, frequencies, and LFOs.
now it's time to dive in and explore the capabilities of your DAFM synth
genesis YM2612 / YM3438! Experiment with the various patches and
presets, modify the settings to create your own unique sounds, and see
what kind of music you can create using the iconic sound of the SEGA
genesis / megadrive home console. we challenge you to push the limits
of this powerful FM multitimbral synthesizer and unleash your
creativity to make something truly unique and amazing!
dafm synth
genesis ym2612 and ym3438
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get started
to get started with your DAFM synth genesis YM2612 / YM3438, you'll
need to connect it to your power source and audio output. Use the USB
Type B cable (5V) to power the synthesizer, and connect the stereo
sound output to a 3.5 mm audio jack.
if you want to control the synth through an external MIDI controller,
connect the MIDI input to your keyboard, sequencer, or other MIDI
instrument. once you've made these connections, you're ready to turn
on your DAFM synth genesis YM2612 / YM3438 and start exploring its
features!
dafm synth
genesis ym2612 and ym3438
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midi in
(din 5 connector)
on / off - volume power in
(usb 5v)
audio out
(3.5 mm jack)
how to navigate the menus
to navigate the menus on the DAFM synth genesis YM2612 / YM3438, you will need to use
the right knob and right switch. The right knob allows you to scroll through the different
menu options, while the right switch selects the option that is currently highlighted.
the left knob is used to select the operator, while the left switch is used to cancel an
action. if you hold the left knob and turn the right knob, you can change the octave. if you
hold the left switch and press the right switch, you can adjust the display brightness to
reduce noise at the sound output.
the touch keyboard of the DAFM synth genesis YM2612 / YM3438 allows you to play and
experiment with different patches, making it easy to explore the full sound spectrum of
the Yamaha chip.
right knob: menu
right switch: ok
operator 1
operator 3
operator 2
operator 4
touch keyboard 12 notes
YAMAHA CHIP
left knob: operator
left switch: cancel
dafm synth
genesis ym2612 and ym3438
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menu 1. feedback, algorithm and
velocity control
menu 1 gives you access to important parameters that shape the sound of your FM
synthesizer. this menu has two submenus
once you press the right switch you enter the first submenu. in this submenu 1 the left
knob controls the feedback or the degree of modulation of operator 1 to itself, adding
complexity and depth to your sound.
the right knob lets you choose the algorithm or how the operators interact with each
other. modulators are the operators that modulate the carriers, which are the operators
you can hear. choosing the right algorithm can completely transform the character of
your sound.
if you select the second submenu with the right knob and press the right switch you
enter the velocity control submenu. here the right knob controls the on/off switch for
MIDI velocity-controlled operators. this allows you to shape the sound based on how hard
you play the keys, adding expressiveness to your performance.
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menu 2. frequency ratio
in FM synthesis, the frequency ratio determines the relationship between the carrier and
modulator frequencies. changing the frequency ratio can create unique and interesting
sounds.
once selected this menu with the right switch, the left knob controls the operator's
frequency multiplier. this determines the pitch of the operator and how it will interact
with the other operators in the synth.
the right knob controls the fine detune of the selected frequency multiplier. this allows
you to fine-tune the pitch of the operator for even more precise control over your sound.
remember that different frequency ratios between the carrier and its modulator will
produce different overtones, giving you a wide range of sounds to experiment with.
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menu 3. envelope ADSR
welcome to menu 3 where we'll explore the ADSR envelope in FM synthesis. the envelope
is like a roadmap for the sound, determining how it evolves over time. here's a
breakdown of the different parameters:
attack: determines how quickly the sound reaches maximum volume when a key is
pressed. decay: determines how quickly the sound drops from maximum volume to the
sustain level. sustain: determines the volume level that the sound will sustain at while a
key is held down. release: determines how quickly the sound fades out after a key is
released. additionally, we have the total level parameter, which sets the overall volume
of the operator. finally, the rate or key scaling is the degree to which the envelope
becomes narrower as the frequency becomes higher.
submenu 1: you can control attack rate with left knob and total level with right knob
submenu 2: control decay rate with left knob and secondary total level a.k.a. sustain
with right knob
submenu 3 : control secondary decay rate with left knob and release rate with right
knob
submenu 4: control the rate or key scaling with the right knob
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menu 4. low frequency
oscillator LFO
the low-frequency oscillator (LFO) in FM synthesis generates a wave that oscillates at a
frequency below the audible range, typically less than 20 Hz. this wave can be applied to
control the frequency in cents or the amplitude of the operators in dB. menu 4 allows you
to control the LFO parameters of the DAFM synth genesis YM2612 / YM3438.
with the left knob of 4.1, you can turn the LFO on or off for all four operators at once. the
right knob controls the LFO frequency globally for all operators. the frequency
modulation sensitivity in cents can be adjusted with the right knob of 4.2. this affects the
depth of modulation applied to the operators' frequency by the LFO.
the left knob of 4.3 turns on or off the amplitude modulation for each individual operator.
the right knob adjusts the global sensitivity in dB for all operators. with amplitude
modulation, the LFO affects the amplitude or loudness of the operator's signal instead of
the frequency. by experimenting with the LFO settings, in summary by adjusting the
amplitude modulation sensitivity in menu 4, you can achieve tremolo, while adjusting the
frequency modulation sensitivity can give you vibrato.
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genesis ym2612 and ym3438
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menu 5. SSG envelope
generator
menu 5 in the DAFM synth genesis YM2612 / YM3438 is dedicated to the SSG envelope
generator. the SSG EG allows you to create complex and unique envelopes that can be
applied to the operators of the synthesizer. with the left knob, you can turn the SSG EG
mode on or off, and with the right knob, you can select the SSG EG type. when the SSG EG
mode is turned on, the adsr envelope in the corresponding operator will loop from the
attack rate to the secondary decay rate (both included), allowing you to create
interesting and evolving sounds.
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genesis ym2612 and ym3438
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menu 6. fm patches and midi
channels
the first submenu allows you to load a preset to the DAFM synth so that you can play
with it and tweak its parameters. There are two types of presets: unfilled circles
represent the presets saved in each of the 6 MIDI channels that can be controlled
through MIDI. If you load any of these presets, the MIDI channel can be controlled
externally, but you can tweak the parameters locally. If you load the bank 0 presets (filled
circles), you will select from a curated selection of presets coming directly from the
SEGA genesis/megadrive videogames. these are exactly the same presets that were
used in the videogames. check the last page of the manual to get the correspondence
between the numbers, the presets and the videogames.
once you load or modify a preset, you can save it in the MIDI channel that you want using
the second submenu. with this action, you can play the channel with the preset that you
saved using the MIDI external controller.
the third submenu allows you to load 6 presets from an SD card to the 6 MIDI channels.
SD cards are easy to get, so you can prepare several SD cards with different sets of 6
presets to load on the fly. Remember to use the correct naming in the presets
(patch0x.dmp where x goes from 1 to 6).
in the fourth submenu, the DAFM synth makes a copy of all the presets saved currently
in the 6 MIDI channels to an SD card. They are copied at once using the naming
patch0x.DMP (x from 1 to 6). remember to rename them to patch0x.dmp to load them
correctly on Deflemask software.
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genesis ym2612 and ym3438
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