Primal Audio has announced FM4, which they describe as a new FM synthesizer for iPad modelled on the popular 1980s Yamaha DX series. They say that great care has been put into analysing and replicating inherent sonic characteristics of the original hardware, such as internal quantisation errors and digital-to-analogue conversion, and that the interface is carefully thought-out, with every parameter being available on a single page.

A spokesperson told us, "FM4 is simple to use, yet capable of producing a multitude of sounds, ranging from punchy basses, crystal-clear bells, and lush pads, to organic textures, striking drums, and piercing leads."

Highlights:

• Four operators configurable via eight different routings
• Three sound engines modelled on 1980s hardware units
• Eight waveforms derived from classic FM synths
• 2x, 3x, and 4x polyphonic unison
• Tempo-syncable arpeggiator with up, down, up-down, and random patterns
• Microtuning with eight different temperaments
• Supports Inter-App Audio, background audio, and MIDI (support for Audiobus is planned)
• Up to 24 voices of polyphony
• Import/export presets through iTunes
• Works on all iPads supporting iOS 7.0 and up

Pricing and Availability:
FM4 will be available on the App Store December 2014 at an introductory price of $0.99 for a limited period of time.

More information:

• www.primal-audio.com

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