Twisted Electrons TWISTfm Polyphonic FM Hybrid Desktop Synth

We say...

Get those classic FM tones with none of the head-scratching, button-pushing misery that traditionally accompanied programming a DX series synth! This is a brilliant combo of vintage and modern, boasting original FM voice chips with analogue filters and a slider-packed interface.

Manufacturer's description

Unleash the full potential of FM synthesis with TWISTfm, a cutting-edge polyphonic synthesizer that blends vintage FM synthesis with advanced analog filtering and modern control.

Designed to offer a rich, dynamic sound palette, TWISTfm is the perfect tool for musicians and sound designers looking to push the boundaries of sonic creativity.

Vintage FM Power

At the core of TWISTfm are two legendary Yamaha OPL-3 YMF262 FM chips paired with dual YAC512 stereo DACs, providing 8 discrete voices. Each voice is equipped with its own analog multimode filter for an unparalleled range of sound design possibilities.

8 Analog Multimode Filters

With HEAT and Dual Resonance Modes: Featuring 8 individual analog filters, inspired by the iconic designs of Mutable Instruments, TWISTfm gives you precise control over sound shaping with 15 filter modes, including low-pass, high-pass, band-pass, phaser, notch, and more. The HEAT parameter adds anything from warm, subtle saturation to harsh analog distortion, allowing you to push the filters to their limit. Additionally, you can switch between two resonance flavors—LIQUID, for smooth and subtle resonance, and MS20, for more aggressive, cutting tones. With digital control over resonance and cutoff, the filters offer flexible modulation and the ability to store settings with presets.

Perfect for Studio & Live Performance

Whether you're composing in the studio or performing live, TWISTfm’s robust feature set and intuitive design make it a powerful addition to any setup. Its combination of vintage FM tones and modern control capabilities offers a unique, versatile sound engine capable of producing everything from smooth ambient pads to aggressive basses and leads.

​Full MPE compatibility

TWISTfm's MPE mode fully supports three dimensions of control—pitch (X), timbre (Y via CC74), and pressure (Z)—offering precise per-note modulation for unparalleled expressiveness and depth in your sound.

Features​

• Vintage FM Power: Two Yamaha OPL-3 YMF262 chips with 8 voices, each with analog filters.
• Multimode Filters with HEAT & Resonance Modes: 15 filter modes, HEAT for subtle saturation to analog distortion, and dual resonance options (LIQUID, MS20).
• Layered FM Synthesis: 4-operator and 2-operator FM engines for complex or simple sound design.
• Extensive modulation options with 3 LFOs and an envelope for each voice.
• Full support for MPE with several MPE voicing modes & polyphonic aftertouch for dynamic expression.
• Beautiful Presets by Limbic Bits: custom presets from the renowned sound designer.
• Chord modes and various scales for deep harmonic exploration.
• Flexible Connectivity: USB MIDI, MIDI DIN I/O, and two inputs for external sound processing.
• Vibrato & tremolo with customizable waveforms, arpeggiator.
• Simple UI: 4-character display, rotary encoder, and minimal menu diving.
• Dynamic Preset System: Save, load, and randomize presets with fader position recording and morphing.
• Customizable ribbon for pitch bends, modulation, and preset morphing. Use the ribbon to scrub through the sequencer or even morph between chords!
• Polyphonic Sequencer: 128-step sequencer with MIDI sync and looping options.
• Powerful Arpggiator with many modes, skips and ties.