From Sine to Sound
Designing a sound using a novel web FM synthesizer
AJ Bucci breaks down the complex topic of FM synthesis by showing how we can build an electric piano sound, step-by-step.
AJ presents live demonstrations in a web-based FM synthesizer that he designed and built. The synthesizer is written in Rust/WebAssembly with a SolidJS frontend, and the UI is inspired by the classic Korg OPSIX.
AJ discusses:
- The fundamentals of FM synthesis and how it works
- Carrier waves and modulator waves
- How frequency ratios affect sound
- The role of an envelope (ADSR) in shaping sound over time
- Why most "FM" synths actually use phase modulation instead of frequency modulation
This talk is accessible to both musicians and audio programmers.
Maker: AJ Bucci
AJ Bucci is a machine learning, software, and data engineer.
Meetup talk
AJ presented at the July 10, 2025 Demo Night.
Watch on YouTube:
