Dexed - FM Plugin Synth

Dexed is a multi platform, multi format plugin synth that is closely modeled on the Yamaha DX7. Under the hood it uses music-synthesizer-for-android for the synth engine and JUCE as a plugin wrapper.

The goal of this project is to be a tool/companion for the original DX7. Sound engine with 'float' value parameters, different waveform à la TX81z would be great but anything that goes beyond the DX7 should and will be a fork of this project. This is to keep the compatibility with the original machine.

Dexed is licensed on the GPL v2. The msfa component (acronym for music synthesizer for android, see msfa in the source folder) stays on the Apache 2.0 license to able to collaborate between projects.

Features

• Multi platform (OS X, Windows, Linux) and multi format (VST, AU and others that I don't use); by using JUCE
• The sound engine music-synthesizer-for-android is closely modeled on the original DX7 characteristics
• 144 DAW automatable DX7 parameters available from one single panel
• Fully supports DX7 input and output Sysex messages; including controller change. This means that you can use this with a native DX7/TX7 as a patch editor
• Each operator have a realtime VU meter to know which one is active
• Can load/save any DX7/TX7 sysex programs. It is also possible to save a single program into a different sysex file.

Changelog

Version 0.5.0

• Linux support
• Fix large DAW blocksize with midi events

Version 0.4.0

• Modulation wheel support
• Now using the Obxd 4-pole lowpass filter implementation
• Pitchbend range / step
• Output/Volume VU status

Binary downloads

Dexed is not a finished product but it is stable enough to be used in a DAW environment: in normal operation it shouldn't crash and the VST state saving works.

• Version 0.5.0 vst win32 - vst win64 - vst os x
• Version 0.4.0 vst win32 - vst win64 - vst os x
• Version 0.3.0 vst win32 - vst win64 - vst os x

Using as a DX7 editor

This plugin can process original DX7 sysex messages. If you change a parameter, it will send the corresponding DX7 sysex to midi out. Not all DAW supports sysex; for example Ableton Live simply discard any sysex data. Reaper does process midi out, but doesn't pass any midi in sysex input data to the plugin.

Randomized programs

Dexed doesn't check the sysex checksum so you can load any type of files. If the checksum doesn't match, it will tell you but load it anyway. This feature act as a kind of a randomization for DX programs.

Warning: loading corrupt/random data can crash the plugin and ultimatly your DAW. I'm doing my best to filter out values that can crash the DX engine; but I keep it to the minimum to get the digital circuit bending feel.

Saving those corrupt/random sysex data will regenerate a 32 bulk program sysex dump with a valid checksum for your DX7 keyboard. I'm in now way responsible if this breaks your DX7 keyboard.

FAQ (possibly)

• Some programs can generate distortion : This is because the voice summing still needs some tuning. You can simply lower the volume on those programs.
• Some sysex seems to be corrupted : Even if the sysex checksum doesn't match, Dexed will try to load it (this is a kind of randomize feature). Right now Dexed supports only original DX7 sysex, other DX family sysex (like the DX21) is considered as random data.
• Dexed doesn't receive/send parameter data from/to my DX7 : Most DX7 parameter change are done via sysex and very few VST host actually implements sysex. I'm planning to do a standalone executable to handle this issue.

Credits & thanks

• DX Synth engine : Raph Levien and the msfa team
• LP Filter : Filatov Vadim (2DaT); taken from the excellent Obxd project
• DX7 program compilation : Jean-Marc Desprez (author of SynprezFM)
• DX7 programs : Dave Benson, Frank Carvalho, Tim Conrardy, Jack Deckard, Chris Dodunski, Tim Garrett, Hitaye, Stephan Ibsen, Christian Jezreel, Narfman, Godric Wilkie
• markusthegeek direct implication for this project

TODO - Dexed

• Implement a better DX look and feel (amp, pitch, algo)
• Various code cleanup
• Standalone executable (for full support of the sysex editor)

TODO - msfa

• LFO/Mod-wheel Amplitude
• Algo 4 & 6 feedback