Primal Audio has launched FM4, a synthesizer app for iOS.

Primal Audio FM4

FM4 is a four operator FM synthesizer for iPad. Modelled on the first commercially available FM synths from the 1980s FM4 provides the same gritty sound, with a modern interface, and without being bound by the limitations of the original units. For example we have thrown in an arpeggiator, a thick unison mode, and a pitch envelope with a tweakable curve ideal for percussive sounds. Thus FM4 is 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.

FM4 features

  • 4 operators, configurable via eight different routings.
  • 3 sound engines modelled on 1980s hardware units.
  • 8 waveforms derived from classic FM synths.
  • Unison: 2x, 3x, and 4x — works in polyphonic mode.
  • Microtuning with eight different temperaments.
  • Arpeggiator, tempo-syncable with up, down, up-down, and random patterns.
  • Connectivity: supports Inter-App Audio, Background Audio, and MIDI (Audiobus is planned).
  • Polyphonic: 8 voices on iPad-mini/iPad 2, 24 voices on iPad Air.
  • 128 Presets organised into eight banks — user presets can be imported/exported through iTunes.

The app is available for purchase for the introductory price of $0.99 USD through December, 2014.

More information: Primal Audio