[sdiy] FM Synth Designs

[Duane R Balvage]

Hiya Tim -

> Yamaha owns the patent on FM synthesis (bought it from Stanford University
> where it was originally developed by John Chowning), and they defend the
> patent with a VERY heavy hand. At one point, they even tried to sue an
> analog synth manufacturer (Moog, I believe) because the owner's manual for a
> VCO module stated that the linear CV input on the VCO allowed FM synthesis.
> 
> If anyone tried to make a commercial FM synth, I'm sure Yamaha would be
> happy to send a team of lawyers in their direction.

Um.. This already happened! Remember the ill fated Korg 707 and DS-8? Both FM, both
kinda sucked, and both got Korg into MUCHAS hot water with Yamaha... that's why they are
kind of a "rare" synth,each being produced for only about a year before they got their
hand slapped with a "cease and desist" order from Yamaha...!

			-Duane





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