Doepfer

> Can someone direct me to some samples showing the difference in sound
> between linear and exponential FM? I don't have any linear FM on my
> system yet, and I'm wondering whether I'd want it.

There will be some not too major sonic differences if you just hear  
sounds. In use, say trying to play music with scales is where the  
differences  become instantly different,

I guess by far the biggest factor involved is that with linear FM,  
getting a carrier and modulator VCO to play pitches will result in  
the same timbre for each pitch. That simply won't work for  
exponential. Each different pitch you play will vary in timbre. On  
top of that  linear is going to be capable of more "on pitch'  
sounding content for the resultant wave, though that in many  
circumstances is more subtle.

So both can be pushed for wild not very tonal sounds. The differences  
are there but are often not really distinguishable until you attempt  
to play pitched material with moderate FM modulation. At that point,  
linear is going to create a the same waveshape at different  
frequencies while you won't have a consistent waveshape with  
exponential as the pitch changes as well as  frequently hearing  
frequencies in the timbre that aren't "in tune"

nick