currently there are only 8 FM algorithms in the Digitone universe.
could there be more?
if so, is there a CPU/DSP limitation on the number of FM algorithms in a Digitone project?
in the future, could a Digitone user mix & match various FM algorithms within these limitations from project to project?
the Yamaha FS1r has a total of 88 FM algorithms, but those are 8op algorithms.
what is the total number of different 4op algorithms?
Thanks for reading,
ie
From what I can gather the dsp of Digitone is already maxed out so highly unlikely
There is no CPU/DSP limitation on the number of FM algorithms in a Digitone project. Why should there be? Such an algorithm is just a schematic how the operators are “wired”. The CPU comes only into play when the algorithm is used.
The total number of possible 4 op algorithms depends completely on how you count them. Digitone doesn’t use 4 generic type ops (they differ in their possibilities) and the x/y extension makes counting even more complicated. Does a slightly different x/y wiring already count as different algorithm? In a sense, yes, because you can get other sound mixtures out of it …
Pretty sure if they could have fit more than 8 fm algos in there they would have.
With the size of the unit and limited juice available there has to be limits
Please don’t spread wrong facts based on assumptions. Inform yourself a little bit about FM synthesis and what I wrote above will become clear to you.
Of course there are limits, but not limits regarding the number of algorithms. The Digitone isn’t designed as generic FM synth, because a generic FM synth is hard to use and gives mostly “unmusical” results.
The Digitone is designed to give fast and overall good results and to provide as much and as large sweetspots as possible. And this is all about what you leave out/don’t fit into it like:
… etc.pp.
Less is more sometimes and Elektron nailed it with the Digitone making FM sound design usable for the common user even when starting from an init patch.
Thanks for educating me in fm synthesis. I have learnt so much 
So we may see more fm algos in an update then. You beauty
I guess they chose the musical algorithms for 4op FM?
8op is OTT and can end up in noise too easily.
The deal with DN is that it uses elements of subtractive and, of course, you get to plock, so it is far more than 4op FM with 8 algos…
Far more. It didn’t take long for me to get sick of explaining this to people who thought they could do whatever the Digitone can do with a Yamaha DX7 hooked up to a sequencer.
Its pretty basic implementation of 4 op fm so no need to explain its obvious features.
The only thing relevant to this thread is the question raised by OP of could we see more than 8 fm algos in the unit?
It seems that it may be possible
That does not make sense. The number of possible algorithms is not limited by the DSP. Their complexity is.
Yeah, I guess I was just wondering how many algos could be in one project.
Like if there was a limitation for some reason.
But perhaps if new algos are introduced they will just expand the overall palette of sounds available in a project.
Perhaps they’ll release new algorithms the way they normally release new engines for machines.
Though, the sonic ability is so broad and mysterious with the 8 I’d be hard-pressed to imagine what greater capabilities could be done with further algorithms…
Honestly I don’t think anybody knows if this will happen besides the Elektron folks…
You’ll just keep getting a bunch of speculative theories… 
Excellent. Like I said it’s possible then that Elektron MAY add more algos in the future. That’s the answer to the OP’s question here
oh come on now that’s just silly! Any FM synth, Digitone or Yamaha or Operator is capable of infinitely many “musical” results. 
And DXes are easy to use imho.
Good thing you don’t work for Elektron marketing 
Highly doubt we see more than 8 Algos on the DN.
I’m fine with that- 8 is a prime number(in a figurative sense)- it’s a sideways infinity, afterall.
If additions to the firmware to happen I’d be more interest into what could be done to the sound after the synthesis stage- as it’s alresdy quite infinite and perfect as is!
The retrig menu and plockable arp are my go-tos- after that unexpactable desire, my realistic goal would be for the pattern option to not pop up after a pattern mute
(Also Overbridge 
)
The real question is… Why do you need more than 8 algorithms?
I’m being a bit cheeky here, but my point is that there aren’t that many routings that are interesting - after a few combinations you will only have slight variations. (just have a look at the FS1R algorithms!)
I think the 8 algorithms each have a good reason why they exist - they all provide something clearly different from each other. They are hand picked and well thought out so to speak - not just a bunch of random combinations.
That said, I have some ideas for additions, but for now the 8 algorithms are the ones that are there, and I’m confident you will be able to spend many, many, many hours on them before you exhaust the potential.
(Please don’t see this as a confirmation for more algorithms in the future, just that it is left open at this point…)
Yes ! As is, the Digitone is a very good balance of features and ease of use, something not that common in FM synths. More features is nice, but only as long as its original qualities remain
The theoretical number of possible algorithms can be assumed taking a piece of paper, drawing the 4 OPs in various combiniations and count. I didn’t do it for the Digitone, but it would go like this:
4 single OPs without interconnection, 2 columns of 2 OPs without interconnections, 2 columns of 2 OPs with interconnection, but this would equal to having a single OP and a tripple with interconnection … and so forth … ending with 4 OPs in one single column …
There are plenty of possibilities, which might not be adressed by the DN to keep things simple.
Alternatively compare the DN to full blown FM-synths like Native Instruments FM8, Image Line Sytrus, or Korg Mod7. Those even don’t prescribe to use “algorithms” and allow to interconnect the OPs more or less freely (including feedback), giving a tremendous amount of combinations.
Since Elektron decided to keep things easy and, I think, easy enough to play and change the sounds in a live situation without beeing a FM-specialist, they could decide to do without more algorithms, even if theoretically possible.
I would assume, everybody wanting to exploit FM-synthesis at it’s full potential … but as you say that was not intended to be delivered with the Digitone. Since many musicians shyed away from FM in the past beeing intimidated by it’s potential of complexity, the decision of Elektron was wise, to try a simplified implementation first.
Better to get as many synthesists or musicians using FM at all and having much of fun, rather than producing an instrument, which might be of interest for a very small user group only.
As for analogue circuits a small deviation of the synth engine technology (here algorithms) can have a significant influence for the scope of sounds. Particularly a flexible cross-modulation and feedback-modulation between various OPs is interesting. An additional cross-modulation option between two strings of OPs might be seen as a small variation, but can open up complete new sound territory. But … it makes things more complex too, of course