I love FM synthesis in general, mostly the bright and crystalline sounds that one can get out of it and I have always been on the verge of getting an Opsix and now that the desktop module is out, I am even more tempted to do so.
The problem is, I already have Iridium Core, Hydrasynth Desktop, Nord Rack 2x, Virus TI and Digitone that are more or less capable to do good stuff in FM territory.
I am more of a presets guy when it comes to FM, so I don’t want to spend hours trying to create patches I like and what I actually want to achieve is more traditional DX-7 type of sounds, especially pads and electric pianos.
Digitone is a very good tool I will never sell, but is somewhat a bit leftfield for me and also the number of voices is limited. I’ve looked into MegaFM, but it is more lo-fi sounding to my ears and I want more brightness. If that helps, I listen to synthwave (Mitch Murder type) and ambient nowadays.
Given that I have a lot of tools already in my arsenal, do you still recommend getting the Opsix?
Opsix is pretty deep, if you’re more of a presets guy it might be a bit of a waste to have all that functionality there that you’re unlikely to use, and already have covered elsewhere
why not just get a DX7? or much cheaper, a TX81Z?
DX-7 - space limitation really.
TX81Z - nice recommendation, but I actually like to tweak from a good starting point and need something a bit more modern.
Have you tried these yet (for free)?
Great patches and fun video.
I‘m sure there’s comparable preset packs for your other synths. Sounds like you have more than enough.
Everybody needs Opsix 
Doesn’t Iridium kernels kind of do similar thing?
There’s some overlap but I like using both the Opsix and the Digitone. The Opsix has lots of polyphony, moreso than most FM synths out there, whereas the Digitone is great for drums, but it’s easier to run out of voices depending on what you’re trying to do.
I also like the randomizer on the Opsix and find it leads to some pretty interesting results I wouldn’t have thought of otherwise.
I regret selling mine. It’s an odd synth in a very good way. To me FM requires a certain level of mental energy and planning, but because the Op-Six is not just FM, you can just ‘tweak and see’ and still come up with playable and good sounding results.
Or you can ignore FM altogether and look at it as a beast of a subtractive synth with 6 oscillators…
More synths = better
not many synths can do what the opsix can do, even the crazy deep waldorf ones. the custom algorithms and fx as operators are pretty innovative features
i think it sounds pretty good as a va too. i think it would be a different overall character than your other synths
I’ve been eyeing the Opsix module as well.
Went through the old YT rabbit hole, but got the impression that those faders (only adjust osc volume?) are kind or gimmicky? They demand almost half of the synth so… or are they actually nice when using it?
Exactly what I needed to hear to justify the purchase… 
From your list, the OG Digitone is the least bright (and that’s my gripe with it). MegaFM is brighter, but of course it’s lo-fi shredded brightness 
Opsix sounds bright and classy. I do love it as crazy experimental lab, in the same way I love the Hydrasynth for it.
Do you have an iPad?
Rather than sinking more money into hardware, your Digitone connected to an iPad opens up another world of options, and perfect for those 4 DN Midi Tracks.
Bleass Omega is superb, 4 Op that’s similar to the Digitone.
Phasemaker is brilliant too, that’s a 6 Op more in line with the DX7 or OP Six.
Just got an opsix (b stock from the korg reverb store, still some available last I checked). While I’m not sure if I’m keeping it yet, I’ve been pleasantly surprised how open ended it is as a design sketchpad.
I’ve had a few of the above-mentioned synths before (digitone, iridium) and while I enjoyed them for different reasons, there was a point where I hit a wall with the FM portion of sound design. With the Digitone, there’s a really limited amount of actual FM sound design you can do, with the Iridium, I’ve heard the Kernel section is very powerful but a combination of the interface and my patience made it feel unapproachable to me. (If anyone has a resource for a straightforward way to set up 6 op FM in the kernel section of Iridium, please link)
While the Opsix has a kind of cheap feel and feels like it takes up too much space on my desk, I have been able to set up exactly the kinds of algorithms I want to and tweak very easily. Its easy and fun to switch between the different types of synthesis within each operator (filter fm, wavefolding, etc) and the 40 algorithms.
So far, I’ve mostly been making unusable de-tuned polyphonic messes, but that’s what I wanted.
Opsix is a good stuff. It’s possible to recreate (or rather download) mostly all the classic FM patches on it, however the sound is very modern and polished, often the tone is not DX-like at all (on strings and things like that). I tried to use “legacy” mode of the operators, but still it’s an approximation.
And yes, in the other departments it’s a bit of overkill, because now it’s rather 6-oscillator mini-modular with unusual features.
Maybe you can consider PreenFM3 (it’s has “real” FM instead of phase modulation on DX, but can sound pretty close)
I don’t have an iPad, but slowly gravitating towards getting one and expand the possibilities.
That’s not the case, they can adjust one parameter at a time but this is not just osc volume.
Ahh okey! Did you enjoy it or did it feel quick to work with?
I regret selling it!
It is quick to work with the sliders, it’s kinda logic, it gets a bit more programming heavy if you want to switch things up, for example if you want to make a Reese with 6 detuned saws than you need to switch around a bit, I seem to remember but I’m general I remember it as being quite a quick FM synth to work with. And this is coming from some one who absolutely disliked the Digitakt approach so of course to each their own…
Haven’t used it, but from what I understand the OPSIX isn’t a preset machine, but more a platform for complex sound design? If you want a DX7, why not get one of the synths that does the DX7 thing and uses DX7 presets?