Native Instruments FM8 user reviews ( 9/10) - 6 user reviews

• 06/25/12

  Adyssey Beats's review "Solid, stable synth"

  Getting Started

  There were no compatibility issues getting Native Instruments' FM8 installed and running in my DAW, Ableton Live 8 (there is a stand-alone version as well). As with Absynth and Massive, FM8 is a bit complicated to get the hang of at first. I approached this problem in the same manner for each new interface: load up a number of the presets and study them, disabling certain parameters and finding out how each affectation of the signal was being processed. Then creating a new sound and employing those same techniques on something original. It teaches you a lot about synthesis and sound design so be ready to learn a thing or two. That being said, this is one of the few programs I would really encourage you to check the manual for. If you're having issues or want to figure something out, it's pretty straightforward and accessible, just don't expect it to make your sounds for you. The manual can only do so much.

  Suitability/Performance

  FM8 works flawlessly on my MacBook Pro's 2.7Ghz Intel Core i7 processor with 4GBs of RAM. I've been using the plug-in for about a year now and have never had any issues with crashing or excessive CPU usage. As far as performance goes, this FM synthesizer can create some seriously massive sounds. Skrillex is noted as being a huge FM8 fan for its practically endless capabilities. Not to mention the sounds he has been producing with it have been earth-shattering in the electronic music community. Suffice it to say it is very easy to map to a midi controller and is capable of producing a wide range of very dynamic, expressive sounds that can all be manipulated live if need be.

  Overall Opinion

  Overall Native Instruments' FM8 is a must-have soft synth if your budget and patience allow it. Once purchased, you will certainly be faced with the intimidating task of understanding and being able to manipulate the interface, but worry not, with a few weeks practice you will be making some very cool original sounds. Who knows, maybe if you spend enough time with it you will be the one making ground-breaking sonic experiences. Whatever the case may be, I recommend exploring this software's capabilities and immersing yourself in another great synthesizer by Native Instruments.
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• 06/06/12

  AlanForPresident's review "i use fm8 alot"

  Getting Started

  I have been using FM 8 for about a year now and I can say its going really good for me. There are a lot of options that you have to change they way the synths and other sounds come out and its all right in FM 8 and no need to do to much in the mixer.

  Suitability/Performance

  FM 8 runs like a charm on my Windows XP laptop , and my laptop is pretty old so I didn’t expect it to run so smooth on it so I decided just to keep it on there so I can always have fm 8 with me when im not at home. FM 8 also hasn’t ate up all of my cpu and I have used up to 10 different channels with it at the exact same time and even using sounds with a lot of effects still didn’t slow anything down . For some reason this could be one of the better programs as far as cpu usage goes. Some of the Other Native Instruments VST’s that I have used can get pretty harsh to your cpu but FM 8 is the complete opposite.

  Overall Opinion

  Buying this didn’t come individually for me , I cant remember what I paid for the bundle but it came with 3 or 4 different vst’s from Native Instruments and FM 8 is probably one of the ones that I use the most. I always have it open on at least 1 channel in FL and I have even used it in Logic before to on a friends system and it runs great (the same way it runs for me on my xp laptop). There really isn’t anything bad to say about FM8 except I wish it had some more sounds or presets. Maybe even some more authentic sounds like some real sounding strings and guitars. Not so much synth sounding presets. I would like FM 8 to at least add some more authentic sounding sounds just so that I can do everything right with FM8. I wish there was just one vst that had all the cool synths and all the authentic sounding instruments all in the same vst and by Native Instruments. Well maybe they do but I havent found it it.
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• 04/26/12

  theaudioandvideoguy's review "upgrade to FM8"

  Getting Started

  Native Instruments FM8 is a very powerful virtual synth that you can use stand alone (I think you can now) and as a plug in which I use it as. It is a very stable program and the developers took a lot of time to work out all of the kinks and bugs. I just cant find anything wrong with this program. I still use this a lot on my Vista computer, and I have used it will fl studio and cubase. Some of the biggest changes from FM 7 to FM 8 is that it doesn’t take that long to load up your presets. On fm 7 it would take a little longer for them to load and with FM 8 it is almost instant.
  
  
  
  Since I have been using FM 7 for quite some time now using FM 8 was as easy as it gets for me. I havent touched the manual not 1 time yet and probably never will. Everything with FM 8 is layed out really nice. The user interface is very easy to understand and navigate even if you are using FM 8 for the first time you will have no issues finding what you need and changing the parameters of your sounds and tweaking them to your liking.
  
  
  
  Overall, FM 8 is awesome. It is a very solid well thought out program and will run great on your system. It has everything that you could need in a virtual synth and can be wired through almost any program that’s on the market that takes VST’s. If I could make a change I would just say to have some more presets. I like using a lot of presets and adding different effects to them from my mixer rack. I wish FM 8 just had more presets. But besides that you really couldn’t expect anything more. It runs great and sounds great.

  Suitability/Performance

  Overall Opinion
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• 04/07/09

  songboy's review

  Getting Started

  So far so good. FM8 installed with no problems and has so far worked flawlessly. I use a macbook and there has been no compatibility problems thus far. FM8, like most Native Instruments plugins, can be a little tricky and somewhat daunting at first. I feel like the headings and fields are always the easiest to digest. Initially, it is quite easy, like most plugins, to go through all the presets, but making your own sounds can be tricky. I definitely recommend having the manual accessible when you get to this stage. It will save you time and a lot of guessing. Yes, the manual is clear enough.

  Suitability/Performance

  My computer configuration is as follows: A Macbook (2.2ghz, 4gb Ram, 120 HD), Presonus Firepod/Firebox Interface and Logic Pro 8. So far, the plugin has worked flawlessly with this configuration. As for performance, the FM8 certainly doesn't bog down my computer, not with 4 gigs of Ram, which I suggest for all whose computer can accept that much. The patches change quickly and the sound is fantastic so I give it a 10 or 10 for performance. As I stated before, no crashes or glitches so far. Native Instruments have given me no trouble in the past and continue to perform that way.

  Overall Opinion

  I have been using FM8 for roughly 6 months. What I like about it the most is the excellent sound patches (presets and the custom stuff I have made). They are so full and lush that it makes me not regret selling off all my hardware synths. What I don't like about this plugin (as with most Native Instrument products) is its sometimes confusing look. I feel like Native Instruments could learn a thing or two from Logic ( designers about plugin layouts. I have lots of synth plugins (such as Abysynth, Massive, all of Logic's synths, Sugarbytes, Arturia stuff, IK mulimedia stuff) and this one keeps popping its head up on the top list. The samples are just so...I don't know, delicious might be the right word. I got this in a package deal which is the way to go. Buying these plugins individually is way more money. I think I got 4 plugins (FM8, Pro 53, Abysnth and Kontakt) for somewhere around $400. Its a decent chunk of change, but all those plugins have certainly seen there fair share of use. Yes, I would definitely buy FM8 again. It never disappoints.
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• 06/24/07

  didebmo's review ( translated ) Improve this translation

  Getting Started

  Installation: made by my local dealer (apparently without problems)

  Suitability/Performance

  P4 PC - 3.0Gb / sound card rack Wami (EgoSys) / 1 GB ram /
  
  The logitiel works perfectly (of Cubase 4 in my case)
  
  compared to other vsti and given the wealth of sounds it uses little resources from the pc, so I can open multiple FM8 without any problems
  
  perfect stability

  Overall Opinion

  I use it for one month but I had the FM7 for 1 year.
  
  
  
  +: Sounds incredible, complex, highly scalable ... Very very very good (and I compare such with Reason but I continue to enjoy a lot), very fast loading, low fuel consumption of the CPU, easy to use, well above the FM7 including through the arpeggiator, morphing .. .
  
  -:? (Not found)
  
  
  
  Excellent quality / price ratio (update of 99 euros in my case coming from FM7)
  
  
  
  I bought without any hesitation

  N / A
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• 12/11/06

  becarre's review ( translated ) Improve this translation

  Getting Started

  Installation is quick and painless, no incompatibility, the manual is not worth much (like all NI products that I bought) But neither offers excellent tutorial videos that can engage in the discovery and to quickly get something nice from the "machine". As I had FM7, in my case it was an upgrade. Very well done, all the old sounds were recovered automatically.

  Suitability/Performance

  2x2.8 GHz Pentium D920 - RAM 4 GB - 500 GB SATA I work with Cubase SX3 and still I install VST and standalone, in both cases, it runs without worry.

  Overall Opinion

  I use it for 10 days. The new interface is superb, very ergonomic and clear. It is a product designed for both beginners and pros. FM8 benefits from Korebrowser handy, as well as an intuitive new feature Morphing programs, save and playable live. The new sounds are delivered cleaner is the great class! Programming (though FM synthesis) has become very simple. And finally, NI has renewed a machine that might seem outdated: the arpeggiator. The one that comes with FM8 is incredible, not to be missed!
  
  What I like most: the overall power of FM8, sound, interface, the arpeggiator and morphing.
  
  What I like least:?
  
  Cheap for a product that flirt with perfection. A huge well done to Native Instruments.

  N / A
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