Dexed Preset Generator
FM plucks, bells, basses and stabs for Dexed, the free DX7 plugin. Shape a sound, hear a sketch of it here, then download a cartridge of 32 sounds: yours plus six variations of every type.
Sound
What's in the patch
Sounds to load your MIDI into
Supersaw Essentials: 25 free trance presets for Vital, the free synth. Leads, plucks, pads and gated stabs, voiced for every tool on this site.
Loading the cartridge in Dexed
In Dexed, click Cart (the cartridge manager), then Load, and choose the .syx file. Your sound is in slot 1, and the other 31 slots hold variations of every type. You can also drop the file into Dexed's cartridge folder so it's always in the list. The same file loads into a real Yamaha DX7 or any DX7-compatible synth that reads 32-voice bulk dumps.
The preview here is a simple FM synth, so treat it as a sketch: Dexed's envelopes, keyboard scaling and feedback make the real sound richer.
How the sounds are built
Every patch uses DX7 algorithm 5: three pairs of operators, each a modulator feeding a carrier. Brightness sets how hard the modulators drive the carriers, which is what makes FM sound bright or mellow. Decay slows the envelopes; on the pluck, the modulators decay faster than the carriers, so each note starts bright and softens. Detune spreads the carriers apart for width, and Feedback adds grit. The bell uses 3.5:1 ratios for its metallic, inharmonic tone, and the bass adds a sine sub an octave down.
FM plucks and bells sit beautifully on top of a supersaw: layer one an octave up with the Lead Melody Generator or the Arp Generator.
Questions
Is Dexed free?
Yes. Dexed is a free, open-source DX7 emulation for Mac, Windows and Linux, as a VST3, AU and standalone app.
Can I share or sell the sounds?
They're yours: use them in your music, tweak them, share them. Please don't sell them as a pack as they come.