Dexed - FM Plugin Synth

Please see Dexed User Website for user and download information.

Dexed is a multi platform, multi format plugin synth that is closely modeled on the Yamaha DX7. Under the hood it uses music-synthesizer-for-android for the synth engine and JUCE as an application/plugin wrapper.

The goal of this project is to be a tool/companion for the original DX7. Sound engine with 'float' value parameters, different waveform à la TX81z would be great but anything that goes beyond the DX7 should and will be a fork of this project. This is to keep the compatibility with the original machine.

Dexed is licensed on the GPL v3. The msfa component (acronym for music synthesizer for android, see msfa in the source folder) stays on the Apache 2.0 license to able to collaborate between projects.

Changelog

Version 0.9.5

Added support for SCL/KBM microtuning
Added initial support for MPE performance
Upgraded build system to use JUCE 6.0 and build from locally acquired JUCE
A Collection of small UI changes, including higher contrast GUI assets, better sub-window management, and mouse wheel support
Added VST3 support

Version 0.9.4HF1

Fixed sysex messages with unwanted pitch bend

Version 0.9.4

Standalone application version of Dexed
Midi learn support for midi CC messages
More accurate detune for operators
More accurate EG envelopes. thanks @jeremybernstein
Pitchbend now listen to any channels
Fixed 'clicking' in mono mode
Fixed implementation for Midi CC 0x78 and 0x7B (All Sound Off / All Notes Off)
Windows/macOS installers

Version 0.9.3

Preliminary live operator level update
Support for incoming parameter change messages
More permissive on cartridge sysex type; the validation is now done on size (4104/4096 bytes)
Midi 'All Note Off; 0x7B' support
Breakpoint values are now shown as notes. thanks @tico-tico
Fixed op feedback calibrated for Mark I engine
Fixed for breakpoint levels. thanks @Sentinel77
Fixed LFO delay issue issues upon large values
Fixed for receiving sysex cartridge. thanks @Sentinel77
Fixed operator switch changes are now sent via sysex

Version 0.9.2

Mark I engine is now the default engine
Added operator mute switch
Added Tune (MASTER TUNE ADJ) knob
Correct feedback implementation for Algo 4 and 6 (engine Mk I only)
Single click program select
Fixed sysex issue with wrong machine ID
Fixed for parameter hosts values. thanks @Sentinel77

Version 0.9.1

Mark I engine now uses 10-bit sine/exp tables. Still a work in progress but we are getting there
More accurate FM feedback on the Mark I and OPL Series engine
Wheel, Foot, Breath, Aftertouch modulation support
Fixed the display of some more 'complex' algorithms
Drop of .syx files in the cartridge manager
Dexed data directory can now optionally reside in the same location where the binary is installed
'Send current program to DX7' in Cartridge Manager works as designed
Support for sysex streams (multiple sysex messages in one .syx file)
falkTX upstream fixes for Linux

Version 0.9.0

Apple AU support
Cartridge Manager
Store action also can update the currently loaded cartridge
Basic theming
Fixed the UI corruption when more than one Dexed instance was loaded
Fixed wrong display value issues (coarse and fine)

Credits & thanks

DX Synth engine : Raph Levien and the msfa team
Surge Synth Team for substantial contributions like microtuning and MPE support.
Graphical design : AZur Studio
Sentinel77 for numerous engine fixes
LP Filter : Filatov Vadim (2DaT); taken from the excellent Obxd project
PPPlay : Great OPL3 implementation, with documented code :D
DX7 program compilation : Jean-Marc Desprez (author of SynprezFM)
DX7 programs : Dave Benson, Frank Carvalho, Tim Conrardy, Jack Deckard, Chris Dodunski, Tim Garrett, Hitaye, Stephan Ibsen, Christian Jezreel, Narfman, Godric Wilkie
falkTX distrho

TODO - Dexed

Scalable UI upgrade, better UI redraw
Various code cleanup
Yamaha 4 operators (DX21/DX27/DX100) sysex import

TODO - msfa

Portamento implementation
Better Amplitude Modulation
Accurate live operator level envelope updates

How to build DEXED

You will notice that DEXED no longer ships with built makefiles. Rather it has a collection of scripts to get a version of JUCE and build them for you. With juce6 this will change even more, but for now to build you will want to get and run juce and the projucer yourself. Luckily this is fairly easy

All OSes

DEXED has several submodules it now depends on, including VST3 and a library to support non standard tuning. After you clone your first step is

git submodule update --init --recursive

which will expand the submodules. Then follow platform specific directions below

macOS

./scripts/get-juce.sh
./scripts/projuce-mac.sh
./scripts/build-mac.sh

This will build a VST3, and AU and a Standalone in Build/MacOSX/Release for your

windows

Run this in the bash shell that comes with the standard Git distribution.

./scripts/get-juce.sh
./assets/JUCE/Projucer.exe --resave dexed.jucer

then open and build the resulting Visual Studio Solution file.

Linux

./scripts/get-juce.sh
./scripts/projuce-lin.sh
./scripts/build-lin.sh

VST2 Support

Since Steinberg has discontinued the VST2 API we no longer distribute a VST2.

If you are a licensee to the VST2SDK, though, you can build a VST2 version of DEXED yourself with these commands

./scripts/get-juce.sh
export VST2SDK_DIR=~/path/to/vst2/sdk/dir
./scripts/projuce-lin-vst2.sh
./scripts/build-lin.sh

synthsncats/dexed