Flow Motion FM Synth by Waves FM synth plugin interface

Flow Motion FM Synth: FM Synthesizer Plugin by Waves

Rated 4.4/5 on Plugin Boutique (7 ratings)

Flow Motion FM Synth is a 4-oscillator FM synthesizer instrument plugin from Waves. It combines frequency or phase modulation with analog-style filtering, modulators and a built-in sequencer, and is available as VST2, AU and AAX.

VST2AUAAXWindowsmacOS

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01Overview

Flow Motion FM Synth is built around FM synthesis, the method behind many bell, string, brass and bass sounds from 1980s records. Instead of hiding the modulation routing, it shows it on a graphic matrix where you connect the four oscillators by dragging assignments between them. Each oscillator has independent waveform control, and the plugin also includes over 1,000 factory and artist presets to start from. The developer positions it as a way to make FM programming easier to approach.

Best for

FM bells and keys
Electro and bass sounds
Lead and pad design
Live standalone performance
Hardware controller mapping

Developer: Waves
Category: Synths
Store: Plugin Boutique

02Key features

What you get

Over 1,000 factory and artist presets
4-oscillator engine with Frequency or Phase Modulation
Graphic FM modulation matrix with visual feedback
Analog-style synth filter and VCA
Four envelope/LFO modulators
16-step sequencer with up to 16 snapshots per patch
Built-in note sequencer and arpeggiator
MIDI Learn for hardware controllers
NKS-ready for NI Komplete Kontrol and Maschine

03In depth

Sound Design and FM Modulation Matrix

The synthesis engine uses four oscillators with either Frequency or Phase Modulation. Waves describes the interconnections between oscillators as giving clear visual feedback as you edit, so you can see how one oscillator affects another.

Sound shaping goes beyond the FM engine. Each patch includes an analog-style synth filter and VCA, plus four envelope/LFO modulators to move parameters over time. A rich set of effects is available for processing sounds further.

The presets mix FM and analog technology and cover leads, pads, basses and polysynth sounds, giving you a starting point before you build a patch from scratch.

Sequencing, Control and Workflow

Flow Motion FM Synth includes a 16-step sequencer with up to 16 recallable snapshots per patch, along with a built-in note sequencer and arpeggiator. These let you store variations of a patch and sequence notes without leaving the plugin.

It can run as a plugin inside a DAW or as a standalone instrument, so it works in the studio or live. MIDI Learn lets you map parameters to hardware controllers, and the plugin is NKS-ready for NI Komplete Kontrol and Maschine.

04Specs

Will it run?

Formats, systems and requirements as listed by Plugin Boutique. Missing details are left out, not guessed.

Developer	Waves
Type	Plugin
Category	Synth
Formats	VST2, AU, AAX
Operating systems	Windows, macOS

05FAQ

Questions, answered

What is Flow Motion FM Synth?

It is a 4-oscillator FM synthesizer from Waves that can run as a plugin or standalone instrument. It includes analog-style filtering, modulators, a sequencer and over 1,000 presets.

Which formats and operating systems does Flow Motion FM Synth support?

It is available as VST2, AU and AAX. Supported systems are Windows and macOS, with macOS Monterey 12 through Sequoia 15 and Windows 10 or later listed in the system requirements.