Yamaha DX7 chip reverse-engineering, part 4: how algorithms are implemented

.hilite {cursor:zoom-in} a:link img.hilite, a:visited img.hilite { color: #fff;} The Yamaha DX7 digital synthesizer (1983) was the classic synthesizer in 1980s pop music. It uses two custom digital chips to generate sounds with a technique called FM synthesis, producing complex, harmonically-rich sounds. Each note was implemented with one of 32 different patterns of modulation and summing, called algorithms. In this blog post, I look inside the sound chip and explain how the algorithms wer...