Quiz Post - FM

Frequency modulation is a method of altering the frequency of a digital or analog waveform to create various sounds.  When modifying an analog wave, the frequency shifts continuously through the signal wave called the carrier. With digital FM, however, the frequency is shifted abruptly, as the digital data is processed.  FM can be used in synthesis to create both harmonic and inharmonic sounds.  The higher the frequency is raised, the more data that is passed through the signal in the same period, causing complex sounds that can often become atonal and busy.  Digital FM was developed by John Chowning at Stanford University in 1967.  The technique was later licensed to Yamaha after being patented in 1975.  Yamaha's DX7 synthesizer popularized FM with its huge success in the mid 80s.  Today, digital FM is accepted as the main standard of the technique because analog FM can lead to pitch instability.