Halogen FM from GForce Software – FM Made Easy?
You Too Can FM!
3,7 / 5,0 | 
GForce Software Halogen FM · Source: GForce Software
GForce Software Halogen FM · Source: GForce Software
GForce Software Halogen FM · Source: GForce Software
Halogen FM is GForce’s first completely original instrument, and they’re boldly taking on one of the more complicated synthesis methods in a bid to make it easy for everyone!
Anyone who knows me knows that I do love a bit of FM synthesis. This isn’t borne out of a passion for Bessel functions and complicated mathematics, but out of a deep passion for a lot of music that soundtracked my youth. That said, the more I play with it, the more I do kinda love it for the way it makes you think differently about sound.
It’s an Ear Thing!
I’ve interviewed many people about FM. One such interview was with the man who discovered FM synthesis, Dr. John Chowning. One profound thing John told me was that FM programming is “an ear thing”. Whilst leading FM sound designers like Dr. Manny Fernandez can tell you about Bessel functions, ratios and fractional scaling all day long, he too will tell you it’s all in the ear.
So with this in mind, it seems that the wizards at GForce Software have taken heed and developed a new FM synthesizer that aims to make it easy for anyone to create sounds with this unique, powerful and expressive synthesis technique and, at the same time, offers the chance to get into the weeds.
Halogen FM
Halogen FM has, what some might call, a minimalist interface. It is very utilitarian, colour-coded, and the only elaborate graphic is that of the visualiser that shows you what each operator is doing with the sound you are concocting. Far from being a piece of eye candy, it really does show you how one Operator affects the other in a way that is comprehensible.
GForce inform us that Halogen is inspired by a hidden gem in Japanese FM synthesis. When I pressed them on this, all they would reveal for now is that it isn’t a Yamaha! I have my thoughts as to what this might be, but can’t be certain!
But Halogen does mimic the early days of FM with its pair of operators that have the ability to cross-modulate. This is how Yamaha’s earliest FM instruments behaved, such as the GS-1, GS-2, CE20 and CE25, prior to going down the algorithmic route with the later DX range. Each operator has an identical set of features and a handy Limit function for when you start really pushing the FM possibilities.
The Colour of FM
All the controls are colour-coded, reminiscent of the way Alan R Pearlman colour-coded controls to make it easier to see what was affecting what. One thing you will notice is a series of buttons with three little stars on them, known as Spark Buttons. These are effectively randomisation buttons that generate new values of the setting they are assigned to.
For example, you can randomise an entire patch or just the LFO. The macros for Modulation, FX, envelope generators, and timbre can also be randomised, so you can take as much or as little control as you like. Thankfully, there are undo and redo functions so that if you make a change and don’t like it, you can go back to where you were.
One thing I’ve noticed is that the randomisations are almost completely usable right off the bat! It has left me wondering whether there’s some logic or intelligence built in that knows where the “bad places” are and avoids them. Of course, what I term as usable may not be to your particular liking, but I’ve yet to be presented with anything that makes my ears bleed!
Halogen FM supports both polyphonic aftertouch as well as polyphonic pitchbend, and can be fully CC-mapped. The superb GForce preset browser is included, showing the 320 factory presets as well as your own creations, and can be extensively filtered to narrow your choices down.
In Conclusion
Halogen FM is an enthralling first step for GForce into the world of original synth design and they’ve pulled it off in their own, inimitable way. It’s incredibly easy to create sounds in it, as well as being a joy to play, with that level of expressivity that FM revels in.
Halogen FM is now available at Thomann* at a special introductory offer price of $38 / £34 / 39 €, rising to £66 ex. VAT from August 1st, 2025.
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One response to “Halogen FM from GForce Software – FM Made Easy?”
Probably based on the Korg DS-8, a two-op FM synth that doesn’t tell you it’s FM.
The thing is, under the hood, it uses a Yamaha chip, sooooooo… *lies!*