Ring Modulators... what are they?

[B2D]

I know what they sound like and I have one in mt GT5 but my question is how does it actually process the signal? The best I can figure is that theres some pitch-shift reciprocal-octave stuff going on and maybe some minor distortion and notch filtering... but I can't really describe it.

How do they work? They sound crazy and unpredictable to me.

 

[BlueGuitar]

Re: Ring Modulators... what are they?

The traditional ring modulator would have a reference tone to which it would compare an input signal, and you would then hear the sum and the difference in frequencies. One of Craig Anderton's books explains how they work and shows how to build one.

 

[lex666]

Re: Ring Modulators... what are they?

BUMP for you. I have one on my KORG and would like to know...

:duh:

 

[Blue Calx]

Re: Ring Modulators... what are they?

Straight outta Craig Anderton's book:

"Acepts two different input signals; output gives sum and difference of the two signals (without either original signal). Example: An input frequency of 220Hz in conjunctionw ith another input frequency of 600Hz produces two notes at the output - 820Hz (the sum) and 380Hz (the difference)"

So yeah... pretty much exactly what Blueguitar said.


They sound crazy and unpredictable because the frequencies it is outputting are not musical - they're mathematically related. This is why you can get crazy detuned bell-like sounds out of it, but can't exactly get it to sound like it's harmonizing. I'm sure ring modulators you can buy commercially have some sort of blend control so you don't have pure goofy-signal coming out.

 

[rinse_master]

Re: Ring Modulators... what are they?

They sound crazy and unpredictable because the frequencies it is outputting are not musical - they're mathematically related. This is why you can get crazy detuned bell-like sounds out of it, but can't exactly get it to sound like it's harmonizing. I'm sure ring modulators you can buy commercially have some sort of blend control so you don't have pure goofy-signal coming out.

I have one in my PODxt, I'm pretty sure it has a blend control, and a tap tempo etc...

 

[Rich_S]

Re: Ring Modulators... what are they?

The "two inputs" part of Anderton's description is a bit confusing. One input comes from the instrument. The other "input" is usually an oscillator built into the ring modulator. It's adjustable, but is basically a fixed frequency (unless you're turning the knob).

One of the best examples of ring modulation is Jon Lord's intro to "Lazy" on Deep Purple's Made in Japan. You can hear the basic effects as he plays the organ through it, but he occasionally sweeps the oscillator frequency for some REALLY weird effects. Add to that the fact that he's shaking the organ around to make the reverb tank rattle. It sounds like some futuristic space battle, all with an organ, a ring modulator, and a big pile o' Marshalls. Not a synth in sight! :dance:

 

[The Owl]

Re: Ring Modulators... what are they?

The "two inputs" part of Anderton's description is a bit confusing. One input comes from the instrument. The other "input" is usually an oscillator built into the ring modulator. It's adjustable, but is basically a fixed frequency (unless you're turning the knob).

One of the best examples of ring modulation is Jon Lord's intro to "Lazy" on Deep Purple's Made in Japan. You can hear the basic effects as he plays the organ through it, but he occasionally sweeps the oscillator frequency for some REALLY weird effects. Add to that the fact that he's shaking the organ around to make the reverb tank rattle. It sounds like some futuristic space battle, all with an organ, a ring modulator, and a big pile o' Marshalls. Not a synth in sight! :dance:

Right you are!! I think it was a Maestro box or something similar to that.

Jeff Beck was known to throw some ring-mod on his solos (listen to Blow By Blow and Wired especially).

Chick Corea used to run his Rhodes through one when he played with Miles Davis and some early RTF stuff too.

 

[B2D]

Re: Ring Modulators... what are they?

Straight outta Craig Anderton's book:

"Acepts two different input signals; output gives sum and difference of the two signals (without either original signal). Example: An input frequency of 220Hz in conjunctionw ith another input frequency of 600Hz produces two notes at the output - 820Hz (the sum) and 380Hz (the difference)"

So yeah... pretty much exactly what Blueguitar said.


They sound crazy and unpredictable because the frequencies it is outputting are not musical - they're mathematically related. This is why you can get crazy detuned bell-like sounds out of it, but can't exactly get it to sound like it's harmonizing. I'm sure ring modulators you can buy commercially have some sort of blend control so you don't have pure goofy-signal coming out.

OK that actually makes a lot of sense... thanks!

One question though... is the 2nd input tone (in this case 600hz) an effect-generated artificial input tone that doesn't originate from the instrument or is it an overtone that's detected by the effect?

 

[BlueGuitar]

Re: Ring Modulators... what are they?

One question though... is the 2nd input tone (in this case 600hz) an effect-generated artificial input tone that doesn't originate from the instrument or is it an overtone that's detected by the effect?

It is generated internally by the ring modulator. In the Craig Anderton book you could control that frequency with a foot pedal for some really trippy sounds. :dance:

I do think that it works better with keyboards than guitar...