This is the wiki for products made by Fractal Audio Systems, maintained by members of the community.
November 2025: the entire wiki has been updated with information about the new AM4 amp modeler.
Difference between revisions of "Ring Modulator block"
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| + | =Ring Modulator block= | ||
| − | + | '''Axe-Fx III''', '''FM3''', '''FM9''' — 1 block, 2 channels<BR> | |
| + | '''VP4''' — 2 blocks, 2 channels<BR> | ||
| + | '''AM4''' — n/a | ||
| − | + | '''Axe-Fx II''', '''AX8''', '''FX8''' — 1 block, no X/Y | |
| − | + | =About the Ring Modulator block= | |
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| − | + | A ring modulator produces the sum and difference of frequencies in multiple waveforms. This often results in 'robotic' sounds. | |
| − | + | See Wikipedia's <q>[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ring_modulation Ring modulation]</q> article for more information. | |
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| − | + | [[image:Ringmod block.png|300px]] | |
| − | + | <blockquote> | |
| + | '''FRACTAL AUDIO QUOTES''' | ||
| + | <HR> | ||
| − | [ | + | <blockquote> |
| + | [https://www.thegearpage.net/board/index.php?threads/fm3-ring-mod-synth-block-in-parallel.2181525/post-31126862] | ||
| + | I absolutely hate ring modulators so I was determined to make one that could actually be used in a musical context rather than making robot noises. | ||
| + | </blockquote> | ||
| − | + | <blockquote> | |
| + | [https://forum.fractalaudio.com/threads/3d-circular-delay.216192/page-3#post-2719528] | ||
| + | The Axe-Fx III has a Hilbert Transformer in its toolkit (used in the Ring Modulator). | ||
| + | </blockquote> | ||
| − | The Ring Modulator has three types: | + | </blockquote> |
| + | |||
| + | =Ring Modulator types= | ||
| + | |||
| + | The Ring Modulator block has three types: | ||
* Classic | * Classic | ||
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* SSB Lower | * SSB Lower | ||
| − | + | <q>SSB Upper</q> and <q>SSB Lower</q> select the upper and lower sidebands of the modulation. | |
| + | |||
| + | =Guitar or bass= | ||
| − | + | When Tracking Mode is set to “BASS”, the pitch tracking range is shifted down one octave with the lowest detectable note being approximately F#0. | |
| − | + | =Tips, tricks and troubleshooting= | |
| − | = | + | ==Factory presets== |
| − | + | The Ring Modulator block is present in a few factory presets. Search the [[Factory presets]] page for <q>ring</q>. | |
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| − | + | ==No Global blocks== | |
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| − | + | The Ring Modulator block doesn't support [[Global blocks]]. | |
| − | ==Octaver== | + | ==Octaver effect== |
| − | The Ring Modulator works great as an Octaver | + | The Ring Modulator works great as an Octaver by adding a low octave: |
| − | + | # Enable Pitch Tracking | |
| + | # Set FREQ MULTIPLIER to 0.500 | ||
| + | # Turn down HIGH CUT FREQUENCY | ||
| − | + | With Pitch tracking enabled, the frequency of the oscillator tracks the pitch of the notes on the fretboard. This works specially great with lower octaves. | |
| − | + | For even more funky business, add a Phaser or an Auto-Wah effect. | |
| − | <blockquote> | + | Add a fuzz after the Ring Modulator to create a <q>filthy and fuzzy</q> low octave. |
| + | |||
| + | <blockquote> | ||
| + | '''FRACTAL AUDIO QUOTES''' | ||
| + | <HR> | ||
| + | |||
| + | <blockquote> | ||
| + | [https://forum.fractalaudio.com/threads/octaver-bad-tracking-and-artifacts.18993/post-332406] | ||
| + | I've improved the Octave Divider quite dramatically. In my research, however, I discovered a better way to achieve this effect, IMO. Use the Ring Modulator. Set Track to On and FMULT to 0.5. Adjust Locut and Mix to taste. The only drawback is that it's only one octave but it tracks way better than any analog technique. | ||
| + | </blockquote> | ||
| + | </blockquote> | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==Tremolo effect== | ||
| + | |||
| + | See <q>[https://wiki.fractalaudio.com/wiki/index.php?title=Tremolo/Panner_block#Ring_Modulator_as_a_tremolo Ring Modulator as a tremolo]</q> for more information. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==Phaser / Uni-vibe effect== | ||
| + | |||
| + | You can also use the <q>[https://wiki.fractalaudio.com/wiki/index.php?title=Phaser_block#Ring_Modulator_as_a_phaser_or_uni-vibe Ring Modulator as a phaser or uni-vibe]</q>. | ||
==Pedal control== | ==Pedal control== | ||
| − | Attach a pedal to the FREQ parameter | + | Attach a pedal to the FREQ parameter to create a special effect. |
| + | |||
| + | ==Multitap Delay== | ||
| + | |||
| + | The [[Multitap Delay block]] can apply ring modulation to delay trails. | ||
| + | |||
| + | =Videos= | ||
| + | |||
| + | [[video:Leon-Ring-Megatap-Resonator]] | ||
| + | [[video:Leon-8xRingmod]] | ||
[[category:Axe-Fx2]] | [[category:Axe-Fx2]] | ||
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[[category:AX8]] | [[category:AX8]] | ||
[[category:FM3]] | [[category:FM3]] | ||
| + | [[category:FM9]] | ||
| + | [[category:VP4]] | ||
[[category:FX8]] | [[category:FX8]] | ||
[[category:Sounds]] | [[category:Sounds]] | ||
| + | [[category:All]] | ||
Latest revision as of 13:35, 29 November 2025
Contents
Ring Modulator block
Axe-Fx III, FM3, FM9 — 1 block, 2 channels
VP4 — 2 blocks, 2 channels
AM4 — n/a
Axe-Fx II, AX8, FX8 — 1 block, no X/Y
About the Ring Modulator block
A ring modulator produces the sum and difference of frequencies in multiple waveforms. This often results in 'robotic' sounds.
See Wikipedia's Ring modulation
article for more information.
FRACTAL AUDIO QUOTES
[1] I absolutely hate ring modulators so I was determined to make one that could actually be used in a musical context rather than making robot noises.
[2] The Axe-Fx III has a Hilbert Transformer in its toolkit (used in the Ring Modulator).
Ring Modulator types
The Ring Modulator block has three types:
- Classic
- SSB Upper
- SSB Lower
SSB Upper
and SSB Lower
select the upper and lower sidebands of the modulation.
Guitar or bass
When Tracking Mode is set to “BASS”, the pitch tracking range is shifted down one octave with the lowest detectable note being approximately F#0.
Tips, tricks and troubleshooting
Factory presets
The Ring Modulator block is present in a few factory presets. Search the Factory presets page for ring
.
No Global blocks
The Ring Modulator block doesn't support Global blocks.
Octaver effect
The Ring Modulator works great as an Octaver by adding a low octave:
- Enable Pitch Tracking
- Set FREQ MULTIPLIER to 0.500
- Turn down HIGH CUT FREQUENCY
With Pitch tracking enabled, the frequency of the oscillator tracks the pitch of the notes on the fretboard. This works specially great with lower octaves.
For even more funky business, add a Phaser or an Auto-Wah effect.
Add a fuzz after the Ring Modulator to create a filthy and fuzzy
low octave.
FRACTAL AUDIO QUOTES
[3] I've improved the Octave Divider quite dramatically. In my research, however, I discovered a better way to achieve this effect, IMO. Use the Ring Modulator. Set Track to On and FMULT to 0.5. Adjust Locut and Mix to taste. The only drawback is that it's only one octave but it tracks way better than any analog technique.
Tremolo effect
See Ring Modulator as a tremolo
for more information.
Phaser / Uni-vibe effect
You can also use the Ring Modulator as a phaser or uni-vibe
.
Pedal control
Attach a pedal to the FREQ parameter to create a special effect.
Multitap Delay
The Multitap Delay block can apply ring modulation to delay trails.
