October 2024: Fractal Audio's VP4 Virtual Pedalboard has been added to the wiki.

Difference between revisions of "Ring Modulator block"

From Fractal Audio Wiki
Jump to navigation Jump to search
m (edited for readability)
 
(21 intermediate revisions by 2 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
 
__TOC__
 
__TOC__
=Available on which products=
+
=Ring Modulator block=
  
* '''Axe-Fx III''', '''FM9''', '''FM3''': 1 block
+
'''Axe-Fx III''': 1 block, 2 channels<BR>
* '''Axe-Fx II''', '''AX8''', '''FX8''': 1 block
+
'''FM9''': 1 block, 2 channels<BR>
 +
'''FM3''': 1 block, 2 channels<BR>
 +
'''VP4''': 2 blocks, 2 channels
  
=Channels or X/Y=
+
'''Axe-Fx II''': 1 block, no X/Y<BR>
 +
'''AX8''': 1 block, no X/Y<BR>
 +
'''FX8''': 1 block, no X/Y
  
* '''Axe-Fx III''' and '''FM9''' and '''FM3''': 2 channels
+
=About ring modulators=
* '''Axe-Fx II''': no
 
* '''AX8''': no
 
* '''FX8''': no
 
 
 
=About ring modulation=
 
  
 
A ring modulator produces the sum and difference of frequencies in multiple waveforms. This often results in 'robotic' sounds.
 
A ring modulator produces the sum and difference of frequencies in multiple waveforms. This often results in 'robotic' sounds.
  
[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ring_modulation Wikipedia: Ring modulation]
+
See Wikipedia's <q>[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ring_modulation Ring modulation]</q> article for more information.
  
<blockquote>'''FRACTAL AUDIO QUOTES'''<HR>
+
<blockquote>
 +
'''FRACTAL AUDIO QUOTES'''
 +
<HR>
  
 
<blockquote>
 
<blockquote>
Line 34: Line 35:
 
* '''SSB Lower'''
 
* '''SSB Lower'''
  
“SSB Upper” and “SSB Lower” select the upper and lower sidebands of the modulation.
+
<q>SSB Upper</q> and <q>SSB Lower</q> select the upper and lower sidebands of the modulation.
 
 
=Ring Modulator block diagram=
 
  
 
[[image:Ringmod block.png|300px]]
 
[[image:Ringmod block.png|300px]]
 
=Pitch tracking=
 
 
When this is enabled, the frequency of the oscillator tracks the pitch of the notes on the fretboard. This works specially great with lower octaves, zee below.
 
  
 
=Tips, tricks and troubleshooting=
 
=Tips, tricks and troubleshooting=
Line 48: Line 43:
 
==Factory presets==
 
==Factory presets==
  
The Ring Modulator block is present in a few factory presets. Search the [[Factory presets]] page for "ring".
+
The Ring Modulator block is present in a few factory presets. Search the [[Factory presets]] page for <q>ring</q>.
  
 
==Octaver effect==
 
==Octaver effect==
  
The Ring Modulator works great as an Octaver (adding a low octave):
+
The Ring Modulator works great as an Octaver by adding a low octave:
* Enable Pitch Tracking
+
 
* Set FREQ MULTIPLIER to 0.500
+
# Enable Pitch Tracking
* Turn down HIGH CUT FREQUENCY
+
# 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.
+
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.
+
Add a fuzz after the Ring Modulator to create a <q>filthy and fuzzy</q> low octave.
  
 
<blockquote>
 
<blockquote>
 
'''FRACTAL AUDIO QUOTES'''
 
'''FRACTAL AUDIO QUOTES'''
 
<HR>
 
<HR>
 +
 
<blockquote>
 
<blockquote>
 
[https://forum.fractalaudio.com/threads/octaver-bad-tracking-and-artifacts.18993/post-332406]
 
[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.
 
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>
+
</blockquote>
 +
</blockquote>
  
 
==Tremolo effect==
 
==Tremolo effect==
  
You can turn the Ring Modulator into a Tremolo. [https://wiki.fractalaudio.com/wiki/index.php?title=Tremolo/Panner_block#Ring_Modulator_as_a_tremolo Read this]
+
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==
 
==Phaser / Uni-vibe effect==
  
You can turn the Ring Modulator into a phaser or uni-vibe. [https://wiki.fractalaudio.com/wiki/index.php?title=Phaser_block#Ring_Modulator_as_a_phaser_or_uni-vibe Read this]
+
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==
Line 95: Line 95:
 
[[category:FM3]]
 
[[category:FM3]]
 
[[category:FM9]]
 
[[category:FM9]]
 +
[[category:VP4]]
 
[[category:FX8]]
 
[[category:FX8]]
 
[[category:Sounds]]
 
[[category:Sounds]]
 
[[category:All]]
 
[[category:All]]

Latest revision as of 17:04, 8 November 2024

Ring Modulator block

Axe-Fx III: 1 block, 2 channels
FM9: 1 block, 2 channels
FM3: 1 block, 2 channels
VP4: 2 blocks, 2 channels

Axe-Fx II: 1 block, no X/Y
AX8: 1 block, no X/Y
FX8: 1 block, no X/Y

About ring modulators

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.

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.

Ringmod block.png

Tips, tricks and troubleshooting

Factory presets

The Ring Modulator block is present in a few factory presets. Search the Factory presets page for ring.

Octaver effect

The Ring Modulator works great as an Octaver by adding a low octave:

  1. Enable Pitch Tracking
  2. Set FREQ MULTIPLIER to 0.500
  3. 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


[2] 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.

Videos