Question — THRP

I cant get my head around ring modulation. It just is horrid noiss. Help me understand, maybe with an envelope or lfo. No maths lesson plz!

Asked by Torpid Scorpion

Response

Ring modulation is an experiment in waveform frequencies. You have these two signals, where one modulates the pitch of the other to create what are called sideband frequencies. Essentially these are the sum and difference of the two signals - you add them together and take them away. Then, what you hear is only the sidebands - the original pitches are not present. The sum/difference sidebands won't be harmonically related and that's why we get this dissonant, clangy, metallic sort of crappy sound that some people like.

If you are struggling with it (join the club) try using very simple sine waves for both the carrier and modulator. Keep the carrier constant and slowly alter the modulator. The tones will be FM-like. For more complex results use a more complex modulator waveform, vary the pitch and amplitude.

There's no right answer with Ring Modulation, you kinda have to dial in what sounds interesting to you.

I hope that helps!

Response by Robin · 1 month ago

1 other response from the community

Ok, assuming you got one oscillator going into each input, and listening to the output. At least one osc should be a sine wave, or better still a triangle. Tune one of the oscillators and hear how the sound changes. Mostly the sound will be discordant, but with the right tuning it will be pleasing. Find a few different sweet spots, some are a bit boring. Some are pleasing. Now if you vary the pitch of both oscillators together accurately you have, effectively, an oscillator with an interesting sound.

If you modify just one oscillator with a sequence you get a series of timbres with varying amounts of discord.

good so far?

part 2 is to use that basic tone to create short percussive sounds, then the noise element starts to work in your favour.

classic thing to use for this is a "low pass gate", which is another question.

Response by andyB · 1 week ago