ARP2600 - Fundamentals of Music Technology - Cyborgstudio.com

SECTION ELEVEN: PREAMP, ENVELOPE FOLLOWER, RING MODULATOR - 087THE RING MODULATOR IN PRACTICEThe two inputs of the ring modulator are dependent upon each other. This means that attenuating one ofthe two inputs would cause a reduction in the overall volume being output by the ring modulator. Bothsliders on the ring modulator are generally set full open for this reason. One may wish to decrease thelevel of one input if the source is external (e.g. a guitar coming through the preamp) and it is louderthan the other incoming signal.The output of the ring modulator is sometimes used alone, but more often than not, the ring modulator’soutput will be added to patches using the VCO’s, noise generator, etc. There are times when it isdesirable to use its output alone, however. This is most effective when the ring modulator is generatinglots of harmonics. Because of the way it creates harmonics, the ring modulator will generate moreharmonics if the two incoming waveforms aren’t perfectly in tune with each other. In fact, the fartherout of tune they are, they more harmonics it will produce. This can be heard by raising both of the ringmodulator’s sliders (its inputs are normalled with the outputs of VCO-1 and 2) and then sweeping thefrequency of one of the oscillators. CD track 65One should not forget the possibility of using the ring modulator on external signals. Guitars, in particular,sound wonderful when processed with an oscillator. In fact, some companies sell ring modulatorsjust for the purpose of being used with a guitar. Any signal is really fair game for use with the ringmodulator, though. Again, experimentation is the key to mastering this module’s potential.