Apple MainStage 3 Instruments - MainStage 3 Instruments

Ultrabeat ring modulator
Ring modulation is a powerful tool for the creation of inharmonic, metallic, bell-like sounds.
Ultrabeat’s ring modulator functions as an independent sound source—its signal can bypass
or be sent into the filter, independent of the oscillator 1 and 2 signals. Its volume can also
be regulated.
Important: Although the ring modulator signal is independent of the signals generated by
oscillators 1 and 2, both oscillators need to be enabled if you want to use the ring modulator
signal. Because the ring modulator is reliant on the signals of both oscillators to produce an
output signal, it is automatically muted when one of the oscillators is switched off.
The actual sound produced by the ring modulator is largely dependent on the parameter
settings of both oscillators. In particular, the tuning relationships of each oscillator have a direct
effect on the sound of the ring modulator signal. The individual levels of the oscillators, however,
have no effect on the process (or output) of ring modulation.
Ring Modulator On/Off
button
Level slider (The “mod”
and “via” pop-up menus
above and below the
slider enable you to
modulate the ring
modulator level.)
Signal Flow button
Ring modulator parameters
••
Ring Modulator On/Off button: Turns the ring modulator on or off.
Note: If you want to hear the ring modulator’s signal in isolation (to better judge your
settings), temporarily set the volume of both oscillators to a value of 0.
••
Level slider: Move to set the output volume of the ring modulator.
••
Mod and via pop-up menus: Choose the modulation source (and optional via source) for the
Level parameter. When either source is active, small sliders (handles) appear on either side of
the Level slider. See Ultrabeat modulation overview on page 360.
••
Signal Flow button: Determines the routing of the ring modulator signal. It is sent either to the
filter (the Signal Flow button turns red), or directly to the EQ section (the Signal Flow button
remains gray). The direction of the arrow on the Signal Flow button illustrates the routing.
Note: The Signal Flow button determines how the ring modulator output signal is routed. It
doesn’t turn the ring modulator on or off.
Ultrabeat noise generator
Chapter 14 Ultrabeat 349