Ring (and/or Balanced) Modulation for the modulator masses

[jondom22]

Pitchfork with a phaser after may be a passable stand in for single sideband mod (frequency shiftin'), but maybe not. If you have to have frequency shifting, outside of modular/racks, your only options are really Alexander syntax error and ring thing.

It's going to be a trial and error kind of thing. None really have everything (and all of those features aren't ring mod things like tracking/pitch shift ... Which I know is partially solved by the pitch fork).

Bit crusher type sounds can be made with slightly below audio to tremolo speed squarewave carrier. Bitquest, if I remember correctly (it's been a while even though it's sitting on my desk right now), it of the sine/triangle sides of things.

The Moog mf-104, copilot, Randy, and pigtronix have square options. Of course, the bitquest and zoom both have bitcrusher modes.

I still think the zoom is worth a try. It's going to be your call on taste and what you gel with interface wise.

Side note: if you are using lots of settings, the zoom may be better because of presets instead of tuning each time on the bitquest. I think the Alexander has midi too so you could do that and just keep the controller in a front pocket.

Sorry I should’ve clarified. I use the pitch shifting as a separate effect cos I like using Minor 2nd, Major 2nd, Major 3rd, and other pitch shifts for synth and weird types of tones in combination with fuzz and LPF sweeps, so that’s more of an aside (which is why I’m picking up a pitch fork). I’m mainly interested in knowing how the tone of the bitquest ring mod mode stacks up against something like the Randy’s Recenge or Syntax Error, and how the bit-crush tones sound. I’m indifferent as far as midi/presets and more concerned about tone and feel and having a blast while playing.

[lordgalvar]

How did I forget the subdecay? Actually, that would be my pick. I love that little guy.

Randy is a better standalone ring mod than both the Alexander and Bitquest. I'd probably go with a lot of other IC, transistor, or diode ring based balanced modulators before the bitquest...but that's personal taste. I also prefer to have carrier input.

Syntax error kind of has too much going on and I don't really like the control layout. I'd pick the bitquest over it most any day. The syntax error can get messy in way where your playing doesn't come through as much but I haven't spent the time with it that I have in others.

I just like the simplicity of bitquest over syntax error. Lots of people love the syntax error and ring thing and they have lots of unique features, but if I had to pick one out of the three, it would be bitquest. If I had to pick bitquest or Randy, it would be Randy. If I had to pick Randy or subdecay, that's a hard one/totally different useful features. I'd probably pick monobius over all of them right now...and most everyone else would pick different.

I don't use bitcrusher, so I don't know about that. I think the Wilson mold spore clone did a good enough job giving the feel of one. The recovery motormatic would be something to look out but it's not really a ring modulator.

Bitquest is fine. I like it. But I still think it's going to be one of those try until you find what you like kind of things.

[jondom22]

Randy is a better ring mod than both the Alexander and Bitquest. I'd probably go with a lot of other IC, transistor, or diode ring based balanced modulators before the bitquest...but that's personal taste. I also prefer to have carrier input.

Syntax error kind of has too much going on and I don't really like the control layout. I'd pick the bitquest over it most any day. The syntax error can get messy in way where your playing doesn't come through as much but I haven't spent the time with it that I have in others. I like the simplicity of bitquest over syntax error. Lots of people love the syntax error and ring thing and they have lots of unique features, but if I had to pick one out of the three, it would be bitquest. If I had to pick bitquest or Randy, it would be Randy. If I had to pick Randy or monobius, I would pick monobius...and most everyone else would pick different.

I don't use bitcrusher, so I don't know about that.

Bitquest is fine. I like it. But I still think it's going to be one of those try until you find what you like kind of things.

Thanks for all your insights! I was leaning towards the bitquest over the syntax error cos it seemed easier to dial in and had better sounds from the demo. But I think I’m leaning towards the Rabdy’s Revenge or another dedicated non-digital ring mod pedal. I’ll check out that monobius as well.

[lordgalvar]

I was updating/editin:
Dandolin's suggestion of the subdecay is an excellent one. I feel like an idiot for forgetting it!

If I was just looking for ring mod, I would pick the subdecay over bitquest, or syntax error. Randy vs. subdecay is tough for me. I love that little subdecay.

Monobius will probably be too big for your board. It's bigger than Randy.

[lordgalvar]

I totally get that the Ring wouldn't be your thing That chrome clinical clang is why I daresay, like, the thing--it has very little overlap with my other ring jawn, and sometimes I'm looking for a nice antiseptic gleaming surface tbh, though, I'm craving the Monobian onslaught more than that, though. If possible/available, I think I will be moving on that front before the next solstice

Also: jondom, you might want to check out the Subdecay Vitruvian mod, though it sounds like the tuning modes are not really your main goal....

Haha, I've gotta smooth over my talent/skill level. There ain't no clean where I gotta go...because then you'll know I only know...the truth.

Yeah, one of the best tips I read about when I was younger: "get the loudest amp with lots of distortion because you'll sound better and not worry about mistakes". Haha. I never got better though.

Ring thing didn't like drum machines for some reason. Maybe because of the lack of clippin'? I've mostly used it with drum machines. Never used the bitquest on the drum machine though.

[Chankgeez]

This just found me:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VP_CQP37O3E[/youtube]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VP_CQP37O3E

[BetterOffShred]

Too bad it's a STM32, still cool though I guess

[cloudscapes]

Yeah this ringmod kind of came from wanting a new project to learn ARM. And for quadrature amplitude modulation, fitting four parallel analog ringmod circuits in the same box would have been technically possible, it wasn't the direction I wanted to go.

[BetterOffShred]

Haha I should have known it was you I'm still stuck in the 80s .. got some 1496s to fool around with heh! I'll embrace DSP eventually on a larger scale

[Chankgeez]

I think it sounds great, cloudscapes!

[cloudscapes]

Haha I should have known it was you I'm still stuck in the 80s .. got some 1496s to fool around with heh! I'll embrace DSP eventually on a larger scale

I don't think anything beats the depth and face-meltingness of a real analog ringmod! Always room for those. I keep meaning to build one (I did long ago, but transformer/diode based, grungier) based on the ad633, but I just don't like messing with bipolar power supplies. Or charge pumps.

I think it sounds great, cloudscapes!

[BetterOffShred]

Haha I should have known it was you I'm still stuck in the 80s .. got some 1496s to fool around with heh! I'll embrace DSP eventually on a larger scale

I don't think anything beats the depth and face-meltingness of a real analog ringmod! Always room for those. I keep meaning to build one (I did long ago, but transformer/diode based, grungier) based on the ad633, but I just don't like messing with bipolar power supplies. Or charge pumps.

I think it sounds great, cloudscapes!

You're not wrong sir, I've been reading up on what people have done with vref and 9v on the 1496, but yeah my experience with the ad633 is the MFOS ring mod, and it's bipolar

Keep us updated on your ring mod we all love ring mods

[Dandolin]

Lurve quadrature, and that is a great sounding implementation I'm in the have-it-all ringmod voting bloc. Some things are more actualizable in digi, and that's ok with me.

Later: this is making a great workdrone on "infinite" repeat

[BetterOffShred]

Jeeze, now I feel bad for my STM32 comment. I wasn't saying it was bad I just wanted it to be analog haha.

[Dandolin]

Oh yeah--I think we all want that Group buy? Who's the builder?