Question about Bit Crushers & Ring Modulators

[Chankgeez]

He actually only sounds like shit half the time.

[Eivind August]

My ring mod is the only effect I have that isn't a fuzz or delay/reverb. I dunno, imagination is key I guess? You can do a lot of different sounds and textures, it doesn't need to be ott robot stuff. As goroth says, the mix knob is the key.

[K2000]

The mix knob does help a lot, but I've decided I prefer certain fuzzes (Fuzz Factory, Noisebox etc) over a straight ring mod to get what I want - I find the sound to be more versatile, and less... I dunno... obvious...? than a regular ring mod.

However, the Moog unit is truly amazing and miles ahead. I just can't handle the huge footprint. It sounds fantastic and seems more versatile than the other options.

[Gigahearts_FX]

i really like the lovetone ring stinger
the key to any ring mod, if you generally prefer stuff subtle like me, is a blend control.
You can get some amazingly beautiful *textures* with a ring mod unlike any other device, especially with judicial use of a blend control to keep your fundamental notes intact.

YMMV.

FWIW I think the new flaming lips ring mod just sounds like utter shite ...

[BassIsBad]

I think they are just fun toys.

[coldbrightsunlight]

i really like the lovetone ring stinger
the key to any ring mod, if you generally prefer stuff subtle like me, is a blend control.
You can get some amazingly beautiful *textures* with a ring mod unlike any other device, especially with judicial use of a blend control to keep your fundamental notes intact.

YMMV.

FWIW I think the new flaming lips ring mod just sounds like utter shite ...

Subtle textural stuff is how I've been able to use them. Just a little bit of ring mod sitting underneath a mostly clean signal can sound really interesting.

[penelope tree]

I think both effects are often more suited to processing samples, synths, drum machines, etc.

[bigchiefbc]

I use an EHX Frequency Analyzer for my ring mod and I absolutely love it. It can do the full-on crazy dissonant ring-mod sound, or you can turn the blend way down and it almost just sounds like a slightly dissonant distortion, which is a cool sound. Also, if you tune the ring mod to one of the notes you're playing in an arpeggio or melody, it can pop out some cool harmonics. Like the intro guitar sound in TMV's Eriatarka

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nHGPt49owxg[/youtube]

[backwardsvoyager]

man I love ring mod. favourite is definitely the MF-102 which i don't have anymore but the Bitquest one is awesome and the Line 6 FM4 has a sweet mono synth ring mod mode that tracks like shit and is awesome for glitchy out of tune synth lead stuff.
it's one of those effects you can't always just turn on and play what you always play into it expecting it to sound cool, because you're multiplying your signal with another that isn't your playing you have to look at it like a different kind of instrument. although stuff like the Vitruvian Mod is a lot more accessible.

bitcrushers i have NEVER been able to jive with on guitar. at subtle settings they seem to just screw with the fidelity in an annoying way and the more extreme sounds make it impossible to play 'normally' without having the redeeming features of e.g. a ring mod. this is just my take though. I do like them on stuff like drum machines but not as much ring mod again. they can be awesome for noise rigs for sure, i've just never thought that they interact well with instruments like guitar.

[ChetMagongalo]

You can get some amazingly beautiful *textures* with a ring mod unlike any other device, especially with judicial use of a blend control to keep your fundamental notes intact.

This is why I love ring mods. Also chief has a good point posting that TMV song, I never really noticed it was a ring mod until I thought about it.

But yeah ring mods are all about texture to me. it sounds cool. ring mods can be uncomfortable if you can't figure them out, you can't think too much about it, just have fun.

[PetZounds]

I use an EHX Frequency Analyzer for my ring mod and I absolutely love it. It can do the full-on crazy dissonant ring-mod sound, or you can turn the blend way down and it almost just sounds like a slightly dissonant distortion, which is a cool sound. Also, if you tune the ring mod to one of the notes you're playing in an arpeggio or melody, it can pop out some cool harmonics. Like the intro guitar sound in TMV's Eriatarka

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nHGPt49owxg[/youtube]

I love that track, that's pretty much the most musical use of ring mod I've ever heard.

[digi2t]

i really like the lovetone ring stinger
the key to any ring mod, if you generally prefer stuff subtle like me, is a blend control.
You can get some amazingly beautiful *textures* with a ring mod unlike any other device, especially with judicial use of a blend control to keep your fundamental notes intact.

YMMV.

FWIW I think the new flaming lips ring mod just sounds like utter shite ...

+1 on the Ring Stinger. Besides having a killer octave up, the ring mod / lfo combo is awesome.

For more expansive soundscapes, the WMD Geiger Counter is one of my favorites. It's a bit of a task to scroll through all the different settings, to find just the right ones, but when you do, the results can be pretty spectacular. You just need to be patient with it.

[Phosphene Audio]

If I had to, I could get by with just a Ring Mod and a Distortion pedal.

I started with a Paia kit one and then later got the Moog MF-102. Because that was getting beat up, and for convenience sake, I got a Ring Thing, which is great.

The ability to save presets and tune instantly make the Ring Thing very useful.

Also, you can trick the tuning feature to constantly reset by holding the switch down while playing entire passages, not just a single note. It ends up sounding a little like some kind of filter effect.





here's a bunch of songs dependent on ring mod

[KaosCill8r]

I was looking for info on bit crushers. During a google search I found a demo by a dude on this forum. Most of you know him as behndy. The demo was regarding a bit crusher that had a nasty pitchy noise through it. Was one of the funniest demo's ever. Especially the ending. If I could post youtube I would put it up. I'm sure most have probably seen it any way.

[goroth]

If I had to, I could get by with just a Ring Mod and a Distortion pedal.

I started with a Paia kit one and then later got the Moog MF-102. Because that was getting beat up, and for convenience sake, I got a Ring Thing, which is great.

The ability to save presets and tune instantly make the Ring Thing very useful.

Also, you can trick the tuning feature to constantly reset by holding the switch down while playing entire passages, not just a single note. It ends up sounding a little like some kind of filter effect.





here's a bunch of songs dependent on ring mod

This is like the best music ever.

I was looking for info on bit crushers. During a google search I found a demo by a dude on this forum. Most of you know him as behndy. The demo was regarding a bit crusher that had a nasty pitchy noise through it. Was one of the funniest demo's ever. Especially the ending. If I could post youtube I would put it up. I'm sure most have probably seen it any way.

This one?
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-59YQrnz8M[/youtube]