Ring Modulation - an overview and guide.

A strange concept invented to convert radio signals so you could hear your analogue radios signal, however thank the lord someone in
Music came across one and made our musical lives a slight bit more interesting!

Signal processing effect were we either mix a pair of frequencies (mainly by addition, subtraction but other methods are available).
We can also modulate two signals by their relative amplitudes, in this case an original signal is translated into a version that goes along with the carrier signal. This method is called amplitude modulation (AM).

As you can see both techniques do the same thing, we have two signals put together ending as one signal. Typically in music we have a user signal, e.g. a guitar and the carrier signal would be an oscillator set to a particular setting, although it is for instance possible to have a carrier signal of something totally different for instance a piano, a drum machine or even another guitar.

User signal can also be as varied as you like, for instance the Dr Who Dalek voice was made with a ring mod.

Ring modulation where the carrier is an oscillator typically gives a metallic synthetic bell type sound, due to the fact it has been combined with a synthesizer you wouldn't be surprised! If a drum machine for instance was used as the carrier this would in theroy give a pulsating rhythm to your guitar work.

If you hear the start of Black Sabbaths 'Paranoid' you can hear a ring mod effect on a guitar.

I am currently using the ring mod in the line 6 MM4 (same as the one in the line 6 FM4) which is digital and allows amplitude
Modulation (which you can set between AM and FM, basically results in lofi or hifi sounding). There seems to be some kind of digital noise gate since it is a very silent effect. Although it is not a very loud effect so a booster is needed afterwards, I tend to use a distortion which can add some tasty fuzz meat or an overdrive for a cleaner sound.

I can achieve the same high pitch squeal noise as heard on the exmodels album 'zoo psychology', mainly because they use the same device but any ring mod will achieve the same effect.

There’s plenty of choice out there for ring modulator pedals, from basic ones on multi effects (e.g. Alesis Multi Effects) to boutique analogue ones (Burford Robot) to higher quality digital (Line 6 MM4 / FM4) to 'the daddy' analogue ring mods (Mooger Fooger Ring Modulator or Pigtronix Spaceship).

I would advise in my experience of analogue pedals to use a noise gate after wards, to get rid of the carrier signal when you're not playing (similar advise goes when using cheaper digital or high gain effects that tend to hiss).

Although occasionally you want to hear the carrier signal, you can do fun things with some modulation, delay and the carrier signal since its like having a mini synth pedal.

Most synths tend to have a ring mod bit, for example the Microkorg allows a carrier signal to be input as the ring mod. Yummy, regimented drum machine ring mod alert ahoy!Hopefully this little article has persuaded you to let some ring modulation into your life too :)


Selection of ring mods mentioned above :