8 Ways to Use the Ring Modulator

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00:00 - G'day
00:17 - Starting point
00:30 - This is weird
01:15 - Trem
02:15 - Octave Down
02:55 - Filtered Octave Fuzz
03:37 - Synthy Octave Up
04:15 - Univibe
05:17 - Funky Filter
05:55 - Space Ship Noises
06:17 - Multidelay version

[@santiall73]

Actually, you that like mathematics, what a ring modulator does is to multiply two signals, you know: sin a x sin b= cos(a-b)-cos(a+b) / 2, that's how you get your sum and difference of frequencies 🤓, not that easy to do in the analog domain though. Also, that's what "ghosting" in tube amps is, your guitar signal is multiplied with the mains 50-60Hz / 100-100Hz via the power supply modulation and you get that unrelated harmonic riding on your signal.

[@LeonTodd]

The master has spoken! I loved that formula at school.

[@santiall73]

@@LeonTodd who would have imagined that it actually had musical applications haha

[@josuastangl7140]

Who put Pythagoras in the AxeFX haha

[@desmondtutu7916]

Never in my life did I think I would ever use a ring modulator. Now I'm not so sure. Thanks for opening my eyes Leon.

[@JimmyGallowayGuitar]

Ring Mod is a hidden trick that you can put in front of a fuzz and make some really wild sounds as well. It's kind of like the Rainbow Machine, everyone gets scared of it because they only hear demos of people getting machine elves tones, but it is a killer slap delay, chorus, thickener, and the magic button opens up some wild variations. You do such a great job on these 'dialing in' style videos. I look forward to all of them.

[@MrTheog1989]

Ring mod is the secret sauce that spawned an entire new band for me!

[@LeonTodd]

How good is yhat!

[@thygod]

The ring mod + filter tone there was super fun.

[@edwardv4546]

well first off, you’re a phenomenal player. second off, all of those sounded amazing. Definitely want to try it soon

[@markcarleton6647]

A friend in high school made me a ring Modulator back in the 80s from a Craig Anderton schematic that was in Guitar Player Magazine. I remember playing with it and thinking man I’ll never get anything usable out of it. Some of the sounds you demoed sounded really good! I think I’ll give the ring Modulator a go on the Axe-Fx,

[@LeonTodd]

Enjoy!

[@rockstarjazzcat]

Whoa!!! New dimensions in sideband fabulousness! The AxeFx robotic controls really take it places. Sweet demo! Cheers mate, D

[@hoosierdaddy2308]

I have always wondered what that effect was used for. Interesting.. That trem sound is good.. I love it when you play funk.. 😛 That effect is too cool.. It does sound like a Univibe. Great demo sir.. Thanks again. Always, ALWAYS, useful info.. Be well and safe sir! Tim

[@flprmn9448]

You are a freaking GENIUS! Both musically and mathematically. Love your channel.

[@LeonTodd]

Too kind mate!

[@marius53891]

Thanks @Leon Todd, as always great informative video!

[@LeonTodd]

My pleasure!

[@admgloval]

Very cool Leon! Guess we need to just jump in and try some of these effects sometimes to find out what they do!

[@kurtdsap9744]

An eye opener, thank you so much !

[@RaúlCabezalí]

Stellar explanation! Thank you!

[@teriakamoto]

Dan Felders Take a Ride "Heavy Metal" from South Park when Kenny Huffs Cat Piss and Trips Balls lol. That Song.

[@franckphilippe9534]

Thanks again for sharing your knowledge Leon . You're inspiring ! Straight to what's usable .👍

[@LeonTodd]

My pleasure mate!

[@CamiloVelandia]

Such killer sounds!!!

[@AudioAtmos]

Cool video. Definitely some settings that never occurred to me. The last song on Mahavishnu Orchestra’s Vision of the Emerald Beyond record McLaughlin does a 2.5 minute crazy Ring Mod solo. That was my first exposure to the Ring Mod. 😎

[@LeonTodd]

Mahavishnu 👌

[@plexidust5101]

Roof Guitar Baby, I'm all about bringing it to the neighborhood and yes this mod has some cool vibes , always love you bringing by your ways of doin stuff. Neighbors on notice !

[@2ShadesOfGray]

Very informative, excellent demo / explanation

[@LeonTodd]

Glad it was helpful!

[@gingataff]

My favourite track with ring modulation is On The Way Home To Earth by Mahavishnu Orchestra. John shredding with just drums behind him is super heavy. Then the band comes in to a beautiful melodic solo and resolution.

[@LeonTodd]

What a band hey. John remains an absolute legend.

[@gingataff]

@@LeonTodd oh yeah. I’ve seen John twice, once with Remember Shakti in the early 2000s and then about 8 years ago with his current band. I would have loved to see MO back in the day though.

[@LeonTodd]

I also like how he's embraced technology over the years, from ring mod explorations to a laptop based rig! @@gingataff

[@teriakamoto]

Wowe I have a Ring Worm sitting in the shelf and have never plugged it in. I know. This was so informitive. there's treasure in that box. @ 3:25 . Thanks Leon. Space Ship was cool too ha ha.

[@LeonTodd]

Love Way Huge!

[@peterharvin2775]

I was one of those who had no idea what the heck this could ever be used for. Now I do. Time to go play. Thanks.

[@DeathMetalGuitar]

damn it LT! i just finished my live presets (in my FM3 Turbo).... now i need to add a Ring Mod block - AWESOME as always mate😎!! thank you :)

[@LeonTodd]

What's your favourite sound out of these?

[@DeathMetalGuitar]

@@LeonTodd without question - the Aurora Delay in the MultiDelay block and getting that LUSH UNIVIBE!!!

[@Patrick_theshuttercanvas]

I like to use ring mod in a more subtle, ambient context. I place the ring mod in between delay & reverb post amp & cab as well as keeping the mix at more conservative levels to produce movement in the harmonics of the overall sound. Employing a modifier LFO to toggle between 2 frequency settings while syncing it up to your delay provides even more movement!

[@LeonTodd]

Ok I need to try this!

[@Patrick_theshuttercanvas]

Definitely do so! I’ll send you a quick vid as an example via Instagram if I can

[@BaconFire]

Thanks - I always wondered WHY the ring mod was a thing. Now I get it. :)

[@Stooky_Person]

Ragdoll Funk style album when? Also what a stooky video per usual Leon. Hope everyone are having a stooky day/night

[@LeonTodd]

Kungfoolery mk2!

[@heavybrett-al4082]

Great ideas...I'm gonna go play with a ring mod in my pod go, straight after I watch this.🙏🤘🎸

[@LeonTodd]

Get funky!

[@stevejon381]

This is really interesting Leon. Can I be really cheeky and ask if you would be prepared to put this preset up on Axechange?

[@Simeon_Harris]

the multidelay idea is cool!

[@LeonTodd]

Yeah while I was playing with the term style settings in the ring mod I had a bright spark "we have 4 of these in the mtd!"

[@momogris6159]

And this is why Fractal is ahead of all competition…😊😊😊😊😊😊😊

[@Gerhard468]

That Univibe sound was really good

[@LeonTodd]

That and the octaver are my faves

[@davidsummerville351]

Cool stuff

[@67GuitarGeek]

Great video as always, Leon!! Sir, would you be so kind as to upload a preset for this demo to AxeChange? It would really helps us explore and enjoy these ideas even more! Thanks in advance!

[@waylong25]

I've been so basic with the ring mod that up until this point, the only thing I could think of is the Paranoid solo lol

[@Stefan-]

I cant say that i have tried hard but i have never found ringmodulator to be usable but you clearly know how to use it so maybe its not useless after all.

[@LesPaulVOS]

Really helpful. Killer video as usual I have avoided this block for all the wrong reasons. By the way do you have a favorite PRS Pickup? Draggon ll or Tremonti Treble?

[@LeonTodd]

Digging the DGT pickups atm

[@unclescott8792]

@ 05:55 dig it, man.

[@jasonjohnson4170]

Nice

[@josuastangl7140]

Periphery used this a bunch on ther last album for a different kind of whammy effect, really cool (e.g. songs Wildfire, Everything is fine)

[@kingfisher7960]

You should do a video on how to use some of these rarely used effects in a tasteful way

[@LeonTodd]

Great idea!

[@sonhouseisking]

It seems like the best sounds have the pitch tracker. After searching, I cannot find a pedal to put on a board with this feature. Anyone know of any?

[@jonm420jm]

Hey leon whats that riff @ 6:40 I've heard it twice this week on the U tubes. Hope the pets are doing well mate cheers 🍻 🙏🐈

[@LeonTodd]

Bridge of Sighs by Robin Trower

[@joebowbeer]

2:21 Can you make this octaver sound on a Boss MFX ring mod like a GT-1000? I assume it'd use intelligent mode, but what are the other settings?

[@arjanhurkmans9190]

This is a really great demo! the ring mod went in my opinion from a one trick pony/almost useless effect to a wonderful palet of sounds, love the univibe and octave/filter sounds!

[@LeonTodd]

Glad it was helpful! Enjoy

[@benoitguenette988]

Is there a reason why you put the delay and reverb after the cab in the chain?

[@LeonTodd]

That way I can load a single mono IR and have stereo effects

[@MeOwOgai]

Ring Modulator is one of the hardest effects to dial in and to understand. Its exactly one of the effects, which you hear your rockstar playing, you buy it (and they are expensive), and it sounds like absolute ass. And then you realize that's just tip of the iceberg.

[@damianval4626]

My old Nemisis the ring modulator 😞

[@guitarguyone]

Does a ring mod work just as well as a proposal to the missus?

[@LeonTodd]

Not as well as a burger ring

[@spaceexpireaudio666]

When I just started with GAS, one of pedals I bought was Electro-Harmonix Frequency Analyzer, old and big version. Still think it was the most useless pedal ever (after MIKU STOMP, of course). This one seems allright

[@k4yr4d]

You made it sound pretty good, but I dunno man. I'm really not sold on ring mod. It mostly just sounds bad on guitar unless it's doing stuff similar to what a bass or synth should be doing better. Nicely done getting it to sound as good as you did though!

[@LeonTodd]

Yeah it's pretty janky sounding but used sparingly live it can be a great "character" tone

[@k4yr4d]

​​@@LeonToddyeah, 'sparingly' is key for sure. Gotta admit, ring mod in the the multitap delay is very dope though. That's the power and depth of Fractal effects right there. Edit: and sorry for being negative. That was a great vid on practical use of a tough-to-use effect 👍

[@bobdorothy9719]

Man I got the ut most respect for you but if you start putting out videos every 22 minutes like John Cordy I’ll be done. There’s a big diff between good informative vids and some chump trying to buy diapers. What do you think of amplitude 5 ?

[@LeonTodd]

Amplitude has gotten pretty got recently IMO. The boogies are decent and tonex captures are excellent

[@bobdorothy9719]

@@LeonTodd I finally got a dell laptop to handle all of it. The HP wasn't doing it. I guess I just hate to think that all the great amp makers are going to get swallowed up by this new takeover. There's so many ways to look at it but honestly it's made me lazy. I just wait for the next cool tones to come out and buy them. I know you basically have to give post feedback on here all the time because of what you do. But man I'd love to jam w you sometime. Thanks for responding brother!

[@LeonTodd]

@@bobdorothy9719 I see plugins like amplitude more as a replacement for crappy practice amps. Cheaper, better sounding and more convenient. Good tube amps are aspirational pieces of gear and they're always going to be around IMO. Great time to be a player