Because Everyone Needs A Ring Modulator For Guitar [Robot Sounds - With Band Jams & Everything!]

[@brianhammond761]

Would love to see Fairfield Circuitry’s Meet Maude delay or Shallow Water vibrato on the show sometime!

[@hgkress3501]

The Fairfield Circuits pedal is by far the most interesting one. Thanks lads for another great episode!

[@UnitedEffect]

Ring modulators have always fascinated my more adventurous & experimental side. First used one back in the mid 1970's. After hearing the jams going on in that wonderful trio setting, it's high time I invest in a new ring mod. You guys were really grooving! More to come I hope...? Thanks for sharing this wonderful & whacky effect to a wider audience. I trust they'll start showing up on more players pedal boards after this great video. Thanks guys!!!

[@phillipbland2861]

And as a side note, the D&M sounds fantastic as usual. The volume on tap in that thing is incredible.

[@smelltheglove2038]

I really like it. I like “dan” side stacked after my Timmy with humbuckers. Such a lovely tone.

[@jamesseale2980]

I love these old school deep dives in how a type of pedal does what it does

[@damianhooper4427]

Cheers for the show on Ring Mods chaps. It always makes feel compelled to re-watch Old Dr Who episodes - after hearing a few in action.

[@bobdobbs8397]

Finally! Ring Mods are a must have for every genre.

[@davidmchugh4251]

Thanks fellas! One of my favorite episodes ever completely opened my eyes to ring mod! Loved the jams and now I need a Gonkulator! Probably worth it for the name alone haha

[@Cesiumswimsuit]

This was a fun one, always happy to see Dougie on the kit!

[@AZFunk]

Love these episodes when you guys play!

[@WhatsUpWhitey]

Never thought I would be saying to myself, “I need to get a ring mod!” Great show and information.

[@Parariddle]

I was hesitant over Ring Mods but magically surprised by this, great episode gents and stellar bass work and hats off to Dougie too for most excellent drumming. Guitar work on point as always 😊

[@kevinquinn6874]

Very Much Enjoyed the Live Playing Portion of the Program!!! Great Jams! 🎸❤️🤠

[@DRChevalier]

My profound thanks gentlemen! I have this function in the H9 Max or some other multi effector. It always sounded like a flock of turkeys bringing up last week’s lunch so I never used it due to lack of knowledge on my part. Fortunately there are you fine professionals who can educate me and I know understand that this effect does in fact sound like a flock of turkeys yacking up yesterday’s lunch and I will never more wonder if I am missing something. You’re the best!

[@ThatPedalShow]

HHahahh! Nice one Ross!

[@waitingforguitar6991]

Krantz is such a rhythmic player, he is able to remove focus from the key center and just communicate with rhythm and tonal color. Thus, his ability to succeed with the ring mod. =)

[@AWilliams7878]

Couldn't say it better. Krantz is a master of rhythm / poly rhythm.

[@chrisegg7936]

I get why it was discontinued but the way huge ringworm is really worth a look for anyone enticed by the ring mod sound. It's the only ring mod I've messed around with where I feel like I have all the controls necessary to make it somewhat musical (or sufficiently not musical when necessary).

[@Tanzi24]

That lovely bit of dissonance at 32:29 was glorious! I can hear the jazz fusion influence. A bit of John McLaughlin there! This was a fantastic episode, thank you gents!

[@periloustemple8290]

I did not expect to love this 1 as much but expectations exceeded!!! That stuff was awesome- & the TPS trio was extraordinary!❤❤

[@jaaaash1382]

Great shout for Incubus "glass" Dan! What a great use of the Gonk.

[@scottcurry4116]

Forbidden Planet is one of my favorite Sci-Fi movies. They also used a Theremin in the sound track. Ring modulators add so much weirdness to guitar sounds. It’s like an octave pedal on acid. Great show!

[@philipellis7039]

I think I’m correct in saying that the soundtrack has some of the earliest recorded electric bass guitar as well.

[@Synths-n-Guitar]

I use Ring Modulation in my DAW to give slight metallic sound to my synth presets. And recently brought a BOSS OC-5 & Glowfly "The Episodes" loaded with Ring Modulation fx. Using this signal effects chain: Octave pedal-> Ring Mod Fx pedal-> Overdrive pedal

[@TimBentley]

The band format made all the difference in demonstrating how ring mods can work in a musical context. Really nice work 🙂

[@kurth6595]

I think the distortion in the Gonkulator is taken from the old DOD Grunge

[@cclubb85]

Mike Einziger of Incubus... now there's a guy who needs to be on the show! Personal guitar hero of mine, plus he's a pedal fanatic with an epic live board, and super nice guy by all accounts. And they're coming to the UK in June! Surely the stars are aligning to make it happen 😁

[@ThatPedalShow]

It’d be AWESOME to get Mike on the show.

[@ChrisSkinner1]

Wayne Krantz is AWESOME. I just “discovered” his music a few weeks ago and I’m obsessed.

[@UnitedEffect]

If you're interested.... Wayne Krantz has a fascinating music book in publication called "Improviser's OS".

[@justinguitarcia]

@@UnitedEffect that book is GREAT, super interesting read/study

[@ChrisSkinner1]

@@UnitedEffect I will definitely check it out! Thanks for the tip!

[@UnitedEffect]

@@ChrisSkinner1 No problem.

[@UnitedEffect]

@@justinguitarcia Agreed...100% I like to take a note grouping and build harmonies/chords from each note. It helps to map out the fingerboard and great for getting the ears to hear new chords and colours.

[@tonebender69]

This is awesome!!!! You guys successfully incorporated this difficult effect. Great tones

[@tonebender69]

And fantastic riffing in the band segment.

[@Airfire21]

Can I just say - in addition to all the ring mod coolness - what an INCREDIBLE distortion sound in the Gonkulator! Some people say its the DOD Grunge - I wonder if that's really true! And micks playing was incredible when he first heard it! Loved the band sections, honestly missed them. Great episode fellas!

[@ThomasHope73]

I always think of Jan Hammer when it comes to Ring Mods; he was of course in the Mahavishnu Orchestra AND Jeff Beck’s band, in the ‘70s.

[@Diax1324]

He also gave Jeff Beck his maestro ring mod that he used for decades!

[@brianmcdermott281]

Oh yeahh, Jeff Beck with Jan Hammer group live is one of my fav albums

[@marshallgibson1871]

Just got a laugh out of the fact Mick climbed the gear mountain to the peak. The epic strat journey that might have felled a lesser man. The amps, my goodness, the amps… behemoths of glory and price. Just to make robot noises with a ring mod. I love it

[@jefe_golf]

I was playing around with maj9 chords this morning, (I got turned on to them from one of Dan’s old lessons) & you nailed it at the end of the opening jam! Well done.

[@oliv9312]

That intro jam woke up my cat but good - looking forward to the rest of the episode

[@chrisdrake447]

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 ... “I’m your biggest fan ...” Never, ever gets old, that one 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@jamesbaker9539]

Wow, great to see you guys play music! I am fairly new to your channel and got the impression you do have some videos with songs being played, but this was my first to see one. Thank you for putting the pedals to actual musical use!

[@ThatPedalShow]

Thanks James. You’d be amazed at how many people really do not want any music on a guitar channel, but hey, we’ll do what feels right at the time. Cheers!

[@danielr8932]

That does surprise me. But it’s rare to see Dan and Mick play songs together. When they do, however, it’s pleasurable music to my ears. I hope it “feels right” more often!

[@joshjohnson9097]

@@ThatPedalShow fuck ‘em. Sounded great!

[@kanehicks9321]

Great job guys!! Your demos sounded terrific. Love it when you guys get going and jam with drums in the mix. Cheers!

[@DeadWhiteButterflies]

The split amps with the ring mod sounded so good on my monitors! This whole episode has really shown me that Ring Mods are firstly used more often than you think, and secondly deserve a bit more credit as a result. It's a sound that's probably a bit harder to work with, but you've definitely demonstrated it's a case of dialling it in and finding what works for you. A great sound if you're in a Tame Impala situation, or a Harsh Noise outfit, or even a Stoner Metal band. It's just something to get weird with. My EHX Ring Mod is great for doing oscillation stuff (especially when you've got a self oscillating delay going at the same time), and I've turned heads on stage before with it when I do some freaky noise stuff at the end of a set. I always had people afterwards asking me what that sound was. It's a textural flavour you don't hear often, so people notice it when they hear it.

[@eranmontiel]

Just picked up a Warm Audio Ringer Bringer so figured I would come back to this. Fantastic as always!

[@IngeJ]

Great show guys (as always). Last thing first: more TPS Trio, please! So enjoyable to get the geeky stuff in context. Then on to the ring mods. Been a fan of the effect for years, but didn’t get one until I got the Randy’s Revenge about two years ago. It’s such a great pedal. I prefer to use it without an expression pedal and just use my toe/shoe on the big frequency knob. Be sure to explore the slow sinus mode in combination with the blend knob for some unique shifts in tremolo, almost vibey in some settings….

[@colindymond2009]

5 seconds in and not only do I want one, I want to be in a band where I can use it!

[@Mike-rw2nh]

I just posted the same, then noticed your comment. GAS is a cruel mistress 😂

[@SquareWaveSymphonies]

It's actually not that hard to use ring modulation in a song/band. I haven't had a pedalboard in almost ten years that didn't feature a ring mod and used the effect on bass on several songs in my bands. 😄 Have a look at the Pladask Elektrisk Feber or (if you feel like spending quite a bit of money) Moog MF-102. Those are especially musical, imo.

[@mikeh892]

Play the outro theme to South Park.

[@stevea5388]

You blokes have been on the Easter Mushrooms!! I’m hearing a slicer, some crazy reverb and arpeggiated chords for a total trip. Great show. Really enjoyed it.

[@andsoistopped]

Hurrah for bank holidays so I can watch in 4k on 65 inch Oled Screen. So what’s today…..ring mod….ok this should be fun.

[@andrews2772]

Let's just be honest, the green sg is amazing and it is here to stay. Live your best life Mick and Dan, many thanks for all your hard work from the gateway city in the US

[@ewetoo]

Nice jams, some nice bassplaying Mick and Dan! It's a tricky kind of pedal to integrate into one's board but I can see a use for it. Ring mod with distortion definitely works.

[@jamiebridson7871]

Wayne Krantz is the master of this sound! And his trio w/ Lefebvre and Carlock kicked ass! That's also the period I was listening to him a LOT, so it's defo a fave lineup.

[@jonpardoe]

My Gonkulator arrives on Wednesday! Actually used the one in Logic Pro X quite a lot a few years back but, now that I've got several Fuzzes to pair with it, seems like the right time to 'get real'. Excellent demos as always, of course 😊

[@davidw4664]

Thanks for showing me that I absolutely do not need a ring modulator haha😅, Great show guys!

[@tituschalk]

Woah Dan get your gonk on!! Some sweet playing there in the jams!

[@bluesful]

The Gonkulator was my favourite. The Distortion in it sounds great too.

[@merbertancriwalli8622]

All of the Daleks are now rematerialising around your studio - Modulate!! Modulate!!

[@ChrisJohnson-lp3hc]

Super here for it! Love weird noises in general, and ring mod with fuzz is beautifully nasty

[@MrLeka1111]

Very nice (and professional) solos on guitars specially in session part. Jazz, blues... are mixed excellent. Drummer man is super too. Thanks I am impressed.

[@ThatPedalShow]

Thank you!

[@misternevercot8706]

Wow great Coverage of the Topic. And Dan on the Bass Guitar was freaking grooving fantastic!

[@chrisrobinson8660]

Thanks for the great jamming, guys! Wasn't sure that was possible with a ring mod but y'all made it work. :0)

[@antonrandle4146]

The Gonkulator was the more guitar friendly sound with a shallower learning curve to get creative with. For some reason I can not get the '70's British cartoon classic, Rhubarb and Custard's theme tune out of my head now! Thanks for the entertainment.

[@TheDrunkenScoundrel]

I started playing guitar, and played many hundreds of gigs with nothing more than the 'basics'. Even the most basic ring-mod in the hands of a curious creator exponentially extends the possibilities of any guitar.

[@michaelfowler3187]

Before I watch this I just gotta day the boss dd20 does amazing ring mod stuff in stereo no less - reverse mode with super high bpm into audio rates, tap tempo it down at any point and you have lovely reverse delay psychedelia. Hate to give that up but I am sure many others have found that by now. Now let's enjoy the episode!

[@jrchanning]

Loved the band jams and the ring thing was an interesting sound in small doses !! 😛

[@brandoncoventry5662]

Great episode! Some other constant ring mod users are Gilad Hekselman who uses it all the time, but most notably on John Raymond's Minnesota, WI. The other is Tim Lefebvre who uses it on bass throughout the whole Donny McCaslin catalog, but most notably casting for daylight

[@ThatPedalShow]

Awesome! Thank you for that!

[@AndyCooper761]

Cool episode! Happy Easter Dan and Mick and all at TPS Towers

[@karllongbottomguitars9192]

A money saving episode 😂😂😂, seriously though, great fun as ever 👍

[@justinguitarcia]

I love ring mod, especially for comping. It almost turns the guitar into a weird tonal percussion instrument

[@JohnHorneGuitar]

Sounds great! The only ring modulator I ever had was in the old Alesis Quadraverb. So many menus to tap through...

[@eaglerayrob]

Pedals (and music for that matter) that create atonal sound really challenge me. These do have some cool textural elements. I can see "tuning" one of these and mixing it in lightly for texture. Thanks for taking me somewhere that I wouldn't have gone on my own.

[@fredhystair5789]

Cool. I've expected that one for sooo long !

[@geoffblack9655]

Come ON! You guys are amazing for CLEARLY getting out of your comfort zone. I NEEEED a Randy’s Revenge. Seems to be THEE most musical ring mod I’ve ever heard. That trem it can achieve is amazing. My fav ring mod to date. And I’ve had a Gonkulator.

[@hoganshideout]

Nice! You guys did an awesome job demonstrating this in a band context!

[@AdamGotheridge]

Band jams were super fun and really enjoyable. 👏👏👏

[@Sammywhat]

I never understood ring modulation until I've seen Wayne Krantz - Why at The Miraverse here on KZbin. Mick started down that percussive funky avenue in a similar fashion. Totally makes sense now. But before I've seen this usage, it's always been a mystery to me. Nice work Fellas!!

[@mrjsings]

Excellent job on the mixing Mick

[@ThatPedalShow]

Thank you!

[@ozza4496]

That trick splitting the signals to emulate an octave fuzz was interesting. I would've loved seeing drums through a ring mod, I think it would work better with a rhythmic device rather than a melodic or harmonic one.

[@davidsummerville351]

Great info. Understanding is the key to using it effectively. Love Randy's Revenge, very versatile.

[@brian_mccomedy]

I left this comment on a JHS video but here's further info on how Ring Modulation works: " Carrier frequency is what you set on the pedal (i.e. tune it to the note A - 440hz) Modulator frequency is whatever note the guitar is playing (i.e. play the dominant 5th, like in a power chord, which would be E at 659.25hz) The pedal takes those two, and mixes in the sum and difference of those frequencies. So it will generate the sum frequency: A-440hz + E-659.25hz = C# at 1099hz (C# is a Major 3rd in the Key of A), And it will generate the difference between the two frequencies: A-440hz - E-659.25hz = A at 219hz (The note A but a lower octave down). As you can see the frequencies it generates aren't perfectly in tune, and depending what note you play it can sound more or less dissonant. Other names for it could be: - microtonal chord generator pedal. - Unison Bend pedal - Mathematicians noise rock pedal Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk."

[@ThatPedalShow]

Thank you for that!

[@DBroce]

You just took the pedal I would never own and made it cool. I had only heard Metal guys use them and thought they sucked. I also appreciate the drummer kicking in the Freeway Jam intro. Thanks Dan and Mick.

[@ThatPedalShow]

Dougie FTW! Dude has a shuffle. :0)

[@mikaelforss5725]

How cool Jam

[@camhaines5482]

Thanks! I like it when you mention songs and artists that use the pedals. I love to surf you tube for the songs.

[@CradleRawk]

I think Mick has finally cracked. Either that or he’s hit a whole new level of consciousness where blooz sounds different 😮😂😂😂😂. Awesome

[@ThatPedalShow]

It's definitely the latter. ;)

[@Cheguebuddha]

Oh me likely that Gonkulator!

[@smelltheglove2038]

Into the fan you ALWAYS say: “Luke I am your father”

[@andsoistopped]

Forget the ring mods I now want to buy a fan.

[@hedgehogstv2132]

I AM IRONMAN!

[@stanislavmigra]

"NO! Iiiiii am your father" 😁

[@mikeh892]

​@@stanislavmigra Han shot first

[@stanislavmigra]

@@mikeh892 Han shot first 👍

[@Leychen]

Hah now that's an interesting episode! I got the Moog MF-Ring and i sometimes put it on my board just to make nonsense noise in jams ...but my bandmates sort of like it, which was unexpected. Now i'm not sure if i should keep it on my board or not.

[@edphaze6550]

I’ve had a Gonkulator for years and I do actually use it occasionally for some weirdness. It’s fun!

[@albertplaysguitar]

Finally! An intro that's "out of this world"!😂😂😂

[@ZillianZilch]

I’ve listened to Paranoid a thousand times and never once noticed the ring modulator on the solo. Now I can’t unhear it! It’s amazing what you don’t hear until it’s pointed out to you.

[@ThatPedalShow]

Same here! Mick here

[@norbertplaysguitar7244]

Love Doug’s smile when he plays. It‘s always a good addition to show stuff in context. Watching TPS for years now and I don’t remember if you have done it yet, but what about a TPS show on pedals on drums? Also would love to get another show on ‚strange’ pedals on acoustic. Thanks for the entertaining and instructive episode!

[@miaoleman8605]

The sound of dial up internet but for your guitar

[@dominicvonriedemann2617]

Thanks for a deep dive into an effect I never really had time for, unless I wanted to terrify the other members of my band. FYI, when playing bass, you'll want to wrap your cable in your strap. Very few things suck worse than playing a song and being suddenly disconnected when either you or someone else steps on your cable. Other than that, great show guys.

[@Superphilipp]

ooooh, you didn't include one of my favourite pedals ever!! The Moog MF 102 (unfortunately discontinued). The great thing about the Moogs is that you can input CV to EVERY control. One of my go to ways of playing is expression pedal to mix. Then you prepare your Ring Mod sound and blend it in on just every couple of notes. It's like playing with Tourette's, I love it. Also, the Moog allows you to input your own carrier signal (the onboard carrier is sine only), so if you have an outboard oscillator or even synthesizer you can get some really wacky shit going!

[@ThatPedalShow]

Yeah maaaan, so cool. I wanted to buy one but they’re too spenny for me. :0) Mick here!

[@Superphilipp]

@@ThatPedalShow It's such a shame that those aren't more freely avaliable. The extreme flexibility really made them unique.

[@T-Hawkeyes]

Randy is a clone of the Moog.

[@Superphilipp]

@@T-Hawkeyes Clone of the circuitry perhaps, but not the connectivity. There are NINE ts ports on the MF 102!

[@cjl-tp6si]

Dan sounded like trey Anastasio in the gongulator jam! And I mean that as a high compliment! Awesome stuff

[@ThatPedalShow]

Ah, cheers mate 🙏

[@andsoistopped]

I’m gonna say the outtakes of the playing in this video would be somewhat amusing.

[@wallacem2652]

Another fantastic episode full of inspiration. I think tomorrow i'm gonna put my hands on my Mobius trying again to make the damn "quadrature" engine work!

[@davidkieltyka9]

One of the original Moogerfooger gizmos from the late 1990s, the MF-102, is a ring mod. Also doubles as a cool sounding tremolo with sine & square wave options.

[@67er_matze97]

Success!! That definitely was some great music in the jams. Great also to see + hear you guys play together with Dougie on Drums. I think the Reeves' ZO: is a fantastict pedal. I'd love to have a bit more in depth view on it in the future (but I will take a look also if that was done in previous episodes)

[@marleenvos4126]

Great episode, this was fun

[@brucegregori]

Dude that drummer reminds of what Steve Lukather would be like and look like on drums. Ring it up!

[@elliotttadanier5971]

Three cheers for Doug!! I love some guitar playing, but it’s better when the drummies come to the party too.

[@MR_Robbers]

Severrrrral more minutes in...thanks for the jam legs! Enjoying it

[@jordanmuller4735]

My favorite contemporary example of a ring mod is the song Car Crash by Idles. Using it like a subtle synth worked perfectly in that song. I have the Randy’s revenge and it’s a phenomenally versatile pedal: crunchy, chimey, pretty, ugly, and an amazing tremolo.

[@Sousafolle]

Thank you it was a big fun episode. I inadvertently started the jams at the end with the player set at 1.5x speed 😂Give it a try! Joking apart, I agree so much that everyone needs a ring modulator. Thinning my board lately and the ring modulator is definitely there to stay.

[@joaopauloaboim8320]

Epic! Great show! Such great tones as always!

[@Paul_Lenard_Ewing]

Considering how often one can apply such sounds I recommend a clone of the Dan Armstrong Green Ringer which was the very first Ring Mod box. Chicago Stompworks does the Octave Up Green Ringer clone for $60.00 USD. Hand made and lifetime warranty. It comes in a standard Hammond B enclosure with tasteful graphics. It has the vibe with acceptable pitch problems so you get just a touch of that flatted 5th kind of vibe.

[@wurst.guitars]

I really love the Randy's Revenge, it's got a fixed spot on my board. It seems to sound fuller and warmer than other ring mods I've tried, and it does a couple more cool tricks: you can use it as a clean boost with the mix down, you can use the low pass filter in trem mode to create a faux harmonic tremolo sound, and the mix and lpf button interact somewhat, so there's some settings where the speed of the VCO seems to fold over on itself (or so), creating a more vibe-like pulse. With an expression pedal with range control, you can set the range to exactly an octave, and then tune the pedal by hand to match the key of your song at the outer ranges, so you get two points on your expression pedal's range where you know roughly what to expect :)

[@alanredversangel]

Best sound i can get with a ring mod: Tune it to G on the 12 fret, then play g major pentatonic licks. Bend from one note to another, hammer on and off etc. You get some great dive bombs and it stays kind of melodic.