Get more out of ring modulation & crossfading - with Erica Synths Black Ring-XFade

Today we go in-depth with the brand new Erica Synths Black Ring-Fade, a eurorack module with two ring modulators, build in crossfader, and VCA. Both the ring modulators as well as the crossfader can be used as independent modules, but the internal routing makes it very suitable for advanced creative sound shaping.
In the video we start with an overview of the Black Ring-Fade, and then we dive into a series of patches in three sections. We look at ring modulation patches, crossfader patches, and finally a few patches utilizing all sections of the Ring-Fade.
This video is sponsored by Erica Synths
www.ericasynths.lv
Timetable:
00:00 - Intro
00:41 - Black Ring-Fade
03:29 - Ring modulation
07:41 - Crossfading
09:23 - Combined patches
If you want to support my project:
Patreon: / monotrail
Bandcamp: monotrail.bandcamp.com
Special thanks to Legendary Patrons:
Michael Rutchik
Wayne Cowan
Steve Williams
Glnds
MANHATTAN
Yannick Willener
Dave Kincaid
Let’s connect!:
Instagram: / monotrail
Facebook: / monotrailmusic
Soundcloud: / monotrailmusic
KZbin: / monotrailmusic
#eurorack #ericasynths #ringfade

[@jarsamo]

Mighty fine tutorial! Bought the module after watching :)

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Glad you got some use out of this one! And enjoy the module, I love this one to :)

[@oondza7545]

Hi 😊 Just wanted to say that I I’ve really learned a lot from your content and I really appreciate your genuine approach to how you present your ideas. Your channel is way undersubscribed. If I can offer one humble suggestion it would be to have longer audio demos of what you’re discussing as every time you start one I’m left wanting to hear more 😜 Cheers.

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Hello! Thank you so much! Positive comments like these really make the efford worth it :) I only decided to go more serious for these at the beginning of this year, getting a decent camera and a structured release schedule, so it not exploding or anything, but I am absolutley happy with the unexpected amount of positive comments, people deciding to support me on patreon, as wel as even manufacturers I apreciate aproaching me for videos. So already decided to keep it up next year, and aim for that 10K subs! As for the audiodemos, KZbin offers quite detailed analytics, and I can actually see that quite a lot of people are skipping over or leaving on long audio demos. I think it's because my tips are useful to anyone, all music styles, and I have a particular one. But glad to hear you like them! I also have a channel called just Monotrail, for music/jams!

[@oondza7545]

@@MonotrailTechTalk I’m going to check out your other channel! 😊

[@oondza7545]

I wound up getting Ring X-fade... just an incredible module... thanks for the inspiration!

[@MeatyController]

I appreciate how you demonstrated the spectrum of sweet, cool, and heavier sounds! Sounds like a versatile module, how exciting

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Thanks, had a lot of fun with this one. Glad to hear you liked it! Also does voltage controlled polarizing :)

[@pedroeustache5511]

Brilliant, again!!! I also have this module... so powerful!!! Thanks!!! You gave e some new ideas to try... Excellent work!! much appreciated!!! Blessings!!

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Glad you liked it! Enjoy the module! :)

[@cidst8]

Another Erica Black module added to the my list. Excellent video, ring mods never really interested me before.

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Really like this one! I also featured it in my video called "why you CAN have enough vcas" The Ring X-Fade also works great as a voltage controlled polarizer, very versatile module this one :)

[@bobbfett.musiclab]

Fantastic tutorial

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Thank you! Glad to hear it :)

[@manuelsteinmair]

Great demo! And another module on the 'to buy if i ever start a modular system'-list...

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Thanks! Always good to plan ahead ;)

[@yongamusic]

Wow, great explanation! I’m definitely gonna buy the Erica as it has so many options to mix things up. The graphic at 8:29 says VOICE 1 twice, but I assume the lower voice should be VOICE 2? Now I’m gonna look at some of your other videos as I really like your way of explaining and use of graphics.

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Hey, thanks! Really glad to hear you like my work, that's why I make these :) And you're totally right, I missed that I'm afraid ;) All the best!

[@ARPMAN]

Another great beginner friendly tutorial. Can you do this with the Erica Sequential switch please?

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Thank you! Glad to hear you liked it! There's still a couple of videos i'm working on comming your way! The new Joystick 2 and BBD delay included :)

[@PspiralifeTutorials]

Im a tad confused about the ring cv input. Does a control voltage patched to the ring cv input give cv control over the ring cv knob's value? or does the ring cv input only serve the purpose of receiving an input signal which modulates the carrier?

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Hi there, it is a bit confusing. Ring in is the carier, Ring cv the modulator. The ring CV knob set's the amount of modulation to the carier. What's interesting here is that Erica Synths used a unique design that still gives you a regular sound when the knob is set to unmodulated. But, there is no voltage control over the Ring CV knob, so maybe they should have called the knob Ring CV Amount or something :)

[@PspiralifeTutorials]

@@MonotrailTechTalk Ahh yes thank you for clarifying this. I almost bought it thinking it had what I needed. I found the doepfer A-133-2 Dual Voltage Controlled VCA/Polarizer/Inverter/Ring Modulator has cv control over cv amount!

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Sorry if you read a message I send a minute ago (deleted it now), that was rubbish on my side! I 'd have to look into the Doepfer a133-2, in more depth, but you might be right there. The Doepfer seems to have a manual control, a cv input with attenuator, and then a mod input to modulate the cv amount. Didn't even realize that, I thought it was the same as the a133, but smaller. My mistake!

[@GeorgeLocke]

with DC coupling, it seems like both channels can be used as VC polarizers?

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Hi there! The AC/DC coupling switch is for the crossfader only, But in my experience both ring mod circuits respond excelent to DC voltages as well, and so indeed can be used as VC polarizers. Set the Ring CV knob to the max, and you're good to go. Fo example feed an envelope to the Input, and have a slow bipolar LFO sweep the envelope from positive to negative. With a sceduled release like this My time with the module was limited. I might come back to this module with another video, indeed for the polarizing part, and some more ring mod with explained tunings and so on. It's really versatile and I'm sure ill get even more out of it spending more time with it :)

[@GeorgeLocke]

@@MonotrailTechTalk thanks for the detailed reply!

[@alanc6752]

Erica Synths makes some good stuff. Great demo.

[@MonotrailTechTalk]

Thank you! And indeed, there expanding a great line with these exciting new modules :)