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I discovered a ring modulator on accident!!!!!!

J

JMDT

Jan 30, 2008
981
9
Louisville, Ky
#1
From time to time I use foam near the bridge to give my tone a different vibe and sometimes coverup unwanted notes. While I was noodling I decided to add the foam as I didn't like the way notes were ringing out on a chord arpeggio section. Dissatisfied with the results, I thought 'I wonder how it would sound with the foam next to the neck instead of at the bridge. I got the more muffled effect I was looking for, but much to my surprise I also got a ring modulator-ish sound!!!
:hyper::bassist::hyper::bassist::hyper:

I scratched my head at first and then I realized that I was getting the 'normal' sound, but was also getting a harmonic from the plucking side which remained comstant. So yeah: constant pitch plus regular note is the same idea that a ring modulator works on.

Does anyone else have experience with foam or any other object to create a psuedo ring modulator?
 
#3
This is how a Ringmod works:

You have a Carrier frequency. that is usually an internal oscillator. that signal is added and subtracted to your input, both of which come out. WHat you get is a tone with a mathematical relation to your original sound, but no sensical harmonic realtionship.
 
#4
I think what JMDT is saying is that he's managing to get an overtone which, combined with his actual note, creates a tone/sound along the lines of a ring mod.

That's pretty cool, actually. Can you give me more details on how to set it up, or pictures? I like getting a ring-moddish tone out of my bass
 
#5
wdinc01 said:
I think what JMDT is saying is that he's managing to get an overtone which, combined with his actual note, creates a tone/sound along the lines of a ring mod.

That's pretty cool, actually. Can you give me more details on how to set it up, or pictures? I like getting a ring-moddish tone out of my bass
Click to expand...

That is exactly the case. I will post a picture later.
 

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