EDIT PAGE – Oscillator Ring Modulation

 

 

RING is short for Ring Modulation, which is similar in concept to FM (and the parameters are exactly the same as those in the FM sub-page).  In Ring Modulation the frequencies of both oscillators are multiplied, which changes their overall amplitude, so it’s can also be referred to as Amplitude Modulation. 

Traditionally Ring Modulation is used as an effect to create high-frequency, clangorous overtones.  However, Omnisphere’s Ring Modulator is polyphonic and can track the keyboard – meaning the pitch does not have to be fixed; it can follow the pitch of the keyboard.  The result is something much more musical and useful than a traditional Ring Modulator.

 

RING MOD POWER SWITCH

Turns the modulator oscillator On or Off.

 

RING MOD KEYBOARD TRACKING

The Keyboard Tracking for the Ring Modulator works just like it does in the FM section.  Most Ring Modulators do not track the keyboard, which is part of the character of their sound, but Omnisphere provides the option to enable Keyboard Tracking if required.

If the Keyboard Tracking is turned on, then the Ring Modulator oscillator will change pitch with the keyboard.  If Keyboard Tracking is turned off, the modulation oscillator will remain the same pitch no matter what key is played.

 

RING MOD FREQUENCY

Controls the frequency of the modulation oscillator.  When the FREQUENCY slider is set to minimum value, very slow modulation is heard.  Sweeping thru the different values will cause different overtones become more pronounced, because the modulator oscillator is in the audio range.

The notches along the FREQUENCY slider are markers for the frequency ratios that will produce the most musically useful results.  Just like in the FM section, the most musically useful values are at the notches.  They are represented as  .250, .500. .750 and 1.00.

Range 0.000 to 1.000

 

RING MOD DEPTH

This horizontal slider controls the depth of the Ring Modulation, meaning how much interaction occurs between the Oscillator and the modulation oscillator.

Range 0.000 to 1.000

 

RING MOD WAVEFORM

Ring Modulators typically only use a Sine wave.  The dedicated RING oscillator in Omnisphere can use any one of four waveforms; Sine, Triangle, Sawtooth and Noise.  Each successive waveform has more overtones and will introduce a brighter, more harmonically rich character to the OSCILLATOR’s waveform.