Quasimodo
A ring modulator with a large amount of modulation
possibilities.
Features
2 Ring Modulators
1 Multi mode oscillator
3 Multi Mode Filters
2 Lfo’s
An 8 stage Step Sequencer
What is a ring Modulator
Ring modulation is an effect in electronics, related to
amplitude modulation or frequency mixing, performed by multiplying two audio
signals, where one is typically a sine-wave or another simple waveform. It is
referred to as "ring" modulation because the analog circuit of diodes
originally used to implement this effect took the shape of a ring. This circuit
is similar to a bridge rectifier, except that instead of the diodes facing
"left" or "right", they go "clockwise" or "anti-clockwise".
Ring modulators are mostly used in synthesizers. They combine or heterodyne two
waveforms, and output the sum and difference between the two. This process of
ring modulation, which also amplitude modulation, produces a signal rich in
overtones, suitable for producing bell-like or otherwise metallic sounds. One
of the best-known applications of the ring modulator was its use by Brian
Hodgson of the BBC Radiophonic Workshop to produce the distinctive voice of the
Daleks in the television series Doctor Who.
(Source http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ring_modulation)
In Use
Due to the nature of Ring Modulators their output is
entirely dependant upon what signals you feed into them, as such Quasimodo
comes with no presets because what sounds good on one sound source will sound
terrible on another, so experiment. Quasimodo was made because I found very few
Ring Modulator plugins that allowed you to do anything apart from modulate an
input with a simple sine wave. Quasimodo allows you to explore ring modulators
potential to a much bigger degree and whilst this flexibility makes it capable
of some truly rubbish sounds it also makes it capable of some truly wonderful
and unique sounds that you wont find anywhere else.
Inputs
There are 2 inputs channels, Input 1 is feed from the left
audio channel and input 2 is feed from the right audio channel. Each input runs
through a state variable filter and has separate mix and pan levels.
At the bottom of the controls is an option to link the
channels, when selected, input 2’s dials are crossed out and input 1’s dials
now controls both channels. The pan for channel 1 now acts as a stereo balance.
In both linked and unlinked mode the state variable filters settings for `Filter`, `Ring` & `Mix` are independent of each input.
The state variable filters has the following options:
Filter : LP =
24dB Low Pass
Filter : BP =
24dB Band Pass
Filter : HP =
24dB High Pass
Ring : Yes = The filter signal is passed to the ring
Modulators
Ring : No = The un-filter signal is passed to the ring
Modulators
Mix : Yes = The filter signal is passed to the mix buss
Mix : No = The un-filter signal is passed to the mix
buss
To cycle through the options click on the appropriate parts
of the menu screen.
Ring 1
This ring modulates the signals from Input 1 and Input 2
together.
The drive Control adds overdrive to the new sound and Pan
& Mix control how the signal is added to the mix buss.
By inserting Quasimod into a Mixer bus on your VST host and
panning 2 audio channels or instruments hard left and hard right you can now
Ring Modulate them together.
When set to `Ring : Yes` the filters on the inputs channels
will affect the sounds being fed to the modulator and accordingly affect the
output. The more resonant the filter is made the more affect you will hear on
the ring modulated sound.
The filters and level of the ring modulator can be modulated
by the 2 Lfos and Step sequencer, we shall look at these a bit later.
Ring 2
This ring modulates the signals from the oscillator and your
choice of carrier together.
The carrier choice has the following options:
L+R (S) = The carrier
is the stereo signal from input 1 & 2
L+R (M) =
The carrier is the summed mono signal from input 1 & 2
Left =
The carrier is input 1
Right =
The carrier is input 2
Ring 1 =
The carrier is the output of Ring Modulator 1
As before the drive Control adds overdrive to the new sound
and Pan & Mix control how the signal is added to the mix buss.
When set to `Ring : Yes` the filters on the inputs channels
will affect the sounds being fed to the modulator and accordingly affect the
output.
Oscillator
This generates the tone Ring Modulator 2 will use as its
Modulator and has the following options:
Wave : Sine, Triangle, Saw, Square, Noise (all represented
by wave forms displays).
Pitch : Dial =
The pitch of the oscillator is controlled by the pitch dial.
Pitch : Seq =
The pitch of the oscillator is controlled by the note/freq section of the step
sequencer. (Pitch dial is crossed out)
Level : Dial =
The level of the oscillator is controlled by the pitch dial.
Level : Seq =
The level of the oscillator is controlled by the note/freq section of the step
sequencer. (Level dial is crossed out)
Filter : Off =
No filter (Cut Off & Res Dials are crossed out)
Filter : LP =
24dB Low Pass
Filter : BP =
24dB Band Pass
Filter : HP =
24dB High Pass
To cycle through the options click on the appropriate parts
of the menu screen.
The oscillator signal can be added to the mix bus with the
Pan & Mix controls.
Step
Sequencer
The 8 stage step sequencer is used primarily to control the pitch
and level of the oscillator.
Each step has a box in which you select the note/frequency
of the oscillator and below that the level of the oscillator.
The count menu allows you to chose how many steps from 1 to
8 the sequence contains and how quickly the sequence runs.
The Slew controls how quickly the note slides from one note
to the next.
* If you change the step or beat control you may need to
stop and start you sequencer playing in order for Quasimodo to get back in
sync. *
LFO
1 & 2
Lfo 1 & 2 work identically, you have the following
options:
Clock : Free =
Speed is set by the dial marked Rate
Clock : Sync =
Speed is set by Bar & Rep (Rate dial is crossed out)
Speed : Low = Free
Rate is in the low range 0-10 Hz
Speed : Med = Free
Rate is in the low range 0-50 Hz
Speed : High = Free
Rate is in the low range 0-100 Hz
Wave : Triangle, Saw, Ramp, Square, Random (all represented
by wave forms displays).
Bar : 01 – 16 = How
many bars to repeat in.
Rep : 01 – 16 = How
many repeats to make in that number of bars. I.E. Bar 2 / Rep 3 means the Lfo
will loop 3 times in 2 bars.
Modulation
Matrix
This matrix allows you to positively and negatively modulate
the following parameters:
Filt 1 = Filter 1
Cut Off
Filt 2 = Filter 2
Cut Off
Filt 3 = Filter 3
Cut Off (the oscillator filter)
Osc = Oscillator
Pitch
Ring 1 = Ring
Modulator 1 Mix level
Ring 1 = Ring
Modulator 2 Mix Level
Using the following sources
Lfo 1 = Lfo 1
Lfo 2 = Lfo 2
Seq F = Step
sequencer note/frequency output
Seq L = Step
sequencer level output
Fixed = A non moving
offset
To alter the a value on the matrix point and click on the
number then move your mouse up or down
Output
The drive Control adds overdrive to the mix buss.
Level Controls the overall volume of the mix bus.
Credits
Built by Evil Kitten Empire
http://www.evilkittenempire.co.uk/
Using Jeff McClintock’s Synthedit
I would like to thank the following people
David Haupt for the Modulation Matrix
Rick Jelliffe For the LARJ Quad Oscillator