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Table Of Contents
Chapter 9 Modulation 105
Ringshifter
The Ringshifter effect combines a ring modulator with a frequency shifter effect. Both
effects were popular during the 1970s, and are currently experiencing something of a
renaissance.
 The ring modulator modulates the amplitude of the input signal using either the
internal oscillator or a side chain signal. The frequency spectrum of the resulting
effect signal equals the sum and difference of the frequency content in the two
original signals. Its sound is often described as metallic or clangorous. The ring
modulator was used extensively on jazz rock and fusion records in the early 70s.
 The frequency shifter moves the frequency content of the input signal by a fixed
amount and, in doing so, alters the frequency relationship of the original harmonics.
The resulting sounds range between sweet and spacious phasing effects to strange
robotic timbres. Frequency shifting should not be confused with pitch shifting. Pitch
shifting transposes the original signal, leaving its harmonic frequency relationship
intact.
The Ringshifter consists of the following parameter groups:
 Mode buttons: Determine whether the Ringshifter operates as frequency shifter or
ring modulator.
 Oscillator parameters: Use these to configure the internal sine wave oscillator, which
modulates the amplitude of the input signal—in both frequency shifter modes and
the ring modulator OSC mode.
 Envelope follower and LFO parameters: The oscillator frequency and output signal can
be modulated with an envelope follower and LFO.
 Delay parameters: Use these to delay the effect signal.
 Output parameters: The output section of the Ringshifter includes a feedback loop
and controls to set the stereo width and amount of the dry and wet signals.
Mode buttons
Oscillator parameters
Envelope follower
parameters
LFO parameters
Output parametersDelay parameters