I have released a new effect: Quadrant Modulator.
I use four-quadrant modulators quite a lot myself. They are usually called ring modulators, but that name makes them sound a bit more limited than they actually are.
Quadrant Modulator takes the basic multiplier and combines it with the oscillator and sequencing setup from Curves & Membranes.
Four-quadrant modulation
The incoming audio is multiplied by the oscillator waveform.
When the waveform is positive, it changes the amplitude of the incoming signal. When it goes negative, it also inverts the polarity.
A waveform crossing the center line gives you four-quadrant or ring modulation. Keeping the waveform completely above or below it gives you amplitude modulation.
There are Clean and Diode models for the multiplication itself, plus feedback around the wet path and a tube-style limiter after the Dry/Wet mix.
The oscillator
The oscillator uses the same basic visual geometry as Curves & Membranes. Five linked points can be shaped in smooth Bézier mode, straight Node mode, or anywhere between the two.
Free Run repeats continuously and moves from slow LFO rates up to 14 kHz.
SC Pitch Follow uses a phase-locked loop to follow the pitch of the side-chain or main input. Monophonic material tends to behave fairly sensibly. More complex signals make the tracking less predictable, which can also be useful.
One Shot plays one complete waveform cycle when triggered by the clock or sequencer and then returns to zero. At slow rates it works as a drawable single-cycle amplitude envelope. At higher rates it can produce short clicks, cuts and transient patterns.
Rate and tuning
The oscillator can run freely or from host-synchronized divisions.
Free LFO and audio-rate frequencies can be quantized to a selected set of notes. MTS-ESP tuning is applied when a compatible tuning source is available.
In pitch-follow mode, the Rate control becomes a pitch offset of up to two octaves in either direction.
Eight slots
The slot sequencer stores:
- waveform geometry
- Bézier/Node position
- Clip/Fold state
- oscillator frequency or synchronized division
- pitch-follow offset
- Rate Slew
The slots can step in Normal, Reverse, Pendulum, Skips, MyLife or Random order. Preset Slew interpolates between waveform states. Oscillator rate can jump directly or slew on selected slots, making pitched sequences where only some transitions slide possible.
I often end up playing the plugin and rewriting slot sequences in real time.
What I have been using it for
The obvious use is ring modulation, but I have ended up using it for quite a few other things:
- tuned modulation following a monophonic source
- tremolo and amplitude shaping
- host-synchronized cutting effects
- short clicks and transient patterns
- pitch sequences
- feedback tones and dirt
Price and bundles
Quadrant Modulator is €29 including 25% VAT.
It is included in Scientist Suite, now €99, and Full Suite v2, now €179.
Curves & Membranes is now €69 including 25% VAT.
The full product page has the walkthrough, 20 minutes of sound examples, and the complete user guide:
What else is cooking?
In parallel with Quadrant Modulator I have been working on another effect reusing most of the setup. It is based around a simulation of a three-transistor fuzz circuit.
I was introduced to that fuzz by a friend of my brother in a cab home from the Radiohead comeback tour. I bought one and became quite taken by its strange self-oscillation.
The original circuit pushes its three transistors far outside their normal ranges and produces irregularities that are difficult to emulate precisely. I never got my spice simulation fully authentic, but it has got a sound of its own that I really like.
As we are in the digital sphere, it was also way too easy to add some extra feautures to make it more flexible and musical. Well, I will have plenty of time in the future to show that off...
Residual Breakdown is planned for release later this month. Video production for that is likely starting in the coming week. I just need to brush up my guitar playing a bit.
Anyway, thanks for the support!
All the best,
Rasmus Nyåker