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    Make Noise "Moddemod" Manual

    Uploaded by

    listentomerijn
    The document provides instructions on installing and using a modDemod eurorack module. It can be used for ring modulation or modulation/demodulation effects. Key techniques discussed include amplitude control, filtering, interference, and carrier waveform modulation.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Make Noise "Moddemod" Manual

    Uploaded by

    listentomerijn
    45 views2 pages
    The document provides instructions on installing and using a modDemod eurorack module. It can be used for ring modulation or modulation/demodulation effects. Key techniques discussed include amplitude control, filtering, interference, and carrier waveform modulation.

    Original Description:

    Passive ring modulator This is an ancient telecommunications switching circuit originally used for something called Single Side Band Modulation. Basically a way to put a bunch of lines within limited bandwidth... Harold Bode (and perhaps others) reclaimed this technology for artistic purposes in the early 1960's, and Bob Moog (in collaboration with Bode) incorporated it into his Modular Synthesizer Systems in the 70's. By then they were calling it a "Ring Modulator" and the circuit had been signifigantly changed. The modDemod features the original circuit, bare as can be, times 2 so that your audio source material may be "MODDED" and then "DEMODDED." This is exactly how the circuit was originally used... a telecommunication would be modulated, at which point it would be fairly unintelligable, and then on the receiveing end it would be demodulated. As you can imagine, some cool distortions happen on account of the inadequacies of this technology.

    Original Title

    Make Noise "modDemod" Manual

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    © © All Rights Reserved

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    The document provides instructions on installing and using a modDemod eurorack module. It can be used for ring modulation or modulation/demodulation effects. Key techniques discussed include amplitude control, filtering, interference, and carrier waveform modulation.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    45 views2 pages

    Make Noise "Moddemod" Manual

    Uploaded by

    listentomerijn
    The document provides instructions on installing and using a modDemod eurorack module. It can be used for ring modulation or modulation/demodulation effects. Key techniques discussed include amplitude control, filtering, interference, and carrier waveform modulation.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    of 2

    Thank you for purchasing the modDemod eurorack module.

    To install, find 4HP of


    space in your eurorack and screw it in. There are no power connections.

    This circuit was originally utilized in the generation of Single Side Band
    Modulation; a military developed Radio communications technology. A program
    (speech, data) would be mixed with a high frequency carrier waveform using this
    circuit. After filtering an RF amplifier would be used to broadcast the
    transmission. At this point the signal could be said to be Modulated, sounding
    unintelligible. At the receiving end, this circuit could again be used to
    Demodulate the radio transmission by re-introducing a carrier waveform of the same
    shape and frequency used to create the transmission. reclaimed for artistic
    purposes by Harold Bode (and others perhaps), it came to be know as Ring Modulation
    in the world of electronic music.

    The modDemod features 2 identical circuits that may be used together or


    individually. When using them together there is no need patch the output of circuit
    1 to the input of circuit 2 as they are internally patched when nothing is inserted
    at the output of circuit 1 and the input of circuit 2. I worked very hard to
    minimize carrier bleed. The amount varies from unit to unit and even circuit to
    circuit within each unit. HOWEVER, all units match or better the level of bleed you
    hear in most IC based ring modulators. For this type of circuit, that is very good!
    To use this module you will need a minimum of 2 signal sources. 1 will be the
    Program. This signal is inserted at the Program input (sockets 1 or 4). The 2nd is
    the carrier, and it should be inserted at the carrier input (sockets 2 or 5). The
    outputs are at sockets 3 and 6. By varying the Frequency, Shape and level of these
    signals, many different timbres may be heard.

    A very common way to use this module in electronic music systems:

    insert a signal source such as a Voltage Controlled Oscillator to the input of


    circuit 1 (socket 1), this is your Program. Insert another VCO to the Carrier input
    for circuit 1 (socket 2). Apply the output (socket 3) to a Voltage Controlled
    Amplifier. Apply an Envelope Control Voltage to the VCA CV input. Patch a Keyboard
    or sequencer CV to the Frequency control input of the VCO being used as the
    Program. Patch a gate signal from that same KB or sequencer to the gate/ trigger
    input of the Envelope Generator. Vary the timbre by modulating the Frequency of the
    Carrier VCO with an LFO or joystick or???
    In the modDemod movie:

    many of the sounds you hear are made with the following patch: Shure SM-57 inserted
    to the input of the Doepfer A-119, and gain set so that the signal is NOT clipping.
    The audio output of A-119 is applied to the input of circuit 1 of the modDemod. The
    Envelope output of the A-119 is applied to the CV input of the Doepfer A-131 VCA.
    2X Doepfer A-110 VCO are tuned to unison, with pleasant beating. The octave you
    select will greatly affect the timbre. Experiment. One of these VCO is applied to
    each of the CARRIER inputs of the modDemod. The output of your preferred CV source
    (joystick, ribbon controller, kb, sequencer) is applied to the Frequency control
    input of 1 of the 2 VCO. By varying 1 of the 2 VCO you can shift the timbre from
    mild tremolo distortions to other-worldly growls and howls. The output of the
    modDemod is applied to the input of the Doepfer A-131 VCA. The gain of this VCA is
    set just past noon. The output of this VCA is sent to my monitoring system. This
    patch is an example of the modulation/ demodulation technique.
    notable methods of pre & post processing useful in tandem with the modDemod:

    Amplitude Control, Filtering, Interference and Carrier Modulation. Ideally, one


    would have a VCA or Attenuator for both the Program and Carrier inputs.
    Additionally, a VCA might come in handy for the output if you need absolute silence
    (Carrier bleed on the modDemod is low enough to use without this VCA in many
    situations). A multi-mode filter, a third sound source and a modulation source are
    essential to some of the techniques discussed herein. The Doepfer A-132 Dual VCA, a
    multi mode filter and the A-119 Ext. Input are the perfect complimentary modules to
    the modDemod.

    Amplitude Control: Using an Attenuator or VCA at the input of the Program or


    Carrier will give a great deal of control over the sound of the modulated signal.
    When used at this point, the VCA/ Attenuator will act as a DRIVE control allowing
    the user to vary how hard the diodes in the ring are hit and thus how much the
    signal is soft clipped. One user has pointed out that varying the Program level
    also affects how the transformers color the sound. Driving them harder seems to
    boost/ sweeten the midrange.

    When doing modulation/ demodulation effects, using a VCA between the 2 balanced
    modulator circuits allows the artist to vary/ modulate signal strength. This is
    especially useful when adding an interference signal to the mix at the demodulation
    point (more on that later).

    Finally, a VCA may be used at the output of the modDemod to provide a "squelch"
    circuit (see the Doepfer A-119 user's Manual for details on Squelch Patches) .

    By the way, the modDemod makes a dirty little VCA itself! Apply a Control Voltage
    to the Carrier input. Mind that the Program input is AC coupled.
    Filtering: Filtering of Program material at the input will provide the modDemod
    with a less complex waveform, and thus, the output will be less dissonant. The same
    is true when using something other than a Sine wave at the Carrier input.

    When employing modulation/ demodulation effects, Filtering may be used to eliminate


    certain sidebands. Most filters available for euro rack systems are not Steep
    enough generate true Single Sideband, but who cares, we are not trying create an
    intelligible Radio transmission but rather, something that sounds wicked! LP, BP
    and HP are all very useful for these types of effects. eliminating frequency
    content from the modulated signal will allow the artist to subtly vary the
    demodulated signal's timbre.

    Of course, Filtering at the output of the modDemod may be used to smooth the sound.

    Interference: One of my favorite processing techniques. While doing modulation/


    demodulation effects, another signal is added at the input of circuit 2 (the
    demodulator). Here, a VCA is REALLY handy (in fact 2 VCAS is even better). Using
    the VCAs you may modulate the the strength of the modulated signal and the
    interference signal. Try using the same control source on both, but with one CV
    inverted and level shifted. This way when the modulated signal gets weaker, the
    interference becomes stronger. What is really cool about this method is that the
    modulated signal will be demodulated at the output, while the interference signal
    will be modulated and rather unintelligible

    Modulation of the Carrier Waveform: done manually or via control voltage, altering
    the frequency, waveshape or harmonic content of the carrier signal will greatly
    change the timbre of both modulated and demodulated signals. When utilizing mod/
    Demod effects, equally modulating both the carriers creates subtle, but audible
    artifacts. Uneven Modulation of the carriers can get downright scary sounding!

    All Make Noise covered by 1 yr. Warranty. Please contact [email protected]


    with any questions, needs & comments... otherwise go MAKE NOISE.

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