“Modulation Effects Part 2” is a continuation of our first entry on this topic. In particular, modulation effects modify sounds in a peculiar way. Moreover, they can also alter sounds in a dramatic and bizarre manners. Many advanced effects have been available to the public for years, but recently, they’ve gained popularity especially in contemporary music genres. Nowadays, the most exotic modulation effects are ring modulators, resonators, vocoders, and granulators.
Modulation Effects Part 2: Types
Ring Modulators
First, a ring modulator is a practical tool that affects both amplitude and frequency. This popular tool mixes two waveforms by adding frequencies to the output that are sum and difference of the frequencies present in each signal. These sum and difference tones tend to be more obvious than the original audio signals. Also, they are usually not harmonically related. As a result, a rich, unique, and inharmonic texture emerges. The frequency of the waveform is the most significant feature of a ring modulator. Oscillators typically complement this feature, just as dry/wet and phase parameters do.
Resonator
A resonator is a device that affects the tone of an audio signal by highlighting specific frequencies. In order to achieve this, the resonator takes an incoming audio signal and runs it through a series of filtered delay lines mixed in with the original dry signal. When this happens, the audio signal multiplies the amplitude of certain frequencies over and over again. Resonators allow the user to create a sustained tone out of non-sustained sounds.
Vocoder
The vocoder is an audio processor that alternates the human voice. This device is a real-time A-D-A converter as it is capable of inputting a human voice, disassembling its qualities, and turning them into a stream of adjustable digits. You can use some vocoders as resonant equalizers, imposing formants onto the input via filtering. Overall, the vocoder is one of the most disruptive creations within the music production industry. This device produces a unique robotic talk-box sound and it has had a strong influence over the contemporary music genre.
Granulation
Granulation is a process in which an audio sample breaks into small segments: grains. Granular synthesis is an audio technique that sequences grains over time. You can manipulate grains individually or as a group. This audio technique is a great addition to soundscapes and other forms of ethereal music. Each grain has its own control parameters, including length, pitch, amplitude, and envelope shape. Usually each grain ranges between 20 and 100 milliseconds and you can perform it with or without delay, mono-phonically or poli-phonically, as well as with a random or predetermined sequence.
