MadRing: Expand the Boundaries of Sound with Unique Modulation and Generation
Tired of ordinary sounds? Looking for a tool that allows you to immerse yourself in the world of experimental sound design, to create unheard timbres and textures that go beyond traditional synthesizers and effects? Then meet MadRing from novaflash – a plugin that combines the power of a ring modulator and a flexible tone generator, opening up truly limitless possibilities for creativity.
Ring modulation is a classic technique that involves multiplying two signals, resulting in the appearance of new harmonics (sums and differences of the frequencies of the original signals) and the creation of metallic, ringing, sometimes dissonant sounds. But MadRing is not just a ring modulator. It’s a whole sound laboratory, built on the basis of eight VCOs (Voltage Controlled Oscillators) and two noise generators, interacting with each other through a large modulation matrix.
The Heart of MadRing: Oscillators, Noise and Matrix
The foundation of the MadRing sound engine is its signal sources and the system of their interaction.
- 8 VCOs: These oscillators are the foundation for sound generation and modulation signals. Each VCO has detailed settings:
- Frequency (up to 16 kHz via a text field)
- Level (positive or negative)
- Global frequency shift (in Hz and percentage)
- Waveform (sine, sawtooth, square, with the ability to set the number of harmonics)
- Channel phase shift to add width
- 2 Noise Generators: Add organic textures or use noise as a modulation source. Control density (DNST), smoothing (SMTH – none, soft, hard) and steps (STEPS – from fine to coarse).
- Modulation Matrix: The true power of MadRing is revealed here. A large matrix allows you to link numerous sources (VCOs, Noise, LFOs, Random, Tracker) with different parameters as targets. The unique NODE function allows you to combine several sources into one destination, expanding the modulation routing options.
Modulation Capabilities
To liven up the sound and create complex moving textures, MadRing offers a variety of modulation sources:
- LFO: Low-frequency oscillators with three speed modes (BPM, BPM Host, Hz) and phase adjustment (+-90°).
- Random: Various random sources for unpredictable or controlled variability:
- NST (density or speed in Hz)
- NOISE / PARAM (smoothing)
- S&H (Sample & Hold) / PARAM (smoothing)
- SPRING / PARAM (frequency modulated by density)
- TRACKER: Track the input signal to use its dynamics or frequency to modulate other parameters. Has its own bandpass filter (Hz/Q/mon) and envelope (ATCK/REL) with time adjustment in ms.
NanoSynth and Filter
MadRing can not only process sound, but also generate it from scratch with the built-in nanoSynth:
- TONE/nanoSynth: A small monophonic synthesizer.
- Waveform (sine, sawtooth, square).
- Operating mode (TONE or nanoSynth).
- Pitch settings (Hz or Octave depending on the mode).
- GLIDE function (available only in nanoSynth mode).
- FILTER: Add or shape the timbre with a classic filter.
- Cut-off frequency (CUT-OFF)
- Resonance (RESONANCE)
- Dry/Wet balance (D/W)
- Operating modes (LPF, HPF, BPF)
- Slope (12 or 24 dB)
Input Signal and Features
The plugin also works effectively as an effect for processing an external audio signal:
- MAIN INPUT: Adjust the level of the incoming external signal.
- Exceeding the 100% level introduces a special type of distortion, adding unique aggression to your sound.
MadRing from novaflash is not just a plugin, it’s a tool for sound explorers. It is ideal for creating complex synthesizer patches, futuristic sound effects, industrial textures, or just for experiments that will take your music to a new level. Thanks to the intuitive interface (despite the depth of possibilities) and a detailed modulation system, you will quickly be able to realize your boldest sound ideas. Try MadRing and unleash the full potential of ring modulation and synthesis!
