Did I miss something? (Ring mod)

[Severed head]

Was thinking of grabbing a ring modulator, and of course thought to grab a moog,
But they were like 600$ used
Last time I looked they were only like 300$,

Even the mini-foog is like 260$

What did I miss?

Anyway what ring modulators are on peoples radar?
I guess in a 200-250$ dollar range

Thnx

[Yes Powder]

I'm really partial to the ZVex Ringtone. I picked one up with some minor paint damage for $180 about a year ago, after regretting for years selling the one I used to have. I don't know what they're going for now, but if if you're patient you might be able to find a deal on one.
It's a true transformer/diode ring-modulator so I'm not sure if that's dirtier than what you're looking for (pretty sure the MF102 is actually a four-quadrant multiplier) but I find the ability to sequence and step through carrier pitches makes it much more usable-- at least within the context of the types of sounds I make with it.

If you're looking for a cleaner ringmod, I do like the sound of Fairfield Circuitry's Randy's Revenge. It has a CV input too, so that's cool. You can probably find a used unit that at least fits within the upper limit of your budget.

[bloke_zero]

It's a true transformer/diode ring-modulator so I'm not sure if that's dirtier than what you're looking for (pretty sure the MF102 is actually a four-quadrant multiplier)

I built the CGS module based on true transformer/diode ring-modulator scheme and I love the sound of it - weirdly warm and crunchy, not clean at all.

[Just me]

They are out of production, they are Moog and people are feculators. The prices are insane.
I thought I had a spare here, but must have sold it. (I can't find it. I did find my spare Phaser while looking.)

[Jazzman]

The moog matriarch gives you two ring mods and a stereo delay. Oh and its a great synth.

[KSS]

Oakley's is a take on the ARP 4014 as used in the 2500 and 2600. <--Highly regarded balmods singe 1970!

Northcoastsynthesis.com has the msk-003 which is open source and the PDF you can download at their site includes *everything* you might want to know about the classic diodes and transformers ring mod.

Either or both of these could be made as a small box since this thread's not in a modules focused part of MW.
MSK-03 needs no power, Oakley needs a -/+15V.

[gruebleengourd]

there is an analogue solutions stand alone ring mod that is quite decent. Dr. Strangelove.

[Willy Naylor]

theres a guy in oregon on reverb selling a 102 at a somewhat reasonable price.

[lisa]

Electro-Harmonix Ring Thing is feature-packed and in your price range.

[a100user]

Ring Thing has a permanent place in my bass rig. Good value and sounds good too.

[Technologear?]

Alexander effects Syntax error has the ring mod effect. I have v1 and it's definitely in it, which would be in your price range 2nd hand.
I shouldn't like mine as it can get harsh and I'm a sonic wimp, but it has such good range and scope with the controls that I can always get a sound I like. I turn it to bitcrush often if I don't feel like ring mod

[Headphones73]

I’m very tempted by Dr Strangelove and they pop up on Reverb used here & there. Interesting that it also can be used as a delay as well.

[R.U.Nuts]

Another vote for EHX Ring Thing. Bonus: Preset saving. Can also be used as a chorus/vibrato or polyphonic pitch shifter (advertised as monophonic, but actually it works quite decent on chords). And it has a modulator input. So you can replace the interna oscillator with an external source of your choice.

[softpieces]

It’s a little more than your budget ($275) but I love the Pladask Elektrisk Feber.

https://www.pladaskelektrisk.com/product/feber/

I mainly wanted atonal/metallic tones but the phasing, tremolo, filter, autowah, and reverb-like sounds in there were wonderful surprises.

(FWIW I had a MF-102 for a long time and it sounded great but I’ve been much more inspired by the Feber.)

[southphillysynths]

I love the DOD gonkulator, I haven't owned one but have messed with one and remember liking it, super affordable also

[Yes Powder]

I love the DOD gonkulator, I haven't owned one but have messed with one and remember liking it, super affordable also

The new one is great. Glad that they put the carrier frequency control as a knob on the outside this time, instead of a trimpot on the inside.
OG Gonkulators used to go for ridiculous prices after Incubus used one on a few songs. Crazy prices to pay for a ringmod that you need to open up just to adjust the frequency.

[Voltcontrol]

Oooooh, that Pladask thing is tasty!

P.s. Behringer is cooking up a clone of the Moog MF102 apparently..
https://www.synthanatomy.com/2023/02/be ... lator.html

[southphillysynths]

I love the DOD gonkulator, I haven't owned one but have messed with one and remember liking it, super affordable also

The new one is great. Glad that they put the carrier frequency control as a knob on the outside this time, instead of a trimpot on the inside.
OG Gonkulators used to go for ridiculous prices after Incubus used one on a few songs. Crazy prices to pay for a ringmod that you need to open up just to adjust the frequency.

Absolutely!! Buy the reissue for sure, don't bother with an original

[leftbracket]

A Way Huge Ringworm is what I got to save a good deal of the Moog price, though sadly used prices have gone up a fair bit since I got mine shortly after they were discontinued. There's an envelope follower in addition to the onboard LFO (with four waveforms!) and expression pedal/CV input, useful for "cybernetics" as us hip kids say today, and a DIP switch inside for switching to line level input. It's a hair noisy, but nothing too dicey.

[ExMagic]

A Way Huge Ringworm is what I got to save a good deal of the Moog price, though sadly used prices have gone up a fair bit since I got mine shortly after they were discontinued. There's an envelope follower in addition to the onboard LFO (with four waveforms!) and expression pedal/CV input, useful for "cybernetics" as us hip kids say today, and a DIP switch inside for switching to line level input. It's a hair noisy, but nothing too dicey.

I grabbed a v1 2nd edition I guess it would be
The v1 orange but in the more cubicle chassis than the earlier wayhuge pedals
It’s ok… idk if it was worth the 275$ price tag considering it makes an audible lfo noise even when bypassed at various settings If playing a clean tone but still really cool.

[Rex Coil 7]

Ring Thing has a permanent place in my bass rig. Good value and sounds good too.

Electro-Harmonix Ring Thing is feature-packed and in your price range.

Another vote for EHX Ring Thing. Bonus: Preset saving. Can also be used as a chorus/vibrato or polyphonic pitch shifter (advertised as monophonic, but actually it works quite decent on chords). And it has a modulator input. So you can replace the interna oscillator with an external source of your choice.

No two ways about it .... Ring Thing BaBaaaaay !!!! ... I've got two of them. Tried the MoogyFoogy, the mini MoogyFoogy, DotCom, Doepfer, any number of DIYs, digital ones (like in FX units), and so on. Ring Thing SMOKES EM.

I will say however the CGS Real Ring Mod can be made to rip if you know what to do with them. I have five of those built in to my modular synth case.

[clusterchord]

thanks for discovering the Pladask, it has an interesting tone and pushing beyond the usual ringmod applications. love the sproingy textures that sound almost like spring reverb at times.


i dont have a ringmod pedal, so thus far when i want to process an external synth i mainly route it to eurorack via Receive 2 to my beloved Oakley (ARP4014). which for me is the benchmark of a gorgeous vintage tone, and one of two all time favorite ringmod sounds of mine.

the other one is that elusive ringmod with mod envelope from Yamaha CS80. thank god they have put it into my CS50 too. additionally, can also utilize external input for it and combo of HP/LP resonant filtering. if someone made exact same circuit in eurorack, or a knobby pedal, i'd be very, very happy. iirc its based off mc1496 chip.

[leftbracket]

As far as software solutions may be concerned, I've been getting a lot of mileage out of the ring mod from Cherry Audio's Rackmode suite: internal LFO, can use a sidechain as an external modulator signal or modulate L/R channels against each other, oscillator has all the standard waveforms and goes down well into tremolo range. I use the default ring mod plugin in Logic plenty too if I need its different feature set (envelope follower, dry/wet blend that the LFO and/or envelope follower can modulate, basic built-in delay). Moog's own ring mod plugin seems nice too, and I may well get it as part of a bundle at some point.