Can this ring modulator live up to the standards of the old MoogerFooger?
Available for about half the price of a second‑hand MoogerFooger Ring Modulator pedal, the all‑analogue Warm Audio RingerBringer purports to be a faithful, true‑to‑spec recreation of Moog’s revered original. It even shares the same cosmetic vibe, complete with wooden end cheeks, and we’re told that all the ICs and transistors are hand‑selected for optimum performance.
Ring Tones
Ring modulators are something of an acquired taste and tend to appeal to those who like to experiment: their results can sound somewhat dissonant, but they do offer an easy way to explore less conventional sounds. The reason a ring modulator sounds so odd is that it combines two signals such that their sum and difference frequencies are sent to the output, but with none of the original frequencies present. This often means that the output bears no ‘musical’ relationship to the input, unless the modulation frequency is set very low. However, by adding a wet/dry mix control, it’s possible to mix in just enough of the ring‑modulated sound to flavour the original source without overwhelming it.
As with most ring modulator pedals, the RingerBringer has an internal oscillator used to provide the carrier signal, and this is switchable between two frequency ranges that cover very slow modulation right up to and beyond audio‑frequency modulation (0.6Hz to 80kHz). Feed in a voice with a carrier set between 50 and 100 Hz and you’ll hear the familiar Dalek voice.
This pedal has two sections: LFO and modulator. The modulator section has controls for Mix and Frequency along with a Lo/Hi frequency range switch. The LFO (0.1 to 25 Hz) doesn’t modulate the audio directly as it might in, for example, a tremolo pedal but instead modulates the frequency of the carrier oscillator. This has controls for Amount and Rate, along with a switch to select between sine or square wave. Between the two sections is a drive control, the main function of which is to allow weaker signals to be brought up to a practical working level, though when pushed fully clockwise it will also add some harmonic distortion. Note that the drive control is always active even then the pedal is bypassed. Status LEDs indicate input level, LFO speed and bypass, the latter being controlled by a conventional footswitch. Power can come from a battery or an optional 9V PSU. As the current draw is 100mA, using a PSU is perhaps more practical.
Look around the back of the pedal and you’ll see exactly the same appointments as on Moog’s original, and that should make the pedal particularly attractive to modular synth users. In addition to audio in and out, there’s a row of four jacks that can accept control voltage or expression pedals to control Rate, Amount, Mix and Frequency. There are also additional output jacks for the LFO and carrier signals as well as a carrier input jack that allows an external audio signal to replace the internal carrier oscillator.
Like the MoogerFooger that inspired it, the RingerBringer has a wealth of rear‑panel connections that should appeal to modular synth lovers.
At higher settings it goes from gargling and growly, right up to shrieking mayhem.
Ring Of Truth?
I have to confess that it’s been a couple of years since I spent much time with a Moog ring modulator, but to my ears this one produces the same subjective results — it can certainly sound decent, and it spans an enormous range. At low modulation speeds, the pedal conjures up a pleasing tremolo effect, with a hint of vibrato thrown in, while at higher settings it goes from gargling and growly, right up to shrieking mayhem. Using the LFO to modulate the carrier also brings in some welcome movement, even at very slow modulation frequencies. Guitarists will find some useful effects providing they are used sparingly, but I suspect that it’s modular synth users who will get the most out of the RingerBringer, because of those rear‑panel CV connections. They are also in a better position to experiment using source sounds (and carrier sounds, come to that) with different waveforms. If you are in the market for a used original but can’t afford one, I think you’ll be very happy with the RingerBringer.
Summary
A good‑sounding ring modulator with plenty of range.
