General
Info
Modes
Modal Resonator
Sympathetic Strings
Modulated / Inharmonic Strings
FM Voice
Western Chords
String & Reverb
Disastrous Peace

General

Info

Rings

Rings is a multi-function physical modelling synthesizer by Mutable Instruments.

To change to the alt modes, long press the model button until the LED flashes. See the Disastrous Peace page for how to enter the easter egg mode.

Links

Rings Home
Rings Manual


Modes

Modal Resonator

Mode

 Solid green

Polyphony

 One
Two
Four

Controls

STRUCTURE controls the frequency ratio between partials (and by doing so, the perceived structure - plate, bar, string)

BRIGHTNESS adjusts the level of higher harmonics in the signal by filtering both the exciter and damping

DAMPING controls the decay time of the sound.

POSITION controls on which point of the string/surface the excitation is applied



Sympathetic Strings

Mode

 Solid orange

Polyphony

 One
Two
Four

Controls

STRUCTURE controls the set of frequency ratios between all strings (with virtual notches at octaves or fifths)

BRIGHTNESS adjusts the level of higher harmonics in the signal by filtering both the exciter and damping

DAMPING controls the decay time of the sound.

POSITION controls on which point of the string/surface the excitation is applied



Modulated / Inharmonic Strings

Mode

 Solid red

Polyphony

 One
Two
Four

Controls

STRUCTURE controls the amount of modulation and detuning of the partials.

BRIGHTNESS adjusts the level of higher harmonics in the signal by filtering both the exciter and damping

DAMPING controls the decay time of the sound.

POSITION controls on which point of the string/surface the excitation is applied



FM Voice

Mode

 Flashing green

Polyphony

 One
Two
Four

Controls

STRUCTURE controls the frequency ratio.

BRIGHTNESS adjusts the FM index.

DAMPING controls the FM index and amplitude decay.

POSITION Feedback path (no feedback at 12 o'clock)

IN goes into an envelope follower changing FM index and output amplitude.



Western Chords

Mode

 Flashing orange

Polyphony

 One
Two
Four

Controls

STRUCTURE controls the chord.

BRIGHTNESS adjusts the level of higher harmonics in the signal by filtering both the exciter and damping

DAMPING controls the decay time of the sound.

POSITION controls on which point of the string/surface the excitation is applied



String & Reverb

Mode

 Flashing red

Polyphony

 One
Two
Four

Controls

STRUCTURE controls the amount of modulation and detuning of the partials.

BRIGHTNESS adjusts the level of higher harmonics in the signal by filtering both the exciter and damping. Also controls reverb lowpass filter.

DAMPING controls the decay time of the sound, as well as reverb amount and time.

POSITION controls on which point of the string/surface the excitation is applied



Disastrous Peace

Mode

Disastrous Peace easter egg re-uses all mode and polyphony LED states for it's own purpose. See "Handshake" below for entering/exiting instructions.

Polyphony

 One 8-note chord
Two 6-note chords
Four 3-note chords

Mode Button

Mode button controls what FX is applied to the string synth. Long-press mode for FX variant.

 Formant Filter (variant - less abrasive)

Roland-ish chorus (variant - Solina-ish chorus)
Caveman reverb (shinier variant).

Controls

FREQUENCY controls the root note of the chord.

STRUCTURE controls the chord type.

BRIGHTNESS scans through various registrations (combinations of gains for the 6 oscillators) sorted by brightness.

DAMPING controls decay time, then attack time. Drones continuously when turned fully clockwise.

POSITION controls FX amount.

IN - is fed into the FX, amount controlled by POSITION.

Handshake

To enter/exit the easter egg mode, set knobs as follows:

Knobs

Knob Position
Frequency Counter clockwise
Structure Clockwise
Brightness Counter clockwise
Damping Center (12 o'clock)
Position Clockwise

Attenuverters

Attenuverter Position
Brightness Counter clockwise
Frequency Clockwise
Damping Counter clockwise
Structure Clockwise
Position Counter clockwise

Then, a long press on either button will enter (or exit) the easter egg mode.

If this handshake seems overly complex there is an alternate firmware called Rings Live that enters Disastrous Peace simply by long pressing the model button while already in an alt mode.

Rings Live