RingMod

Version 1.1.0

A ring modulator audio plugin built with JUCE. Multiplies the input signal by a selectable carrier waveform to produce classic ring modulation sidebands, with a dry/wet mix control.

Parameters

Parameter	Range	Default	Description
Carrier Frequency	20 – 2000 Hz	440 Hz	Frequency of the carrier oscillator (log-scaled)
Dry/Wet Mix	0 – 1	1.0	0 = dry input only, 1 = fully ring-modulated output
Waveform	Sine / Saw / Square / Triangle	Sine	Shape of the carrier oscillator

View in Renoise

How It Works

Ring modulation multiplies the input signal by a carrier waveform:

output = dry + mix * (input × carrier − dry)

This creates sum and difference sidebands around the carrier frequency, producing metallic, bell-like, or robotic timbres depending on the carrier frequency, waveform, and input material.

Waveform character

Waveform	Character
Sine	Clean sidebands — classic ring mod sound
Saw	Dense harmonic stack; brighter and more aggressive
Square	Odd harmonics only; hollow, nasal timbre
Triangle	Softer than square; gentle odd-harmonic colour

Note: Saw and Square carriers contain harmonics above Nyquist that will alias at high carrier frequencies. This is an intentional DSP characteristic and adds to the character of those modes.

Building

Requirements

• CMake 3.22+
• A C++17 compiler (MSVC 2022, Clang, or GCC)
• Git (JUCE 8.0.13 is fetched automatically if no local copy is provided)

Configure and Build

# JUCE is downloaded automatically via FetchContent
cmake -B build
cmake --build build --config Release

To use a local JUCE tree instead (faster, avoids the download):

cmake -B build -DJUCE_PATH="/path/to/JUCE"
cmake --build build --config Release

The built plugin will be placed in build/RingMod_artefacts/Release/.

Supported formats: VST3, Standalone.

Installing into a DAW

Copy build/RingMod_artefacts/Release/VST3/RingMod.vst3 to:

OS	Default VST3 folder
Windows	C:\Program Files\Common Files\VST3\
macOS	/Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/VST3/

Auto-install after build (Windows, requires admin shell):

cmake -B build -DJUCE_PATH="..." -DCOPY_PLUGIN=ON
cmake --build build --config Release

MSI installer — download RingMod-v1.1.0-win64.msi from GitHub Releases for a one-click install to the system VST3 folder.

Ableton Live

Preferences → Plug-Ins → enable "Use VST3 Plug-In Custom Folder" or point it at the Common Files path above. Re-scan plug-ins after copying.

Renoise

Preferences → Plug-Ins/Devices → add the VST3 folder and click Re-scan. The plugin supports both mono and stereo FX tracks.

A self-contained example project is included at examples/sample_ringMod.xrns — open it directly in Renoise 3.5+ to hear the plugin in use (square wave bass, 342 Hz carrier, 29% wet mix).

Project Structure

ringmod/
├── CMakeLists.txt
├── README.md
├── LICENSE
├── assets/
│   └── icon.svg
├── installer/
│   └── RingMod.wxs        # WiX v4 MSI installer definition
├── .github/workflows/
│   ├── compile.yml        # Build + MSI check on every push to master
│   ├── lint.yml           # cppcheck static analysis
│   └── release.yml        # Build + publish GitHub Release on v* tags
└── source/
    ├── PluginProcessor.h / .cpp   # DSP: phase accumulator, ring mod, state save/load
    ├── PluginEditor.h / .cpp      # GUI: custom knobs, oscilloscope, waveform selector
    └── GUI.png                    # Reference screenshot

Changelog

1.1.0

• Added Waveform parameter: Sine, Saw, Square, Triangle carrier shapes
• Replaced juce::dsp::Oscillator with a direct phase accumulator for allocation-free waveform switching on the audio thread
• Waveform switches only at phase zero-crossing to avoid mid-cycle discontinuities
• Added isBusesLayoutSupported — plugin now accepts mono and stereo FX tracks (Ableton Live, Renoise)
• Added processBlockBypassed for click-free DAW bypass
• Added WiX v4 MSI installer; releases published automatically to GitHub Releases on version tags

1.0.0

• Initial release: sine carrier ring modulator, dry/wet mix, oscilloscope, custom knob UI

License

MIT — see LICENSE.