nRings

After Later Audio’s nRings is a micro version of the physical-modeling-beast, Rings from Mutable Instruments.

nRings maintains all the functionality from the original, packaged in small, fine 8te. A digital, voltage controllable resonator very well suited for creating Physical Modeling sounds. Three different resonator modes can be chosen from and a there’s a four-voice pseudo polyphony. Two outputs are available, each playing different harmonic structures or different notes in polyphonic mode.
As expected from a resonator it is possible to process audio signals but nRings can also be played exclusively via CVs as it can excite and play sounds by itself. Soundwise there is more than just nylon string imitation but singing tones, cold strings and also very experimental and extreme sounds.

The Rings disengages itself from the idea of an entire instrument unlike its sister modules Braids or Elements and rather focuses on the pure sound engine. Of course it can generate sounds known form filter-based resonators but its special field is Physical Modeling.
It can be configured to play each note on a new “string” while the other is able to decay. This kind of pseudo-polyphony allows for playing chords like when strumming a guitar.
nRings simulates three different kinds of vibrating structures:

• Strings, membranes and tubes like in the resonator section of Mutable Instruments’ Elements (modal synthesis).
• Coupled strings. Not every string will be plucked – some will resonate due to the vibration caused by others. Intervals between strings can be determined. This mode is generated by a number of parallel comb filters.
• Strings with variable inharmonies. It’s like Karplus-Strong synthesis but extended with delays and multi-mode filters.

The left button handles the polyphony and selects the number of strings/structures: 1, 2, or 4.
The right button selects between the three resonator modes described above.

Controls:

• “Frequency” is a quantized parameter that sets the initial pitch. When nothing is patched to the frequency CV input the polarizer turns into a fine tune potentiometer.
• “Structure” controls the amount of the spectrum’s inharmony in Modal Synthesis and in variable string mode. In “coupled strings” mode it selects the interval between strings.
• “Brightness” is responsible for the density and brilliance of the spectrum.
• “Damping” determines how fast the signal will be dampened, from 100ms to 10s.
• “Position” dictates at which point the vibrating structure is excited.

Ideally, nRings requires three signals to be played: a trigger at the Strum input, a pitch CV at the 1V/oct input and an audio signal at the input to hit/stroke/blow the resonator. But the module is smart enough to derive all required information from less than three signals; sometimes just a change of the pitch CV is enough to play the module.

There are two outputs, ODD and EVEN. In the monophonic mode, they emit complementary signals. In the polyphonic modes, the first and third vibrating is output at ODD, while the second and fourth are available at EVEN.

nRings has installed the Jakplugg PCB, which is based on the design of Émelie Gillet