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What does a "metal sync" do?


Envergure

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I'm just trying to figure out my Dad's JX-3P here. It has three ways the two oscilators can interact: Mix, hard sync and metal sync.

 

I know how hard sync works, but an explanation of "metal sync" eludes me. I'm told it's some kind of cross between hard sync and RM.

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Try this:


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ring_modulation


You've got an extra 'http:" in your link.
;)

 

Thanks for the correction. I edited the original link to fix it.

 

Ring mod sounds metallic, so some synths designers think it's less confusing to say metallic rather than ring mod, but they end up adding more confusion than they solve.

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It's not ring modulation, but cross modulation - included on many of Roland's synths. Not exactly the same as ring mod.

 

 

No, it's ring modulation.

 

From page 22 of the JX-3P Owners Manual:

 

"Metal: By controlling the DCO-1 with the output signal from the DCO-2, ring modulation style sound can be obtained".

 

Straight cross modulation is done with the "Sync" setting, a different value.

 

It's called metal because ring modulation sounds metallic due to non-harmonic overtones. There is no other reason. Ring modulation can be viewed as a specialized form of cross modulation.

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No, it's ring modulation.


From page 22 of the
:


"Metal: By controlling the DCO-1 with the output signal from the DCO-2, ring modulation style sound can be obtained".


Straight cross modulation is done with the "Sync" setting, a different value.


It's called metal because ring modulation sounds metallic due to non-harmonic overtones. There is no other reason. Ring modulation can be viewed as a specialized form of cross modulation.

 

 

Yeah, but sync isn't cross modulation, it's sync (whatever Roland may call it).

 

Cross modulation is usually FM, which can sound like ring mod. Both can sound metallic.

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Yeah, but sync isn't cross modulation, it's sync (whatever Roland may call it).


Cross modulation is usually FM, which can sound like ring mod. Both can sound metallic.

 

 

Why do you think that Sync isn't cross modulation? It's the synchronization of one signal using another. Cross modulation isn't only, or mostly FM. Cross modulation is whenever two signals are corelated in a non linear way, and in the case of synthesizers, done intentionally to produce specific effects. Sync is one effect. Ring mod is another. FM is another. All are cross modulation.

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Hello,

 

The way Roland set up the legending on the panel, it gives the impression that hard sync is a form of cross mod, but I believe that the sync position is simply hard sync, and the last (termed "metal") is fm via dco 2 to dco 1.

One giveaway, is that with ring mod, it requires an additional feed into the mixer. On synths that have ring mod, the mixer will have a level ctrl for the oscillators, and a separate one for the ring mod's output.

Another way of testing this is to see if the clang tones only work with the square waves. Generally, polysynths that have ring mod, use a digital one made with gates and a tran. You can tell operationally because, they won't work with the sawtooth waves. If you have the "metal" function engaged, and it works with the saw waves, its probably fm.

 

 

Regards,

 

 

Lawrence

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Sync != cross-modulation.

Cross-modulation != ring-modulation.

 

Sync is where one oscillator is synchronized to the other.

Cross-modulation is where the frequency of one oscillator is controlled by the other (FM)

Ring modulation is where the two oscillators are combined in a way such that the result is the oscillators amplitude-modulate (AM) one another.

 

When I had a JX-8P it had sync and "xmod", but I think the cross mod was really a ring mod, since FM type cross mod isn't easily done on 80s technology DCOs.

 

The Jupiter series, on the other hand, has VCOs and has "real" cross modulation.

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