Prophet 6 Ring Modulator (Effect) Bug (OS 1.6.7)

[nertsch]

Hi,

I have a Prophet 6 and unfortunately the Ringmodulator (when ringmod key sync is on) has a Bug, which makes this effect unusable (at least for me).

According to the Manual the Ringmodulator should behave like:
" The modulation
frequency will then change as you change the lowest note that you’re playing, so that the ratio
will remain constant between the note that you play and note of the modulator"

But this is not the case (at least with my unit).
Sometimes when a low Note is held and a higher one is pressed too, the modulation frequency switches to the higher note, although the lower note is not released.
Furthermore when both keys are then released the modulation frequency "hangs" and just pressing a low note does not affect the modulation frequency and it takes some time until the modulation frequency jumps back to the low note.
I investigated this behavior but could not find out any pattern or rules how it behaves.

In contrast to the P6 the Ringmodulator on the OB6 does not suffer from this Bug and works flawless. Whatever keys you press, the modulation frequency on the OB6's Ring modulator is always derived from the lowest note.

br
Gerhard

[wbajzek]

Is this new in 1.6.7 or are you just confirming that it's still present in the latest?

I've never figured out how to effectively use ring mod in poly mode. Can you point me at any good examples? I usually use it for bell effects (without key tracking) or as a timbre shaper for mono synths (with key tracking).

[nertsch]

Is this new in 1.6.7 or are you just confirming that it's still present in the latest?

I don't know if the Bug is also present in previous versions. I have just one P6 with the OS 1.6.7 and on this unit I discovered the Bug.

I've never figured out how to effectively use ring mod in poly mode. Can you point me at any good examples?

I use it in Poly Mode with a low modulation Frequency (1-16) and I am playing the Bass notes with the left Hand, so the Modulator will always be rather low.
With this one can get nice effects, IMHO. But this works just on the OB6 where the modulator is always locked to the lowest Key
Sadly on the P6 such things are not possible, because due to the Bug the Ring Mudulator, the modulation frequency quite often looses track of the lowest key and locks to a higher one, which sounds annoying.

If you want I can upload a demo and link it to demonstrate how it sounds on the OB6 without the Bug and on the P6 with the Bug.


br
Gerhard

[wbajzek]

OK, I can at least confirm that the same thing is happening on my P6 module.

[LPF83]

I can't confirm or deny one way or the other, but in the experiment I did when I posted this: https://forum.sequential.com/index.php/topic,5559.0.html I did learn that when trying to duplicate the functionality of ring mod on the Toraiz AS-1, the P6 ring mod was unusable.

I've just largely avoided it before and after that experience...  I'd love to learn this was all a bug and can be fixed, ringmod is a nice effect when done right.

[nertsch]

Hi,

I recorded a sample (The notes are played via a sequencer)

Here the ringmod on an OB6, how it should sound in the lowest setting:
http://void666.net/temp/OB6-Rat-1.mp3

And here how the sequence sounds on a P6 with the same ringmod settings:
http://void666.net/temp/P6-Rat-1.mp3

It is easy to hear, that the Ringmod modulator cannot latch to the lowest key and jumps around.

Here with a higher Ratio:
Works flawless on the OB6:
http://void666.net/temp/OB6-Rat-4.mp3

But jumps randomly around on the P6:
http://void666.net/temp/P6-Rat-4.mp3

IMHO the Ringmodulator on the P6 cannot be used for playing musically, but just to produce some weird unpredictable sound effects.
For me this is clearly a Bug, would it be possible to fix that?

br
Gerhard

[wbajzek]

Have you tried contacting support? I would love to see this fixed, too, but support's usually the best way to get through to the company.

[LPF83]

Hi,

I recorded a sample (The notes are played via a sequencer)

Here the ringmod on an OB6, how it should sound in the lowest setting:
http://void666.net/temp/OB6-Rat-1.mp3

And here how the sequence sounds on a P6 with the same ringmod settings:
http://void666.net/temp/P6-Rat-1.mp3

It is easy to hear, that the Ringmod modulator cannot latch to the lowest key and jumps around.

Here with a higher Ratio:
Works flawless on the OB6:
http://void666.net/temp/OB6-Rat-4.mp3

But jumps randomly around on the P6:
http://void666.net/temp/P6-Rat-4.mp3

IMHO the Ringmodulator on the P6 cannot be used for playing musically, but just to produce some weird unpredictable sound effects.
For me this is clearly a Bug, would it be possible to fix that?

br
Gerhard

I finally got around to testing mine, I also get similar results to you (running same OS).  Have not tried it with previous OS.  I did also try the exact same settings on the Toraiz AS-1, which is supposedly same circuitry as the P6 and it worked beautifully on that synth.