Electro-Harmonix RING THING Single Sideband Modulator

Quick guide from the manual

The Electro-Harmonix RING THING is a versatile single sideband modulator pedal. To get started, connect your instrument to the INST Input Jack and your amplifier to the MONO/L output jack. Use the supplied 9.6VDC 200mA power supply (center negative). The pedal features four primary modes: Ring Modulation (RM), Upper Band Modulation (UB), Lower Band Modulation (LB), and Pitch Shift (PS). You can save and recall up to 9 presets using the MODE knob and PRESET/TUNE footswitch.

Modes Overview

The RING THING offers four distinct modes, each providing a different sonic palette:

• Ring Modulation (RM): A standard ring modulator with selectable carrier waveforms, a sweepable filter, and expression pedal control.
• Upper Band Modulation (UB): Splits the signal, outputting the upper sideband to the Left output and the lower sideband to the Right output.
• Lower Band Modulation (LB): Splits the signal, outputting the lower sideband to the Left output and the upper sideband to the Right output.
• Pitch Shift (PS): A powerful pitch shifter with a range of +/- 2 octaves, capable of detune, vibrato, chorus, and whammy effects.

Controls and Indicators

The pedal features five main control knobs and two footswitches:

• BLEND: Sets the wet/dry mix.
• WAVE: Sets the carrier or modulation waveform (Square, Sine, Ramp Down, Ramp Up, Triangle).
• FILTER/RATE: Controls the low pass filter cutoff frequency in RM/UB/LB modes, or the modulation rate in Pitch Shift mode.
• FINE/DEPTH: Fine-tunes the carrier/modulation frequency or sets modulation depth.
• COARSE: Tunes the carrier/modulation frequency over a wide range or sets the pitch shift amount.
• MODE Knob: A rotary encoder used to select modes and scroll through presets.
• BYPASS Footswitch: Toggles between effect and bypass modes.
• PRESET/TUNE Footswitch: Used for loading presets and automatically tuning the modulator to an incoming signal.

Preset Management

The RING THING allows you to save and recall 9 fully programmable presets:

• Saving: Turn the MODE knob to the desired preset number, then press and hold the MODE knob for 3 seconds until the LEDs stop blinking.
• Loading: Use the MODE knob to select the preset, then press and release the PRESET/TUNE footswitch.
• Unloading: Turn the MODE knob clockwise until no LEDs are lit to return to the current knob settings.

Connections and External Control

The pedal supports several external connections:

• INST Input Jack: Main mono input for your instrument.
• MOD Input Jack: Allows for an external oscillator/modulation source. Set the WAVE knob to full counter-clockwise to enable.
• EXP Input Jack: Connect an expression pedal (Tip-Ring-Sleeve plug) to control modulation frequency or pitch shift amount. In RM/UB/LB modes, the FINE knob must be set fully counter-clockwise to enable the expression pedal.

Troubleshooting

If you are not hearing the effect or experiencing unexpected behavior, check the following:

• Ensure the BLEND knob is set to 50% or higher.
• Check that the FILTER/RATE knob is not turned to full counter-clockwise (which may disable the effect or modulation).
• If using an expression pedal, ensure the FINE knob is set fully counter-clockwise (in RM/UB/LB modes).
• If the preset LEDs are blinking rapidly, a knob has been moved from its saved position. Press the PRESET footswitch to revert to the saved setting.