Frequency modulation plugin?

[1oopus]

There was an interesting article on Electronic Musician on using the Frequency modulation module of Arturia MMV to dynamically change the timbre of drums...Is there any plugin that can perform the same task (needless to say free is best)

TIA

[CinningBao]

Yeah, I love shifting frequencies

There aren't many free ones mind you..

http://www.plogue.com bidule, shareware, contains modules which convert audio signals to the frequency domain, where you can then shift frequencies.

More expensive alternatives are

http://www.delaydots.com $99 SpectrumWorx has frequency shifting modules (my fave)

http://www.grmtools.org SpectralTools $400 has a frequency shifter which I've heard, and sounds good, but it's out of my price range

http://www.arboretum.com HyperPrism $199 apparently contains one too but I haven't heard it - currently considering purchase..

http://www.ohmforce.com 79euros Hematohm is a dedicated frequency shifting plugin which I'm also tempted by.

Hopefully this list will grow! And if elevayta knocks one up we'll all be happy!

---edit---

don't forget http://www.prosoniq.com piWarp which at $49 and 49 euros seems to quite the bargain!

[dystonia_ek]

Vellocet has a freeware fft spectrum shifter...

http://vellocet.com/software.html

[shamann]

The frequency modulation in the MMV actually works like an analog frequency shifter, which isn't FFT-based but a variant on ring modulation (singleband ring modulation maybe?)

There's a frequency shifter in Audiomulch, but it's only mono.

I don't know of any good, free frequency shifter plugins. If you find one, please report back.

Maybe this should be added to the 'what effects are we missing' thread going round.

I tried making one in SynthEdit, but couldn't quite get it right. Maybe I'll take up the task again. Synthmaker would be good at this since you can add in your own high level filter code.

Russell Borogove (Tiny God) posted a great method in the time domain for doing it. Maybe we should ask him nicely to come up wiith one.

[edit]Forgot that there is a frequency shifter in Vaz Modular too. Which likely doesn't do you any good, but helps me out (as a VAZ user).

[kurasu]

shameless self-promotion:

http://www.vemberaudio.com/products.php

shortcircuit has a frequency shifter as one of the selectable filters (and so does the free version)..

[Fuzzpilz]

The initial post asked for FM, not frequency shifting - though I haven't read the article, so I don't know whether that maybe was actually what it talked about.

FM is not feasible as a realtime effect, since essentially you'd do it by changing the speed at which the carrier signal is "played" and you'd therefore end up needing unbounded memory if the modulator has a DC component; however, in most cases PM (phase modulation, which is basically the same thing as differencing the modulator and then doing FM) is just as useful. I've done it as a Buzz effect once, but I'm not aware of a VST that does it, though that doesn't have to mean much. It's not very hard to do, however, so I might slap one together if none exists and anyone's interested.

[shamann]

You're right it could be FM, but I'm pretty sure it's about the 1630 Bøde Frequency Shifter module in MMV, which is an emulation of fairly well-known old gear.

There was some marketing hoopla associated with its inclusion in V2 of the MMV.

[shamann]

It's not very hard to do, however, so I might slap one together if none exists and anyone's interested.

Should add, that sounds very cool. I for one would be interested.

[ouroboros]

one of recent favorite fx plugs, free;
http://www.niallmoody.com/ndcplugs/themodulator2.htm

that and the tremelo+ on the website will change the timbre of anything

[FaX]

The initial post asked for FM, not frequency shifting - though I haven't read the article, so I don't know whether that maybe was actually what it talked about.

FM is not feasible as a realtime effect, since essentially you'd do it by changing the speed at which the carrier signal is "played" and you'd therefore end up needing unbounded memory if the modulator has a DC component; however, in most cases PM (phase modulation, which is basically the same thing as differencing the modulator and then doing FM) is just as useful. I've done it as a Buzz effect once, but I'm not aware of a VST that does it, though that doesn't have to mean much. It's not very hard to do, however, so I might slap one together if none exists and anyone's interested.

Totally Incorrect there .
NI's FM7 comes in two flavours VST and VSTi .
It also has signal routing for external input with any algorythm .
Input can be set to either carrier or modulator with the signal being passed through the entire synthesis engine in realtime.
So yes FM7 will do this for you .
BTW it's the only plug in I know of that does this.
Works incredibly well as an effect with often quite unexpected results .

PS: phase modulation is actually based on the principal of cosine based modulations and whilst similar is not inherently identical to the sound of standard sine based FM .

[FaX]

one of recent favorite fx plugs, free;
http://www.niallmoody.com/ndcplugs/themodulator2.htm

that and the tremelo+ on the website will change the timbre of anything

Dude that's one sexy GUI - just downloaded it .

[Aktion]

SpectrumWorx have special module that does modulation with sinewave - sounds like flanger but better modulate with external wave with toughants ways - the results would be unpredictable cool.

[1oopus]

Thank you for the useful suggestions...That NDC plug seems like a cool freebie.
I'll look further into Hematohm and Spectrumworx though. Anyone has any experience in using one of these as hi-hat or snare "varizer" (hope this term hasn't been copyrighted by Linplug)?