# Modulation System

Rift’s powerful modulation system can be used to add movement and depth to presets. It includes macros, LFOs, curve sequencers, and envelope followers, which you can assign to any parameter to create rhythmic motion, sequences, and more.

Assign modulation via drag and drop, or edit it in detail in the **Mod Matrix**. Swap modulator types for fast, creative experimentation. A color-coded highlight system keeps the selected modulator and its connections in focus.

The **Modulation Control Bar** provides an overview of Rift’s six freely assignable modulators. It also lets you assign modulation, swap or copy modulator types, and open each modulator’s panel for editing.

### 1. Modulator Preview

<figure><img src="/files/Z12RaAT7IFBcGzcJzrOb" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

Each modulator shows a preview of its output once it’s assigned to one or more controls.

Hover over this area to highlight all related modulation connections in yellow. Click to open the modulator’s panel for further editing.

You can also assign modulation by clicking and dragging from the preview area onto a control.

Right-click the preview to open a menu with the following options:

* **View in Mod Matrix.** Open the **Mod Matrix** pop-up for this modulator to view and edit all of its connections at once.
* **Bypass Destination.** Enable or disable any of the related modulation connections.
* **Remove Destination.** Remove any of the related modulation connections.
* **Reset Modulator.** Reset the modulator to its default settings while preserving all connections.

{% hint style="info" %}
Hold **Option** (macOS) or **Alt** (Windows) and drag the modulator’s preview area to copy it to another modulator slot.

**Command-click** (macOS) or **Ctrl-click** (Windows) a modulator’s preview area to open the **Mod Matrix** pop-up for that modulator, where you can view and edit all its connections at once.
{% endhint %}

### 2. Modulator Assignment Icon&#x20;

<div align="left"><figure><img src="/files/Znc5iGCs4WK2VqROJg1Y" alt="" width="59"><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div>

Each modulator includes a circular icon dedicated to assigning modulation via drag and drop. Click and drag the icon, then drop it on the desired control.

When you add a modulation assignment, the relevant modulator panel opens automatically when possible.

### 3. Modulator Type Dropdown

Click a modulator’s name to change its type ([**LFO**](/rift-manual/modulation/morphing-lfo.md)**,** [**Curve,**](/rift-manual/modulation/curve-sequencer.md) [**Follower**](/rift-manual/modulation/follow.md)**)**. All modulation assignments remain intact, making it easy to experiment with different movement throughout the preset.

### Modulation Amount

Once you assign modulation, a circular **Modulation Slider** appears next to the control. Drag it to adjust the amount of modulation applied to that parameter. If multiple modulators are assigned to a control, the currently highlighted modulator’s slider appears in yellow.

You can also drag another modulator onto the **Modulation Slider** to modulate the first modulator’s depth. More on this below.

<div align="left"><figure><img src="/files/10JDQuphffYfsvfqr0Sx" alt="" width="185"><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div>

{% hint style="info" %}
**Option-Shift-click** (macOS) or **Alt-Shift-click** (Windows) the modulation slider to toggle bipolar modulation.

You can also hold these keys during drag-and-drop assignment to apply bipolar modulation automatically.
{% endhint %}

### Multiple Modulation Assignments

When multiple modulators are assigned to a parameter, a **Modulation Assignment Dropdown** icon appears next to the control. Click it to choose which **Modulation Slider** to display and edit.

<div align="left"><figure><img src="/files/98ue1kQUjGJcRIAxpKoN" alt="" width="74"><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div>

<div align="left"><figure><img src="/files/7eNXA2ec4R5GV86yzNBX" alt="" width="224"><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div>

Selecting a modulator highlights its connections throughout the plugin and opens its panel when possible.

You can also choose **View in Mod Matrix** to edit all connections for that control at once.

### Depth Modulation

**Depth Modulation** refers to using a second modulator to automate the amount of modulation being applied by the initially assigned modulator (the depth of another modulation connection).

<div align="left"><figure><img src="/files/SPhNHAD0oWZlQpiE9qQp" alt="" width="75"><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div>

<div align="left"><figure><img src="/files/SD81ybhjLD6KfPqKM6EA" alt="" width="188"><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div>

A common application is using a macro knob to apply **Depth Modulation** to an existing LFO assignment, so the macro controls how much LFO modulation is applied.

You can create a depth modulation connection by dragging and dropping any modulator onto an existing **Modulation Slider**, using the **Mod Matrix**, or right-clicking a **Modulation Slider** and selecting **Add Depth Mod**.

Once assigned, an inner ring appears within the **Modulation Slider** to represent the **Depth Modulation** amount.

Drag the **Modulation Slider** to set the depth modulation amount. To adjust the original modulation as if no **Depth Modulation** were assigned, hold **Shift** and drag the slider.

{% hint style="info" %}
While it’s possible to edit Depth Modulation from the Modulation Slider, it’s often easier to control and understand in the [Mod Matrix](/rift-manual/modulation/mod-matrix.md).
{% endhint %}

### Modulator Slider Options

Right-click a **Modulation Slider** to open a menu with the following options:

<div align="left"><figure><img src="/files/X8SeoqJfAiePXGP3qoqs" alt="" width="375"><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div>

* **Set Bipolar/Unipolar.** Toggle bipolar or unipolar behavior. Bipolar modulation moves above and below the current setting; unipolar moves only in one direction, depending on how the assignment is set.
* **Set Bypassed/Active.** Enable or disable the modulation assignment. Useful for checking the effect of the modulator without removing it.
* **View in Mod Matrix.** Open the **Mod Matrix** for the connected control to view all its connections at once.
* **Remove Modulator.** Remove the modulation assignment.
* **Add/Remove Depth Mod.** Add or remove a **Depth Modulation** assignment.
* **Show Modulator Panel.** Open the connected modulator’s panel.

{% hint style="info" %}
Text sliders do not support all of this behavior, so we recommend editing their modulation in the [**Mod Matrix**](/rift-manual/modulation/mod-matrix.md). Improved text slider modulation will be added in a future update.
{% endhint %}


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