Techniques for modulating and scrambling channel state information reference signals (CSI-RS) for more than eight antenna ports are discussed. One example system employing such techniques can include a processor and transmitter circuitry. The processor can be configured to determine CSI-RS signal parameters for a user equipment (UE) and modulate a plurality of CSI-RS signals based on a modulation sequence. The transmitter circuitry can be configured to transmit the CSI-RS signal parameters and the modulated plurality of CSI-RS signals to the UE. Each of the plurality of CSI-RS signals can be associated with a distinct CSI-RS antenna port of a plurality of CSI-RS antenna ports of the transmitter circuitry, and the modulation sequence can be based at least in part on indices of the CSI-RS antenna ports or subcarriers associated with the plurality of CSI-RS signals.