[sdiy] Alltime best ring modulator circuit... ever?

[Cynthia Webster]

The Ring Modulator in the Zeroscillator is a AD633, it usually acts as 
as the "vca" for
controlling the FM Modulation Index input, but can be patched as a 
traditional ring
modulator by using the "Mod Out" output jack, (in case you have a ZO and 
want to hear
what an AD633 type ring modulator sounds like.)

Best wishes!


Cynthia

http://www.cyndustries.com/modules_zero-osc.cfm?type=38


mike ruberto wrote:
> This is kinda subjective. Best performing would most likely be the
> AD633 considering the carrier bleed is so low compared to the others.
>
> For downright aggressive grungy sounding stuff the 1496 is pretty
> cool. I've found that many of the usual trim pots this circuit
> requires could be made panel controls if you want to get more colors
> from it.
>
> The old Arp ringmod has it's place too for classic sounds but is by
> far the worst performer of them all.
>
> I've not tried it yet, but another interesting option is the
> transformers and diode ring passive ringmod. Ken Stone has one
> available.
>
> My favorite is the AD633/632 designs. With these I can get such glassy
> sharp tones it tricks most people into thinking I'm using a digital FM
> or Phase Distortion synth. Icy bells and metallic percussion are clear
> and bright sounding. Discordant distortion effects have clean
> harmonics and don't degrade into a soup of ugly noise.
> I think this is the best design for synths.
>
> The 1496 is more suited to Guitar.
>
> Mike
>
> On Feb 18, 2008 11:58 AM, anthony <aankrom at bluemarble.net> wrote:
>   
>> I was wondering what people think is the best ring modulator circuit, both
>> for use in a modular synth and maybe as an effect for other instruments like
>> guitar.
>>
>> I suppose different circuits have their merits, but I was wondering things
>> like: are the circuits with MC1495 or MC1496 or even the MC1595, MC1596
>> better than something built from an OTA? And is there a big difference in
>> results between the MC1495 & MC1496? I think the latter is more readilly
>> available and they seem like nearly interchangeable parts, but the former
>> seems to be more sought after. And I wonder if this is just because there
>> were some classic early circuits that used the early chip and people haven't
>> thought to use the latter chip?
>>
>> And how about AD633 ring modulator circuits?
>>
>> And since I'm using the old term for what is generally called a
>> four-quadrant multiplier, I should ask about the grandaddy of them all: the
>> simple Ge (or schottky?) diode ring/2-phase-splitter transformer combo. Ken
>> Stone makes a case for this and even sells a popular ready-built circuit
>> (that is always on my Christmas list but I never get...). He speaks of the
>> raw, gritty power of these units that just don't seem to obtain with other
>> ring modulator units. I personally like this circuit. I have built one using
>> classic Hewlett Packard Ge diodes that I matched and 2 transformers
>> (600Ohm:600Ohm CT roughly) that I got from 2 identical telephones (crude
>> tests on my scope showed a relatively high impedence on both sides), but I
>> have yet to test it. I had wanted it to work like a tremolo sometimes, but
>> responses from an earlier post said that that wouldn't really be possible
>> because I couldn't get a really low LFO frequency through that transformers.
>>
>> OK! So I think the general answer to which circuit is best would be: it
>> depends on your application. But I do want to know the relative merits of
>> the MC1495, MC1496 & the AD633 and others I've forgotten or just didn't
>> bother to think of.
>> And THEN I would like some opinions on the alltime best ring modulator
>> circuit ever. (Hence the subject of this message...)
>>
>>
>> cheers,
>> Anthony
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Synth-diy mailing list
>> Synth-diy at dropmix.xs4all.nl
>> http://dropmix.xs4all.nl/mailman/listinfo/synth-diy
>>
>>     
> _______________________________________________
> Synth-diy mailing list
> Synth-diy at dropmix.xs4all.nl
> http://dropmix.xs4all.nl/mailman/listinfo/synth-diy
>
>