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

[Mike]

> > 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.
>
> My personal favorite is the plain-ol passive ring modulator.
>
> Easy to build on perfboard.  You can buy suitable transformers from Mouser
> p/n 42TM018 still only $2ea or so and tolerable germanium diodes can be
> sourced also p/n 526-1N34A.  You will need some signal amp after the ring
> modulator as its passive and output is low.
>
The first ever electronic music device I made, at about age 16, was a ring
mod. It cost 2 weeks pocket money plus all my part time lawn mowing/car
washing earnings to buy the bits. It used 0A5 gold bonded Ge  diodes, which
seemed the height of cool back in 1970. Cost, (at the time); a fortune:
scaring my brother and sister with Dalek voices, priceless!

I like the 633 design too - Marc Bareille's being my favourite so far.

As a thought, which I've not yet tried, has anyone thought of using schottky
diodes rather than Ge? The small forward voltage drop being the reason for
their use. I must souce some trafo's in the Ukand give it a try

Mike