RingMod vs. Balanced Modulator

Started by jrc4558, May 24, 2004, 10:30:55 PM

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jrc4558

Can anyone here please explain me the difference between the Ring Modulator and a Balanced Modulator?

Thank you very much. :)

R.G.

"Ring modulation" is a subset of balanced modulation.

The other term you'd see in RF jargon is "double sideband suppressed carrier". Both ring modulators and balanced modulators produce DSSC, which is by definition, the multiplication product of two signals. The result has only integer multiples of the sum and difference of the original signals, but neither of the original signals.

If you ringmodded or balmodded a 150Hz and a 270Hz sine signals together, the result would be a signal composed of 120 Hz (270-150) and 420 Hz (150 + 270). Neither 150 nor 270 would be present in the output.

Ring modulation was once done with a ring of four diodes, hence the name. It was once called "diode ring modulation" but the "diode" got dropped off sometime mid last century.
R.G.

In response to the questions in the forum - PCB Layout for Musical Effects is available from The Book Patch. Search "PCB Layout" and it ought to appear.

jrc4558

Ok, so essentially the results are the same? just by different means, right?

R.G.

QuoteOk, so essentially the results are the same? just by different means, right?

If both are well done, yes. Every circuit has its own imperfections, and different means of doing ring mod versus bal mod have different places they're imperfect. So they may sound different, depending on the specifics of the circuit(s). That may be good or bad, depending on your taste.
R.G.

In response to the questions in the forum - PCB Layout for Musical Effects is available from The Book Patch. Search "PCB Layout" and it ought to appear.