Intellijel Ring Mod 1U User manual

Ring Mod 1U
Ring Modulator
Manual (English)
Revision: 2022.07.26

TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS 2
COMPLIANCE 3
INSTALLATION 4
Before You Start 4
Installing Your Module 5
FRONT PANEL 6
Using Ring Mod 1U as a VCA 7
Calibrating the Ring Mod 1U 7
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS 8
Ring Mod 1U Manual 2

COMPLIANCE
This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to
the following two conditions: (1) this device may not cause harmful
interference, and (2) this device must accept any interference received,
including interference that may cause undesired operation.
Changes or modifications not expressly approved by Intellijel Designs, Inc.
could void the user’s authority to operate the equipment.
Any digital equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a
Class A digital device, pursuant to part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are
designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference when
the equipment is operated in a commercial environment. This equipment
generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed
and used in accordance with the instruction manual, may cause harmful
interference to radio communications.
This device meets the requirements of the following standards and directives:
EMC: 2014/30/EU
EN55032:2015 ; EN55103-2:2009 (EN55024) ; EN61000-3-2 ; EN61000-3-3
Low Voltage: 2014/35/EU
EN 60065:2002+A1:2006+A11:2008+A2:2010+A12:2011
RoHS2: 2011/65/EU
WEEE: 2012/19/EU
Ring Mod 1U Manual 3

INSTALLATION
This module is designed for use within an
Intellijel-standard 1U row, such as contained
within the Intellijel Palette cases, or 7U
Performance cases. Intellijel’s 1U specification
is derived from the Eurorack mechanical
specification set by Doepfer that is designed to
support the use of lipped rails within industry
standard rack heights.
Before You Start
Before installing a new module in your case, you must ensure your power supply has a free power
header and sufficient available capacity to power the module:
● Sum up the specified +12V current draw for all modules, including the new one. Do the same for
the -12 V and +5V current draw. The current draw will be specified in the manufacturer's
technical specifications for each module.
● Compare each of the sums to specifications for your case’s power supply.
● Only proceed with installation if none of the values exceeds the power supply’s specifications.
Otherwise you must remove modules to free up capacity or upgrade your power supply.
You will also need to ensure your case has enough free space (hp) to fit the new module. To
prevent screws or other debris from falling into the case and shorting any electrical contacts, do not
leave gaps between adjacent modules, and cover all unused areas with blank panels. Similarly, do
not use open frames or any other enclosure that exposes the backside of any module or the power
distribution board.
You can use a tool like ModularGrid to assist in your planning. Failure to adequately power your
modules may result in damage to your modules or power supply. If you are unsure, please contact
us before proceeding.
Ring Mod 1U Manual 4

Installing Your Module
When installing or removing a module from your case always
turn off the power to the case and disconnect the power cable.
Failure to do so may result in serious injury or equipment
damage.
Ensure the 10-pin connector on the power cable is connected
correctly to the module before proceeding. The red stripe on the
cable must line up with the -12V pins on the module’s power
connector. Different modules use different ways to indicate the
-12V pins. Some may be labeled with “-12V;” a white stripe next
to the -12V pins; the words “red stripe;” or some combination of
these. Additionally, some modules may have shrouded headers,
thus preventing backward connections.
Most modules will come with the cable already connected but it
is good to double check the orientation. Be aware that some
modules may have headers that serve other purposes so
ensure the power cable is connected to the right one.
The other end of the cable, with a 16-pin connector, connects to
the power bus board of your Eurorack case. Ensure the red
stripe on the cable lines up with the -12V pins on the bus board.
On Intellijel power supplies the pins are labeled with the label
“-12V” and a thick white stripe.
If you are using another manufacturer’s power
supply, check their documentation for instructions.
Once connected, the cabling between the module
and power supply should resemble the picture to the
right:
Before reconnecting power and turning on your
modular system, double check that the ribbon cable
is fully seated on both ends and that all the pins are
correctly aligned. If the pins are misaligned in any
direction or the ribbon is backwards you can cause damage to your module, power supply, or other
modules.
After you have confirmed all the connections, you can reconnect the power cable and turn on your
modular system. You should immediately check that all your modules have powered on and are
functioning correctly. If you notice any anomalies, turn your system off right away and check your
cabling again for mistakes.
Ring Mod 1U Manual 5

FRONT PANEL
Ring Modulation is a classic synthesis technique that takes two
source waveforms and generates a third waveform, which contains
the sum and difference frequencies of the two inputs.
At audio rates, ring modulation creates a fairly inharmonic and
‘metallic’ sound. At LFO rates, ring modulation can generate
interesting, complex modulation shapes.
[1] IN X - First of two Ring Modulator inputs. The input is DC
coupled, so you can ring mod slower sources (like LFOs), as
well as audio rate signals.
[2] IN Y - Second of two Ring Mod inputs. This, too, is DC
coupled.
[3] RING OUT - Output of
the Ring Modulator,
which is a waveform
containing only the sum
and difference
frequencies of the two
input waveforms, as
shown in the illustration
to the right.
[4] OUTPUT LED - Color
indicates the polarity
(green = pos; red = neg)
of the RING output, while
intensity indicates
amplitude. At audio rates,
the cycle is too high to
see the individual peaks
and troughs (meaning it
acts mostly as an output
indicator). But at LFO
rates, the LED provides a
visual representation of
the complex LFO shape
being generated by the
ring mod.
Ring Mod 1U Manual 6

Using Ring Mod 1U as a VCA
Not every patch needs a ring mod, but most patches could benefit from another VCA. For this
reason, Ring Mod 1U can be pressed into service as a simple VCA when not performing ring
modulation duties.
1. Connect your audio signal to IN Y [2] .
2. Connect your modulation source (such as the output of an envelope or LFO) to IN X [1] .
3. Connect the RING OUT [3] jack to your audio mixer.
The CV signal patched into IN X controls the volume of the signal patched into IN Y — the
output of which appears at the RING OUT jack.
Calibrating the Ring Mod 1U
Ring Mod 1U is calibrated at the factory before shipping, so it’s unlikely you’ll ever need to perform
this procedure. However, if necessary, you can easily do it using only an oscillator (capable of
generating a simple, static waveform like a square wave) and an oscilloscope.
Here is the process:
1. Connect the output of an oscillator to IN X [1] . Square waves of approximately 1kHz work best.
You should also patch the oscillator through an oscilloscope in order to see the waveform that
you’re sending into the Ring Mod 1U.
2. Patch the RINGMOD OUT [3] jack into an oscilloscope so you can also view the output
waveform.
3. While monitoring the output on the oscilloscope, turn the trimmer on the back panel of the
Ring Mod 1U.
Ideally, the output should be as close to a flat line at 0V as possible. There may be some
transient spikes at the square wave crossing points, but the goal is to get as close as possible to
having no up/down stepping of the output voltage.
Ring Mod 1U Manual 7

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
Width
6 hp
Maximum Depth
32 mm
Current Draw
25 mA @ +12 V
20 mA @ -12 V
Ring Mod 1U Manual 8