Q: What is the main sonic difference between this tube ring modulator and a standard solid-state one?
A: Standard ring modulators use solid-state silicon diodes or digital DSP chips which multiply signals perfectly. This results in highly precise, cold, and mathematically accurate sidebands. Blokañ works in the old-school analog domain. Because it uses the thermionic elements inside vacuum tubes alongside heavy audio transformers, your audio is subjected to natural soft-clipping, magnetic compression, and uneven harmonic saturation. This gives the module a signature low-end weight and midrange character that standard utility multipliers simply lack.

Q: Why does the module leak a small amount of the carrier signal, and can it be stopped?
A: The carrier leakage is an intentional, unpreventable design feature born from honoring vintage hardware layouts. In order to achieve a completely silent carrier null, the diodes in the ring must be perfectly matched. Because no two physical vacuum tubes possess identical electrical tolerances, a tiny amount of the carrier waveform naturally bypasses the ring and bleeds into the output. This behavior infuses the module with its organic, gritty, and raw sound-design quality.

Q: What does "Tube Rolling" mean for this module, and how does it work?
A: Tube rolling is the hobbyist practice of replacing the factory-installed tubes with different vintage or brand variations to tweak the final sound. TouellSkouarn smartly designed the Blokañ with its tube sockets directly exposed on the red front panel. It is fully compatible with standard 6AL5, EB91, and EAA91 tube models. By tracking down and experimenting with different New Old Stock (NOS) vintage tubes, you can actively alter the distortion threshold, carrier leakage depth, and compression response of your module.

Product Format: Real Tube & Transformer-Core Diode Ring Modulator Module

Manufacturer Part Reference SKU: TSKblk

Module Width Footprint: 14 HP / TE

Faceplate Material: 2mm heavy-duty anodized aluminum sheet finished in signature Breton Red lacquer

Current Power Rails Draw: 18 mA (+12V) / 18 mA (-12V) / 600 mA (+5V)

Circuit Topology: Classic 4-diode ring design utilizing front-panel exposed vacuum tubes and dual impedance-matching transformers

Vacuum Tube Compatibility: Ships fully socketed; natively accepts 6AL5, EB91, or EAA91 diode tube variations for direct tube-rolling modification

Onboard Carrier Oscillator: Integrated analog VCO generating a free-running sawtooth carrier waveform

Control Input Patch Bay:

1 x 3.5mm Signal Audio Input (Accepts any audio source or CV block)

1 x 3.5mm External Carrier Input (Instantly disengages the internal sawtooth VCO upon jack insertion)

1 x 3.5mm Carrier Pitch CV Input (Calibrated for standard 1V/Octave tracking control)

Signal Output Patch Bay:

1 x 3.5mm Main Ring Modulator Audio Output

1 x 3.5mm Dedicated Carrier VCO Sawtooth Output (Allows you to tap the internal oscillator independently)

If you decide a product is not suitable within 14 days of delivery, you can return it to us for a replacement or refund. Returns must be unused and in their original, undamaged packaging.

Some items are excluded from our money back guarantee:
- Computer software that has been unsealed or registered
- Any item that comes directly into contact with the nose, ears or mouth

To arrange a return, just contact our customer service via our customer support form.

Every product at Blip comes with a full manufacturer's warranty for long-term peace of mind. As a specialist UK retailer, we fully support your statutory rights under the Consumer Rights Act 2015. If your gear arrives faulty or develops an inherent problem in the first 30 days, we will provide a full refund or replacement. For faults developing after 30 days, we will facilitate a swift repair or replacement through the manufacturer's official service channels to ensure your gear is back in the studio as quickly as possible.