When correctly biased (see "The Ugly" below), the model does perform four-quadrant multiplication. A sine wave carrier modulated by an audio signal produces a textbook DSBFC (Double Sideband Full Carrier) waveform. It also responds well to differential inputs.
The "Pro
Create a text file MC1496.MDF for Proteus (or embed in the component's SPICE property):
* MC1496 Balanced Modulator SPICE Model * Pin order: 1(CAR+) 2(GND1) 3(MOD+) 4(MOD-) 5(BIAS) 6(VEE) 7(GND2) 8(OUT+) 9(OUT-) 10(CAR-) 11(VCC) 12(NC) 13(NC) 14(NC).SUBCKT MC1496 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
.MODEL NPN NPN(BF=100 VAF=50 IS=1E-14) .MODEL PNP PNP(BF=50 VAF=30 IS=1E-14) .MODEL D1N4148 D(IS=1E-14 RS=0.1) Proteus Mc1496 Lib
.ENDS
Even with a valid Proteus MC1496 Lib, you may encounter issues:
Error 1: "Unknown Subcircuit" or "No Model Found" When correctly biased (see "The Ugly" below), the
Error 2: Timestep Too Small / Convergence Failure
Error 3: No Output (Flatline)
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐½ (3.5/5)
For decades, the MC1496 (originally from Motorola, now onsemi) has been a workhorse of analog design. Known as a "balanced modulator/demodulator," it is the go-to integrated circuit for building Gilbert cell mixers, amplitude modulators, phase detectors, and frequency doublers. Create a text file MC1496
However, for the modern electronics designer using Proteus Design Suite (ISIS) , finding a functional, accurate simulation model for the MC1496 is notorious for being difficult. The default libraries in older versions of Proteus (8.x and earlier) often lack this specific component, or ship with a primitive "MULTIPLIER" primitive that fails to replicate the MC1496's real-world limitations (offset voltage, temperature dependence, finite bandwidth).
This article serves as the definitive resource for the Proteus MC1496 Lib. We will cover where to find it, how to install it, how to verify its functionality, and how to simulate classic circuits like AM generation and full-wave rectification.
Unlike modern microcontrollers (like an STM32 or Arduino) which have specific, branded libraries in the Proteus Center, the MC1496 is a "primitive" analog component.
New users often search for a downloadable library file (.LIB or .HEX) only to find that the MC1496 is usually built directly into the standard simulation models of Proteus. It typically resides under the category:
If it is missing from your installation (common in very old versions like 7.x), you aren't looking for a "library" in the software sense—you are looking for a SPICE Model. Proteus relies on the SPICE (Simulation Program with Integrated Circuit Emphasis) engine to mathematically calculate the behavior of analog circuits. To get the MC1496 working, you often need to import a .mod or .sub file containing the mathematical definitions of the chip’s internal transistors.