Does direct-digital RF signal generation have a "baseband?"
Yes there is an important distinction which is independent of the semiconductor technology. In radio terminology, &quot;baseband signals&quot; are typically centered on &quot;DC&quot; and as such are required to be complex (such as I and Q) to represent a waveform that does not have a symmetrical spectrum about the carrier (basically nearly every modern waveform where modulation of amplitude and phase is involved) while IF signals and &quot;RF Transmitted&quot; signals can be real to represent these same waveforms.
In general &quot;baseband&quot; is the modulated waveform with DC (f=0) as the carrier while &quot;IF signal&quot; and &quot;RF Transmitted signal&quot; are representations with a non-DC carrier.