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DIY Stompboxes => Building your own stompbox => Topic started by: anotherjim on April 01, 2021, 04:24:11 AM

Title: Tiny Timmy. A new distortion with vocal octave-up effect
Post by: anotherjim on April 01, 2021, 04:24:11 AM
(https://i.postimg.cc/fWVNMQNN/Tiny-Timmy4-1-21.png)
This design shrinks the diode options of a Timmy that concentrates on sludgy heavy distortion and adds an interesting side effect with an almost vocal/sing-song octave up that has a clicky kind of rhythm of its own.
The opamp used is expensive and hard to find except as engineering samples but is a new Burr-Brown design that includes a low-noise CMOS soft-clipping output stage that should revolutionise instrument electronics.

Sound demo clip...
https://soundcloud.com/ashdalestudio/tinytimmy

Enjoy
;)
Title: Re: Tiny Timmy. A new distortion with vocal octave-up effect
Post by: composition4 on April 01, 2021, 07:40:41 AM
I actually have a bunch of OPA4121 (the CN version not AM) lying around... Breadboarded this minus the Selenium plate rectifiers and I'm very impressed
Title: Re: Tiny Timmy. A new distortion with vocal octave-up effect
Post by: Invertiguy on April 01, 2021, 08:47:59 AM
Got any info on that opamp? I can't seem to find any data on it anywhere and Google turns up nothing.

(assuming this isn't related to the current date, of course  :))
Title: Re: Tiny Timmy. A new distortion with vocal octave-up effect
Post by: iainpunk on April 01, 2021, 09:35:37 AM
QuoteThe opamp used is expensive and hard to find except as engineering samples but is a new Burr-Brown design that includes a low-noise CMOS soft-clipping output stage that should revolutionise instrument electronics.
you know the CA3130 also have extremely low noise, and soft clipping CMOS output stages
similar GBP as well, a bit faster slew rate, and only one opamp per dip 8 instead of 2 opamps...
i build it with those and selenium rectefiers out of  car battery chargers, and i can only get it to squeal? any pointers?

cheers
Title: Re: Tiny Timmy. A new distortion with vocal octave-up effect
Post by: Marcos - Munky on April 01, 2021, 09:57:43 AM
Quote from: anotherjim on April 01, 2021, 04:24:11 AM
an interesting side effect with an almost vocal/sing-song octave up that has a clicky kind of rhythm of its own.
Very interesting, indeed.
Title: Re: Tiny Timmy. A new distortion with vocal octave-up effect
Post by: duck_arse on April 01, 2021, 10:05:13 AM
excellent timing, Jim, and an E2 range design to boot. won't those rectifiers be affected by the moon to some extent?

also, yer missing the biasing section.
Title: Re: Tiny Timmy. A new distortion with vocal octave-up effect
Post by: iainpunk on April 01, 2021, 10:11:53 AM
Quotealso, yer missing the biasing section.
i just used a 7905 to create 5v, and a 4148 to take off a further 0.6v for a nice 4.4v.

cheers
Title: Re: Tiny Timmy. A new distortion with vocal octave-up effect
Post by: EBK on April 01, 2021, 10:14:19 AM
Have you tried using a really long wire for the feedback path and zigzagging it through the rectifier plates?  It would probably allow you to make C3 smaller to save some space, making this design even more tiny!

Excellent demo, by the way.   :icon_cool:
Title: Re: Tiny Timmy. A new distortion with vocal octave-up effect
Post by: anotherjim on April 01, 2021, 10:45:24 AM
Ah, no bias network needed. It basically floats toward a rail and then jerks itself off toward the opposite rail according to the rectifier via that very loose 10M coupling.
Mind you, I can't see much use for the thing unless you're a fan of The Darkness.
Title: Re: Tiny Timmy. A new distortion with vocal octave-up effect
Post by: Nasse on April 01, 2021, 10:56:07 AM
You think 3130 could substitute for opa with that biasing of to bipolar suply? And believe i have 3140 in junk box, would it better put lower noise spec One in first or second position. Or put them in sockets. Sounds good, but I was waiting more BGs style voicing, but was more on Barry White setting (trough mobile speakers so dont trust me)
Title: Re: Tiny Timmy. A new distortion with vocal octave-up effect
Post by: anotherjim on April 01, 2021, 12:53:00 PM
Device noise isn't really a concern, so long as it's got a high input impedance (gigohms) it's worth a shot. You've only got until 1 minute to midnight to do it. It may already be too late for some.
Also, B2 may be a bridge rectifier too far.

Title: Re: Tiny Timmy. A new distortion with vocal octave-up effect
Post by: GGBB on April 01, 2021, 12:57:07 PM
;D
Title: Re: Tiny Timmy. A new distortion with vocal octave-up effect
Post by: anotherjim on April 01, 2021, 01:37:08 PM
The important part number is more like 4-1-21 or 1-4-21 according to regional preferences.
Title: Re: Tiny Timmy. A new distortion with vocal octave-up effect
Post by: KarenColumbo on April 01, 2021, 02:43:01 PM
There must be some sort of mistake. I had no bridge rectifier at hand, so I used a precision full wave rectifier. But now I have 18 V instead of the promised 9 V.
Title: Re: Tiny Timmy. A new distortion with vocal octave-up effect
Post by: anotherjim on April 01, 2021, 04:58:42 PM
Sorry, Andreas, there is no place for anything with "precision", real or imaginary, in this circuit. You could try x4 of the leakiest and oddest Ge diodes you have to make a bridge. Really, the more mismatched the better!



Title: Re: Tiny Timmy. A new distortion with vocal octave-up effect
Post by: antonis on April 01, 2021, 05:51:01 PM
I believe there should be some vintage Triumph, Norton or BSA hanging around into garages in Vienna, Andreas..  :icon_wink:
(ultimate source for Selenium rectifiers..)
Title: Re: Tiny Timmy. A new distortion with vocal octave-up effect
Post by: iainpunk on April 01, 2021, 07:18:00 PM
Quote from: Nasse on April 01, 2021, 10:56:07 AM
You think 3130 could substitute for opa with that biasing of to bipolar suply? And believe i have 3140 in junk box, would it better put lower noise spec One in first or second position. Or put them in sockets. Sounds good, but I was waiting more BGs style voicing, but was more on Barry White setting (trough mobile speakers so dont trust me)


the 3130 and 3140 have different output stages, the 3130 has cmos inverting output stage and the 3140 has a bipolar transistor output stage which is unity gain. very different clipping characteristics between them. here is the transfer curve from the output stage when used open loop

(https://i.postimg.cc/xc1RkS01/cmos-output-vs-gain.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/xc1RkS01)

edited bc. shouldn't post serious stuff in joke threads, sorry
Title: Re: Tiny Timmy. A new distortion with vocal octave-up effect
Post by: aron on April 01, 2021, 07:32:45 PM
I built mine during my lunch hour but I get octave down only. Luckily I put the Tycobrahe octavia back end on it and got normal pitches. That fixed it fast.
Title: Re: Tiny Timmy. A new distortion with vocal octave-up effect
Post by: Nasse on April 02, 2021, 12:20:59 AM
Did fall in sleep in studio sofa before magig moment so this is day late dollar short. Did not notice that selenium bridge text until late. I had idea to use plate amplifier instead of plate rectifier, And i have two Selenium titanium drivers which are 100 Watts and said to be super clean. Tlc271 might be useful op amps for somethin
Title: Re: Tiny Timmy. A new distortion with vocal octave-up effect
Post by: KarenColumbo on April 02, 2021, 01:35:56 PM
Quote from: anotherjim on April 01, 2021, 04:58:42 PM
Sorry, Andreas, there is no place for anything with "precision", real or imaginary, in this circuit. You could try x4 of the leakiest and oddest Ge diodes you have to make a bridge. Really, the more mismatched the better!
Sorry mate, just wanted in on the joke :)
Title: Re: Tiny Timmy. A new distortion with vocal octave-up effect
Post by: anotherjim on April 02, 2021, 01:48:15 PM
Well, that was a bit of fun. I enjoyed myself.
The last spoof April Fool project I can remember was by Deadastronaut and that was many years ago now. I've wanted to do one every year since but kept forgetting until it was too late.
BTW, the Sludge Guitar distortion was a DIY Distortion+
Title: Re: Tiny Timmy. A new distortion with vocal octave-up effect
Post by: EBK on April 02, 2021, 01:59:10 PM
It was well executed and enjoyable.  I often don't listen to entire demos, but I'm glad I made it the whole way through this one.  That was my favorite part.  :icon_lol:
Title: Re: Tiny Timmy. A new distortion with vocal octave-up effect
Post by: KarenColumbo on April 05, 2021, 02:52:40 AM
Did you do the vocals yourself? Pretty impressive range if you did.
Title: Re: Tiny Timmy. A new distortion with vocal octave-up effect
Post by: anotherjim on April 05, 2021, 04:35:40 AM
Not me.
He...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiny_Tim_(musician)
And the heavy intro was me, paraphrasing this...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Here_to_Stay_(Korn_song)
Two helpings of corn, you might say!