Noob debugging, quick question

[dcjim]

Hello folks

Relative noob, had my first build fail (Maestro FSH1 with GGG layout), and following lots of Googling I'm working through the schematic with an audio probe.

Thing is I'm not entirely sure what constitutes a problem! My audio signal continues quite far into the circuit so far (I've done about a third of the signal path) but distorts and drops in volume quite soon into the circuit.

So I guess what is an isn't a problem is circuit dependent or can I assume if I can hear anything then everything is Ok as who knows what'll happen later?

I'm not asking about debugging in general yet as I haven't read up as much as I'd like but it's just this first point I'm not sure about.

Thanks
Jim

[Kearns892]

The audio probe works best if you know what should be happening to the signal at certain places in the circuit. For me in most situations, that typically involves my pedal passing no signal and what I "hear" for is where in the audio path I loose my signal. That requires me to know two things:
1) Where my audio signal is on the schematic/layout
2)  What I should be hearing (which in this case is my signal as opposed to nothing)
If you do not know both of those (it sounds like you are unsure about number 2) the audio probe will do you no good!

I would recommend you look at the sticky on debugging at the top of this page, try some of the things listed there, and if those do not give you any luck, post with the information it suggests. 

Good Luck!

[dcjim]

That's great, thank you for confirming that and yup I'm working my way through the debug post now. Cheers!