Detailed explanations

[kwitak]

I've looked through the site, and have been very impressed by what I've found. One thing that I've tried to find, and have failed, is detailed explanations of a basic or common stompbox (i.e. on a per cap, per resistor, per transistor level) saying this component does this and has this effect on the output. I'm not talking about explaining what a capacitor or transistor IS, but rather how and why it is being used in each instance. Is this available somewhere? Thanks.

[Mark Hammer]

The jewel in the crown is the "Technology of..." series over at RG Keen's GEOFEX site.  Look in the column of links on the upper left when you get there (http://www.geofex.com) .  Classics, every one of them.

[smashinator]

There's also an article called something like "what are all those parts for?" that is pretty nifty.  I THINK it's on GEOFEX, but perhaps I'm mistaken.

[idlefaction]

i'll second the "technology of" stuff :-)

[niftydog]

Aside from those excellent suggestions, I would also suggest that you look at the theory of electronic building blocks - such as amplifiers, oscillators, filters etc.

a quick search of the forum with "beginners tutorial" in the search field will reveal many threads with links to articles and tutorials that will enlighten you.

Sometimes it's not so much "what does this component do?" than it is "what does this bunch of components do?" Often, you can simple look at a bunch of components and say "that's a simple buffer amp" then make certain assumptions about it and virtually ignore it!

As an electroincs engineer, I rarely go nit picking through a circuit trying to debug it component by component. You look at the bigger picture first; that's an amp, that's an inverter, that's a filter, that's an oscillator etc etc.

[Paul Marossy]

Did you read the DIY FAQ section of this site? This is some useful information there as well.

[toneman]

What U R looking 4 is....the....

"Theory of Operation".....TOP

Old PopTronics, RadioElectronics articles would have a circuit,
and, most importantly, the TOP.
Look at some of the old PAIA instructional manuals.
With all these books/articles, that's how *I* learned electronics.
(that and blowing things up....heh heh...oops...wrong wire..!..)
The GEO reference is a good place 2 start.
This forum is mainly about getting it working.
With a pcb, it's fairly easy.
With a "Roll-your-own"  perf build, there's lots of chances 4 booboos.
stayeducated
tone

[bwanasonic]

Sometimes it's not so much "what does this component do?" than it is "what does this bunch of components do?" Often, you can simple look at a bunch of components and say "that's a simple buffer amp" then make certain assumptions about it and virtually ignore it!

As an electroincs engineer, I rarely go nit picking through a circuit trying to debug it component by component. You look at the bigger picture first; that's an amp, that's an inverter, that's a filter, that's an oscillator etc etc.

Very good!  Partly I got what I know about this from just comparing circuits, a LOT from the RG articles, but a good basics electronics book is just what the doctor ordered for  helping grasp "the big picture".  It especially useful when looking at *abbreviated* schematics, that leave things out  because they are taken for granted as a given.

Kerry M

[jmusser]

If you look around the forum, back about a month ago, RG wrote a nice article on what the important aspects to look for on data sheets for the stuff we do. It will be under my name. I have it printed out at home, so if you don't find it, e mail me, and I'll give you the title of it. Actually, anything you can find on the forum by RG is like going to the mountain and talking to a yogi. (well.. a stompbox yogi anyway)