ROTOVIBE !!

[miracleticket82]

I have been looking for a decent "leslie simulator".. Im pretty sure i played around with most all of the different types.  I ran across a Rotovibe in real good shape for a really good deal and purchased it.  I have never built, or modified a pedal on my own, always had somebody do it for me.  in searching out someone to mod this rotovibe.. It definately leaves something to be desired, but i liked the concept of it, i came across this website and a few others like it.  Actually i found on harmony-central a review for this CLAY JONES fellow who had modified a rotovibe and the user was more than satisfied.  Once here i saw that everyone has this thing for his distortion pedal he built a few years ago.. ala landgraff ala boutique ala super pedal the ever elusive dumble in a pedal..   honestly i have no interest in all of it, but if someone knows how to get ahold of this guy or knows someone else who is reputable about modding pedals. in particular the ROTOVIBE, PLEASE PLEASE repost, email, whatever..
just figured id throw all that out there.. i apologize for the lack of technical prowess i brought to the table in this post, but i really didnt know where else to start.
ben

[jonathan perez]

clay jones was a regular, if i do recall correctly.

there are also lots of "leslie" simulators out there..try using the search function to see what comes up. 

[petemoore]

  I'd wait around...for a time and see what pops up.
  or meanwhile dig up..see if there's a schematic floating around, always the best first step of groundwork for the pedal circuit owner or tech.
  If you can get that, then there's a bunch you can do to test it properly functions [highly recommended].
  They require a DMM, and a little reading, but are pretty easy to do.
  I'd take a look at the power supply, perhaps something as 'simple' as an 'improved power supply could wring 'improved results...say if it is single ended 9v supply stock [component voltage ratings permitting of course, and providing that doesn't cause some bias or other widget to need altered, probably doesn't].
  Leslie simulator talk of electronic circuits [like Rotovibe] almost certainly means LFO, probably phaser and/or tremolo type effect, for these type effects there are 'common mods that can be applied.
  It might be worth the while [it always is, except for the near certain, associated addiction, and messes you'll be having] to get familiar with DIY, [if only for this project, as if that's possible.

[Mark Hammer]

The Line 6 Roto-Machine is an excellent Leslie simulator that many people here (myself included) quite like.  It is slated for release this summer by Behringer (http://www.behringer.com/RM600/index.cfm?lang=eng) at somewhere around a $75 USD retail price tag.  Whether the behringer version lives up to the Line 6 version, I can't say.  Behringer has made some chip choices in their clones of analog pedals that traded bettery life for noise.  When it comes to their clones of digital pedals, I have no idea what or even whether there could be some compromises made in the circuit.

Of course, if you've ever lifted a Line 6 Tone Core pedal, you'll realize that Behringer probably saved $20 shipping costs right off the bat by use of their plastic chassis!!

Depending on what aspect of a Leslie you like, you may be able to do with less costly solutions.  There are a great many phasers or other pedals that can do the faster speed quite nicely.  If the ramp-up/ramp-down is the aspect of most importance to you, RG Keen has some very nice circuits over on his site at www.geofex.com.  If the slower speeds are of importance to you, sometimes a flanger or choruse with a tweaked delay range can nail it.

Finally, note that the difference between listening to a Leslie simulator in mono and in stereo is substantial.  What elevates a Leslie above a mere flanger is not only the ramping up/down, but the spatial qualities.  Mono just doesn't cut it in that respect.

[tcobretti]

First, I don't know of any published mods (or even a schematic) for the Rotovibe.  All these univibe type pedals will have some similarities, a opamp/transistor section that filters the sound and a LFO that flashes LEDs (or an actual lightbulb) that affects photo-sensitive resistors that control the aforementioned opamp/transistor section.  (did that sentence make sense?)  So you could theoretically study the circuit at some length, then read up on the different univibes and maybe do some successful mods.

Or, you could sell the Rotovibe on ebay and buy a Voodoo Labs Microvibe, which I find much more impressive than the Rotovibe.  It uses a mini light bulb instead of a Led or optocoupler, which I think makes it sound much more like the Univibe.

Clay Jones used to contribute here, but I don't think he has been around for quite some time. You could try typing his name into google and see what you get.

[solarplexus]

I always thought the rotovibe was a digital pedal?

[The Tone God]

I always thought the rotovibe was a digital pedal?

Nope. I have one. I haven't bothered to trace it. Maybe I'll get around to it some day.

Andrew