beginner's reading on combos of components

[fogwolf]

First off I'd like to thank everyone who's patiently answered my posts. This forum is really incredible - I would not have been able to get started building effects without it.

I'm wondering if someone could advise me of a good place to start reading on how to understand the various elements of these circuits - not just what a capacitor does or a resistor (in other words not an introduction to independent components out of context of effects or synth circuits), but what they do when combined with each other in different ways specifically when it comes to effects and synth circuits. I've picked up some stuff (output and input caps, pulldown resistors, etc...) but rather than just viewing the circuits I'm building as a *total* black box (I know some of it will have to be for a while) I'd like to have a better idea of why this capacitor is here and why this combination of components is here and what values I could substitute or experiment with to know what changes to try out, etc... Some of the stuff I've found so far has been a little over my head for my current level (RG Keen's stuff mostly - really informative but for some of it after a certain point I'm a little lost), so I guess I'm looking for an effects/synth circuits ins & outs for dummies basically. I also plan to start using an audio probe on my circuits to see how the tone/sound changes as it passes through the various stages of the circuits I build but again, if there are any texts, either online or in book/publication format, that anyone could suggest, it would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

[GREEN FUZ]

I really like this. Written in the sort of language that even I can understand.

http://www.beavisaudio.com/techpages/HIW/hiw1.gif

[fogwolf]

Exactly the kind of thing I was looking for - thanks! If anyone else has any other resources please share.

I really like this. Written in the sort of language that even I can understand.

http://www.beavisaudio.com/techpages/HIW/hiw1.gif

[demonstar]

That page at beavis audio does look good but one thing I don't agree with is the statement for R1 and R2 where it says they split V_CC in half using a voltage divider...

We need a voltage divider that cuts our 9VDC in half...The halving of the voltage to 4.5V...

This could surely lead to confusion surounding biasing BJTs and biasing opamps. I know I fell down the trap of assuming a BJTs base was to be biased at half V_CC just as opamps usually have their input biased at half the positive rail (on a single polarity supply). I would hope to avoid others falling into the same trap. The potential divider in the schematic certainly doesn't output 4.5V anyway.

BJTs do not usually have their base biased to 4.5V as this does not allow for maximum clean headroom.

[dano12]

That page at beavis audio does look good but one thing I don't agree with is the statement for R1 and R2 where it says they split V_CC in half using a voltage divider...

We need a voltage divider that cuts our 9VDC in half...The halving of the voltage to 4.5V...

This could surely lead to confusion surounding biasing BJTs and biasing opamps. I know I fell down the trap of assuming a BJTs base was to be biased at half V_CC just as opamps usually have their input biased at half the positive rail (on a single polarity supply). I would hope to avoid others falling into the same trap. The potential divider in the schematic certainly doesn't output 4.5V anyway.

BJTs do not usually have their base biased to 4.5V as this does not allow for maximum clean headroom.

\

thanks for the catch! Fixed.

[demonstar]

thanks for the catch! Fixed.

Good stuff, and not a problem! 

[aron]

Hi Paul,

Have you checked out the Wiki too?

http://www.diystompboxes.com/wiki/index.php?title=Main_Page

[fogwolf]

Hi Aron,

I have checked out the wiki - it's great and I've learned a lot from the site and the forum. Some of it I'm not ready for so as I learn more I'll be revisiting it. The link to the part-by-part detailed analysis of the LPB-1 was exactly the kind of thing I was looking for - similar to the comparison on the Geofex site of the 2 different schematics that represent the same basic circuit.

I was looking at the books they have at Small Bear - could anyone recommend either of Brian Wampler's books for what I'm looking for? Part of me feels like I don't need a book because I'm already building pedals and have collated so much information from online but maybe it would be worthwhile given I would like to understand more.

Thanks!

Hi Paul,

Have you checked out the Wiki too?

http://www.diystompboxes.com/wiki/index.php?title=Main_Page