Some questions about Zvex's Ringtone

[gigimarga]

Hello,

I just became a fan of the sequencers with randomness capabilities (Ooh Wah it's a good example).

I searched for a schematic of Ringtone, but I didn't find one yet. All that I found was that the old version (without SMDs) has 2 transformers, an optocoupler and a couple of ICs.

The 2 transformers make me assume that something like a Jonny Octane with a sequencer, but I can't understand what is the purpose of the optocoupler (in the Ooh Wah it's very clear: it replaces the pot of the wah...)?

As I know that it's illegal to post this schematic here, I hope that's nothing illegal if somebody will explain me which is the working principle of this effect (or to send me the schematic on my email ).

Thx a lot!

[Taylor]

The sequencers like The Tone God's Vanishing Point use an optocoupler to turn a voltage into a resistance. If you use a Vanishing point to control an oscillator, and then run that oscillator and your guitar signal into something like this, you'll have a Ringtone.

[gigimarga]

Thx a lot Taylor!

The LFO from Tremulus Lune it's OK (I want to make some experiments before trying to build it...)? If ont, what oscillator it's good for this purpose?
Where I wire the LFO in the schematic that you indicated?
A Jonny Octane (MOSFET booster + Brassmaster octave up section + MOSFET Booster) can be used instead?

[Rodgre]

The Ringtone is not like the Johnny Octane fuzz. I believe it uses a transformer in a classic simple ring modulator circuit. There are several ways to make a ring modulator which you can search/google to find. I don't have a schematic or a Ringtone to say exactly how it works but i'm sure that the concept involves using the step sequencer to change the note of the carrier signal going into the ring mod. I seem to recall that because it uses the transformer-based design that there is the issue of bleedthrough of the carrier signal when you stop playing.

Roger

[gigimarga]

Thx a lot Rodgre!
I will try to understand how a ringtone works and to apply the yours and Taylor's  advices to it.