Wanting to build a Bit Commander

pufferton · January 06, 2013, 10:40:48 PM

Anyone have experience in building something like this? I really like/want the simple interface of the bit commander and the number of options. Can't find much on building one of these but I assume it wouldn't be too difficult since its all analog.

Anyone have some info?

Thanks!

timd · January 06, 2013, 11:11:59 PM

I tried some searches and couldn't come up a schematic. Something tells me that you might be surprised how un-easy this thing might be to build though...

pufferton · January 06, 2013, 11:13:25 PM

Haha that's probably true...I may just have to buy it

but I would love the experience in building it plus get a pedal I want.

midwayfair · January 07, 2013, 10:13:39 AM

Put a fuzz in front of a Pearl Octaver (Madbean has a PCB) and it's "close". However, the octave up in the Bit Commander uses a transformer. It's also in a much smaller package I'm pretty sure you're not looking at a 1590B package if you try to put something like it together ...

This certainly seems like one of those times where saving up the cash for the real thing is in order.

slacker · January 07, 2013, 01:24:07 PM

This will get you most of the way there, http://www.diystompboxes.com/smfforum/index.php?topic=100091.0 tack some sort of low pass filter on the end to get even closer. Using different outputs of the CD4024 will give lower octaves if 2 down isn't subby enough.

pufferton · January 09, 2013, 11:26:13 PM

So I got my hands on one. Does this photo help?
I'm wondering if this exact pedal is doable for DIY or cost wise cheaper to buy one?

timd · January 09, 2013, 11:47:10 PM

Not too costly for the parts, but we would need to see the other side of the circuit board.

pufferton · January 09, 2013, 11:49:38 PM

Hmmmm ok. I only have pictures of this side. I didn't know how it was attached so I didn't want to rip the dude's pedal apart

slacker · January 10, 2013, 03:29:13 AM

Hmmm CD4024, wonder where they got that idea.
Board is held in by the pots, so remove knobs, undo the nuts on the pots, jacks and switch and the whole thing should come out.
I can take a reasonable guess at what they're doing from that picture, but not enough to copy it exactly.

timd · January 10, 2013, 05:59:30 PM

The 4024 is in alot of octave down stuff right? I get the other 2 chips, but why the transformer?

midwayfair · January 10, 2013, 11:30:30 PM

Quote from: timd on January 10, 2013, 05:59:30 PM
The 4024 is in alot of octave down stuff right? I get the other 2 chips, but why the transformer?

Transformer creates the upper octave. Check out the Octavia for an example.

slacker · January 11, 2013, 12:34:26 PM

Quote from: timd on January 10, 2013, 05:59:30 PM
The 4024 is in alot of octave down stuff right?

I don't know it might be, I haven't seen one in a commercial pedal before, most of them use some sort of flipflop like the CD4013.

To the best of my knowledge I published the first design to use them as octave dividers in a stompbox http://www.diystompboxes.com/smfforum/index.php?topic=55644.0, 4ms had just produced the Nocto Loco that did the same but the schematic for that hadn't been released then.
Not bothered in the slightest if they got the idea from me or not, just interesting to see it that's all.

timd · January 11, 2013, 01:33:44 PM

Cool work Slacker. Now I understand your joke...

Pyr0 · January 11, 2013, 07:20:47 PM

@slacker - someone gave me a bit commander a few months ago and asked me could I make something like it, as I googled 4024 and octave down effect, your thread above was one of the first I came across.

I never bothered to try making it, but I did wonder if that is where they got the idea. Good work indeed.

timd · January 11, 2013, 09:13:15 PM

I was looking at other Earthquake Devices pedals on Youtube and I wish I hadn't - I saw the Organizer organ simulator pedal. It looks really cool, but I can't spend $180 on it! Something like that would probably be DSP right?

timd · January 12, 2013, 10:33:05 AM

I don't know it might be, I haven't seen one in a commercial pedal before, most of them use some sort of flipflop like the CD4013.

To the best of my knowledge I published the first design to use them as octave dividers in a stompbox http://www.diystompboxes.com/smfforum/index.php?topic=55644.0, 4ms had just produced the Nocto Loco that did the same but the schematic for that hadn't been released then.
Not bothered in the slightest if they got the idea from me or not, just interesting to see it that's all.
[/quote]

Could have been a lurker on this forum that saw the Slacktave? Read this:
http://www.premierguitar.com/Magazine/Issue/2012/Oct/Builder_Profile_EarthQuaker_Devices.aspx
It mentions familiar websites and "forums".

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Wanting to build a Bit Commander