A free Spice program available : emulate your stompboxes

[markusw]

When I started rev-engineering the Ring Stinger I just recogised  simple audio-path opamp stages but I didn't have a clue how LFO or VCOs are done. Doing the schem in LTSpice was really cool because the further I came with drawing the more sections revealed their identity. First the LFO started working then I could see the VCO frequency being modulated. Astoninglishly, most parameters I were capable of measuring on the real builds (e.g. LFO, VCO frequencies, voltages) were damn close to the sims. I also love LTSpice to check the frequency response of a design.

BTW, there is a pretty cool LTSpcie user group at yahoo. I could even find a Vactrol model there   
The only thing I'm missing is a way to draw PCBs or to export the LTSpice schems to a software for PCB layout.

There should be a couple of working schems I have on my HD. At the moment I'm just pretty busy at work, but I will try to see if I can find something useful in the next weeks.



Markus

PS: I'm not affilated with LT, I just learned a lot using this software

[Gilles C]

Cool! I feel some nice info coming.

Btw, I still don't have time to begin testing it, but I checked the help file, and you can export the Netlist to a pcb program.

As in the Help file:

"PCB Netlist Extraction

The schematic menu command Tools=>Export Netlist allows you to generate the ASCII netlist for PCB layout....

The following formats are available:  Accel, Algorex, Allegro, Applicon Bravo, Applicon Leap, Cadnetix, Calay, Calay90, CBDS, Computervision, EE Designer, ExpressPCB, Intergraph, Mentor, Multiwire, PADS, Scicards, Tango, Telesis, Vectron, and Wire List....."

I highligted the 2 formats I know.

The Stripboard Layout program I am using these days (VeeCAD) can import Netlists in these formats: Protel, Orcad PCB2, Easy-PC Generic and Wire list. So I will try the Wirelist format later...

I am using the Protel format right now because I am using TinyCAD to enter my schematics and do my layouts from them.

But for those who would like to make pcbs could try ExpressPCB.

Gilles

[markusw]

Thanks for the tip I forgot about this option since Eagle is not possible. Maybe will I have to check Eagle more carefully whether one of the formats LTspice is capable of exporting fits.

Markus

[Satch12879]

I want to say that this is a really stupid easy, but powerful program to use.  I've tried some others and being non-spice oriented myself, I couldn't get anything to run properly.  With this one I was up and running in almost no time at all.

Also Si-Metrix is a very good - and free - program as well.

[Gilles C]

This link seems to work better...

http://www.catena.uk.com/

Thanks for mentioning it. It's nice to have the choice.

Gilles

[Satch12879]

Ooh, sorry about that!

[tcobretti]

Ok.  I did a couple of layouts, here's the site and my comments on them.

http://the23rdcentury.com/ltspice.htm

If you guys wanna send more, I'll post 'em when I get the chance.

I'm tcobretti(AT)gmail.com

[frickecello]

Hi, I just finished the shaka tube, but when I press the simulate button I get this spice error message: unknown subcircuit called in xu2 n004 n008 n013 triode.

Any advice?

[PenPen]

I've been using that SPICE program for a while now, and I want give a HUGE thank you for that link demonstrating how to feed it in a wav file. I missed this thread before, but THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

[Transmogrifox]

For you Linux (and other *nix) people out there:
http://qucs.sourceforge.net/screenshots.html

I just ran a few simulations last night to get the hang of it.  I really like the way this program is layed out.

It looks like they have ports for Mac, Windows, BSD...

[Vitrolin]

hi im really interested in this, since theres the possibility to check how it sounds, but i cant find the download link on the page linked in the first post.

[anchovie]

http://www.linear.com/designtools/software/ltspice.jsp

[Vitrolin]

http://www.linear.com/designtools/software/ltspice.jsp

thanks tommorow ill struggle with it i think

[geertjacobs]

For you Linux (and other *nix) people out there:
http://qucs.sourceforge.net/screenshots.html

Maybe nice to know:
LTSpice runs perfectly under Wine on my Ubuntu PC.

[Taylor]

For you Linux (and other *nix) people out there:
http://qucs.sourceforge.net/screenshots.html

I just ran a few simulations last night to get the hang of it.  I really like the way this program is layed out.

It looks like they have ports for Mac, Windows, BSD...

Anybody had success in getting the Mac version of this installed and working? I have it installed, but when I try to open it nothing happens. I have unzipped the included libraries, made sure I have X11 installed, everything I can think of

This open source stuff is so baffling to me. I think perfing projects up is still simpler and less time-consuming than getting this software to work (for me).

[Transmogrifox]

For you Linux (and other *nix) people out there:
http://qucs.sourceforge.net/screenshots.html

Maybe nice to know:
LTSpice runs perfectly under Wine on my Ubuntu PC.

That is also good to know.  Maybe I'll give it a try under Wine.  Wine is wonderful.

I'm still a little reluctant to install Wine on my nice clean, streamlined Debian box that I built up from the ground up.  However, I do have some free space on my disk I can partition for an experimental install.