A modest proposal

[dano12]

After building a bunch of single effects, I'm yearning to relive the excitement (and misery/frustration) of building my big old fuzzlab.

But this time, I want to pull out all the stops and build the ultimate overdrive/distortion tweak box.

Sort of a drive/distortion "modeller" but built entirely with actual circuits and components. Stereo of course, so I can do easy a/b comparisons.

Here's the block diagram:



Since this is very early in the design stage, I'd love to hear ideas about things I haven't thought at the top level. Suggestions, comments, or simply laughing and pointing are acceptable.

[Eric H]

Build it!

[zpyder]

I'd say don't forget your 5th fuzz selection: Bypass...

What are you going to use for selection of fuzz type?  Rotary knob?

zpyder

[Seljer]

I'd say don't forget your 5th fuzz selection: Bypass...

yep, an ability to mix in the clean signal along with all the distortions would be handy

[dano12]

I'd say don't forget your 5th fuzz selection: Bypass...

yep, an ability to mix in the clean signal along with all the distortions would be handy

Great idea. I'll add it.

[dacaumodo]

How about an expression pedal feature that would enable you to "Morph" from one OD to the other?
Very impressive project
guillaume

[Somicide]

How about an expression pedal feature that would enable you to "Morph" from one OD to the other?
Very impressive project
guillaume

seconded!

[markm]

All I can say is.....better you than me.
I'm too simple to be involved in this one.
I'll just sit back and watch however, what you have there is very cool 

[jeroen_verbeeck]

When you get this up and running, it will probably be the coolest drive pedal ever!

[RaceDriver205]

Pretty cool idea. You should extend the wording to make it more precision sounding = "Distortion Laboratory".
Just with the left and right channel outputs, if you want a good stereo sound I believe you put two different mixes of distortion to their own separate channels. I.e Dist A + Dist B -> Right, Dist C -> Left. Is this what you had in mind as well?

[Khas Evets]

I like the way you think, very ambitious. Here are a few thoughts.

The transistor module could be expanded to include:
   - Big muff variants (diodes in feedback loop of a transistor)
   - Jfet drivers (anything from run off grove or a bsiab)
   - Discrete op amps (Blues Driver circuit e.g.)

The ability to combine them in series (I'm going through a Sonic Youth phase). Maybe bypass the mixer for this.

Some basic diode selection in the op amp circuits would be nice.

Being able to invert the phase in the mixer may yeild interesting reslults. It might also be necessary to align the various circuits.

A choice of output buffer would complete the experiment, although I don't think this will yield dramatic differences.

Having seen your other projects, I expect this to be very interesting to follow. Keep us posted.

[disantlor]

I know no one will agree with me but I think itd be awesome if it just had one button that randomly set up a configuration of distortions and settings that was unknown.  A mystery box.  Of course rigging that up would be as much work as making the actual device probably.

[jonathan perez]

i think MODEST is an understatement.

[no one ever]

i think MODEST is an understatement.

Ever read Swift's work? 


Can't wait, Dano...

[R.G.]

Give a read to http://geofex.com/Article_Folders/fxbus/fxbus.htm

[dano12]

Give a read to http://geofex.com/Article_Folders/fxbus/fxbus.htm

Holy crap. That has some great ideas in terms of modularity. I'll give it a deeper read tonight.

And to think you came up with that in 2000. Let's see, the year 2000....I was playing a cheap Ibanez through a nasty Digitech DSP slab into a Crate solid state amp.

[dano12]

Pretty cool idea. You should extend the wording to make it more precision sounding = "Distortion Laboratory".
Just with the left and right channel outputs, if you want a good stereo sound I believe you put two different mixes of distortion to their own separate channels. I.e Dist A + Dist B -> Right, Dist C -> Left. Is this what you had in mind as well?

The Pan knob on the mixer will allow me to send any of the drive modules to either side of the mix or somewhere in between.

Haven't thought through the switching bus that would allow one drive module to go into another yet....

[tommy.genes]

Haven't thought through the switching bus that would allow one drive module to go into another yet....

Maybe a small patch bay with normalized connections for the "default" configuration, like the Korg MS20 synthesizer. If you are worried about space, you could look into using Tiny Telephone (TT) or Bantam style jacks and plugs.

This would proably be the most flexible, but not necessarily the most convenient or durable. Still, like your other "lab" creations, I'm guessing this is more for tabletop studio applications than rowdy bars.

-- T. G. --

[R.G.]

Haven't thought through the switching bus that would allow one drive module to go into another yet....

The all look like 4:1 or 1:4 multiplexers. How about CD4052 dual 1:4 switches or 4P rotaries?

[burnt fingers]

Man that sounds like quite an udertaking.   Once you finished the circuit and selected an enclosure, Maybe you could get MarkM to etch you somehting as wild as the circuit and make it the ultimate DIY extraviganza.

Scott