multi order selecting analogue multi fx pedal

[lindstrom]

  Hi guys im new here. im studying sound engineering, ive done some of the circuits on here some successful some not.

anyway more to the point, for my final project at uni i am building a multi analogue fx pedal with about 3 or 4 fx. but i want to be able to put these 4 fx in any order i wish with just a series of rotary switches. this is my idea for the switch routing at the moment. does it work? is there and easier way? cheers, ill be using this thread as a log book for my project

[Auke Haarsma]

it seems you are only routing the input. I'd say you need to route both the input and the output of each effect.

Also, have a look at geofex.com for interesting switching options.

[lindstrom]

yeah i would which brings me to my next problem should i just double up the circuit for the output oooorrrr shall i just  input and output of each effect running through the switches?

[guilds100]

I have an ibanez multi effects ue400 unit that has the abiltily to switch the order of the analog effects including an effects loops with a rotary knob for each effect. I think your on the right track by branching each switch to each effect, then connecting the switches in series, i do believe thats how my unit does it. Make sure your switches have enough poles to handle all the connections.

[flo]

the usual Lorin kind of rotary switches can provide for instance 6 DPDT x 2 switches. That switches input and output simultaneously to 1 of 6 positions. Use one for each FX. I guess that will work but I did not think it through...

[mth5044]

yeah i would which brings me to my next problem should i just double up the circuit for the output oooorrrr shall i just  input and output of each effect running through the switches?

Yes, use DP6T rotary switches, or however many throws you need, I didnt really count, for the outputs too. But definitly check out geofex's site for switching.

[lindstrom]

ok thankyou? but if i had four in and four out from the fx wouldnt i need 8dpt switches? or would it be 4dpt with 2 pole?

also has anyone used this website for components? https://taweber.powweb.com/store/

i was thinking of ordering this enclosure from there


theres also some smaller ones if anyones interested

[mth5044]

Ah those are nice. Where are they located on the site? I couldn't seem to find them.

[lindstrom]

https://taweber.powweb.com/store/encord.htm

does anybody recommend a good distortion preferably for metal which i could make a few series of diodes which i could switch between to get some different sounds? i was looking at Howies metal simplex?
also im trying to find a good simple phase circuit but they all seem to have tons of components, surely its unnecessary, ive built filter which can get up to 180 degrees phasing issues after the roll off but obviously its not a problem after its rolled off :-)

[lindstrom]

ok ive sorted out a wiring system but it involves alot of wires :/, also cant find any good enclosures i might use a bread bin lol

[mth5044]

Yikes. That is a lot of wiring, and one mess up...yikes.

I hope you read the switching articles that were posted up somewhere in this thread. I'm sure you can do this a lot easier with relays or some kind of buffer switching or something.

[R.G.]

ok ive sorted out a wiring system but it involves alot of wires :/, also cant find any good enclosures i might use a bread bin lol

You're working needlessly hard at this. It's already been done. Go read "A Programmable Fx Switching System" at GEO - http://www.geofex.com

[flo]

The Geofex description of the "Ibanez ue400" way of doing it (rotary switches can be used to implement this):
http://www.geofex.com/Article_Folders/fxswitchr/fxselex4.gif

[lindstrom]

ahh thank you guys especially flo that diagrams perfect apart from inc my LED's but they can be easily implemented.
also i'm using distortion as one of my effects obviously, but i wanted to implement diode combination switching, can nay of you recommend a reasonably understandable circiut where i can do it? cheers i've been looking at the shakka braddah 4 but im not 100% on how mosfets work.

[flo]

Perhaps try a "toneplug":
Jackplugs each with a diode clipping combination that you like. They can be plugged into a female jack in your distortion that is connected to the PBC where the clipping diodes should be connected making diode clipper switching easy.

From my notes:
------------------------

Tone Plug - Switchable Diode clippers in a jack
http://www.buildyourownclone.com/board/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=11660&hilit=Tone+Plug

Here's a few of my Tone Plugs. A lot of you have asked how it all goes together. Well, here's a few pics of a few combos.
Notice the ground lug is actually cut off. We use the Tip and Ring for the circuit only. These get heat shrinked before they are sold. You really don't want the components grounding out against the barrel.

The tone plugs are stereo aka Tip/Ring/Sleeve.

As far as how it's wired, those aren't just TRS jacks, those are Switching TRS jacks. If I understand your question correctly .... Yes, the jack contains a set of clipping components that is "switched out" when you insert a plug into it. Then the signal diverts to whatever you've got soldered into the (now inserted) plug. Remove the plug, and signal is routed back to the components hardwired on the jack.

The clippers on the jack are wired across the N/C (normally closed) set of contacts on the tip and ring. The clippers in the plugs are wired across the tip and ring.

------------------

[snap]

interesting avatar, lindstrom!
there were times when RDV almost got banned for using a (non-animated) hotpants picture. 

[lindstrom]

ahhh cool flo that seems like a very interesting concept but the only down side would be that you would have to carry a pocket full of them around all the time and you could lose them, so ill probably try and have switches instead, i like the concept though and will probably mention the idea in the project to show different route to go down,  also ive noticed that if you use led's as clipping diodes sometimes they light and sometimes they don't is this to do with the amount of signal going through it?

[lindstrom]

got some pics of my new bits testing led switching to indicate what effect im on.

[guilds100]

I looked at my UE400 today and forgot this was on the top of the unit. Hopefully it will help you out some. There is also a led error indicater that flashes if the same position is used twice.

[flo]

Cool pict!