A greater understanding

[tremendous]

Hi all. Just wondering if anyone can point me to somewhere where I can start to get a greater understanding to *why* things are where they are in a schematic. I can easily follow them, build them and partially understand what's going on. I have various books, but many are general electronics, and i'm trying to find more info on such things as voltage dividers, and why you have certain resisters where you do etc. If that makes any sense at all? For example, i understand why you have input and output caps and i sort of understand about bias when using transistors, but i'm looking for more info on the guts of these schematics.

any help greatly appreciated!

d.

[Unbeliever]

Something I've been doing recently is searching all posts on this forums by RG, and reading through them one by one... of course also read through every article on geofex.com. Also, join the synth-diy list and checkout synth diy sites - in those 'circles' the average level of electronics knowledge and understanding is greater than your average pedal builder (no offense to anybody intended), and you can't help but have some of the wisdom rub off pretty quickly.

Here's one thread you might find useful:
http://www.diystompboxes.com/smfforum/index.php?topic=47572.0

In general the approach is read, experiment, understand .... repeat.

[tremendous]

thanks man. i'd seen dano's version of that thread on his website, but this will be a good read. good suggestion on the synth sites too. any you can personally recommend?

[Zben3129]

I think I've learned the most by building things that don't work. Every time I debug something I learn something. Either I have a voltage that is wrong and learn about biasing op-amps and transistors, or learn about voltage dividers and current draw. Or I learn how to not solder 

Also, posting here is extremely helpful. Always good answers.

The more you build, the more you learn. And a breadboard is DEFINITELY a great tool, get a big one.

Zach

[tremendous]

agreed about the breadboard. also agreed about asking questions here - but it's almost like i want to know what i am asking questions about before i ask them! that thread posted above has certainly helped!

[fogwolf]

thanks man. i'd seen dano's version of that thread on his website, but this will be a good read. good suggestion on the synth sites too. any you can personally recommend?

The electro-music.com SDIY forum is amazing.