What kind of capacitors do you guys like to use?

[Pedal love]

I don't usually use ceramics for interstage coupling, but I would use most any capacitor.

[phector2004]

I look for four things in a capacitor:

• the price; the cheaper the better
• the rating; don't want no 'sploding caps
• the lead spacing; gotta fit the board
• the height; gotta fit under those pots and switches

Beyond that, quality be damned.  If I was a recording engineer who mastered recordings of chamber music, I might care.   But it's rock and roll, for crying out loud.

HALLELUJAH!!! 

I'll second that HALLELUJAH!


A better question to ask is why different materials are used to make capacitors. What NEED was the designer and manufacturer trying to fill?

Another "better question" for beginners is: why are certain types of capacitors used in certain places in circuits? I.e. – why are polarized electrolytics, or tantalum, or mylar, or a garden variety ceramic cap being used?

The debate about caps comes up almost as often as the debate about op amps. In both cases, I've never seen any hard data to support someone's assertions about what type of something is better, or that it's the key to getting a certain sound. For effects pedals, I have a real feeling that most people who try to get something down to a gnat's arse in this respect are basically using a sniper rifle, to hit the side of a barn at 10 yards.

I tend to use whatever I have available. Yes, the greenies from Radio Shack are just fine, they don't bite, and they won't make you impotent.

The idea of ceramic caps being microphonic is a new one to me, however, and maybe worth testing.

Greenies rock!

And it had never occurred to me either until I saw that effectology video. Tried it out, and I think by squishing the cap, you're bringing the capacitor "plates" closer together and letting go lets them move apart... so the number of electrons it can hold fluctuates, and a small current is generated? (Just my theory)

[Electron Tornado]

Greenies rock!

And it had never occurred to me either until I saw that effectology video. Tried it out, and I think by squishing the cap, you're bringing the capacitor "plates" closer together and letting go lets them move apart... so the number of electrons it can hold fluctuates, and a small current is generated? (Just my theory)

Is that one of those videos by Electro Harmonix? If so, do you recall which one?

[Ronsonic]

A better question to ask is why different materials are used to make capacitors. What NEED was the designer and manufacturer trying to fill?

That's an interesting question. I read a white paper years ago from an engineer at Sprague who pointed out that every single capacitor type ever introduced is still in production for some purpose or another. Even though most of those designs were intended to replace the earlier designs. All of those cap types still have a place, somewhere.

The idea of ceramic caps being microphonic is a new one to me, however, and maybe worth testing.

See, there's always new ways to play with this stuff. 

[Electron Tornado]

Amazing what one can find....Google is your friend.....

http://www.kemet.com/kemet/web/homepage/kechome.nsf/weben/technical%20papers

There are some papers in there that discuss microphonics. It looks like there are also some that discuss applications of certain material types and one or two that have a comparisons of different materials.

[12Bass]

My choice of capacitors depends upon the circuit as well as the application.  For hi-fi purposes, I would tend to be more discerning than if building, say, a distortion pedal.  And the goals are different too.  Transparency is desirable in hi-fi, but "poorer" capacitors might add an interesting character in an effects pedal.  

If the cap is in the signal path, I've found that polypropylene caps are a bit clearer sounding.  For power supply decoupling, ceramics are the usual choice.  The Panasonic ECQ-V series are decent if you need a large value film capacitor.  Panasonic FM series electrolytics are high quality.  I avoid electrolytics in the signal path if possible; though if necessary, I'll often bypass with a small polypropylene.  But, again, this depends upon the application.  Sometimes the distortion generated by an electrolytic in the signal path might add "character"....  

Link: http://greygum.net/sbench/sbench102/caps.html

[phector2004]

Here's the link!!

[Gus]

People there is a lot of information on the web about caps.

One there are different types of ceramics C0G, class 1, class 2, class 3, and more.  Some are piezoelectric some are not.  different temp stability etc.  One just can't post ceramic you need to post type.

Some caps have polar some have nonpolar dielectrics (not the same meaning as the use in electrolytic caps)

Often the DC voltage difference between the plates is the cause of the change in sound.

Read the PDFs here this is the good stuff IMO.

http://main.diycore.com/index.php?categories=Passive%20Components

THERE IS SCIENCE to stuff  all else is Blah Blah Blah