New pedal builder...What does what?...What goes where?

[kimanistar]

Can someone please explain to me how potentiometers ,capacitors,resistors, and diodes relate to getting a certain sound?I figured out how a breadboard works so I know I'm ready to start experimenting.I'm looking to make analog mods chorus,flange,phase,reverb and octave as well as tube screamer and big muff mods.

[.Mike]

Hello,

Great questions. Not easy to answer, however.

Start with the second link at the top of the page-- DIY FAQ.

That will get you going.

Good luck!

Mike

[kimanistar]

Hello,

Great questions. Not easy to answer, however.

Start with the second link at the top of the page-- DIY FAQ.

That will get you going.

Good luck!

Mike
[/qu

thanx man and that was a great help...but i guess i'm looking 2 b more of designer and not a builder...i just wanna b able 2 write a spec of a pedal that i designed and hand it off 2 someone who can do all the heavy lifting...so i guess i was looking 4 someone 2 tell me how i get certain sounds....the breadboard seems very simple 2 use...i just wanna what these do and don't do so i will know how 2 use them...

[R.G.]

Did you hear the story about how to get one of those acres-big, billiards-table flat achingly green lawns found at some English country houses?

No, it really is relevant.

[digi2t]

Did you hear the story about how to get one of those acres-big, billiards-table flat achingly green lawns found at some English country houses?

No, it really is relevant.

The good ole fashion'd way... inherit one.

[runmikeyrun]

Did you hear the story about how to get one of those acres-big, billiards-table flat achingly green lawns found at some English country houses?

No, it really is relevant.

I dunno, use the Search feature?? 

[joelindsey]

Can someone please explain to me how potentiometers ,capacitors,resistors, and diodes relate to getting a certain sound?I figured out how a breadboard works so I know I'm ready to start experimenting.I'm looking to make analog mods chorus,flange,phase,reverb and octave as well as tube screamer and big muff mods.

Hope you like to read!

I found the various articles on Beavis site very helpful and inspiring when I was first learning.  http://www.beavisaudio.com/techpages/

[R.G.]

For those who missed it, the "English Lawn" story can be found in this *remarkably* similar topic:

http://www.diystompboxes.com/smfforum/index.php?topic=82126.0

[J0K3RX]

I really like pancakes!!! A lot!!! Sometimes I see thing that make me think that I am seeing things...? The wire that attaches to the resistor is not supposed to be there so I removed it and now it doesn't work? If it's right then WTF am I doing wrong? Did I mention that I really like Pancakes!!!

[seedlings]

1) read until you understand Ohm's law and  power equations
2) read until you understand AC and DC voltage, and how they can often share the same path
3) read until you understand how a diode works, and it's properties
4) read until you understand how a transistor works
5) read until you understand transistor bias
6) read until you understand capacitance and it's relationship to frequency
7) read until you understand opamps
8) build a simple circuit like a booster or fuzz
9) change some values of components based on your understanding of 1-7
10) review 1-7
11) build a more complex circuit
12) change components in the circuit
13) repeat 10-13

CHAD

[LucifersTrip]

remember R.G.'s question awhile ago about beginner curriculum. I still say a hands on approach at the beginning, then move into the theory.

kimanistar has a breadboard and is ready to roll, so go for it...

here's a perfect one to answer your questions;
"Can someone please explain to me how potentiometers ,capacitors,resistors, and diodes relate to getting a certain sound?"



on your breadboard, swap out each potentiometer, capacitor, resistor and diode with a different value/type and see how it effects the sound

good luck

[frank_p]

Nature, garden ,blooming apple tree and biting the forbidden fruit. Ohh! Ohh! Its so good !  C'mon do it...   

[markeebee]

+1 to what LucifersTrip said.

Also there was a thread last year (I think) where members took it in turns to analyse the muff comoponent-by-component.  I found that extremely useful but, to be honest, I'm disinclined to search for it. That's somebody elses job.

[Taylor]

+1 to what LucifersTrip said.

Also there was a thread last year (I think) where members took it in turns to analyse the muff comoponent-by-component.  I found that extremely useful but, to be honest, I'm disinclined to search for it. That's somebody elses job.

http://www.diystompboxes.com/smfforum/index.php?topic=78111.0

...and don't forget to read geofex.com
Yes, all of it.

[deadastronaut]

+1 on breadboarding...breadboard everything and tweak...and you'll learn......

[CodeMonk]

remember R.G.'s question awhile ago about beginner curriculum. I still say a hands on approach at the beginning, then move into the theory.

kimanistar has a breadboard and is ready to roll, so go for it...

here's a perfect one to answer your questions;
"Can someone please explain to me how potentiometers ,capacitors,resistors, and diodes relate to getting a certain sound?"



on your breadboard, swap out each potentiometer, capacitor, resistor and diode with a different value/type and see how it effects the sound

good luck

Just one thing to add...
swap out JUST ONE PART AT A TIME, then listen.
Then swap out 2 at a time.

[digi2t]

Did you hear the story about how to get one of those acres-big, billiards-table flat achingly green lawns found at some English country houses?

No, it really is relevant.

The good ole fashion'd way... inherit one.

I apologize for my answer above R.G.. I wasn't aware of the thread, and thought it was a rhetorical question. That other thread is an excellent read, funny, yet poignant.

Insofar as the Big Muff modding goes (there's probably a pile of people that already know this, but for those who don't), I've used this site in the past; http://www.kitrae.net/music/music_big_muff.html. It's pretty decent on explaining the cause/effect of modding certain components of the BM, as well as everthing else BM related. Also, for less technically brillant people such as myself, breaks down the sections of the BM into easily digestable sections  .

[Ice-9]

I just love the question. Sorta asking what do the components do and how do they work so that he can describe something that he designed.

My question is how the hell can you design something if you dont know what the parts are or how it works ?

+1 on read everything at geofex, or even do a simple online electronics course. Better still breadboard the circuit you found the schematic for. eg pick a bigmuff as thats one you say you would like to modify, play with it and come back with some specific questions.

[deadastronaut]

My question is how the hell can you design something if you dont know what the parts are or how it works ?

i'm not sure, but i'm  looking forward to it , whatever it does!.....

[kimanistar]

Can someone please explain to me how potentiometers ,capacitors,resistors, and diodes relate to getting a certain sound?I figured out how a breadboard works so I know I'm ready to start experimenting.I'm looking to make analog mods chorus,flange,phase,reverb and octave as well as tube screamer and big muff mods.

Hope you like to read!

I found the various articles on Beavis site very helpful and inspiring when I was first learning.  http://www.beavisaudio.com/techpages/

thanx