String Ringer build.

[glops]

Glops, you know I found a cardboard box that was sized appropriately and created a cardboard mockup for testing. Just poke holes, put in your controls, label, make sure it's one where the lid lifts off easily so you can pop it open and work on it. Be aware not to burn the cardboard with your soldering iron.

there is a ton of trouble shooting. I am pretty sure my wiring is correct but there are still some glitches for me. But so close now. I've been working on this incrementally for like 5 years! A lot of the components are from the surplus shop, I'd just populate it a little bit at a time. SO close now.

Good call on the box. I have a shoe box under my couch that would work perfectly. I think I have everything in place except for the ldr/led or vactrol but I put a socket in. I also need to order pots and jacks, as well...

[Strategy]

So close now! A few more questions

- when effect is on there's low level oscillator sound in the background, esp noticeable at high frequencies. Trimmers don't seem to affect it much. My Maestro ring mod clone does this too; in fact the only ring mod I've used that doesn't seem to have this problem is my bandmates Moogerfooger ring modulator. Is there a trick to dealing with this? Or it's just part of it? I after the fact realized I didn't use shielded wire where recommended, will that affect VCO background bleed?

- is VCO out jack level supposed to be so low? I'm not sure it's a problem that it's so attenuated, as it's not a feature I'll use often, but by comparison the Maestro ring mod puts out a brutally hot signal out of its own VCO out. Can anyone let me know if this low level is consistent in their builds?

thanks again to all for the help on this big project
Strategy

[alanp]

I found the VCO out was damn loud, in fact I was able to calibrate it with the amp plugged into the VCO jack, and the volume set at *nothing*.

You can try adjusting the trimmer on the daughterboard if you're getting a lot of bleed through. I'm lazy, I didn't bother.

[glops]

Finally finished mine, but just the octave fuzz works. Did some debugging today but no dice. Was going to post some debug voltages but both of my meters stopped working. Total bummer!

[glops]

Hey guys. This is the first time I've ever posted voltages for anything. After a lot of head scratching and no success maybe you will be able to see something here. I've reflowed some joints, triple checked my wiring, didn't do any parts substituting. I built this on the 1.2 board. These are the voltages I got with the unit on and the vco and lfo off. Powered via onespot.

IC1

1 - 4.4V
2 - 4.4
3 - 4.4
4 - 8.77
5 - 4.37
6 - 4.39
7 - 4.39
8 - 4.4
9 - 4.4
10 -3.6
11 - 0
12 - 4.35
13 - 4.4
14 - 4.4

IC2

1 - 8.58V
2 - 7.34
3 - 8.04
4 - 9.4
5 - 7.95
6 - 8.75
7 - 1.5
8 - 6
9 - 8.03
10 -8.03
11 - 0
12 - 8.03
13 - 8.03
14 - 8.03

IC3


1 - 8.03V
2 - 8.03
3 - 8.00
4 - 9.48
5 - 9.48
6 - 8.03
7 - 8.02
8 - 1.88
9 - 8.03
10 - 6.78
11 - 0
12 - 8.03
13 - 8.03
14 - 8.03

IC4

1 - 4.41
2 - 4.41
3 - 4.41
4 - 0
5 - 4.35
6 - 4.41
7 - 4.41
8 - 8.77

Thanks, let me know if there is anything that looks bad. I haven't wanted a project to work this much in ages....

[Strategy]

Glops, look at the wiring. This is where all my issues were. Try plugging things into the LFO depth input, the VCO CV input, etc. I had things wired in such a way that the ring modulation section didn't engage until I inserted something in the jacks! I was able to tune and trouble shoot the ring modulation this way, then just re-figure out the wiring. The diagrams are well done but it is very easy to get wiring wrong on this project and I found all my errors were there and not on the board.

Strategy

[njkmonty]

you appear to have similar voltages to me on ic's 2 and 3  when mine wasnt working properly
mine where all around 8v too  i had a bad solder joint around voltage divider section, where one of the resistors wasnt connected to ground properly  so i was getting 8volts instead of 4!

this is my debugging of it
http://www.diystompboxes.com/smfforum/index.php?topic=107516.msg977782#msg977782

also mine also had similar symptons, a bit of fuzz but nothing else.

[glops]

Thanks guys. I'll do more poking around. I think I have everything wired up correctly. I did see your debug thread, njkmonty. Will check those connections next. Can't wait to get this fired up properly. The octave fuzz by itself is just as nasty as the Foxx Tone Machine. Like it a lot.

[glops]

Fixed  had a solder bridge on ic 3 that fudged up my vref. Cut that, remeasured and everything is awesome! I'm floored. Everything I wanted and more. This has been worth the wait. I'm in love...

[alanp]

Yeah, the Ring Stinger is pretty damn insane

[digi2t]

Fixed  had a solder bridge on ic 3 that fudged up my vref. Cut that, remeasured and everything is awesome! I'm floored. Everything I wanted and more. This has been worth the wait. I'm in love...

Yeah, it's one of those "pre-emptive strike" type pedals. Glad to hear that it's working.

[glops]

Here's my beast!

[ficelles]

Halfway through my String Ringer build and I can't find a 3nf cap for C8, has anyone else used 3.3nf?

Tia,

[Govmnt_Lacky]

Halfway through my String Ringer build and I can't find a 3nf cap for C8, has anyone else used 3.3nf?

Tia,

Original used a 3.3nF. 

[ficelles]

Thanks

Second newbie question, is it necessary to use all 8 header pins for the daughterboard? 4 of the 8 holes are concealed by the LT44s...

Tia,

[digi2t]

Thanks

Second newbie question, is it necessary to use all 8 header pins for the daughterboard? 4 of the 8 holes are concealed by the LT44s...

Tia,

The 4 inner pads are circuit connectors. The 4 outer pads are for added support. I highly recommend using all four for maximum stability.

[ficelles]

Thanks for the info, wishing I'd put the LT44s on last now...

[ficelles]

Getting there...

[ficelles]

In my build I've decided not to wire the external jacks so have jumpered Carrier and LFO Depth, I guess that is right?

Nearly ready to turn it on and see if it works...

[Edit] Well that was embarrassing. And the mistake is right there in the photo 

[ficelles]

And finished, with better switch wiring than my first attempt.