Creating new sounds?

[The Rocket From The Tombs]

Does anyone know of any resources for learning to design pedals, instead of just following schematics. I don't mean just learning how to make a distorted sound but, then changing a few things in the schematic and giving it more bass or something. I want to create new unheard sounds and tones but, I haven't the first clue of how to go about that. Say I imagine a certain effect in my head, how could I learn to create that effect, in a stompbox form?

[Jdansti]

Well, you have to decide what type of circuit (building block) would produce the sound you want. Do you know all about filters, and clipping, and time effects (reverbs and delays)?

Before someone responds saying, "become an electrical engineer", I'd say that you have to start with the fundamentals before you can begin designing circuits.  It's sort of like saying, "I want to be an airplane pilot".  OK, that's doable, but you need to learn about the basics like lift, navigation, radio communications, etc. then you start learning to fly in steps until you have your license.

To learn about the different circuits, first, go to http://www.geofex.com/ and click on "Technology of the ..." and learn about filters, fuzzes, phasers, etc. and what makes them tick.  Learn what happens when you change input caps, clipping diodes, transistors, etc.  From there you can build on this foundation and begin using some of the circuit building blocks to create your own sounds.

Here are some other places to learn from:

http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/~jcgl/Scots_Guide/experiment/intro.html

Read the articles at http://www.beavisaudio.com/

http://www.muzique.com/schem/tips.htm

Hope this helps!

[darron]

this pops up bit. read EVERYTHING around here and similar resources for a few years is a good start (:


i like this link here for some simple explanations:
http://www.generalguitargadgets.com/richardo/distortion/index.html


it gets asked a bit:
http://www.diystompboxes.com/smfforum/index.php?topic=47235.0

[deadastronaut]

breadboard, breadboard , breadboard...

build a true bypass breadboard, and experiment with tried and tested simple circuits, and adjust everything too see/hear differences...

try out filters etc.....swap resistors for pots/trimmers etc....great fun...

[oldschoolanalog]

Check out Boscorelli's "The Stomp Box Cookbook".
He has a lot off good info on many of the "Ingredients" of f/x design in the "appendices". Including a chapter called "Cooking Up New Effects".
Also go to GEOFEX (link @ top of page) and read everything. RG has put so much useful info on there. A lot to read and digest bit you will be glad you did.
That and everything mentioned above.  

[bwanasonic]

I would advocate getting away from thinking "new unheard sounds and tones" need a new box or circuit. There are essentially infinite ways to use existing tools to get essentially infinite new unheard sounds and tones. And before you go re-inventing any wheels, don't be so sure that sound in your head hasn't already been heard before. I make a hobby of finding music that I've never heard before. I've been at it for over four decades, and I've never encountered a shortage. You might be better served listening to music than hunting through schematics. Or finding new ways to approach your instrument. Sometimes the answer is mechanical rather than electrical ( using a bow, vibrator, air gun, music box, to drive strings / pickups). Another really educational area is studying synthesizers and various methods of synthesis. Approaching the signal chain with an oscillator, envelope, filter, modulation, etc. concept can yield great results with available pedals combined with playing techniques. And speaking of playing techniques, that's really where to start when looking for new sounds. The really good players can get their new and unheard sounds and tones on acoustic guitars.

[bwanasonic]

Well, you have to decide what type of circuit (building block) would produce the sound you want. Do you know all about filters, and clipping, and time effects (reverbs and delays)?

My response was a classic case of not reading through previous replies before commenting. You basically said what I was trying to say.

K

[The Rocket From The Tombs]

Thanks for all the input! This should be more than enough stuff to get me started.

[Jdansti]

Well, you have to decide what type of circuit (building block) would produce the sound you want. Do you know all about filters, and clipping, and time effects (reverbs and delays)?

My response was a classic case of not reading through previous replies before commenting. You basically said what I was trying to say.

K

No problem!  I take that as a complement!

[petey twofinger]

you can find this around , its a lil light and unconventional , but for beginers i thought he did a great job with it , its more hacking than theory .

Handmade Electronic Music: The Art of Hardware Hacking

by nic collins .