Hey, so I've just built a modded Moodring and even though it's not exactly finished, I got so excited playing it that I couldn't not share it!
I changed the tone section a bit to get a flatter response in the mids (I prefer the sound, and find the feedback pot reacts better that way).
I also added a slam switch that shorts pin 2 and 3 of both the feedback and the depth pots. The level trimpot helps get the desired amount of slam effect.
I boxed it and played it for a while. It's such a GREAT circuit!!
Then I let it sleep and while I was away I had an idea... I've wanted a reverb with modulation controls for a while (like the Keeley vibe-o-verb), and it occurred to me I could modulate the predelay to get that effect. Since the feedback loop includes the PT2399, even the tails should be modulated with the feedback pot cranked.
So I built a GrindCustoms modulation board on vero, with a B2K depth pot and C250k rate pot (also omitted the 1K in parallel with the led) and it worked!
There was just enough room to add the two pots and one switch. It would have been nice to use mini 9mm plastic pots for the modulation section, but it seemed just impossible.
The modulation is very interactive with the feedback pot, which is not surprising. There's a bit of a learning curve, but all in all it's still quite simple to operate. And man do I LOVE the sounds I can get with this reverb now! Straight up pseudo spring reverb, cavernous feedbacks, haunting vibrato verb, slightly modulated subtle reverb.
The wiring is quite messy... it was much cleaner before adding the modulation board... (FYI the noise was present from the beginning, and isn't a consequence of my poor wiring).
I still want to polish the enclosure a bit more and then stamp the controls, but I feel too lazy to take it apart again... :)
From left to right the controls are:
Modulation rate / depth / switch (on-off)
Predelay / Feedback / Tone
Reverb
On-off / Slam
(http://img4.hostingpics.net/pics/719114Moodringmod.jpg) (http://www.hostingpics.net/viewer.php?id=719114Moodringmod.jpg)
(http://img4.hostingpics.net/pics/380308Moodringmod1.jpg) (http://www.hostingpics.net/viewer.php?id=380308Moodringmod1.jpg)
(http://img4.hostingpics.net/pics/706108Moodringpcb.jpg) (http://www.hostingpics.net/viewer.php?id=706108Moodringpcb.jpg)
great idea and well executed. Enjoy it!
Oh man, that's just awesome! I wished that I could add modulation as soon as I built mine up and turned the delay time knob while it was still decaying, but I had no more room to add anything. Now I see yours and I want it so I'm trying to figure out where I can add two more pots to mine. I wish I had done what you did and scootched the board down to make room for another row of pots at the top. Would have made the top mount jacks a lot easier to put in too (I've got one directly over the PT chip and socket!)
Now I'm thinking of freefloating the brick in the space where one normally puts batteries and wiring it in from there. That would make room for 4 more pots on my layout. The extra 2 could be for dry amount and direct delay amount, which are another two that I wish I had since I built it up it with the mods in the moodring mods thread and added a direct delay path.
I would love to hear a demo of that beast! Also, where did you get those low-pro washers on the stomp switches?
Quote from: neandrewthal on August 27, 2016, 02:06:09 PM
Now I'm thinking of freefloating the brick in the space where one normally puts batteries and wiring it in from there. That would make room for 4 more pots on my layout. The extra 2 could be for dry amount and direct delay amount, which are another two that I wish I had since I built it up it with the mods in the moodring mods thread and added a direct delay path.
Ah ah pedal building drives you crazy right? :) I so understand that...
I'll try and record a few sounds when I have the time. This pedal's just magical.
Quote from: Boba7 on August 27, 2016, 07:25:09 PM
Quote from: neandrewthal on August 27, 2016, 02:06:09 PM
Now I'm thinking of freefloating the brick in the space where one normally puts batteries and wiring it in from there. That would make room for 4 more pots on my layout. The extra 2 could be for dry amount and direct delay amount, which are another two that I wish I had since I built it up it with the mods in the moodring mods thread and added a direct delay path.
Ah ah pedal building drives you crazy right? :) I so understand that...
I'll try and record a few sounds when I have the time. This pedal's just magical.
Oh I've long since gone crazy from building 118 synth circuit boards. I've just found a new outlet for my craziness now 8)
Here's a few sounds I can get from it:
(crappy sound, Iphone clip, I don't have time to do a proper recording)
Very cool video. I haven't started building mine yet, truly inspiring.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
That sounds so cool! Thanks for making the demo.
I was thinking about mine and how if I add modulation I would want to add a CV input too. Then it occurred to me: why not just a CV input? Then I use and expression pedal as a tremolo arm and plug in an external LFO when I want that.
Thanks! I really really enjoy playing it. So many possible tones!
Quote from: neandrewthal on August 28, 2016, 03:23:32 PM
I was thinking about mine and how if I add modulation I would want to add a CV input too. Then it occurred to me: why not just a CV input? Then I use and expression pedal as a tremolo arm and plug in an external LFO when I want that.
Ha ha I can't wait to see a demo now! :D
Very haunting.. in a good way! Sounds great.
Cody
Quote from: selfdestroyer on August 30, 2016, 03:44:16 AM
Very haunting.. in a good way! Sounds great.
Cody
Thanks!
So I replaced the slam footswitch with a modulation footswitch (and a rate led next to the modulation controls. I put a red one, might change for a blue one, like the on/off switch). I also changed R31 to a 10k to get more feedback (and oscillation) with the modulation. Now I can have long modulated tails, and even a really nice modulated oscillation (way better in my opinion than the stock non modulated oscillation).
All the controls are highly interactive, which is really nice.
Can you point me to how to wire in the modulation board to the moodring? I found the board on GC's site and on the vero site so I know how to get that built up. Just need to understand where to add it into the MoodRing board.
(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-80ID5jcny8Q/U02DfXetl6I/AAAAAAAAGwQ/yZR6vQxuOdI/s1600/Grind+Customs+FX+DeProfundis+Modulation+Daughterboard+Rev2.png)
Would the [Time 1] wire just go to lug 1 of the space "predelay" control and [Time 2/3] to lugs 2/3 of the predelay?
Quote from: cajone5 on August 31, 2016, 03:11:42 PM
Would the [Time 1] wire just go to lug 1 of the space "predelay" control and [Time 2/3] to lugs 2/3 of the predelay?
Yep, exactly.
I used that layout too. My modulation switch only connects sw2 with Time2&3 though, I didn't care for the connection to ground. Keep in mind that even with the depth pot at minimum, there's still modulation, so you want to put it on a switch.
I also didn't use the shape switch. I just put a wire between Shape Sw2 and Shape Sw3 (for triangle wave, when Shape Sw1 makes it a square wave, not so interesting with reverb, in my opinion)
I omitted the 1k in parallel with D1, and used a 2kB for depth and 250kC for rate (I recommend those values)
And if you can change R31 on the Moodring, lowering it to 12k or even 10k makes it really awesome with modulation (since with heavy modulation the feedback isn't as pronounced as without)
:)
Sounds really great! I might have to revisit this circuit. Thanks for sharing.
Marty
Got everything wired up except the P-FLO board I ordered from GC (still waiting for it to arrive). Really looking forward to finally wrapping this build up. Thanks for the demo and advice on how to make it happen.
I'm really glad you're building it! :)
Don't forget to change R31 to 10k, it works better in my experience with the modulation (when you switch on the modulation you need a bit more feedback than without)
And I still LOVE this reverb and really need to finish the enclosure properly!
Have fun!
That is beautiful!
I have a Moodring board and a modulation board. MUST BUILD!!
WOW. That sounds incredible man
Thanks guys!!
Just a precision: the modulation doesnt really work until the predelay is around 8 or 9 o'clock on the pot. If it's shorter, say in the first 5th of the rotation, it doesnt work (not enough delaytime to modulate I guess. Or maybe it comes from the modulation circuit itself)
But it's actually a good thing since having a little predelay with a modulated reverb is great! It helps preserve the dry tone.
I keep playing it and so I cant find the time to take it apart and finish it! :)
And now the 2nd footswith engages the modulation and the toggleswith has been replaced by a rate led for modulation.
Really inspiring build!! (buildS, if i consider also the dirtbaby)
In the next few days, when i have all the components, i'll begin to populate my boards, with the hope to make something as good as yours!
Kudos to you ;D
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year everyone. Man I've been away to long but it seems there has been some nice new additional mods to this circuit. I've dusted off the hot iron and I'm ready to continue building this beast
Glad you like it!
I really really enjoy this reverb with the added modulation.
If you do it don't forget to socket R31 (feedback). With the modulation engaged, you want a bit more feedback.
Also, a couple weeks ago I changed C11 to 470pf, to get an even brighter sound with the tone pot maxed.
Quote from: Boba7 on September 22, 2016, 08:57:32 PM
Thanks guys!!
Just a precision: the modulation doesnt really work until the predelay is around 8 or 9 o'clock on the pot. If it's shorter, say in the first 5th of the rotation, it doesnt work (not enough delaytime to modulate I guess. Or maybe it comes from the modulation circuit itself)
But it's actually a good thing since having a little predelay with a modulated reverb is great! It helps preserve the dry tone.
I keep playing it and so I cant find the time to take it apart and finish it! :)
And now the 2nd footswith engages the modulation and the toggleswith has been replaced by a rate led for modulation.
Building a new and improved one of these and am digging around to figure out how to add the modulation rate LED. Do you mind sharing how you wired that up? I saw someone say rate pot lug 3 with a resister (2.7k to LED + leg to ground. Is that what you did?
http://www.madbeanpedals.com/forum/index.php?topic=23518.0
No it was pin 7 of the lfo IC (or pin 1 or 3 of the depth pot, can't remember, the one that goes to pin7 of the IC anyways), with a 1k to the led, and another 1k in parallel with the led (otherwise you don't see the pulse as well)
Sounds great man, you can sit and play for hours and tap new sounds. I just got my moodring working so next are the mods
Got my revised one built up over the weekend with even more control over the modulation and it really sounds awesome thanks to your suggestions. Will get a build thread up soon.
Quote from: cajone5 on April 17, 2017, 11:58:57 AM
Got my revised one built up over the weekend with even more control over the modulation and it really sounds awesome thanks to your suggestions. Will get a build thread up soon.
I can't wait to see it!!
I found that lowering C11 to 470pf allowed for a brighter reverb sound (I also changed the tone section a bit)
I swapped the feedback resistor and C11 per your notes. Definitely plenty bright now and works great with the mods. The tone knob is great and goes from pretty dark to very bright and in your face which is kind of fun with the added modulation. The rate LED for the mod worked perfectly per your notes as well.
Quote from: cajone5 on April 17, 2017, 01:43:42 PM
I swapped the feedback resistor and C11 per your notes. Definitely plenty bright now and works great with the mods. The tone knob is great and goes from pretty dark to very bright and in your face which is kind of fun with the added modulation. The rate LED for the mod worked perfectly per your notes as well.
Awesome! Glad I could help!
Just ordered my Moodring board and I'm really looking forward to this. Thanks for the reports here. They will be very handy. One note about the video, I'm running Safari on macOS 10.12.3 and the video link does not show up in the thread. Had to get out my devel tools and dig through the code to find the video. :)
Just a quick word to let you know that I changed the feedback section of my Moodring, almost as described in the Moodring mods topic. Basically the feedback pot only affects the delay section, and so I can bring it on the verge of oscillation, with modulation engaged, then hitting the BTDR2. And it sounds AMAZING. To my ears it's even more usable than what I had previously.
I didn't add another feedback section for the whole circuit as I didn't feel the need for it.
If anyone's interested, I'll post a schematic here or in the Moodring mods topic.
Also I changed replaced the tone section with the one from the Tenebrion/Box of Hall, which I feel is nicer. It still goes to the following opamp so that you can have CRAZY loud reverb with a turn of a trimpot.
Anyways, I thought I should share that.
:)
Interested in mod info. Also the demo. I have plans to swap a couple things on mine already (pot tapers on the shape control and mod speed control) so I may use that opportunity to redo the feedback depending on what's involved.
Please post, I've gone back and forth with the mods so many times already. With trying to determine what I want and what sounds better to my ears I literally wore the board out ::) I couldn't help myself, this pedal sounds to good to not want to screw around with it and get more out of it. So in the end I am ordering another board and this time I will be gentle with it and build it one time ::)
I cant box up a board that looks like it was beaten to death. I changed the Dwell pot to the feedback mod then added the new dwell pot mod off pins 3 & 7 on the PT2339. I did get too much crazy oscillation if I had the feedback up to high and then the Dwell up as well. I was wondering If a lower value pot would help that.
Yes I will definitely keep you guys posted, I just have to check if I'm 100% positive it sounds better to my ears. Yesterday it definitely did. Some really interesting sounds. More later! :)
Ok so here's what I did to my moodring... I warn you it's kind of a lot of work... A bit ridiculous even... :D But I LOOOOOOVE it!
1 - replaced everything that goes to pin 6 of the PT2399 by the Deluxe Pitch Pirate delay time and modulation section. Gives me a much wider modulation even when the time knob is at 0. I made a vero layout for that. Obviously I made the time pot much smaller than on the Pitch Pirate.
2 - replaced the tone section with the one from the Tenebrion, only with a 100nf instead of 22nf, and a 10kA instead of 10kB.
3 - replaced the feedback path with an only PT2399 feedback path, as seen here: http://www.madbeanpedals.com/forum/index.php?topic=20056.0
Except I changed a few values to have brighter repeats that wont muddy the sound too much (not bassy). I find that this way it goes really well into the BTDR2, even when the tone is very dark (100nf can get very dark)
What I love is that I can have modulating oscillation that goes into the brick, which sounds awesome.
And when the time pot is turned up you start hearing the echoes more distinctly, which kinda sounds like a great multi tap delay. Made me think a bit of the EQD Afterneath too.
4 - another slight cap change : C11 is 470pf, C13 is 150nf.
Anyways, here's the schematics, not including the Deluxe Pitch Pirate section :
(https://img15.hostingpics.net/pics/147444MoodringMods.jpg) (https://www.hostingpics.net/viewer.php?id=147444MoodringMods.jpg)
Here's the Pitch Pirate delay / modulation vero :
(https://img15.hostingpics.net/pics/647309DLXPitchPirateLFOwavetrimpot.png) (https://www.hostingpics.net/viewer.php?id=647309DLXPitchPirateLFOwavetrimpot.png)
I eventually used a wave pot, not a trimpot. And my delay pot is a 50kB with a 120k across pin 1&2, so about 35k.
I'll try to post a video soon to show some settings.
And finally, a couple pics of my build. Please don't mock the gut shot, I literally tortured that poor pcb, it's such a frankenstein build... :D
"Here, Air" is a song by John Frusciante that I love.
(https://img15.hostingpics.net/pics/211915HereAirfront.jpg) (https://www.hostingpics.net/viewer.php?id=211915HereAirfront.jpg)
(https://img15.hostingpics.net/pics/942736HereAirpcb.jpg) (https://www.hostingpics.net/viewer.php?id=942736HereAirpcb.jpg)
That's truly awesome and quite impressive -- I don't know that I'd have the energy to figure out how to do all that on my current mood ring but I'd be interested to see if a vero layout could be made (vero on this kind of circuit is well beyond my layout abilities) or some simple steps to modifying the madbean build to do all this. I am sure, given enough time I could figure it out, but I have too many competing projects to figure all this out :) Maybe once I see the demo I'll change my mind though ;)
That sounds pretty excellent to me. Has a really nice depth to the sound (no pun intended).
Thanks!
Haha I'm totally ashamed of the gut shot, but oh well...
I'll definitely record a quick demo when I get the time! :)
Ooof that's gonna take time to absorb and put into effect. You really changed alot on this now. I ordered a new board as well and have it sitting on my bench waiting. Cant wait to hear how yours sounds now