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Projects => Build Reports => Topic started by: midwayfair on January 12, 2014, 08:21:31 PM

Title: Cosmo Tremolo - stereo tap tempo with all the things
Post by: midwayfair on January 12, 2014, 08:21:31 PM
This might be the most complicated tremolo pedal ever ... Stereo Tap Tempo Tremolo based in part on the Cardinal using essentially every feature of the TAPLFO. I think the only pins I didn't use are the basic tempo LED and the "next multiplier." The stereo switching is kind of cool. I set it up so that it can run in mono (left channel only), left mono in > stereo out, left TRS in > stereo out, and dual mono in > stereo out. The only thing it doesn't do is sum stereo inputs to mono ... except it kinda does because I also added Harmonic and Vibe modes via a DPDT on/off/on switch (it's accomplished a little different than the Cardinal, but similar cutoff frequencies and it sounds pretty awesome), so you could have a different effect in the right channel and cross it over in the vibe mode. :o

There's also Expression pedal input selectable between the Rate and Multiplier (he wanted the multiplier instead of depth, otherwise I would have used a 3PDT toggle instead of a rotary ... the multiplier is a pain) and sync in/sync out.

(http://jonpattonmusic.files.wordpress.com/2014/01/cosmo-tremolo.jpg?w=500)(http://jonpattonmusic.files.wordpress.com/2014/01/cosmo-tremolo-guts.jpg?w=500)(http://jonpattonmusic.files.wordpress.com/2014/01/cosmo-tremolo-3-e1389533728858.jpg?w=500)(http://jonpattonmusic.files.wordpress.com/2014/01/cosmo-tremolo-2-e1389533766642.jpg?w=500)

The jacks are drilled in the back with exactly enough room to put seven normal right angle plugs next to each other, but something like George L's or straight plugs will fit much easier.

This was for a customer in Switzerland. I hope he's happy with it, it was a HUGE amount of work figuring out all the wiring and switching and I'm not keen on ever building another regardless of price. :p

p.s. I did fix the mistake in the waveform graphic. :P
Title: Re: Cosmo Tremolo - stereo tap tempo with all the things
Post by: jubal81 on January 12, 2014, 08:34:23 PM
Holy Smokes. That's epic.  :o
And you perfed it ...

Hoping there's a demo forthcoming.
Title: Re: Cosmo Tremolo - stereo tap tempo with all the things
Post by: GrindCustoms on January 12, 2014, 08:36:01 PM
Wow! Gotta hear that thing!  8)

Been working on something similar too, but based on the STM, great job John.
Title: Re: Cosmo Tremolo - stereo tap tempo with all the things
Post by: midwayfair on January 12, 2014, 10:51:48 PM
Quote from: jubal81 on January 12, 2014, 08:34:23 PM
Hoping there's a demo forthcoming.

Sure, here's a clip. Direct to the Scarlett into GarageBand, sparkling clean for the amp (with the effects removed). Little bit of reverb. Don't really have time to do a video demo of this one.

[soundcloud]http://soundcloud.com/jon-patton-3/cosmo-tremolo[/soundcloud]

Square Wave stereo > sine wave stereo > Vibe mono (slightly offset wave for some lope) > Harmonic stereo > Vibe stereo (surprisingly awesome) > Harmonic mono
Title: Re: Cosmo Tremolo - stereo tap tempo with all the things
Post by: Matt on January 12, 2014, 11:46:03 PM
Simply amazing!
Title: Re: Cosmo Tremolo - stereo tap tempo with all the things
Post by: jubal81 on January 13, 2014, 01:49:47 AM
That sound is just stunning. Far and away best solid state tremolo I've ever heard. Seriously, Jon, that's a masterpiece.
Title: Re: Cosmo Tremolo - stereo tap tempo with all the things
Post by: midwayfair on January 13, 2014, 02:13:12 AM
Quote from: jubal81 on January 13, 2014, 01:49:47 AM
That sound is just stunning. Far and away best solid state tremolo I've ever heard. Seriously, Jon, that's a masterpiece.

Thanks, Jason. :) It's four FETzer valves, so it does sound a little tubey! The channels are almost identical to the Cardinal's full-range band.
Title: Re: Cosmo Tremolo - stereo tap tempo with all the things
Post by: bcalla on January 13, 2014, 04:12:31 AM
Very impressive!
Title: Re: Cosmo Tremolo - stereo tap tempo with all the things
Post by: rullywowr on January 13, 2014, 04:18:39 AM
That is simply just ridiculous...and on Vero too.  Nice work, Jon.
Title: Re: Cosmo Tremolo - stereo tap tempo with all the things
Post by: hoodoo on January 13, 2014, 04:23:32 AM
This is a fantastic build that sounds as good as it looks mate. That middle bit, vibe mono? was mesmerising, you should go write a song with it on that setting right now  :)
Title: Re: Cosmo Tremolo - stereo tap tempo with all the things
Post by: lincolnic on January 13, 2014, 04:53:05 AM
Holy crap. Incredible build, Jon!
Title: Re: Cosmo Tremolo - stereo tap tempo with all the things
Post by: alanp on January 13, 2014, 04:57:14 AM
That is insane!
Title: Re: Cosmo Tremolo - stereo tap tempo with all the things
Post by: Tremster on January 13, 2014, 08:43:33 AM
Yep. Mad. In a very cool way.
Title: Re: Cosmo Tremolo - stereo tap tempo with all the things
Post by: juansolo on January 13, 2014, 09:06:13 AM
Superb!  8)
Title: Re: Cosmo Tremolo - stereo tap tempo with all the things
Post by: Cortexturizer on January 13, 2014, 09:33:57 AM
I love it! Haven't expected this amount of drilling from ya Jon haha but I guess it was worth it, awesome stuff, sounds spectacular!
Title: Re: Cosmo Tremolo - stereo tap tempo with all the things
Post by: Ettore_M on January 13, 2014, 01:06:43 PM
Huge build! And a stunning artwork! Well done, Jon!  :D
I'm quite jealous of the guys that got it. This thing sounds amazing! :)

Hector
Title: Re: Cosmo Tremolo - stereo tap tempo with all the things
Post by: pickdropper on January 13, 2014, 01:47:49 PM
Wow Jon, that's great.  I can see why you wouldn't want to do another one.
Title: Re: Cosmo Tremolo - stereo tap tempo with all the things
Post by: Bret608 on January 13, 2014, 03:52:25 PM
It reminds me of a Dr. Scientist pedal...yes, it's on that level!  :)
Title: Re: Cosmo Tremolo - stereo tap tempo with all the things
Post by: LaceSensor on January 13, 2014, 04:34:13 PM
Amazing build

pretty Dr sci, although Ryan would have a 4 layer board in a 125B (!) the crazy legend
Title: Re: Cosmo Tremolo - stereo tap tempo with all the things
Post by: midwayfair on January 13, 2014, 04:41:11 PM
Quote from: LaceSensor on January 13, 2014, 04:34:13 PM
pretty Dr sci, although Ryan would have a 4 layer board in a 125B (!) the crazy legend

That circuit board could fit in a 125B even on perfboard (it's pretty much the same size as the one I used for my Tap Tempo Cardinal a while back, which was a two-layer PCB in a horizontal 125), but the 7 jacks and extra toggle and expression rotary --- nnnnnnnope.
Title: Re: Cosmo Tremolo - stereo tap tempo with all the things
Post by: DutchMF on January 13, 2014, 04:47:28 PM
That is a seriously kick-ass build Jon! Is there a reason you used 2 different types of jacks? Regardless, I bet if you would build more of these, they'd sell in a heartbeat. Top notch!!

Paul
Title: Re: Cosmo Tremolo - stereo tap tempo with all the things
Post by: midwayfair on January 13, 2014, 04:51:42 PM
Quote from: DutchMF on January 13, 2014, 04:47:28 PM
Is there a reason you used 2 different types of jacks?

Yes -- the enclosed jacks are switched. The right input and expression needed to be switched. I used the same type of jack for the left input even though it could have been a normal TRS open jack simply because it fit better and didn't look funny sticking out of the back. I used open jacks for the four on the "out" side because that was the only way they'd all fit and it saved me the trouble of figuring out where to ground the enclosure.
Title: Re: Cosmo Tremolo - stereo tap tempo with all the things
Post by: gtr2 on January 13, 2014, 05:16:42 PM
What, no 1590a  ;)

Awesome work Jon!

Josh
Title: Re: Cosmo Tremolo - stereo tap tempo with all the things
Post by: LaceSensor on January 13, 2014, 06:05:06 PM
Quote from: midwayfair on January 13, 2014, 04:41:11 PM
Quote from: LaceSensor on January 13, 2014, 04:34:13 PM
pretty Dr sci, although Ryan would have a 4 layer board in a 125B (!) the crazy legend

That circuit board could fit in a 125B even on perfboard (it's pretty much the same size as the one I used for my Tap Tempo Cardinal a while back, which was a two-layer PCB in a horizontal 125), but the 7 jacks and extra toggle and expression rotary --- nnnnnnnope.

Not tap tempo but:
(http://proguitarshop.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/t/r/tremollescence_blue_geo2.jpg)

6 knobs, 2 switches, hold mode, exp input (rate and depth), true stereo, pan/synch etc
Pretty impressive.
But I digress, and do not mean to take away from your work.
Title: Re: Cosmo Tremolo - stereo tap tempo with all the things
Post by: midwayfair on January 13, 2014, 06:09:42 PM
Quote from: LaceSensor on January 13, 2014, 06:05:06 PM
But I digress, and do not mean to take away from your work.

No, it's fine -- the Tremolescence was one of the pedals the customer and I discussed before I agreed to build for him, and I love the Dr. Scientist stuff. I wanted to ensure that he couldn't get an equivalent or better pedal from a commercial source first. (The closest he could get to everything he needed was the Goatkeeper, but I think he said it's not available anymore.)
Title: Re: Cosmo Tremolo - stereo tap tempo with all the things
Post by: danwelsh on January 13, 2014, 09:16:57 PM
That's nuts Jon....I dig it
Title: Re: Cosmo Tremolo - stereo tap tempo with all the things
Post by: stevewire on January 13, 2014, 11:40:58 PM
Really awesome Jon!!!
Title: Re: Cosmo Tremolo - stereo tap tempo with all the things
Post by: billstein on January 14, 2014, 12:56:07 AM
So impressive.
Title: Re: Cosmo Tremolo - stereo tap tempo with all the things
Post by: raulduke on January 14, 2014, 10:13:44 AM
Really cool build Jon.

I'm sure your customer will be stoked with it.
Title: Re: Cosmo Tremolo - stereo tap tempo with all the things
Post by: mshuptar on January 14, 2014, 11:27:58 AM
That's outstanding - the vibe-y part is way cool!
Title: Re: Cosmo Tremolo - stereo tap tempo with all the things
Post by: Jabulani Jonny on January 14, 2014, 02:39:25 PM
That thing is just insanity.  Holy moly.  Great build, but I'd be throwing in the towel about half-way through.  Some really good sounds out of it though.  I don't use tremolo much, so I haven't been tempted quite yet to build a replacement for the EH Pulsar that I have on my board. 

Again, great looking build. 
Title: Re: Cosmo Tremolo - stereo tap tempo with all the things
Post by: bassaround on January 15, 2014, 01:13:59 PM
Hi everyone!
I'm new!
I found tho thread looking for a goatkeeper, the pedal you built is amazing but does not have
the step sequencer and the external audio sync the goatkeeper has.
Does anyone of you has one to sell or can help me in constructing one (a friend of mine could do that but he has not the chip)?
Does anyone of you know something similar?

Sorry everyone for the intromission maybe I'm off-topic but I'm in love of that tremolo and i can't find a way to get something similar :(

Ciao
Andrea
Title: Re: Cosmo Tremolo - stereo tap tempo with all the things
Post by: midwayfair on January 15, 2014, 01:53:39 PM
Quote from: bassaround on January 15, 2014, 01:13:59 PM
Hi everyone!
I'm new!
I found tho thread looking for a goatkeeper, the pedal you built is amazing but does not have
the step sequencer and the external audio sync the goatkeeper has.
Does anyone of you has one to sell or can help me in constructing one (a friend of mine could do that but he has not the chip)?
Does anyone of you know something similar?

Sorry everyone for the intromission maybe I'm off-topic but I'm in love of that tremolo and i can't find a way to get something similar :(

Ciao
Andrea

I think the Goatkeeper uses the same chip that's used for the TAPLFO, but with different programming. The sequencer is on board in that. You could, however, trigger a 4017 step sequencer using this LFO. The 4017 is common a decade counter chip, and you can get them all over the place for under a dollar.

This pedal does have an external sync (it uses voltage as a clock source), with instructions provided in the TAPLFO. It would not actually be too difficult to treat an external audio source as a voltage source (like "strum tempo" on the TC Electronics stuff), but I have no idea how accurate it would be.
Title: Re: Cosmo Tremolo - stereo tap tempo with all the things
Post by: Guybrush on January 16, 2014, 04:05:28 PM
As someone who has been struggling with MusicPCB's Tap Tempo Tremolo for months, I am in awe.

As always, fantasic work.