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Projects => Build Reports => Topic started by: LaceSensor on January 01, 2015, 06:39:29 PM

Title: Dirtbaby - First build of 2015
Post by: LaceSensor on January 01, 2015, 06:39:29 PM
Hi

Populated the board yesterday, and got it boxed up today, so officially completed on the 1st January 2015
Its the Dirtbaby- I was lucky that someone gave up their PCB for me to try having missed the limited run

I think my PT chip isnt the cleanest; I have about 20 from Tayda that all suck a bit / motorboard on long(er) delay times.
I will try and get a legit clean sounding PT before I do any side by sides, but suffice to say it does cop the vibe of a real Memory Man
The modulation is particularly nice, and the Rate control is a welcome addition.
The only mods I made were to have a 100kb delay control, with a 220k resistor in parallel (for about 70k) allowing for longer delay times.
Oh, actually, I also used polarised caps for the 2.2uF; hopefully I got them the right way round - I just compared to the DEM schematic and went from there. The one connected to the depth control is definitely right anyway ;)
I chose to wire it for true bypass.

For the graphics I just tried to ape the real deal again. Also, this time I went for a landscape orientation with top mounted jacks. Previously with the Dirtbags I had built them portrait; thanks for the inspiration from some other Dbag builds for that.

Here are the money shots:

(http://i1178.photobucket.com/albums/x374/LaceSensor1/IMG_1064_zps9507e1c2.jpg)

(http://i1178.photobucket.com/albums/x374/LaceSensor1/IMG_1070_zpse38c91ca.jpg)

(http://i1178.photobucket.com/albums/x374/LaceSensor1/IMG_1072_zps02f3f2d7.jpg)

now with video


Title: Re: Dirtbaby - First build of 2015
Post by: Cortexturizer on January 01, 2015, 07:01:33 PM
Insanenly tidy and beautiful
Title: Re: Dirtbaby - First build of 2015
Post by: LaceSensor on January 01, 2015, 07:30:29 PM
Quote from: Cortexturizer on January 01, 2015, 07:01:33 PM
Insanenly tidy and beautiful

thanks dude
Title: Re: Dirtbaby - First build of 2015
Post by: cooder on January 01, 2015, 08:00:32 PM
Snap! Great build, tidy looks all around, the works! Goodness in a box! 8)
Title: Re: Dirtbaby - First build of 2015
Post by: Hogharry on January 01, 2015, 08:04:08 PM
The layout just looks perfect. Lovely build.
Title: Re: Dirtbaby - First build of 2015
Post by: chordball on January 01, 2015, 08:05:36 PM
Looks nice! I'm anxious to hear some sound clips of this one.
Title: Re: Dirtbaby - First build of 2015
Post by: selfdestroyer on January 01, 2015, 08:08:53 PM
Wow this looks great. Looks like it fit perfectly in the 1590BB. Can't wait to get my hands on one.

Cody
Title: Re: Dirtbaby - First build of 2015
Post by: playpunk on January 01, 2015, 08:20:44 PM
Excellent! Can't wait for this ine


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Title: Re: Dirtbaby - First build of 2015
Post by: alanp on January 01, 2015, 09:18:14 PM
Been slowing down on the pedal front... but damn I need to build this one!
Title: Re: Dirtbaby - First build of 2015
Post by: Guybrush on January 01, 2015, 09:51:20 PM
Great work on all fronts. Really impressive.
Title: Re: Dirtbaby - First build of 2015
Post by: catfud on January 01, 2015, 10:12:37 PM
Wow, impressive build, also very much looking forward to hearing this.
Title: Re: Dirtbaby - First build of 2015
Post by: LaceSensor on January 01, 2015, 10:25:48 PM
cheers

I might do a shorter delay time comparison
longer delay times my PT2399 doesnt sound so hot.

the filtering in general on this feels pretty minimal though ie there is a fair bit of noise, but again this might be exacerbated by dodgy pt chip...
Title: Re: Dirtbaby - First build of 2015
Post by: kinski on January 01, 2015, 11:07:02 PM
Looks fantastic! Would love to hear a demo!
Title: Re: Dirtbaby - First build of 2015
Post by: GrindCustoms on January 01, 2015, 11:37:03 PM
Nice one!

Very interested to hear that circuit too, Brian is totally owning the PT2399. 8)
Title: Re: Dirtbaby - First build of 2015
Post by: lars on January 02, 2015, 04:19:44 AM
.....very nice.
Title: Re: Dirtbaby - First build of 2015
Post by: Kinki fuzz on January 02, 2015, 11:35:10 AM
Very nice looking!!
Title: Re: Dirtbaby - First build of 2015
Post by: Tremster on January 02, 2015, 12:12:07 PM
Good to see my PCB at a new and happy home.
8) 8)
Title: Re: Dirtbaby - First build of 2015
Post by: bcalla on January 02, 2015, 12:57:38 PM
Off to a great (and quick) start to 2015.
Title: Re: Dirtbaby - First build of 2015
Post by: LaceSensor on January 03, 2015, 03:50:23 PM
now with video



http://youtu.be/vUt5TuDjhpU

The Dirtbag uses 2 x MN3005 (many peoples holy grail chips)
The EHX uses 4 x MN3008 (with the analog man input gain mod performed by me)
The Dirtbaby uses a PT2399 digital echo

The Dirtbaby aliases and has a bit more background noise, but this may be due to the PT chip itself. For my money though, it cops the vibe of the real one, particularly at the more modest delay settings shown, whereas longer delays the noise factor isnt as musical as a real BBD delay.

For the record I always felt my dirtbag was quite dark, and I use a 330pF clock capacitor rather than the stock 240pF so that might have some influence on it...
Title: Re: Dirtbaby - First build of 2015
Post by: Cortexturizer on January 03, 2015, 04:39:56 PM
yeah that dirtbag is really dark.
as for the dirtbaby - sounds very cool, definitely even better than the dirtbag in this clip. the DMM reissue is head and heels above em though, there's really a huge difference with how the sound splashes up and down when you're doing that percussive rhythm, which makes all the difference in a live band mix imho.
Title: Re: Dirtbaby - First build of 2015
Post by: selfdestroyer on January 03, 2015, 10:03:04 PM
I am super impressed with the dirtbaby. It really surpassed my expectations. The modulation sounded great and pretty spot on with the Smith riff.

Thanks for the video.. now I wait patiently for my board to get here. lol

Cody
Title: Re: Dirtbaby - First build of 2015
Post by: SmoothAction on January 03, 2015, 10:10:00 PM
Nice one!

I've never had the pleasure of playing a real DMM, it sounded great in that clip though. There is absolutely no doubt in my mind I'll be getting a dirtbaby. I built an echobase a while back and while it can cop some of these sounds, I don't care. I want all the delays in the world. Be careful posting this to TGP, you might start a riot.  ;D

Thanks for the demo, I as well as others were very interested in a comparison. Sounds Great!

Max

Title: Re: Dirtbaby - First build of 2015
Post by: LaceSensor on January 03, 2015, 11:11:00 PM
Cheers for watching lads.

I will post at TGP for a laugh haha
Title: Re: Dirtbaby - First build of 2015
Post by: madbean on January 04, 2015, 12:25:27 AM
Thanks for the demo, Ian! And the comparisons.

I will get my own demo happening by next week. Since I boffed my enclosure so badly with the Envirotex I need to start over.
Title: Re: Dirtbaby - First build of 2015
Post by: LaceSensor on January 04, 2015, 12:28:31 AM
Quote from: madbean on January 04, 2015, 12:25:27 AM
Thanks for the demo, Ian! And the comparisons.

I will get my own demo happening by next week. Since I boffed my enclosure so badly with the Envirotex I need to start over.

No worries
When I get another PT in I will make a better demo :)
be interested to hear other demos in the interim to further understand the noise floor with this circuit.

What was the reason to remove the compander circuitry?
And will the wider release feature a PCB rev to include the LED mod, and remove the other stuff (jumpers, omissions) ?
Title: Re: Dirtbaby - First build of 2015
Post by: madbean on January 04, 2015, 02:01:02 AM
I did not see a reason to include the compander. Rather, I have yet to run across a PT2399 that has been improved significantly by including one. I know the PT-80 has one but I actually have not built that one personally. It just seemed like overkill in this circuit.

As far as noise, my proto had quite a bit until I added that LED. It seemed to be the magic mod for making this circuit sound good.

All the minor errors have been corrected and the LED mod has been added to the newly released boards.
Title: Re: Dirtbaby - First build of 2015
Post by: LaceSensor on January 04, 2015, 02:04:04 AM
Quote from: madbean on January 04, 2015, 02:01:02 AM
I did not see a reason to include the compander. Rather, I have yet to run across a PT2399 that has been improved significantly by including one. I know the PT-80 has one but I actually have not built that one personally. It just seemed like overkill in this circuit.

As far as noise, my proto had quite a bit until I added that LED. It seemed to be the magic mod for making this circuit sound good.

All the minor errors have been corrected and the LED mod has been added to the newly released boards.

Cool. Im gonna get the new one too
Title: Re: Dirtbaby - First build of 2015
Post by: Stomptown on January 04, 2015, 02:30:48 AM
Man!  That demo sounds pretty, pretty, pretty good!  ;) Order placed!
Title: Re: Dirtbaby - First build of 2015
Post by: playpunk on January 04, 2015, 02:02:40 PM
This sounds great!
Title: Re: Dirtbaby - First build of 2015
Post by: micromegas on January 04, 2015, 03:01:44 PM
Nice build and video! I can't wait to fire mine :)
Title: Re: Dirtbaby - First build of 2015
Post by: LaceSensor on January 06, 2015, 12:25:15 PM
got a new PT2399 in today and tested it, definitely helps with the noise floor
guess its a case of auditioning a few, or paying over the odds for someone to have pre-selected one for you ;)
Title: Re: Dirtbaby - First build of 2015
Post by: madbean on January 06, 2015, 12:51:50 PM
BTW: are you using TL062 for all the other ICs? I can't tell from the pic. I found that it helped a little bit, too.
Title: Re: Dirtbaby - First build of 2015
Post by: LaceSensor on January 06, 2015, 12:55:10 PM
Quote from: madbean on January 06, 2015, 12:51:50 PM
BTW: are you using TL062 for all the other ICs? I can't tell from the pic. I found that it helped a little bit, too.



Yes I am using the Texas Instruments TL062CP in all other positions.