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Projects => Build Reports => Topic started by: gitaar0 on February 07, 2016, 12:20:29 PM

Title: Voodoo vibe, pangea
Post by: gitaar0 on February 07, 2016, 12:20:29 PM
Voodoo vibe or Pangea with Brejna's pcb.
This has been one of the most uncomplicated builds I have done. Altough it is not a simple build it just worked from the first instance. Great pcb and excellent design (thanks brejna)! not in the least by the fact that some of the more hard to obtain parts were included in the group buy.
It works really well. The cap selection pcb I etched myself and I used the caps recommended in the build doc. Good choice as they differ in a very nice way.

I have two things I would like to improve: 1- The cap switching pops when the pedal is just turned on. After you have switched it with the power on then it does not pop so much anymore. I am not sure which version of the switch I used, maybe I should have use a make before break? But I am not sure if that would fix it. Resistance to ground might influence the filter or not?
2- The volume of the tremelo is softer then the chorus and vibe. I guess getting that on the same level is not an easy fix?

Faceplate is a copperclad I etched and still needs some extra finish. Box is a 1790ns  size equivalent. Fits well. Relay switching by TH customs included in this design is great. i think I will use that more in some other builds.
I was looking for a long time for a voodoo vibe build project and iI am glad I found this.
Thanks to Brejna.
Title: Re: Voodoo vibe, pangea
Post by: BrianS on February 07, 2016, 12:54:02 PM
Very nice build. I really need to start working on mine.
Title: Re: Voodoo vibe, pangea
Post by: m-Kresol on February 07, 2016, 06:58:48 PM
the faceplate turned out perfect! enjoy it
Title: Re: Voodoo vibe, pangea
Post by: brejna on February 25, 2016, 04:56:33 PM
Nice looking build! :)
About cap switching you could put 10M resistors between capacitors connected to switch side like in MBP Weener II. I think it shouldn't change freq.
Tremolo volume depends on the LFO controls a lot, especially on the intensity and bias knob. If you want more tremolo you have to increase intensity and to get more volume you need to turn bias knob counterclockwise, so you will get more volume out of it.

I hope it helps
Cheers
Brane
Title: Re: Voodoo vibe, pangea
Post by: gitaar0 on February 25, 2016, 10:03:25 PM
Thanks for the kind remarks.

I will try the 10m resistors. With the MBP weener wah II  there is two 10 m resistors bridging the 3 switch points. Would you do this with all 4 switch points in this case?

I got how the controls influence the tremelo. There is however quite a volume differene with the chorus or vibe mode when using the same bias and intensity values. I was just wondering if there was a fix for that. Maybe it is just the nature of the beast?

Thanks
Title: Re: Voodoo vibe, pangea
Post by: nzCdog on February 26, 2016, 05:37:55 AM
zoiks! that is hot, great build! 8)
Title: Re: Voodoo vibe, pangea
Post by: brejna on February 27, 2016, 12:48:56 PM
Quote from: gitaar0 on February 25, 2016, 10:03:25 PM
Thanks for the kind remarks.

I will try the 10m resistors. With the MBP weener wah II  there is two 10 m resistors bridging the 3 switch points. Would you do this with all 4 switch points in this case?

I got how the controls influence the tremelo. There is however quite a volume differene with the chorus or vibe mode when using the same bias and intensity values. I was just wondering if there was a fix for that. Maybe it is just the nature of the beast?

Thanks

You could try to isolate where the popping comes from and put resistor over there.. About tremolo it is nature of effect.

Title: Re: Voodoo vibe, pangea
Post by: gitaar0 on February 27, 2016, 01:22:03 PM
Ok, I will try those 'pop resistors' 😉

The tremelo is lower in volume than unity. I read somewhere that there is a simple fix ( but could not find the "fix")
How can I increase the output level just a bit?

https://www.dropbox.com/s/xv1kguunn6bbe7q/Pangea%202015.pdf?dl=0 (https://www.dropbox.com/s/xv1kguunn6bbe7q/Pangea%202015.pdf?dl=0)
Title: Re: Voodoo vibe, pangea
Post by: blearyeyes on March 18, 2016, 12:13:11 AM
Inspiring build.

The face plate is beautiful.

I have to get back at it...
Title: Re: Voodoo vibe, pangea
Post by: Guitarmageddon on March 18, 2016, 02:42:10 AM
Really nice build of a really great circuit! 8)
Title: Re: Voodoo vibe, pangea
Post by: gitaar0 on March 18, 2016, 09:30:18 AM
Thanks for the kind remarks guys.
I have been trying to get rid of the popping but the 10m resistors made it worse.
I will have to find some time to solve this.

I have not seen any other builds posted? Surprising!
Title: Re: Voodoo vibe, pangea
Post by: daleykd on March 28, 2016, 07:48:38 PM
What did the kit from TH include?  The PIC10 and the FTR-B4C relay?
Title: Re: Voodoo vibe, pangea
Post by: gitaar0 on March 28, 2016, 08:03:07 PM
It was a pcb from brejna using the switching of TH. Brejna included the relay and pic with the pcb
No kit.
Title: Re: Voodoo vibe, pangea
Post by: daleykd on March 28, 2016, 08:07:19 PM
Quote from: gitaar0 on March 28, 2016, 08:03:07 PM
It was a pcb from brejna using the switching of TH. Brejna included the relay and pic with the pcb
No kit.
Aaaaargh.  I got the PCB from Brejna this last GB, and he didn't offer the relay stuff; I had to buy direct from TH.
Title: Re: Voodoo vibe, pangea
Post by: Marshall Arts on April 07, 2016, 08:00:31 PM
Quote from: gitaar0 on February 27, 2016, 01:22:03 PM
The tremelo is lower in volume than unity. I read somewhere that there is a simple fix ( but could not find the "fix")
How can I increase the output level just a bit?

I just finished mine, great pedal. My tremolo volume is pretty low as well and seems to be only usable when the pots are in extreme positions (intensity high and bias low, as brenja said) - and then it is still lower than unity  :(. I don't care that much, because I will most likely only use it in chorus mode anyway, but still, a fix would be nice.

I could think of a jfet booster between pin "3" of the rotary switch and R38. Or did somebody find another solution already?
Title: Re: Voodoo vibe, pangea
Post by: Marshall Arts on April 07, 2016, 08:16:53 PM
Another solution might (!) be to lower the resistance of the first LDR (e.g. with a parallel resistor or by using another LDR). It would alter the "taper" and overall feel of the tremolo and probably also the other modes (chorus, trem).

And before I forget it: Big "thank you" to brenja for the board, which is awesome!
Title: Re: Voodoo vibe, pangea
Post by: Marshall Arts on April 08, 2016, 12:35:13 PM
I tried a booster (AMZ mini booster), this works, but adds a bit noise to the tremolo.

Another, much more simple solution is attached and SHOULD work (I will test it over the weekend). With about 70k in parallel to LDR1, I get unity gain (volume max, bias min) in tremolo mode but loose a bit of the "helicopter tremolo" (there is still enough Fender-esque tremolo on tap). If I want a stuttering tremolo, I have the little blue switch to disable the parallel resistor arrangement on the vero (but than don't get unity gain). With everything attached to the rotary, the parallel resistor will only be active in tremolo mode, so the other modes remain unchanged.
Title: Re: Voodoo vibe, pangea
Post by: Marshall Arts on April 09, 2016, 06:21:30 AM
I just built the above mod - works!
Title: Re: Voodoo vibe, pangea
Post by: Manc on April 09, 2016, 08:32:06 AM
Great! I will give it a shot  :)
I'm just waiting for ONE gl5516 (well, a pack of four, but I need the one).
Title: Re: Voodoo vibe, pangea
Post by: Marshall Arts on April 12, 2016, 07:02:43 AM
After some more testing, I am pretty sure, that the volume drop is a result of the chosen LED/LDR combination. All four LEDs should be the same brand/supplier (they are arranged in parallel, so if one is different, it will likely lead to an unbalanced current flow). In tremolo mode, only the first LED/LDR is used, and this might lead to less volume in tremolo mode. To increase the LED brightness (rather than lower the LDR resistance), you can also add a resistor parrallel to R20(1M2), which will only be "active" in tremolo mode (see attachment). I like this slightly better than the LDR-mod suggested above.

To the ones who built this already: On my build, the symmetry pot changes the symmetry slightly in the first 3/4. Symmetry changes more in the last 1/4, but also the speed of the pulse goes down. Is this the same with your builds?

Title: Re: Voodoo vibe, pangea
Post by: brejna on April 12, 2016, 07:59:10 PM
Quote from: mfunky on April 12, 2016, 07:02:43 AM
After some more testing, I am pretty sure, that the volume drop is a result of the chosen LED/LDR combination. All four LEDs should be the same brand/supplier (they are arranged in parallel, so if one is different, it will likely lead to an unbalanced current flow). In tremolo mode, only the first LED/LDR is used, and this might lead to less volume in tremolo mode. To increase the LED brightness (rather than lower the LDR resistance), you can also add a resistor parrallel to R20(1M2), which will only be "active" in tremolo mode (see attachment). I like this slightly better than the LDR-mod suggested above.

To the ones who built this already: On my build, the symmetry pot changes the symmetry slightly in the first 3/4. Symmetry changes more in the last 1/4, but also the speed of the pulse goes down. Is this the same with your builds?



About symmetry, that is normal behavior. 
Thanks again on your input.
Title: Re: Voodoo vibe, pangea
Post by: Marshall Arts on April 14, 2016, 01:29:34 PM
I tested the whole circuit with other LEDs (clear red ones) yesterday and achieved unity gain in tremolo mode without any of the above mods yesterday. I ordered yellow LEDs from Tayda as well (brenja said he used those). Brightness is the key, those have 2000-3000 mcd, the ones I had in had only 20 mcd.
Title: Re: Voodoo vibe, pangea
Post by: Adam_DIY on April 14, 2016, 05:56:02 PM
That looks mega really really great.
Title: Re: Voodoo vibe, pangea
Post by: gitaar0 on April 14, 2016, 08:14:25 PM
Quote from: mfunky on April 14, 2016, 01:29:34 PM
I tested the whole circuit with other LEDs (clear red ones) yesterday and achieved unity gain in tremolo mode without any of the above mods yesterday. I ordered yellow LEDs from Tayda as well (brenja said he used those). Brightness is the key, those have 2000-3000 mcd, the ones I had in had only 20 mcd.

Hi Mfunky,

I followed your endavours on the unity gain aspect. Did not have time to work on it myself.

The trick with the led's is something I might want to try. What is the effect of the changed led's on the vibe and chorus mode?

Slacker on DIYS suggested changing R40 (larger) as it is part of a voltage divider for the tremelo level, but I have not had the chance to try that.
There is a post somewhere on the web that RM himself suggested to the one who posted that, that he had a simple solution like that. Never found what that solution was.
Title: Re: Voodoo vibe, pangea
Post by: Marshall Arts on April 15, 2016, 10:02:51 AM
The other modes sound slightly changed, but nevertheless equally great. The Bias control reacts different, so you can dial in the deemed for sounds ;-)

Quote from: gitaar0 on April 14, 2016, 08:14:25 PM
Slacker on DIYS suggested changing R40 (larger) as it is part of a voltage divider for the tremelo level, but I have not had the chance to try that.

I tried that a couple of days ago and desoldered R40 - it did not change too much.

Quote from: gitaar0 on April 14, 2016, 08:14:25 PM
There is a post somewhere on the web that RM himself suggested to the one who posted that, that he had a simple solution like that. Never found what that solution was.

If you find it, make sure to post it here :-). If not, the LED-Mod is the most simple and effective choice, as it provides the best range from smoth tremolo to (almost) stuttering tremolo. It requires desoldering under the pots, though. For future builders, I recommend to socket the LEDs (and use the recommended LDRs).

I also had a question about the external speed control resistance (and taper), but I found an answer here: http://www.roger-mayer.co.uk/vibe+speed.pdf
Title: Re: Voodoo vibe, pangea
Post by: gitaar0 on April 17, 2016, 11:54:19 AM
Did the change of the leds not just raise all the levels? Meaning the the tremolo is now at unity but still lower in level compared to the vibe and chorus?
Title: Re: Voodoo vibe, pangea
Post by: Marshall Arts on April 17, 2016, 12:45:22 PM
No, it's all more or less even :-)


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Title: Re: Voodoo vibe, pangea
Post by: gitaar0 on January 22, 2017, 11:15:04 AM
Quote from: Marshall Arts on April 15, 2016, 10:02:51 AM
The other modes sound slightly changed, but nevertheless equally great. The Bias control reacts different, so you can dial in the deemed for sounds ;-)

Quote from: gitaar0 on April 14, 2016, 08:14:25 PM
Slacker on DIYS suggested changing R40 (larger) as it is part of a voltage divider for the tremelo level, but I have not had the chance to try that.

I tried that a couple of days ago and desoldered R40 - it did not change too much.

Quote from: gitaar0 on April 14, 2016, 08:14:25 PM
There is a post somewhere on the web that RM himself suggested to the one who posted that, that he had a simple solution like that. Never found what that solution was.

If you find it, make sure to post it here :-). If not, the LED-Mod is the most simple and effective choice, as it provides the best range from smoth tremolo to (almost) stuttering tremolo. It requires desoldering under the pots, though. For future builders, I recommend to socket the LEDs (and use the recommended LDRs).

I also had a question about the external speed control resistance (and taper), but I found an answer here: http://www.roger-mayer.co.uk/vibe+speed.pdf
I am trying to find the leds to try your mod. It seems hard to find yellow diffuse leds 2000-3000mcd here in the Netherlands. How important is the color and them being diffuse?
Title: Re: Voodoo vibe, pangea
Post by: Marshall Arts on January 22, 2017, 12:09:32 PM

I am trying to find the leds to try your mod. It seems hard to find yellow diffuse leds 2000-3000mcd here in the Netherlands. How important is the color and them being diffuse?
[/quote]

The yellow LED's from Tayda worked the best for me. They should deliver to the netherlands
Title: Re: Voodoo vibe, pangea
Post by: brejna on January 22, 2017, 12:35:37 PM
Quote from: gitaar0 on January 22, 2017, 11:15:04 AM
I am trying to find the leds to try your mod. It seems hard to find yellow diffuse leds 2000-3000mcd here in the Netherlands. How important is the color and them being diffuse?

I had best results with Tayda LEDs too.
Title: Re: Voodoo vibe, pangea
Post by: gitaar0 on January 23, 2017, 08:03:34 AM
Quote from: Marshall Arts on January 22, 2017, 12:09:32 PM

I am trying to find the leds to try your mod. It seems hard to find yellow diffuse leds 2000-3000mcd here in the Netherlands. How important is the color and them being diffuse?

The yellow LED's from Tayda worked the best for me. They should deliver to the netherlands
[/quote] ok, I will have to find out if they deliver to me. Thanks
Title: Re: Voodoo vibe, pangea
Post by: bluescage on January 23, 2017, 09:52:15 AM
Tayda does deliver to the Netherlands! I know because I ordered from them several times. I believe the minimun order is $ 5,00 but that shouldn't be a problem because they have a lot of parts for pedal buiding. Also their shipping costs are very reasonable.
Title: Re: Voodoo vibe, pangea
Post by: Bret608 on January 23, 2017, 03:40:59 PM
FYI, I had really good results with yellow tinted LEDs of 2300mcd from Mouser. I was initially confused about the difference between diffused and tinted. Digging deep into the FSB trace thread for the VV, the person tracing from an original unit said they were the clear yellow tinted type, not the foggier diffused type. When I look at the picture for the yellow ones on Tayda with the right mcd, they actually look like the tinted more than the diffused. So I think even some suppliers are confused by the different terminology.
Title: Re: Voodoo vibe, pangea
Post by: Marshall Arts on January 23, 2017, 05:21:07 PM
Quote from: Bret608 on January 23, 2017, 03:40:59 PM
FYI, I had really good results with yellow tinted LEDs of 2300mcd from Mouser. I was initially confused about the difference between diffused and tinted. Digging deep into the FSB trace thread for the VV, the person tracing from an original unit said they were the clear yellow tinted type, not the foggier diffused type. When I look at the picture for the yellow ones on Tayda with the right mcd, they actually look like the tinted more than the diffused. So I think even some suppliers are confused by the different terminology.

...gotta say this: The level of passion and expertise on this forum is unrivalled.  :)
Title: Re: Voodoo vibe, pangea
Post by: kaycee on January 29, 2017, 12:36:59 PM
That is really nice, very tidy build and graphics. I have a Voodoo Vibe and the Tremolo on it is low volume, that's the way they are. I don't mind as I mostly use mine for the chorus function anyway, yours looks about half the size too.
Title: Re: Voodoo vibe, pangea
Post by: gitaar0 on February 17, 2017, 04:41:20 PM
Thanks for the remarks.

I finally got my leds from Tayda and just installed them.
Works great. Levels from chorus to vibe to tremelo are now ok.
Different sound now on different settings but I think it works better now. Thanks for the suggestion!