Hi guys
Ive not been active at all, cant remember when my last build report was. However, I had to come out of temporary retirement to build the Aion Blueshift DC-2 clone.
First thing to say, is this beast is complex and has many many parts. I ordered using the Mouser spreadsheet for convenience, and the BBDs clocks companders from Banzai in Germany.
It took about 3 hours to populate the boards to about 99% done
(https://scontent-waw1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t31.0-8/20626546_10154566873945870_3360638250924445656_o.jpg?oh=1de7e8ec999ef1ad5e45e75a0e9c65c3&oe=59F4AB1F)
From there it was time for a break before returning to drilling the case and test fitting. The drill template worked amazingly.
(https://scontent-waw1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t31.0-8/20626276_10154566874030870_7775098172936179577_o.jpg?oh=9e2f4457fd59f7287bcf5031f2da2dca&oe=59EF81C8)
Note that I soldered the switches on after the test fit, despite what the first image Ive posted might indicate. I recommend others do the same.
My main concern with the build was wiring it. I chose the standard wiring scheme. As others have noted, ignore the diagram and use the table to match everything up correctly. Its worth doing all the grounds first then working "up" from the PCB, and finally the connections to the 3PDT
(https://scontent-waw1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t31.0-8/20626512_10154566873935870_3509217697629455680_o.jpg?oh=8b1194fe8d6c594815ddb9865b72205b&oe=59F978BC)
I built this in a cheap raw 125b that I had left over. I felt after all this time that I might not get away with a box before rock, so didnt want to waste a fancy powdercoat. Luckily for me, it worked first time. I biased by ear as I dont own a scope ( :-[). I did this by strumming hard and eradicating any clipping.
(https://scontent-waw1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t31.0-8/20617158_10154566874020870_2379514472392054122_o.jpg?oh=ee52f1d37a4de50152e387a2fe7abbbb&oe=5A2FF8C2)
Final word. This sounds godlike. If you appreciate chorus, you need to build this, and run it in stereo. Its stunning.
Thank you for including an un-sandwiched picture. Looks amazing. Can't wait till I get a steady paycheck again and can grab my board /drool.
Great job! What's your favorite setting? I'm digging all up.
Good to hear from you again, and great work as always! I just got a box from Mouser with the rest of the parts today ;D The boxing does look a bit complex
Nice build and report. Appreciate the populated board pics ... gives us an idea of what to expect
in terms of parts count and general crowded-ness.
build is killer.
Quote from: Droogie on August 07, 2017, 05:42:16 PM
Great job! What's your favorite setting? I'm digging all up.
2 and 4 up with 3 down sounds amazeballs
not a bad sound in it
Im slowly building one of these now. Thinking about doing something different with the switches, going against Kevin's warning. (It looks like there are a few millimeters of wiggle room, at least. ;))
I will echo the others who said thanks for the pics of the populated boards. Nice!
awesome job and thanks for progress pics
i got to order one of these.
It's beautiful. I am so sad that all of the components get hidden. I can't wait to get mine buttoned up.
Awesome job
Awesome, and thanks a lot for the pics showing the populated pcbs!!
This is one of those builds where I look at it and go "You know what? I'm just going to buy the Behringer clone..."
Quote from: Willybomb on August 08, 2017, 02:46:52 PM
This is one of those builds where I look at it and go "You know what? I'm just going to buy the Behringer clone..."
HAHA! i was debating it too!
Great Job. I love the original DC2 font too!
Quote from: flanagan0718 on August 08, 2017, 03:38:51 PM
Quote from: Willybomb on August 08, 2017, 02:46:52 PM
This is one of those builds where I look at it and go "You know what? I'm just going to buy the Behringer clone..."
HAHA! i was debating it too!
Great Job. I love the original DC2 font too!
Its kinda funny, I look at it and think "Well, it doesnt have the electrolytic forest the Flintlock Flanger has...". Its a crowded layout, but well thought out. None of those "Ok, need to solder these components in the right order or my iron will toast half of them trying to wiggle in there" situations like you get on some boards.
Honestly its the precision drilling that worries me more. Same reason the VFE boards make me shudder a bit, my drill work sucks ;D
Quote from: somnif on August 08, 2017, 04:13:55 PM
Honestly its the precision drilling that worries me more. Same reason the VFE boards make me shudder a bit, my drill work sucks ;D
Get an automatic center hole punch. I use this fairly cheap one:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008DXYOLC/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_awdb_x_kdJIzb85772ZA
I actually use that exact punch. But my holes always seem to end up a mm or two off skew. My template will have ended up taped on crooked, my drill bit will have somehow drilled it off center, something always goes funny. I've not rendered a box unusable in quite some time, but I always think its going to happen again.
Lace, damn nice build there :) the layout style reminds me of some of my recent stuff.
Somnif, one common trick in Eurosynth DIY is to not solder any of the panelmounted parts (jacks, pots, switches), but to dry fit them in the PCB, fit the panel on, do up all the nuts and then solder it up.
Quote from: alanp on August 09, 2017, 01:38:10 AM
Lace, damn nice build there :) the layout style reminds me of some of my recent stuff.
Somnif, one common trick in Eurosynth DIY is to not solder any of the panelmounted parts (jacks, pots, switches), but to dry fit them in the PCB, fit the panel on, do up all the nuts and then solder it up.
I do that too, my problem is (at least when I started) I'd get the pots and switches in, only to discover everything was shifted over a mm or two and I couldn't actually fit the board in. Again, hasn't been an issue in some time, but I always think i'm going to.
If y'all do buy the behringer clone, apparently it should be easy to swap out the 5v regulator they use for a 6v regulator and get some headroom back.
That, and tweaking the two trimmers, should get you close.
Total build cost on this for me was approx £120 inc PCB and parts, so you have to think about that too. Sure, I was lazy and used the spreadsheet and could have saved some on resistors and caps, but its so close fitting you really do need the perfect parts to get this to squeeze together.
Quote from: somnif on August 09, 2017, 12:50:44 AM
I actually use that exact punch. But my holes always seem to end up a mm or two off skew. My template will have ended up taped on crooked, my drill bit will have somehow drilled it off center, something always goes funny. I've not rendered a box unusable in quite some time, but I always think its going to happen again.
The drill template with the Aion build doc is perfect. You can get away with 0.5mm over drill on the switches and standoff bolt, thats what I did to allow perfect fit. Everything else you can get away with 1mm perhaps.
has anyone compiled a list of what parts are not included in the Mouser BOM?
Quote from: Philthy on August 10, 2017, 03:36:28 AM
has anyone compiled a list of what parts are not included in the Mouser BOM?
There's a second tab on the spreadsheet.
thank you sir
[future build report tease] I'm considering a smaller enclosure for my build of this. Doom or glory?
We shall see... [/future build report tease]
(http://the-scroll-bar.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/goldmember-300x196.png)
One can never have enough chorus pedal's. That looks great and intense, and Im glad it sounds fantastic. I got the Choral reef on bench to be built first.
Very nice! Thanks for posting this!
BTW - docs are finally updated with the correct wiring diagram.
Thanks for the detailed pics. I just built mine and your pictures helped a lot. No need to really post a build report because I can't beat yours.
I will say. It is complex but mine worked right away. Secondly at first I calibrated mine with my multimeter to 3.4 volts. Played with it a bit and used the oscilloscope. The bottom tip of my waveform on one of the bbd's was chopped off. It sounded better after calibration with the scope (maybe just a placebo effect)