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Projects => Tech Help - Projects Page => Topic started by: ferdinandstrat on March 01, 2020, 04:09:12 PM

Title: Wavelord doesnt have uniform depth
Post by: ferdinandstrat on March 01, 2020, 04:09:12 PM
OK guys, so I built the Wavelord using an NSL32 and I crank the depth up to max. Thing is that the square wave sounds nice and choppy, but the sine and triangle wave for example dont have nearly the same depth

Is it because of my choice of optocoupler?
Title: Re: Wavelord doesnt have uniform depth
Post by: madbean on March 01, 2020, 04:52:43 PM
I don't think so. That's normal for any optical tremolo AFAIK. Your ear hears a square wave at a more intense depth because of the sudden loss of amplitude whereas with a sine or triangle wave the amplitude falls off in a more linear (or logarithmic) fashion. IOW, the gap b/w signal and no signal is much more pronounced with a square wave.

The difference b/w the NSL32 and the VTL5C9 is more about photocell response time (as I described in the doc). The total amount of trem depth between the two should be about the same, I think.
Title: Re: Wavelord doesnt have uniform depth
Post by: benny_profane on March 01, 2020, 05:02:42 PM
Quote from: madbean on March 01, 2020, 04:52:43 PM
I don't think so. That's normal for any optical tremolo AFAIK. Your ear hears a square wave at a more intense depth because of the sudden loss of amplitude whereas with a sine or triangle wave the amplitude falls off in a more linear (or logarithmic) fashion. IOW, the gap b/w signal and no signal is much more pronounced with a square wave.

The difference b/w the NSL32 and the VTL5C9 is more about photocell response time (as I described in the doc). The total amount of trem depth between the two should be about the same, I think.

Do you think that the smoothing filter (~20ms rise/fall from pin6 to ground) adds to that perception? I think what you said about the role of perceived amplitude is right on.
Title: Re: Wavelord doesnt have uniform depth
Post by: ferdinandstrat on March 01, 2020, 05:35:00 PM
Quote from: madbean on March 01, 2020, 04:52:43 PM
I don't think so. That's normal for any optical tremolo AFAIK. Your ear hears a square wave at a more intense depth because of the sudden loss of amplitude whereas with a sine or triangle wave the amplitude falls off in a more linear (or logarithmic) fashion. IOW, the gap b/w signal and no signal is much more pronounced with a square wave.

The difference b/w the NSL32 and the VTL5C9 is more about photocell response time (as I described in the doc). The total amount of trem depth between the two should be about the same, I think.

This is why I love the support forum more than a Facebook group, I can be a total noob without people acting all condescending like and actually explain to me properly what is wrong

Thank you for the answer so much and thank you for your fantastic products and support