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Messages - Muadzin

#826
Open Discussion / Error in Dirtbaby build doc
January 12, 2015, 10:59:06 PM
It would appear that the Blend pot is missing from the BOM and shopping list. Which appears to be 10Kb judging from the schematic.
#827
General Questions / Re: Fuzz tips and tricks
January 12, 2015, 03:02:35 PM
Quote from: AntKnee on January 09, 2015, 05:07:57 PM
I play rock, in the tyle of Foo Fighters and QOTSA. There are times that I do choke it, but not all the time. Just comparing it to the fuzz factory demo on youtube, mine seems to be hotter, more prone to feedback. I love noise pedals. The Machete (Uglyface) is one of my favs, but I thought this would be more tame. I may be mistaken.

I've built a few FF's, and so far none seems to behave exactly like they do in the vids with real Zvex FF's. I guess that with such a small circuit and finicky germanium trannies the slightest variations will produce some differences in sounds. Stab and Comp are the pots that affect oscillation the greatest. Oscillation aside it is a noisy circuit in itself, so it might be a good idea to use shielded wiring for the pedal input and effect input. And depending if you have more dirt pedals after it for the pedal output as well. Just because an effect is bypassed doesn't mean its not on. It could still influence your dry through signal.
#828
I have parts for a Stone Grey Distortion/Little Green Wonder combo on the way and a Flintlock Flanger that needs to be boxed. Other then that nothing as I never populate circuit boards ahead of drilling/painting a box, so they always get finished together. And, I'm ashamed to say, I just can't be arsed to rock it before I box it. Which further explains why I don't have ready to be boxed circuit boards lying about.

I do have a pile of pedals that need troubleshooting though. At least 3 delays, a Colossalus, a Pork Barrel and a few others.
#829
Open Discussion / PCB mounted pots/switches/LED's
January 08, 2015, 09:54:16 AM
Am I the only one who doesn't like them? Aside from being stuck to someone else's drill layout that is not always to my liking? I know PCB mounted pots, switches, and LED's significantly reduce the risk of making errors, not to mention get rid of a lot of spaghetti wiring. But I've found that once you do make a mistake and solder the wrong pot or switch in the wrong place you're really boned. Desoldering or resoldering wires is peanuts, but desoldering a pot, not as much. And heavens forbid if you have to desolder a switch. Might as well throw away the PCB, unless you have Godlike desoldering skills.

On a side note, for potential future use, if anyone has any good tips or tricks to desolder pots and switches from PCB's, feel free to share.
#830
Open Discussion / Re: Ehx make klones for $68
January 06, 2015, 09:46:03 AM
Quote from: culturejam on December 18, 2013, 05:28:18 PM
And if I want a sound that is "like your amp, but more of it", I'll either turn up the volume or add a boost up front.

I can so dig that philosophy.  8)

For me the whole point of dirt boxes, or any kind of stomp box for that matter, is to not sound like my amp.
#831
Open Discussion / Re: Chorus Hunt
January 01, 2015, 01:45:38 PM
I still have a BYOC analog chorus, which unlike the current version, whch is CE-2 based, was based on the Small Clone. Still my favorite chorus. Especially since I did a speed and vibe mod. The speed mod, it's kinda meh, the vibe mod I really dig.
#832
Open Discussion / Re: What the fuzz?
December 31, 2014, 12:48:03 PM
For Muffs you can't go wrong with Kitrea

http://www.kitrae.net/music/big_muff_guts.html
http://www.bigmuffpage.com/Big_Muff_Pi_versions_schematics_part1.html
http://www.bigmuffpage.com/Big_Muff_Pi_versions_schematics_part2.html
http://www.bigmuffpage.com/Big_Muff_Pi_versions_schematics_part3.html
http://www.bigmuffpage.com/Big_Muff_Pi_versions_schematics_part4.html

It is currently my quest to build every version of the Muff as found in those schematics.  8)

In my experience Muffs are very forgiving as to what kind of trannies you put in there, as long as they're having the right hfe's. Most of the magic is in the circuit. Other fuzz pedals though, especially those with small part counts, selecting the right trannies there does seem to matter much. Probably because of the low parts counts, in which case every small difference does add up. Just look at Devi Ever fuzzes, which are often variations of the same pedal with one different component. Now the JMK 5 knob fuzz is a fuzz factory clone and I've build several of them. I've used trannies as supplied by kits like Musikding, I've sourced them without regard to matching, I've used matched AC-125's. I've yet to find the right combo that will get them to behave like they do in the youtube vids using real Zvex FF's. The oscillation part that is, that nasty fuzz sound, they all seem to do that.
#833
This thread is giving me a really bad case of the GAS.  :'( Especially all that EHX gear.
#834
Open Discussion / Re: Loop Pedal Popping
December 31, 2014, 12:24:45 PM
Relay style TB switching. I'm told that Thomas from THcustom is the expert on that. He has like 3 different types of relay switches on his site.
#835
MAKE ONE! They're dead easy to make (I followed the instructions from the BYOC confidence booster kit) and I cannot troubleshoot without it. Making one was one of the best decisions I ever made as it allowed me to halve my pile of non-working pedals.

You don't even need to destroy a cable. Two alligator clips, a capacitor, a female mono jack and some wire like you use inside pedals is all you need.
#836
Open Discussion / Re: First time recording in a studio
December 23, 2014, 02:40:32 PM
Quote from: midwayfair on December 23, 2014, 01:54:28 PM
Maybe not spend forever in there, but it takes a couple go-arounds in the studio to learn how things will sound different when committed to a recording (aka "we didn't practice enough/the parts weren't good enough but no one noticed live"), and typically newer bands need to spend a lot more time getting something keepable. In many ways, though, the naivete can be an advantage. Hell, I've recorded three studio albums and a few other things and recorded with other people and I still have a hard time properly visualizing a song on record until it's happening, so I waste time unnecessarily.

Big acts can afford to hole up in the studio to write the album almost from scratch. That's completely different.

Still. the question remains, how can you afford this? Two days recording, 1 day mixing was the max we could afford for a pro studio. And only because our then drummer did them a favor so they knocked something off the price. And we could only record and tweak 4 songs in that time. Unless they're incredibly well disciplined financially, or get their (grand)parents to pay for it, I just don't see most bands as capable of spending prolonged time in a pro studio. Most musicians that I know are struggling to find beer money, let alone the thousands you need to hire a studio. Unless again of course they're blues lawyers.

How did you manage? What was your secret? Enlighten me, I'd love to know so I can repeat that feat. Recording in a studio was awesome.
#837
Open Discussion / Re: best simple looper?
December 23, 2014, 10:25:56 AM
I prefer a delay pedal with a loop function. The Line6 DL-4 served me well in the past, my M9 has loop capability and I now have a TC Flashback that can also do it. Why waste pedal board space on a simple looper if you can get get two in one capability? 
#838
Open Discussion / Re: First time recording in a studio
December 23, 2014, 10:19:34 AM
Quote from: alanp on December 22, 2014, 07:09:22 AM
The guy in the singlet with the Strat was really getting into it :) Bloody professional sounding.

I think I read an interview with KFK, might have been a guy from another band, saying how they practice and polish their songs on their own time, so they are able to go into the studio, record the songs one after the other, and get it sorted (in comparison to newer bands who apparently tweak and polish in-studio.) The liner notes for Sinatra's _Duets_ album was similarly entertaining.

There are beginning bands who go into a studio and stay there like forever to tweak and polish their music? And they can afford this?  :o I thought only huge dinosaurs like U2 and Metallica did that. Must be blues lawyers then.

Personally I think this is why for most bands their first album is their best. Not only could they not afford to hire a studio for a long time, it took them so long to scrounge together the money to be able to afford a studio that they had plenty of time to perfect and tweak their music beforehand. Plus their songs got played a lot live on stage so by then they knew which ones to pick that audiences would like.
#839
What a weird thread. There are people who leave their pedal board power on 24/7  :o

My pedal boards only come out to play during rehearsals/gigs, so I guess that means I'm an unplugger. Although my onboard powerstrip that supplies power to all the power supplies/pedals does have an on/off switch. So I guess that means I'm also a power strip toggler.
#840
Open Discussion / Re: Dirtbaby LED limiting
December 20, 2014, 12:01:03 PM
Quote from: Luke51411 on December 17, 2014, 02:15:23 PM
I believe he is planning on making it a regular project or at least doing a larger limited release at some point.
Also, I saw the vero... I enjoy vero but this is one of those cases I would opt for a pcb. Gotta hand it to the people building crazy large veros though.

It's been moved from short runs to the delay section on the projects page, with a release date of jan 2. Happy days!