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Today anyone with modest resources can put together a recording studio in their home:  DAW, mics, interfaces, instruments, effects...

My "studio" consists of a computer workstation running Audacity or some more advanced multi-track program like Mixcraft, a 10 channel mixer/audio interface, Sennheiser mics, drum machine, bass, guitars, amps, keyboard, and various live percussion instruments like maracas and tambourine.  I've even mixed sound snippets from the internet (like bird tweeting) into songs, so I have some links to those sound effects.

When everything is set up, I can go in and make recordings quickly and efficiently.  So doing 50 takes for a single song can be a creative and enjoyable process - and that is the goal, actually, to be doing something you enjoy.  Usually, though, I'll do 10 takes and find out that the first one was the best! :-D

However, what I enjoy most is having a riff or tune idea come to me spontaneously, then running into the "studio" to make a quick demo recording, usually with just a simple vocal and acoustic guitar.  These "idea" tracks get saved so I can come back later to flesh out the song with a more elaborate arrangement.  Often, I don't even have any lyrics written when the idea comes to me, and just sing the first thing that comes into my head.  And sometimes, that nonsense actually gets into the final lyrics!

Songwriting is one of the most creative activities a musician can do...

What I want in a build is essentially the first pic below. That's my generic bottom end on all builds. It goes in, gets tested, then it's just 4 wires and it's done. No hassle, super short wiring and utterly solid.

That's not to say it couldn't be improved My wishlist for Optotron 2 (winking at Josh here...). Is pic two. Couple of changes here. I'd want the I and O for the board separated. Just to keep them as far apart as possible. I'd want the top and central LED as it's way more useful there, and power on both sides of the board as it'd make any multi's neater. That to me would be the perfect DIY switch board. Well, it's my perfect DIY switch board anyhow

Very nice!  I like modular systems and will have to try this out.   

Hmmm...I haven't had any 3PDT switches fail on me yet, but then I only build for myself.  I use the Pro series switches from Mammoth (the aqua colored ones).

Having said that, I would love to try a relay-based switch for effects that get turned on and off all the time, mainly boosters/overdrives.  For example, when I play live, most overdrives and distortions are activated once per song (or set of songs).  However a booster (or perhaps a favorite overdrive) may be turned on and off for leads.  Those are the effects that would benefit from the relay-based switching.

I have a TC Electronic Alter Ego X4. Here's my perspective on the toneprint feature.

The Alter Ego and Flashback X4 models are essentially the same unit, except the Alter Ego has vintage echo options on the selection dial  (versus the modern delays on the Flashback) + 4 tone print slots.  So you can download and use more than one toneprint with the X4, which makes it very versatile.

What I've discovered in using the Alter Ego is that I like both vintage and modern echos/delays.  So I am using the tone print slots for the modern delays.

In addition, for live use I need to have more than one echo/delay available.  With the X4 models, you have three presets which are accessible via footswitches.  A fourth switch gives you tap tempo.  So I can load three echos/delays, all with individual presets for delay level and feedback, and access them during a gig with the pres of a footswitch.  Very convenient!

If you don't need multiple echo/delays or just use individual effects in a studio environment, then the X4 is overkill and I'd opt for a delay/echo unit which had a specific sound I wanted.  You may end up with 10 units, but that would provide you with versatility in the studio.

There is a downside to the X4 and that is that it takes up space on your pedalboard.  But if you need the convenience for live use, it's worth it.

I have the opposite problem - my collection of overdrive/distortion/amp-sim circuits keeps growing!  I need to figure out how to get rid of my excess...

(Of course most of my builds are just tested boards and not boxed.  There must be a market for populated boards... )

Yes, TGP threads usually proceed something like this...

A:  I just got the new Wacky Jack Fuzz from Pro Shredder Effects in Portland.  It was their last one.  Score!
B:  You mean the fuzz that Buck Jackson of Killerweed uses on tour??  Oh man!
A:  Yeah, it's killer, especially with my custom Strat...oh, and my Les Paul too.
C:  Wacky Jack himself sez that the fuzz has special germanium MOS HFET transistors that he himself biases for each pedal!  And PIO caps!  Toan!!!!!!!!!
D:  Man, I came this close to trading my vintage Vox wah for a Wacky Jack fuzz.  I'll get one...you'll see.
A:  Toan!
B:  Toan!
C:  Toan!
A:  Hey, fellas, I just traded my Wacky Jack fuzz for a Free Fungus Echo Drive!  Killer toan to the bone!
B: Yeah I grew tired of my Wacky Jack fuzz too.  The notes just didn't bloom for me...
C: I just scored an Echo Drive from eBay!  Stoked!
D: Sweet...
A: Toan!
B: Toan!
C: Toan!

I have a Digitech RP1000 which is quite versatile.  Has built in effects, amp models, a volume/wah/expression pedal, and a balanced output to go directly to a mixer/PA.  On top of that, you can add you own homebuilt analog effects in an effects loop, so you can have the best of both worlds!  .  I find it great for recording and practice. However, for live gigs it is becoming more than I need and I am trying now to move towards an simple, small analog pedal board.

I got into pedal building nearly two years ago after a long stint building guitars (which I still do occasionally).  I originally had a lot of electronics components I inherited from my father and I wanted to try building something.  So I built a Univox fuzz on vero.  And it worked!  The first time!!  Of course that was it - I was hooked.  I then discovered there were a bazillion veroboard projects - overdrives, distortions, fuzzes, tremolos, delays.  But I didn't have all the components I needed.  So I ordered from Mammoth.  Then Smallbear and eBay.  My parts piles grew bigger as did my list of projects.  I got good at debugging and started tackling larger projects and PCBs.  So here I am today with about 20 or so projects under my belt, and I have no plans to stop - maybe slow down a little.  What fascinates me about this hobby is that each effect is an unknown - will it sound good, bad, meh???  That curiosity for exploring new sounds and understanding how those sounds are produced (by studying the circuits) has kept me going and is what I find enriching about building effects.  I suppose some day I'll have to start selling or giving away some of them, but for now a box full of pedals and circuit boards takes up less space than most other hobbies (like building kit cars or submarines... ).

So how does this work?  Looks like you need to sign up for the FAWM site to see the tools.

You can try the creativity tools without login: http://muse.fawm.org/

Thanks.  The song title generator is particularly fun.  So how does the interactive aspect of the site work?  Do others listen and critique the songs?  I'm interested in this as it appears geared toward songwriting creativity versus a site like ReverbNation which is strictly for artists to post and promote finished/polished songs.  My experience with ReverbNation is that they send you a lot of e-mails and the supposed "fans" you randomly pick up don't actually listen to your tracks.  It is nice though if you want to share your music on Facebook or by e-mail via a link.

So how does this work?  Looks like you need to sign up for the FAWM site to see the tools.  I have written and recorded songs in the past and posted some on Reverbnation.  I was also part of a local songwriting circle for a while, which I greatly enjoyed.  I've been busy lately working in a cover band, so learning a new Tom Petty tune takes precedence over songwriting...    

I suppose that using past ideas (even partial ones) wouldn't count.  I any case, it would be a fun exercise for me but I'd have to get my recording space set up again.

My favorite OD configuration right now is this:  Guitar-->Aion Electronics DIY Klon(e) (the Refractor) set to low gain (9:00), and 3:00 on treble-->Tube Screamer DIY (vero build) with controls set to taste (gain at noon, treble at 4:00)-->Amp.  This sounds very Marshall-like and is great for classic rock.  The Klon(e) really adds something wonderful to the sound and is always on (like a preamp) at the start of my effects chain.

The unit is quite awesome as a recording tool, given all of the options demonstrated in the video.  And with presets, it would be great live - depends how much tremolo you use in your music.

I use the Bourns 3362 most of the time because they are more compact at about .25" square than the larger models which are 3/8" square.  Seem to work fine and you can get them cheap on Amazon.com.  I've also noticed that they are the only trimmers that will fit on most PCBs I've purchased e.g. the 1776 Britannia.

You can find some assortments on eBay as well, which cover a range of values.

I like Mammoth and have placed numerous orders with them, and they all have been fine.  The only minor knock is that sometimes parts are backordered and shipping can be a little slow.  But for the prices and quality of parts, they are great.   

I'm very pleased with the new site (just recently received an order).  And I have to say that Smallbear is my favorite parts supplier.  The prices, while not rock bottom lowest, are very fair, even compared with eBay, and the shipping and service are fantastic!  In fact, in my recent online order, I realized near the end of processing my order that I had selected 56 nF caps instead of 5.6 nF which I needed.  I added a note to my order to address this, and sure enough I got the right values in my order.  And my order was processed and arrived in only three days.   Can't beat that.  Thanks Smallbear.