References Found and Subsequent Ideas

Over the past month or so I have collected the following references, I have read through the websites to get an overview of distortion techniques and proprties with my ideas stated at the end of this post. I also read through a portion of the books although there is a lot to get through so there is definitely still some information to be got from here.

Books

Floyd, T.L., Buchla D.M. (2010) Electronics Fundamentals. 8^th ed.New Jersey: Pearson. Pp. 724 – 734

Self, D. (2006) Self On Audio. 2^nd ed.Burlington: Elsevier (Ebook)

Self, D. (2010) Small Signal Audio Design. Oxford: Focal Press

Pease, R.A. (2008) Analogue Circuits. Oxford: Newnes

Penfold, R.A. (1997) Audio Amplifier Projects. Kent: PC Publishing

Marston, R.M. (1997) Audio IC Users’ Handbook. Oxford: Newnes

Hosken, D. (2011) An Introduction To Music Technology.New York: Routledge

Websites

GM Arts. (2009) Overdrive & Distortion. GM Arts [Online] [Accessed 17/10/2011] Available at: http://www.gmarts.org/index.php?go=217

Salminen, R. (2000) Cook Your Own Distortion. General Guitar Gadgets [Online] [Accessed 06/09/2011] Available at: http://www.generalguitargadgets.com/richardo/distortion/index.html

Aubuchon, V. (2011) Musical Note Frequencies. Vaugn’s-1-Pagers [Online] [Accessed 10/09/2011] Available at: http://www.vaughns-1-pagers.com/music/musical-note-frequencies.htm

Hunter, D. (2008) Effects Explained: Overdrive, Distortion & Fuzz. Gibson [Online] [Accessed 28/08/2011] Available at:http://www.gibson.com/en-us/Lifestyle/Features/effects-explained-overdrive-di/

Orman, J. (2011) AMZFX. AMZFX [Online] [Accessed 07/09/2011] Available at: http://www.muzique.com/

Keen, R.G. (2000) DIY Stomp Boxes. DIY Stomp Boxes [Online] [Accessed 10/09/2011] Available at: http://www.diystompboxes.com/smfforum/

Elliot, R. (2006) The Audio Pages. Elliot Sound Products [Online] [Accessed 10/09/2011] Available at http://sound.westhost.com/articles.htm#s6

Holler, D. (2011) Articles and Schematics. Run Off Groove [Online] [Accessed 17/10/2011] Available at: http://runoffgroove.com/articles.html

Marossy, P. (2009) Some Guitar Pedals I Have Built. DIY Guitarist. [Online] [Accessed 17/10/2011] Available at: http://www.diyguitarist.com/DIYStompboxes/MyStompboxes.htm

Subsequent Ideas

Use op amp and transistor sockets for easy swapping in case of failure.

Power supply must be bi-polar for op amps, this is normally carried out using biasing. Alternatively there are power supply IC’s available.

Tone controls might best be carried out using Sallen & Key Filters.

A level control in the feedback loop will alter the roll off frequency of the op-amp, it is much better to use a variable resistor where the resistance control is the output.

 The above creates a filter so using a large value capacitor is a good idea to eliminate any frequency alteration.

Design a switch to alternate between germanium and silicon diodes for soft/hard clipping.

LED’s make for much softer/subtle clipping

This type of pedal normally includes a high frequency cut due to the non liniarity

Capacitor used in power supply is used to maintain the voltage in changing conditions, as a kind of storage device. This is called a decoupling capacitor

Use sub-circuit tool in Multisim to make design look more simple and easy to explain, time permitting.

Use Multisim reports to print component details, equipment list etc

Integrated Circuit capable of frequency multiplication and voltage regulation could be very useful tools in this system, simplifying the in depth design process.

It might be better to use a pre-manufactured 240V adapter which includes voltage regulation so I can concentrate completely on the signal manipulation, this should also give a smoother supply voltage.

Project Report Initiation

Today I intend to read through the report writing guidelines and begin to structure and set up a document ready for entering the content, this will hopefully help to elliminate any confusion concerning layout and order of work.

It would also be good to sort out a contents page, I have a list of my project aims and objectives so this will simply involve splitting them into the appropriate sections.

Finalising Proposal

I’ve carried out my proposal, gantt chart and ethics form alterations, the only thing left to do is find out how much PCB printing and milling will cost in order to complete my budget. The new title is Design & Build of An Extensively Flexible Electric Guitar Distortion Pedal Using Analogue Electronics which I am very excited about!

Forward Thinking Alterations

After a conversation with Tim Wilmshurst who suggested that my project wasn’t complicated enough, I now intend to rewrite my project proposal as a circuit which is intends to be capable of effectively creating every distortion tone and timbre possible by using many variable potentiometers and switches. This should also include frequency manipulation to add or subtract octaves, hopefully having the ability to create a synthesised distortion effect. Due to a very busy weekend I intend to alter my proposal on Sunday.

Proposal Progress

After a busy weekend I have spent today attempting to complete my proposal, as a result I have completed everything except for the risk assessment. As predicted the problem definition took the most time, but this is a very important part and getting every word perfect is essential to success as I will be looking back at this to check that I am conforming to the original idea.

 I have also sent an email about my idea to a potential project supervisor, Tim Wilmshurst, who will hopefully point me in the right direction and help with any difficulties I might have.

Starting on My Proposal

This afternoon I’ve thought of a perfect name for my project, listed my aims, created a Gantt chart and made a start on the problem definition although this will undoubtedly take the most amount of time relative to the other sections.

First Thoughts

After a second lecture with Amar Bousbaine I now know the hand in date for the project proposal (11^th October) and as such I am making a start on it today. At the moment I’m struggling to think of a suitable title for this but I’m hoping that writing a detailed proposal will give me the inspiration I need. Also I’ve been thinking about how to house my design and came to the conclusion that It would be best to find an existing and preferably free guitar pedal which I could dismantle and refit with the new circuitry.

Final Year Project

Hi,

This blog was created purely as an easy to use digital log book open to the public for monitoring my final year project at the University of Derby. I am studying a BSc in Sound, Light and Live Event Technology and (as the website name implies) intend to design and build a custom ‘Stompbox’ which has the ability to switch between good old fashioned overdrive and spine tingling distortion. I honestly cant wait to see the end result!