It's been at least a year since I searched for a ray gun (circuit) that sounds similar to Steve Steven's signature "Rebel Yell" sound (we play that in a cover band). They are impossible to find, most of them are way too digital/modern sounding and cannot be tuned (in terms of LFO rate).
IT seems, my search is over - check this (https://www.instructables.com/id/Ray-Gun-With-Laser-Sound-Effects/) out!
Here (https://www.instructables.com/id/Ray-Gun-With-Sound-Effects-V2/) is another one with the same circuit.
That's super cool, and a pretty simple circuit
That is so cool! Bookmarking this to build later with my kid.
Would someone mind posting the schematic?
Quote from: EBK on August 13, 2020, 02:55:57 PM
Would someone mind posting the schematic?
(https://i.imgur.com/2AtPPPh.png)
Thanks!
Now somebody needs to mod this circuit so we can actually run a guitar through it. Envelope-controlled bleeps and chirps!
Quote from: lars on August 14, 2020, 12:20:58 AM
Now somebody needs to mod this circuit so we can actually run a guitar through it. Envelope-controlled bleeps and chirps!
I bet Freppo has already designed something close to that. ;)
Home from vacation, I breadboarded the circuit. I did some changes (pot tapers, ranges etc.) to it and will post an updated schematic once I have finalized it. Here is how it sounds now. It does not create all the sounds of the original ray guns, but does the most recognizable pew-pew-sound pretty well. Tiny remaining problem is, that it takes some time to initially charge up the capacitors (twice in the very beginning of the video). I can live with that, unless somebody has an idea how to pre-charge the caps.
I did some research about the effect, and found some funny stuff, which I thought I'd share:
- the original was created using the modulation lexicon PCM-41 digital delay
- Stevens says, that modified toy ray guns himself to be able to control the oscillator speed
- He also says, that these aren't made any more, so he searches for similar ones on ebay
- Somebody seems to sell clones of these (https://markmarshall1.wixsite.com/monsterstore/product-page/steve-stevens-ray-gun-sound-effects-rebel-yell-laser-gun-metal-gray) for 149 $ :o
- There is a stompbox "Loud Button Electronics WTF Distortion/Low-Frequency Oscillator" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DtSD__OmKyM&t=0m11s), that can create some similar sounds
Here are some sources: The links point to the right position in the videos (so you don't have to listen to the complete Vince Neil Song ;)):
INTERVIEWS:
Steve Stevens' Rig Rundown, 2013 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vk2Fk9TdKWY&&t=26m55s)
Ray Gun Demo, 2014 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=It_fVucKTzY)
MUSIC:
Billy Idol, Rebel Yell, 1983 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VdphvuyaV_I&t=2m41s)
Michael Jackson, Dirty Diana, 1987 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yUi_S6YWjZw&t=4m20s)
Steve Stevens, Atomic Playboys, 1989 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rN760628dm8&t=0m38s)
Vince Neil, Look in Her Eyes, 1992 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VcN_VT3s17g&t=0m30s)
Now I want one.
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I will make a PCB for myself and give away the remaining boards. Here is the schematic with my modifications:
(https://i.postimg.cc/d3C0YGmn/200823-Ray-Gun.png)
I have an old toy ray gun. The only control it has, besides the trigger, is a fast/slow switch. And the barrel is clear with a red LED that lights up when you pull the trigger. But it sounds exactly like your video. Love the additional controls!
That WTF pedal sounds pretty cool, too. I never heard of it before. Wonder what's under the hood?
I built a ray gun circuit once. Only problem is, I was going for a Dr. Quack.
[youtube width=400]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mFXCgCJwH7A[/youtube]
Quote from: rockola on August 24, 2020, 09:00:07 AM
I built a ray gun circuit once. Only problem is, I was going for a Dr. Quack.
[youtube width=400]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mFXCgCJwH7A[/youtube]
That sounds quite convincing as well :-). Please reverse engineer asap.
It's done. I bought an old solder gun on ebay and we brought tiny aluminum champaign bottles from our vacation. Other parts are an old XLR Plug, aluminum tubing and an old closet knob. What a fun project. It's mighty loud and even has some cool blinking lights ;-)
(https://i.postimg.cc/SxZ91D5b/Zwischenablage01.jpg)
(https://i.postimg.cc/mrJHBhBd/IMG-20200825-2254422.jpg)
(https://i.postimg.cc/85vr5DCT/IMG-20200825-231734.jpg)
(https://i.postimg.cc/W4hkB0LF/Zwischenablage02.jpg)
(https://i.postimg.cc/rwyW9vf9/Zwischenablage03.jpg)
(https://i.postimg.cc/kXvKKnv4/Zwischenablage04.jpg)
What, no audio? That's super cool. That Steve Stevens video took me down a rabbit hole of videos.
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OK... I'll add audio later :-)
Just a quick one... need to practice how to use it properly.
And here is a detail shot of the PCB. I have four left and I would give them away for free (except for the postage). The only condition is, that you have to show that you built it. PM me, if you are interested.
(https://i.postimg.cc/ncysR2vC/IMG-20200911-172556-3.jpg)
That sounds really cool And it looks fantastic. Pretty sweet little ray gun case out of that soldering gun. Nice work
This is a really cool project, very inspiring. Now I'm wondering what else could be done with it. Maybe some kind of pitch control on one of those pots they used to use on walkmans.
What kind of voltage does it need? I'm wondering if it could run it off a few rechargeable AA's.
It runs on 9 Volts. One battery will last forever (it's completely off when the trigger is not pressed). However, there are tiny boards with micro usb jacks and voltage converters on it, so we can turn any old cell phone battery into a rechargable 9 Volt (or whatever) source, which can be charged with Standard (5v) usb chargers. Pretty cool stuff. I got that stuff here and will explore that next (Not for the Ray Gun, but maybe other pedals)
This is fantastic!! I've looked on and off for years for a ray gun that sounds like the rebel yell one but have had no luck. Sounds like you could get there with this. Nice work!
Get a board for just the postage :-)
That's tempting. I always wondered if it was possible to make this work as a pedal. Any idea if a person could feed this into the guitar signal instead of a little speaker?
Quote from: aceofbones on September 22, 2020, 11:15:40 PM
That's tempting. I always wondered if it was possible to make this work as a pedal. Any idea if a person could feed this into the guitar signal instead of a little speaker?
You could use a wah shell with a momentary on the treadle so it activates when you use it rather than clicking it on.
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Marshall Arts, pm sent.
Thanks, that's a solid idea with the wah shell!
really cool
congrats on getting er done