We were discussing this over in the requests section a couple of weeks back and I had an interesting idea for how to make one of these. I have purchased a pic programmer and have begun to modify the code to make this work, I have been getting a little help from Tom (the original programmer) as well as Chris Safi over at DIY stompboxes. I was wondering if anyone would be interested in this when I finally get it finished? I am about halfway through the program modification and testing, so far all of the device fundamentals are there. It is finals week so I cannot finish it for a few more weeks, but I plan on making a full working prototype over the Christmas holiday and maybe some accompanying youtube videos (if I can get the code to work). I have already made a layout in Eagle just to see how it would look and it is pretty complicated, I am not the best layout creator so I might need some help with that.
I'd very much like to see your progress as it develops. I may be able to lend a hand with the layout, if needed.
Alright, ill keep you guys updated. Thanks for the interest Brian and the offer to help, the layout is a long way off. I want to make sure it all works as planned before I get too far ahead of myself.
So far I have bread boarded the PIC and a CD4017. The setup uses leds on the counter outputs and the actual PIC wave output (because I don't have an oscilloscope). Right now I am just trying to make the pre-multiplier clock output sync up with the base waveform output (PWM output) in both frequency and phase. This is a critical characteristic of the clock output feature and it is proving harder to code than I was expecting.
I have already added x5 and x16 multipliers, and removed the next multiplier input pin code, in its place I have put a post multiplier clock output. This output will trigger the indicator leds for each step of the sequence. Unfortunately at the x16 multiplier very high tempo settings will cause the wave output frequency to exceed the max allowable range and reverts back to a slower speed. This may be a hardware or software limitation which I will look into, but at this speed even the x8 multiplier is too fast for any LDR to respond to.
The sine and triangle shape waves start high (so technically a cosine wave :)) so I thought putting a toggle switch to phase shift the clock outputs (pre and post) by 90 degrees would be a pretty cool feature. Although it will probably be pretty easy to make this change via software it would still be cool to have just to experiment (this would make the multiplier changes happen at the wave centers rather than the ends)
Oh and Chris Safi is planning on making an 18f chip with essentially a port of the 16f code but with a waveform record function! Just like the new Goatkeepers or the Hollow Earth trem. If he releases that before I finish I will use that code instead.
Dude. That is so far over my head that I can only say "rock on!" and clap. :D
Code works beautifully!!! Finals finished today and I had a great idea this afternoon to make it work. The downside is that my cool clock invert feature wont work because the clock output isn't a 50% duty cycle wave :( . Which just means that I will have to make the triangle and sine waves start low in the code, not a problem. Prototype here we come! If anyone wants the code PM me.
Quote from: culturejam on December 06, 2010, 01:18:06 PM
Dude. That is so far over my head that I can only say "rock on!" and clap. :D
Nah, it really isn't that bad. I just picked all of this up last week. Everything is very program/application specific which makes it all sound kind of crazy.
Finally the last parts have come in for this. Ill try and get a barebones test run going later tonight.
Initial tests are interesting. The sequencer clock input isn't working like it should for some odd reason. The tremolo part works well, but there is a very strange noise when the tremolo signal is high, like a million chirping birds in a tissue box. ???
Chip is on breadboard and everything seems to work fine, more tests to come.
It works ;D
(http://i693.photobucket.com/albums/vv299/pnordeen/0125111315-02.jpg)
(http://i693.photobucket.com/albums/vv299/pnordeen/0125111315-01.jpg)
(http://i693.photobucket.com/albums/vv299/pnordeen/0125111315-00.jpg)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=25txN6dibag (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=25txN6dibag)
Sorry for the out of tune guitar (too excited to tune) and horrible sound quality, this is only video capture device I own. 70's strat with Dimarzio Area pickups and a Twin Teverb RI.
There is some small clicking when the trem signals trigger, but that is expected. No LED's because I haven't made the attachment flange yet.
this is sweet. I didn't think something like the goatkeeper would be cloneable.
any plans on releasing schems and source code? :D
Very impressive!
Now get work on reverse engineering all the Strymon stuff. ;D ;D
Wow. Just wow.
Quote from: stecykmi on January 25, 2011, 11:28:18 PM
this is sweet. I didn't think something like the goatkeeper would be cloneable.
any plans on releasing schems and source code? :D
Source code is available to anyone who wants it. I cannot take credit for 90% of it. I really just added an extra algorithm to suite the needs of this pedal. Is there a file sharing site I should post this to so everyone can have it?
As for schematics, the schematics I used to generated the layout are very rough and not intended for readability. I am posting the rough layout I used but the sequencer board doesn't have any of the ins or outs labeled.
I am not going to lie, this project needs lots of work if other people are going to start making it. The layout needs to shrink a great deal. A volume control needs to be added to the trem circuit and losses over the reverse voltage protection diodes need to somehow be accounted for. My next few weeks are going to be crazy so I don't know when Ill be able to finish this up. Ill try and post a decent schematic before anything else so someone else can fiddle with it.
(http://i693.photobucket.com/albums/vv299/pnordeen/TremBoard.gif)
(http://i693.photobucket.com/albums/vv299/pnordeen/Sequencerboard.gif)
Quote from: crashguitar on January 26, 2011, 12:05:11 AM
Very impressive!
Now get work on reverse engineering all the Strymon stuff. ;D ;D
:) I wish I had time (and money) to get some of those worked out. One of the projects I was hoping to get started next was to make a small footprint real tape delay using the old Walkman style cassette read/write heads and tape cartridges... One day.
Impressive indeeed! I'd quote crashguitar but iguess you don't have that much time :P Great job :)
really, I was joking about the Strymon stuff.
Still, a very cool build and thanks for sharing the info. I've feel like I've just started learning about building pedals and haven't dipped into learning much about the digital stuff.
I understand the time thing. Most of the people on the forum are way more prolific than me, just because of family, job, and band commitments, I haven't been able to build a lot .
Very cool. What language is the code written in?
Quote from: crashguitar on January 26, 2011, 10:46:37 PM
really, I was joking about the Strymon stuff.
Still, a very cool build and thanks for sharing the info. I've feel like I've just started learning about building pedals and haven't dipped into learning much about the digital stuff.
I understand the time thing. Most of the people on the forum are way more prolific than me, just because of family, job, and band commitments, I haven't been able to build a lot .
Oh no worries. I didn't take any offense at your comment. That strymon stuff would be very cool to have. I still really don't understand the digital stuff, analog signal processing is so versatile I have never really felt the need to move to dsp. I am totally a weekend builder so I still feel I have a lot to learn.
Quote from: reddo on January 26, 2011, 11:29:41 PM
Very cool. What language is the code written in?
The code was written in assembly language, not my first choice but the original author is an embedded programmer (I think) and those guys have to save space and calculation time!
Just added on to the existing schematic. Pardon the odd colors, it became too illegible without them.
(http://i693.photobucket.com/albums/vv299/pnordeen/TapTap.gif)
I haven't checked this thread in a while and it looks like I missed out on a lot! This looks like some outstanding work Jake.
If you are interested, perhaps we could collaborate into making this into a DIY project. You seem to have a good handle on the programming part, and I could help with the putting bits where part :)
Quote from: madbean on February 11, 2011, 02:01:46 PM
I haven't checked this thread in a while and it looks like I missed out on a lot! This looks like some outstanding work Jake.
If you are interested, perhaps we could collaborate into making this into a DIY project. You seem to have a good handle on the programming part, and I could help with the putting bits where part :)
You're way too nice. I really don't know about outstanding! The 4-8-6 switch doesn't quite work yet (pretty easy fix I think) and I haven't been able to test the indicator LEDs yet. The programming part is where it should be but the circuit design needs to be tested much more and refined. If you think this could be a DIY project I will help out the best I can!
I created an account just so I could say.....anxiously awaiting the DIY version!!!!!
Keep up the good work!!!
Okay fixed the 4-8-6 switch, very easy. My mistake, you do need reverse voltage protection diodes for the 8 (always connected) and the 4-6 output.
Still haven't tested the LED's, will get around to it ASAP. I was playing it the other day and had an overdrive after it and was noticing some high frequency noise, like a soft high pitched whine. I am thinking because the led output is pulse width modulated it is introducing noise into the signal. Maybe a coupling capacitor somewhere could help filter it out? The strange thing is that it was only coming through when I was playing.
Also I need to add a volume control. Should I add variable resistance into the feedback loop of the last op amp or just pass the output signal into a variable resistor to ground?
Regretting my cheesy paint job, looks like a bad tribal arm band tattoo. I am going to strip it back to bare and just decal on black labels.
Awesome! My vote for DIY pedal of the year!
Quote from: madbean on February 11, 2011, 02:01:46 PM
If you are interested, perhaps we could collaborate into making this into a DIY project. You seem to have a good handle on the programming part, and I could help with the putting bits where part :)
Are you still interested in this Bean? Cause this would be a reaaaaally amazing project!
-Kaleb
Great stuff Jake. I was wanting to see this thing in action.
Jacob
good grief! that thing is badass!!! bravo!!!
:o
wow amazing! nicely done
Dude it sounds fantastic! You did an amazing job at this! Really cool...Didn't even realize that was you who made the pedal when I posted my other comment to Bean :o haha that's what happens when I don't read a few threads before posting comments :P Great stuff!
-Kaleb
Jaw, meet floor.
Thanks everyone! I had lots of fun and learned a ton by taking on this project. I will probably make minor revisions here and there for certain things and will keep you guys in the loop!
Great work. Hopefully reviving this thread could turn it into a DIY project! This has been one of my most sought after effects!
Well I haven't watched this vid in a long time. You got skillz, Paul. Awesome project.
Haha, yeah I haven't seen that video in a while either. I haven't worked on this project in forever. It still clicks like crazy with the trem signal. I got it to stop once somehow but it never did it again after that.
I honestly think that for $20 the Molten Voltage LFO chip is the way to go. It has the sequencer built into it. And you can save a bunch of sequence "programs". I dont know about that opto isolator technique they use in their schematic but you could just hook up the led/ldr to the same tremulus lune circuit if you wanted to. It is super simple. Ill see if I cant get an eagle board together, my layout skills are severely lacking though.
earlier you said
QuoteOne of the projects I was hoping to get started next was to make a small footprint real tape delay using the old Walkman style cassette read/write heads and tape cartridges... One day.
I'd be all over that. And this. But mostly that
Quote from: jtn191 on August 19, 2011, 01:55:07 AM
earlier you said
QuoteOne of the projects I was hoping to get started next was to make a small footprint real tape delay using the old Walkman style cassette read/write heads and tape cartridges... One day.
I'd be all over that. And this. But mostly that
Yeah that's a ways off. I've got a bunch of projects to finish before I even start on that one. I do know an awesome surplus place where I can probably get read/write heads for pennies. I really want to do a project like this, the mechanical part of it is probably going to be the most difficult.