Building A Custom Multi-effect Pedal

[Kasey]

I've been in the mode of building strange things lately (i'm in the process of building a drumset composed of various sized bass drums and a marching snare right now). So i got another idea. I want to build a multi effects pedal. This sounds a bit more complex than building a drumkit... but I'm going to go for it and hopefully keep it simple. Basically my plan is to put everything i already have in my chain into a single box. I know nothing of building these things but my chain is as follows: tube preamp - reverb - tape deck - volume pedal - reverb.

yea, a tape deck and two reverbs (and sometimes a second tape deck). I'm guessing the preamp part is going to be the simplest. Can anyone tell me where to start with this?

also, with the tape deck portion of it (in case you didnt realize i use it as my distortion basically, and adore it) In my current set up i have to have the volume pedal after the tape deck because if i'm not playing a bunch of white noise comes in (which i take advantage of, but i dont always want it obviously) because of the natural compression i suppose. When I'm playing the noise isnt there, when i stop it fades in. Is there any way to get around this besides to be always playing or have a volume pedal afterwards? I dont think a noise gate would do it, because the noise comes in just as loud as my playing. Actually i know it wouldnt work, i've tried it.


i have no idea where to start with this one - please help!

 

[Outlaws]

you want to build all those into a pedal? like form scratch? like you want to piece together the circuits?

Jump ship now or you will drown later.

Learn to build a simple fuzz box or something first.

GeneralGuitarGadjets.com (I probably misspelt that)
geofx.com

arons stompbox forum is great
http://www.diystompboxes.com/

they are down right now though. check back later.

 

[Kasey]

you want to build all those into a pedal? like form scratch? like you want to piece together the circuits?

Jump ship now or you will drown later.

Learn to build a simple fuzz box or something first.

GeneralGuitarGadjets.com (I probably misspelt that)
geofx.com

arons stompbox forum is great
http://www.diystompboxes.com/

they are down right now though. check back later.

mmm.... could i build one thing then add on to it? like build the tube preamp but dont cover it, then the reverb... and so on until they all work and put them together into one box?

 

[Kasey]

i know a guy who is an electrician too... if that gives me any leverage. he could probably help me out a bit.

 

[Outlaws]

electrician

electrician does not have anything to do with this. electricians run wires around the house and make sure A is connected to B with nothing hampering the flow. Ask them about which resistor is good to use to regulate the flow to a 20mA SuperBright LED while still maintaining battery life will get you nowhere with an electrician....unless he is an electrical engineer or something else and you just misspoke of his true profession.


But back to your circuit. Honest to God and I am not BSing you. Don't take this on yet. Go to those websites and search for simplistic stuff and work on that for a while. This is a massive headache that you just don't yet understand. I have done it and I have both fail and suceeded. You really need to understand why things work how they work, becuase even when everything is hooked up exactly as all the pretty internet pictures, shit still won't work.

Plus the first thing you make will probably suck. Thats just how it goes.

and to top it off, this won't be a 'multi-effects' box like all the digitec's and Boss pedals where you can program your settings and have presets and all that other stuff....those pedals have so many circuit components that you would either need, A) a robot to precision place and micro solder them into place, or, B) a very very large container with a very very large circuit board with a very very shitty amount of parts to trouble shoot....let alone layout in any type of 'compact' placement.....so you now need to double the size of that circuit board....and since this is your first pedal, lets go ahead and say, double the size of the double size or that already very very big circuit board.


Plus, I dont' know where you think you are gonna get the schematic f how this is to be laid out for your 'multi-effects' box, because trust me, even though some of the pedals might be on the net as standalones, you ain't gonna get much help when it comes to custom stuff since the fact that its custom means no one else will know wtf you are talking about most likely.....especially since you are on your first pedal and won't have the basic lingo down to even start a conversation.

Sorry to sound negative, but I honestly don't get the immpression you have the slightest idea what you are considering.

 

[Kasey]

electrician does not have anything to do with this. electricians run wires around the house and make sure A is connected to B with nothing hampering the flow. Ask them about which resistor is good to use to regulate the flow to a 20mA SuperBright LED while still maintaining battery life will get you nowhere with an electrician....unless he is an electrical engineer or something else and you just misspoke of his true profession.


But back to your circuit. Honest to God and I am not BSing you. Don't take this on yet. Go to those websites and search for simplistic stuff and work on that for a while. This is a massive headache that you just don't yet understand. I have done it and I have both fail and suceeded. You really need to understand why things work how they work, becuase even when everything is hooked up exactly as all the pretty internet pictures, shit still won't work.

Plus the first thing you make will probably suck. Thats just how it goes.

and to top it off, this won't be a 'multi-effects' box like all the digitec's and Boss pedals where you can program your settings and have presets and all that other stuff....those pedals have so many circuit components that you would either need, A) a robot to precision place and micro solder them into place, or, B) a very very large container with a very very large circuit board with a very very shitty amount of parts to trouble shoot....let alone layout in any type of 'compact' placement.....so you now need to double the size of that circuit board....and since this is your first pedal, lets go ahead and say, double the size of the double size or that already very very big circuit board.


Plus, I dont' know where you think you are gonna get the schematic f how this is to be laid out for your 'multi-effects' box, because trust me, even though some of the pedals might be on the net as standalones, you ain't gonna get much help when it comes to custom stuff since the fact that its custom means no one else will know wtf you are talking about most likely.....especially since you are on your first pedal and won't have the basic lingo down to even start a conversation.

Sorry to sound negative, but I honestly don't get the immpression you have the slightest idea what you are considering.

i know, this probably is too big. my friend isnt exactly an electrical engineer but i swear to god the man can build just about anything. Maybe i will just start of by building a tube preamp or a reverb pedal - which of those two would be easier?

 

[Outlaws]

tube preamp or a reverb pedal - which of those two would be easier?

neither. lol. you must really be an overachiever.

start with a simple transistor fuzz.

Something like a Fuzzface. That will be good. Its one of the simplest designs on the face of the earth, yet can have more problems than space travel.

I wouldn't work with tubes just yet, and I would do a reverb since those are consiered 'advanced' level experience pedals.

 

[Kasey]

neither. lol. you must really be an overachiever.

start with a simple transistor fuzz.

Something like a Fuzzface. That will be good. Its one of the simplest designs on the face of the earth, yet can have more problems than space travel.

I wouldn't work with tubes just yet, and I would do a reverb since those are consiered 'advanced' level experience pedals.

..volume pedal?? lol i dont want a fuzz distortion, i have a tape deck. yea im an overachiever and a bit naive i'm sure, but i usually make it where i want to be.
a simple volume pedal couldnt be too hard in relation to thiose things though could it?

 

[Outlaws]

..volume pedal?? lol i dont want a fuzz distortion, i have a tape deck. yea im an overachiever and a bit naive i'm sure, but i usually make it where i want to be.
a simple volume pedal couldnt be too hard in relation to thiose things though could it?

what volume pedal do you mean?

And no, a volume isn't that hard. But I have done a few fuzz effects and they can be tricky...but it doesn't have to be a fuzz. Just something to get your foot in the door. If you want to jump without even seeing how the parachut works, then by all means, go for it. But there is no rush at the moment is there?