Electronic Projects for Musicians

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nate_dennis

nate_dennis

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I have read many reviews of this book and would really enjoy going through it. However, I also hear that he uses an IC in most of the projects that is "no longer available." Does anyone know a.) if this is true and . . . b.) if so, is there another book that would present the same types of ideas/concepts using readily available parts?

Thank you in advance for your help.


-Nate
 
It is probably just some generic opamp. Pick a different opamp and go! Just be sure to use a FET input opamp where specified.
 
Amazon review said:
After diving into some of the projects, even buying a few parts and pieces, I realized there are very few of these projects that are even buildable. He uses an IC in most of his projects that isn't available anymore and I haven't found information as of yet on a replacement. Even if I did I would have to redesign the circuit boards in the books to fit my needs. Other reviewers made this clear and I should have paid more attention before buying the book.
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If this "generic opamp" is honestly the only thing, cool. I just don't want to buy something to teach me this stuff, and not be able to use it. But thanks for the response. I think I may buy it and just see, but if anyone else has any experience with this book, I'd appreciate your feedback too.

-Nate
 
nate_dennis said:
However, I also hear that he uses an IC in most of the projects that is "no longer available."
Click to expand...

Without knowing the type of IC it's impossible to tell. I guess someone would have mentioned this?

And even IC's that seem available can sometimes be hard to get. Some are only available if you're willing to buy large quantities. Others sometimes are available in hard to solder SMD packages.
 
The vast majority of common opamps are available as 8-DIP with a standard pinout. Unless the dude used SIPs, those are pretty much obsolete. But who cares? Any simple circuit can be done with DIPs on perfboard, you don't need his PCB designs. Etching PCBs is a giant pain in the butt anyway.

It's also so easy and cheap enough to get PCBs fabbed that I never work on perfboard anymore. A company like expresspcb will do 3 boards for $51, and if you are clever you can stick three or four projects per board.

There are also a lot of PCBs and even kits available for purchase from various DIY boards.
 
HUH, I barely understand enough of what you just said to realize . . . this book is probably a good idea. So I think I'll get it soon. Thanks guys.
 
BTW, start with learning to solder, then learn Ohm's Law. All electronics is Ohm's Law . . .
 
Next, start with something you think you'd like to actually use. A book full of projects that don't interest you isn't going to make you want to learn electronics. I have never designed a circuit that didn't interest me.

But be careful, soon you spend your evenings doing stuff like this: :eek:
 
Jon,
You've given tons of info, thanks. It's too much for me at this hour, but I will pour over it. I don't think I'm the kind of person who can give myself to something that doesnt' interest me. I want to, ultimately, be able to design and build my own units of all types (i.e mic pres, eqs, effects, etc) but I have no background at all. The reviews of this book indicate that after going through the projects (all or some) I will learn the basics and can grow from there.

Thanks again for all the info. You guys all rule.
 
Here's a good TI reference on building simple single-supply (as in 9V battery) opamp circuits, tackle this after you've understood that car audio page (I love that thing with its interactive circuits):

http://www.eng.yale.edu/ee-labs/morse/compo/sloa058.pdf


As for your projects, set aside EQ for the time being, those circuits can get quite involved. A mic pre is a good start, and a simple opamp-based mic pre is not too difficult.

A mic pre circuit will have three basic functions: phantom power supply, differential input, gain control/output (which can be the same amp stage).

The question is how you would like to power your circuits: 9Vs are great for guitar pedals but inadequate for mic amps. The amp itself will run OK on 9V (with limited headroom), but not many people like 9V for phantom power. Even so, building a mic amp with 9V (or better 2x 9Vs, then you have +/-9V and reasonable headroom) on breadboard is a good start to understanding how circuits work.

If you haven't already, buy a breadboard and a multimeter:

h.800,s.1,w.800,yajmikura.true,m.02ff501d3c9fc6a1c3a91d3b1949259b,2972,pb_1680.jpg


That one is probably twice the size you need.


You need to built a proper power supply ultimately, which means wall power, and that can be a little intimidating. Just remember that once the voltage comes off the secondary of the transformer, it is low voltage and won't kill you. So wire up the primary carefully, include a fuse or breaker, and make sure not to leave 120VAC leads exposed (use wirenuts, heatshrink, whatever)

A mic preamp will usually have three power rails: +48V for phantom and +/-15V (or higher) for the amps themselves. That can be a bit much to construct at first, but there are plenty of kits you can buy that do that--I think JLM sells one, and I know fivefish does.
 
I bought Craig's book way back, like 25 years ago. It's good but truthfully I don't know if I'd really say go out and buy it today. You can find pretty much anything you want to find with Google.

After learning how to solder and fixing/making some mic or guitar cables making a kit is pretty cool and you learn a lot.

I made this K-12M stereo tube amp from a kit, I think they're around $200 now and I use it to power my studio monitors. I thought it might be a toy but it isn't and it's real quiet. It has zero ugly peaks.

hereitis-1.jpg
 
That was $200? Wow. I'd think the transformers alone would be that much! :o
 
Many of the circuits use either a 4739 (dual) or 4136 (quad) opamp. The 4136 crosses to at least a NTE997 which I'm pretty sure is still avail. I am certain the 4739 has some pin out differences. (its a 14 pin DIP)

However, it is just a dual opamp, so unless you want to use the pcb layouts you'd be fine. (Or you could fashion an adapter.)

I've had the book for 20+ years. YOu used to be able to get PCB's by tehmselves from PAIA. Some but not all of the circuits are still avail as kits from PAIA. For a while PAIA offered an adapter for the 4739. I think things are a little streamlined at Paia since the original owner passed away.

It is a nice learning tool, as CA does a good job of explaining the circuits, and all of them are fairly easy build. I'd still recommend it as it is nice to have a "desk reference" in addition to the internet.
 
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Blue Jinn said:
Many of the circuits use either a 4739 (dual) or 4136 (quad) opamp. The 4136 crosses to at least a NTE997 which I'm pretty sure is still avail. I am certain the 4739 has some pin out differences. (its a 14 pin DIP)

However, it is just a dual opamp, so unless you want to use the pcb layouts you'd be fine. (Or you could fashion an adapter.)

I've had the book for 20+ years. YOu used to be able to get PCB's by tehmselves from PAIA. Some but not all of the circuits are still avail as kits from PAIA. For a while PAIA offered an adapter for the 4739. I think things are a little streamlined at Paia since the original owner passed away.

It is a nice learning tool, as CA does a good job of explaining the circuits, and all of them are fairly easy build. I'd still recommend it as it is nice to have a "desk reference" in addition to the internet.
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Great info!!! THanks!!! I'm definately getting this book.
 
mshilarious said:
That was $200? Wow. I'd think the transformers alone would be that much! :o
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It was $150 when I bought it, I just saw it for $190. It does not come with an enclosure. I made mine out of wood and the top grill is a stationary thing you buy to put paper in.

http://store.tubedepot.com/diy-k12g.html

Here's some reviews of it and some other tube amp kits.

http://www.tubedepot.com/kitreviews.html

I cannot overemphasize how good that tube amp is! A friend uses a $800 Hafler in his studio and agrees my amp sounds better. It's real quiet and doesn't roll the top off like I'd feared. Plus if it breaks I phone this old timer who has the schematic burned to his brain and he'll help me, he has before, so it's a lifetime amp. The thing simply sounds fantastic, a complete surprise for me and it's a bargain in studio gear.

There's a small following for this amp and there are several sites with mods but I haven't got into that. Mines been on for most of the last 4-5 years, I should probably consider buying new tubes.
 
You'd have to get to a pretty crazy dual opamp circuit that you couldn't do on perfboard. I would skip worrying about the PCB layouts in the book then . . . get yourself some 5532s (or OPA2134s for FET input) and get busy!
 
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