Signal-Powered Compressor?

szechuan · 7th March 2011, 08:32 PM

So, while surfing the mighty interwebs, I found this interesting circuit. The given description is good, and the circuit looks good to me, but I was hoping for some feedback/advice from some more experienced techies. (FYI, If I assemble it I'll have some little amp circuit (probably a common emitter) before it and a JFET buffer behind it, with the intent of using it for guitar/bass.)

Dynamic Compressor, Self Powered Circuit Design

chrispenycate · 7th March 2011, 08:57 PM

If you're going to have a power supply anyway, why try for a circuit that is specially designed to run without one? It's going to distort (those diode junctions are anything but linear) but it might sound quite interesting in an instrument circuit; I certainly wouldn't be trying it as an AGC or anything even vaguely hi-fi.

And it's certainly cheap enough and easy enough to build to be worth a try.

DF96 · 7th March 2011, 09:02 PM

A couple of back-to-back diodes and a few resistors would be simpler.

stratus46 · 8th March 2011, 12:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DF96

A couple of back-to-back diodes and a few resistors would be simpler.

I had something similar to this accidentally on the output of my computer. A powered down Technics receiver on a 'Y' cord with another amp. The protection diodes in the JFET switch chip were conducting so everything was fine up to a diode drop both positive and negative. Looked pretty on a scope. Sounded dreadful. Problem solved with a Niles Audio 6 out DA between the 3 destinations and the PC.

G²

szechuan · 8th March 2011, 01:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chrispenycate

If you're going to have a power supply anyway, why try for a circuit that is specially designed to run without one? It's going to distort (those diode junctions are anything but linear) but it might sound quite interesting in an instrument circuit; I certainly wouldn't be trying it as an AGC or anything even vaguely hi-fi.

And it's certainly cheap enough and easy enough to build to be worth a try.

I could make an active, super-clean circuit, yes, but I was hoping for a distinct sound- I actually want the distortion! (Plus I already have a super-clean active circuit, and as they say, variety is the spice of life) My goal for this little project was to get nice compression with unique characteristics, something that other musicians might like. The low cost is just a little bonus

7th March 2011, 08:32 PM	#1
szechuan diyAudio Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Maryland	Signal-Powered Compressor? So, while surfing the mighty interwebs, I found this interesting circuit. The given description is good, and the circuit looks good to me, but I was hoping for some feedback/advice from some more experienced techies. (FYI, If I assemble it I'll have some little amp circuit (probably a common emitter) before it and a JFET buffer behind it, with the intent of using it for guitar/bass.) Dynamic Compressor, Self Powered Circuit Design

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7th March 2011, 08:57 PM	#2
chrispenycate diyAudio Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Geneva, Switzerland	If you're going to have a power supply anyway, why try for a circuit that is specially designed to run without one? It's going to distort (those diode junctions are anything but linear) but it might sound quite interesting in an instrument circuit; I certainly wouldn't be trying it as an AGC or anything even vaguely hi-fi. And it's certainly cheap enough and easy enough to build to be worth a try.

7th March 2011, 09:02 PM	#3
DF96 diyAudio Member Join Date: May 2007	A couple of back-to-back diodes and a few resistors would be simpler.