Looking for a good resource for effects

[santonel]

I've been to tonepad and other sites but I was wondering if there is a site that explains how these effects work rather than just giving you schematics.

For example what happens to a signal if you put a resistor/capacitor
/inductor/some other component in it's path? How do effects like reverb, phase shifting, delay, chorus,etc... work and what electrical circuits are use to accomplish it? Where would I look to answer questions like these?

 

[Jarno]

There are two large international fora, which are used to discuss effects:
DIY Stompboxes and Freestompboxes.

Discussions on the workings of some effects can be found on RG Keens "Geofex" page.

You've found TonePad, but General Guitar Gadgets is also a site with a lot of projects, as well as "Run off groove".

Good luck!

 

[santonel]

There are two large international fora, which are used to discuss effects:
DIY Stompboxes and Freestompboxes.

Discussions on the workings of some effects can be found on RG Keens "Geofex" page.

You've found TonePad, but General Guitar Gadgets is also a site with a lot of projects, as well as "Run off groove".

Good luck!

Thanks! 😀

 

[Jarno]

No problem, by the way, you will need to register at the fora to see all information there.

 

[gain wire]

Well, It's not as simple as you might think. We're dealing with frequency response of components here. I don't think you'll find a website that explains what those components do for effects. What you need to do is atake an electronics course, the basics of inductance, capacitance, and their related impedances, and all things attached to components behaviour relative to frequency.
In other words, AC circuitry.

As suggested, read the explanations of particular circuits on geofex's website, such as this one: Technology of the Fuzz Face - Frame Definition

The book "Basic Electronics" by Forrest Mims (sold, back in the old days, at Radio Shack) is an excellent book that explains in simple terms (without the mathematics) these concepts. It helped me.

Good luck!

 

[zdavesf]

With out the math... but thats the fun part 😉

Like gain-wire said you will have trouble finding a description of what parts do what. It all depends on there configurations. Generally you dont find inductors in many guiars pedals except Wah pedals (but there are also active "inductorless" wah pedals that use and opamp to simulate an inductor)

Diodes create distortion and overdrive depending if you have them in the feed back loop or at the output of a buffer (opamp or transistor) compare some schematics and you will see what i mean.

capacitors are used to block dc voltages as well when paired with resistors make filters...

These are just a couple examples and by no means are the extent of what you can do with these components, im just listing the basics off the top of my head. Look at and compare lots of schematics and you will start to see silimar topology with slightly different values/components etc...

its one thing to just guess and test when trying to make pedals, but having a good understaning of the electical concepts is very valuable.

best of luck

Dave

 

[Braca]

tonepad -- fx projects

 

[jameslover]

As a side effect, if you did not add the dry signal to the modulated-delay signal, you got what amounts to a frequency shift as the delay speeds up and slows down, so you have a true electronic vibrato.