Comments on: Mod.It.Yourself (M.I.Y) Part 2 – Diode Clipping http://www.effectsbay.com/2010/01/mod-it-yourself-m-i-y-part-2-diode-clipping/ Talking about guitar effects Wed, 08 Feb 2012 18:37:45 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: MOD.IT.YOURSELF PART 3: SWITCHES – cubisteffects http://www.effectsbay.com/2010/01/mod-it-yourself-m-i-y-part-2-diode-clipping/comment-page-1/#comment-10099 MOD.IT.YOURSELF PART 3: SWITCHES – cubisteffects Sat, 17 Apr 2010 06:29:55 +0000 http://www.effectsbay.com/?p=1002#comment-10099 [...] previously discussed in Part 2 of the M.I.Y series, we can mod a pedals’ clipping diodes to create a different tone of the distorted sound. We [...] [...] previously discussed in Part 2 of the M.I.Y series, we can mod a pedals’ clipping diodes to create a different tone of the distorted sound. We [...]

]]> By: Andrew Elmore http://www.effectsbay.com/2010/01/mod-it-yourself-m-i-y-part-2-diode-clipping/comment-page-1/#comment-2694 Andrew Elmore Sat, 16 Jan 2010 20:11:42 +0000 http://www.effectsbay.com/?p=1002#comment-2694 Oh, great. Now i'm all tempted to mod my SD-1... I just might! Here's to hoping i don't break it if i do! :-) Great post, Christian. Oh, great. Now i’m all tempted to mod my SD-1… I just might! Here’s to hoping i don’t break it if i do! :-) Great post, Christian.

]]> By: Christian http://www.effectsbay.com/2010/01/mod-it-yourself-m-i-y-part-2-diode-clipping/comment-page-1/#comment-2678 Christian Sat, 16 Jan 2010 04:53:32 +0000 http://www.effectsbay.com/?p=1002#comment-2678 Glad you enjoyed the post guys! Just to answer Hank's questions... Yes the SD-1 has asymmetrical clipping. Looking at the schematic linked above, you can see three 1N914 silicon diodes below the 4558 IC. One diode is going one way (D4) while a pair in series is going the other (D5, D6). To make this clipping symmetrical, replace D4 with a pair of 1N914s in series, or remove D5 or D6 and jumper. Both methods will sound different. As for checking which LED to use, this form of experimentation is fairly safe. You can replace any clipping diode without fear of damage to the circuit, it will just sound different. Every diode has a "clipping threshold" or forward voltage drop - a value that once is exceeded, it will clip the audio signal. Ge diodes have a threshold of around 250mV whereas Si diodes are around 500mV. The higher the threshold, the higher the headroom, volume and dynamics, but lower the gain. Placing diodes in series increases the threshold, thus its efect on the signal. LEDs act in the same manner and have different characteristics with size and colour. Try them all! C. .-= Christian´s last blog ..<a href="http://www.cubisteffects.com/2010/01/line-6-fm4-filter-modeler-modifications/" rel="nofollow">LINE 6 FM4 FILTER MODELER MODIFICATIONS</a> =-. Glad you enjoyed the post guys!

Just to answer Hank’s questions…
Yes the SD-1 has asymmetrical clipping. Looking at the schematic linked above, you can see three 1N914 silicon diodes below the 4558 IC. One diode is going one way (D4) while a pair in series is going the other (D5, D6). To make this clipping symmetrical, replace D4 with a pair of 1N914s in series, or remove D5 or D6 and jumper. Both methods will sound different.
As for checking which LED to use, this form of experimentation is fairly safe. You can replace any clipping diode without fear of damage to the circuit, it will just sound different.

Every diode has a “clipping threshold” or forward voltage drop – a value that once is exceeded, it will clip the audio signal. Ge diodes have a threshold of around 250mV whereas Si diodes are around 500mV. The higher the threshold, the higher the headroom, volume and dynamics, but lower the gain. Placing diodes in series increases the threshold, thus its efect on the signal. LEDs act in the same manner and have different characteristics with size and colour. Try them all!

C.
.-= Christian´s last blog ..LINE 6 FM4 FILTER MODELER MODIFICATIONS =-.

]]> By: nikko http://www.effectsbay.com/2010/01/mod-it-yourself-m-i-y-part-2-diode-clipping/comment-page-1/#comment-2676 nikko Sat, 16 Jan 2010 01:07:30 +0000 http://www.effectsbay.com/?p=1002#comment-2676 great info, i may just be tempted to try modding my jackhammer great info, i may just be tempted to try modding my jackhammer

]]> By: Canon http://www.effectsbay.com/2010/01/mod-it-yourself-m-i-y-part-2-diode-clipping/comment-page-1/#comment-2672 Canon Fri, 15 Jan 2010 22:50:39 +0000 http://www.effectsbay.com/?p=1002#comment-2672 Cool post. Great info in here. thanks Cool post. Great info in here. thanks

]]> By: admin http://www.effectsbay.com/2010/01/mod-it-yourself-m-i-y-part-2-diode-clipping/comment-page-1/#comment-2658 admin Fri, 15 Jan 2010 16:18:25 +0000 http://www.effectsbay.com/?p=1002#comment-2658 Also, how to determine the proper LED values needed? Would you run a multimeter and check the amperage flowing and match the proper rating? What happens if you choke the current before the diode? Will it just be quieter? Also, how to determine the proper LED values needed? Would you run a multimeter and check the amperage flowing and match the proper rating? What happens if you choke the current before the diode? Will it just be quieter?

]]> By: admin http://www.effectsbay.com/2010/01/mod-it-yourself-m-i-y-part-2-diode-clipping/comment-page-1/#comment-2657 admin Fri, 15 Jan 2010 16:16:43 +0000 http://www.effectsbay.com/?p=1002#comment-2657 Christian.. so based on the Boss SD-1 schematic (http://www.experimentalistsanonymous.com/diy/Schematics/Distortion%20Boost%20and%20Overdrive/BOSS%20SD-1.gif) it looks to be using asymmetrical clipping (double sided)? Is this correct? If you wanted to convert it to symmetrical clipping would you just 'jump' where you'd be missing a diode? Christian.. so based on the Boss SD-1 schematic (http://www.experimentalistsanonymous.com/diy/Schematics/Distortion%20Boost%20and%20Overdrive/BOSS%20SD-1.gif) it looks to be using asymmetrical clipping (double sided)? Is this correct?

If you wanted to convert it to symmetrical clipping would you just ‘jump’ where you’d be missing a diode?

]]>