Just finished a WSG - pics and a question

[benjo]

Although I've had some other basic electronics experience, this is certainly my first synth DIY project, and what a pleasure it was to build. I also must add that I was as inspired by this community as I was by Ray Wilson to get into this, so a big thanks for that.

I decided to make mine a bit angry, as the WSG can be known to make some excellently profane noises...






Some questions I'm hoping someone can answer:

I added a basic amp using an LM386, and I was having a lot of trouble with ground noise in that circuit. I'm running ground to it from the panel, but should I be grounding it somewhere else like on the pot where most other grounds are running from? I was able to make some good progress here by running a 10uF cap between + and - in that circuit, and a 0.1uF cap between the + and - rails on the 386, but is there anything more/different I should be doing here?

It doesn't sound terrible, and most of the ground noise seems to be gone, but it just doesn't have the clarity that the line out has. Am I foolish to expect more from a basic 386 amp, or are there any good tactics for increasing the quality? The amp circuit I used is below:

[Blue Hell]

[benjo]

Sounds good, I'll experiment with a couple grounding options, thanks!

[JingleJoe]

To remove noise:
Add a cap to ground on pin 7 of the LM386. About 1uF should do.
Also I use a 100uF cap accross the supply when using an LM386.

This amp will allways distort badly (or nicely if you like distortion ) at high gain, it's wise to add both a gain control and a volume control with a resistor at the top of your volume pot to limit the input voltage to a low voltage. Then adjust the gain and input volume carefully (they affect each other) untill you have the maximum volume you can get with no distortion.

[jordroid]

Looks great!

Nice job,

jordan

[loydb]

Beautiful build!

[ashleym]

Love the build. Great style to the box. For us Brits couldnt you have put on w@nker?

Another source of distortion could be the gain of the circuit you are using. (Getting the figures wrong but) the LM386 put out about 1/2 a watt, the WSG will put out, say, about 1V. Different units but think about it you wont need 1V with gain of 200 giving 200V output if the little amp could ever output that much.....Looking quickly at the datasheet you need to look at the components between pins 1 and 8, try no capacitor and an 1.35K resistor. This will give you a lot more useable scale on the volume control too.

Did I mention I loved the box?

[-minus-]

Looks really great! Love the labels!!!

I think the grounding problem is with the LINE OUT socket. It should read ASSHOLE.

[Paradigm X]

You need one of these





Great looking build tho