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mikeb
Joined: Nov 20, 2006 Posts: 59 Location: The Automotive Capital of Canada
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Posted: Wed Aug 21, 2019 2:56 pm Post subject:
Any schematics for soft or hard clipping modules? Subject description: Looking to nicely clip signals above 10VPP |
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Hey guys,
I'm trying to find a schematic for something that can do some nice sounding clipping of a synth level audio signal. So the waveform stays untouched if below 10Vpp and starts to get clipped as it rises above 10Vpp.
I've looked into a few schematics, but they're all for guitar effects.. and they all seem to attenuate the signal very low so it can use diodes to clip at like .7V and then amplify back up. I'd really like to avoid having to attenuate and then re-amplify to avoid adding excess noise into the circuit. I'd just like something that leaves the signal untouched up until 10Vpp and then starts chopping the tops off of the waveforms as it gets higher than that. Thoughts?
Thanks! |
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AlanP
Joined: Mar 11, 2014 Posts: 746 Location: New Zealand
Audio files: 41
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mikeb
Joined: Nov 20, 2006 Posts: 59 Location: The Automotive Capital of Canada
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Posted: Wed Aug 21, 2019 5:02 pm Post subject:
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Hi Alan, reading the operation instructions for that page I don't see that it does any clipping. I see that it does rectifying and splitting the signal out to separate outputs for the positive and negative swing of the input. |
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AlanP
Joined: Mar 11, 2014 Posts: 746 Location: New Zealand
Audio files: 41
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Posted: Wed Aug 21, 2019 5:04 pm Post subject:
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The RYO OptoDist also has clippers. Four LEDs in series, for maybe 6 or 7V ceiling? |
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PHOBoS
Joined: Jan 14, 2010 Posts: 5591 Location: Moon Base
Audio files: 705
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ixtern
Joined: Jun 25, 2018 Posts: 145 Location: Poland
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PHOBoS
Joined: Jan 14, 2010 Posts: 5591 Location: Moon Base
Audio files: 705
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Posted: Thu Aug 22, 2019 4:33 am Post subject:
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ixtern wrote: | The opamps also invert and
attenuate (gain = 0,5x) the signals. The attenuation is added to prevent clipping." |
That would be clipping if the signals are higher than what the opamps can handle because it gets too close to the supply voltage.
But the WaveWiper does work by 'clipping off' the top/bottom of the signals (and stitching them together). Of course that's not
how a fuzz/distortion/overdrive usually works,. hence why I called it extreme cliiping. _________________ "My perf, it's full of holes!"
http://phobos.000space.com/
SoundCloud BandCamp MixCloud Stickney Synthyards Captain Collider Twitch YouTube |
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ixtern
Joined: Jun 25, 2018 Posts: 145 Location: Poland
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Posted: Thu Aug 22, 2019 5:06 am Post subject:
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PHOBoS wrote: | ixtern wrote: | The opamps also invert and
attenuate (gain = 0,5x) the signals. The attenuation is added to prevent clipping." |
That would be clipping if the signals are higher than what the opamps can handle because it gets too close to the supply voltage.
But the WaveWiper does work by 'clipping off' the top/bottom of the signals (and stitching them together). Of course that's not
how a fuzz/distortion/overdrive usually works,. hence why I called it extreme cliiping. |
Right, but I am not sure if it was original idea of this design. |
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electrotech
Joined: Apr 24, 2013 Posts: 38 Location: Ayrshire Scotland
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PHOBoS
Joined: Jan 14, 2010 Posts: 5591 Location: Moon Base
Audio files: 705
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Posted: Fri Aug 23, 2019 4:57 am Post subject:
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ah of course zenerdiodes DO work. It was the first thing that came to mind but I had forgotten you have to put them in series
If you place them in parallel it doesn't work of course. It's actually a method I have used myself a couple of times to limit a voltage
so I feel quite stupid now. _________________ "My perf, it's full of holes!"
http://phobos.000space.com/
SoundCloud BandCamp MixCloud Stickney Synthyards Captain Collider Twitch YouTube Last edited by PHOBoS on Fri Aug 23, 2019 10:11 am; edited 1 time in total |
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gabbagabi
Joined: Nov 29, 2008 Posts: 651 Location: Berlin by n8
Audio files: 23
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mikeb
Joined: Nov 20, 2006 Posts: 59 Location: The Automotive Capital of Canada
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Posted: Fri Aug 23, 2019 11:33 am Post subject:
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gabbagabi wrote: | if you first multiply the 10Vpp signal just before the clipping points of an opamp, and then divide it back by the same factor -> gives you an unclipped output
(@15V that is roughly factor 3)
if you then raise the input over the 10Vpp you get some clipping
inverting and noninverting example attached |
Thanks gabbagabi.. but I don't want to slam an opamp past the rails to get my clipping. I'm not sure why not though, that just seems "dirty" and not best practice. Will try to breadboard that zener example above though.. |
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gabbagabi
Joined: Nov 29, 2008 Posts: 651 Location: Berlin by n8
Audio files: 23
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Posted: Fri Aug 23, 2019 2:31 pm Post subject:
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past the rails ? |
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AlanP
Joined: Mar 11, 2014 Posts: 746 Location: New Zealand
Audio files: 41
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Posted: Fri Aug 23, 2019 2:33 pm Post subject:
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Heh, here's a project -- redesign a Big Muff to work with 10V synth signals natively, not 50mV guitar signals. |
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mikeb
Joined: Nov 20, 2006 Posts: 59 Location: The Automotive Capital of Canada
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Posted: Fri Aug 23, 2019 5:30 pm Post subject:
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gabbagabi wrote: | past the rails ? |
Sorry, "into" the rails
That being said, I looked at the schematic for the OCD distortion and noticed that the amplification stage slams the signal into the rails for some distortion before it hits the Diode clipper stage.. so maybe I shouldn't be afraid to hit the rails of the op-amp too.. |
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gabbagabi
Joined: Nov 29, 2008 Posts: 651 Location: Berlin by n8
Audio files: 23
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Posted: Sat Aug 24, 2019 1:54 am Post subject:
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well,
indeed "we" are using the into-the-rails (itr) effect for producing square waves more or less often - so dont be afraid my friend this way is save to go
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Ayab
Joined: Oct 27, 2015 Posts: 180 Location: London, UK
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Electric Druid
Joined: Mar 13, 2012 Posts: 44 Location: UK
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Posted: Thu Oct 10, 2019 5:00 am Post subject:
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AlanP wrote: | Heh, here's a project -- redesign a Big Muff to work with 10V synth signals natively, not 50mV guitar signals. |
Like most good ideas, this has already been done!
http://www.frequencycentral.co.uk/?page_id=1489
(Full Disclosure - I helped Rick a little bit with adding CV control to the tone control circuit, and designed the PCB). _________________ Electric Druid Synth and Pedal DIY website |
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