Hyper Light 2 is ready

It's finished!

I made this handsome demonstration model and I have some more PCBs on for order. Let me know if you're interested in a fully built one.

A short demo video:

Hyper Light 2 Demonstration

Enjoy!
I noticed after uploading I mostly play this with the ring mod mix very low - I do turn it up at a few points though.

Boards are currently on their way to me and should be available soon.

Hyper Light 2: More Hyper, More Light.

Hyper Light 1 had a good response, so I've got the version 2 on its way to me!

New features:

• Modulation inputs for carrier frequency and time
• Almost no treble bleed!
• Improved feedback response (no lockup)
• Better mix knob (external this time)
• Onboard bypass indicator (I don't know about you but I think these are a godsend)
• Better solder pads (sorry the other ones were thin as a rake!)
• Optional SMD socket for the LMC567 as the DIP8 package is increasingly difficult to find

It's gonna be pretty! Oh and it's 1590BB now. It outgrew itself! If you're very clever it might go horizontally in a 1590B.

Shagpile envelope-controlled double tracking/chorus pedal

I've been designing this lately - the Shagpile - an envelope controlled double tracking/chorus pedal. Basically, instead of having an LFO control the clock speed of the second voice, it's controlled by a very wobbly envelope follower, so modulates in unpredictable ways rather than the smooth in-out of a chorus.

Two controls - flutter controls the gain of the envelope follower, taking it from barely a ripple to Clari-Not style huge wobbling. Tracking controls the delay time of the second voice, from barely-even-there to nearly a second later. When you strum chords with the tracking quite close and the flutter about halfway, it sounds a bit like a very wobbly chorus.

The single switch makes the second voice slide up in pitch or down in pitch.

Pics!

Just sent off for the second version of this in a prototype run, and they'll be for sale in the usual way and maybe even in a limited, full pedal version. Decal needs a little work, other than that I'm very happy with this oddball circuit.

No sound samples but you can hear it being played on all guitar parts in this tune:

HyperLight schematic

Sold a few kits now, time to post the schematic!  There's also a full build doc with BOM here. Enjoy. Welcoming any feedback on this schematic - suggestions always welcome.

Vero Layout: The Gristleizer

Here's a really ugly vero layout I did for the classic 'Gristleizer' circuit, the first circuit I ever took a probe to and figured out how it worked. I learned a lot from the circuit, as it provides elements of electronics present in both guitar effects and synthesizers.

It certainly hasn't aged well, the filtering is pretty terrible and some settings are borderline inaudible, with some knobs not doing anything in 70% of their settings, and using 5 LM741s seems ridiculous, so this one uses a TL074 and a TL072, with the voltage doubler hidden off-board (I had this in console style case that I never finished). A lot of fiddly parts chained together.

I've built several of these now and they've all come off really well. FuzzDog does a great PCB if you're in the UK too: https://shop.pedalparts.co.uk/Gristleizer_-_Mad_Modulations!/p847124_15740439.aspx

Anyway, the layout:

I told you it was ugly!

I often wondered why nobody had produced a vero layout for this, and then as soon as I put pen to paper, I realised why. Too many jumpers, too many cuts and too many specific parts needed to commit to making this unless you really want to.

The schematic I made this from was a beautifully neat Eagle schematic which now seems to have been expunged from the internet. I have a copy but shan't post it here as I cannot remember where it was from and wouldn't want to host it without asking permission first. But if you fancy it, have fun building this.

Self-verified, as I had this working for a while, and it sounded near identical to the three I bought from Fuzzdog.

First HyperLight boards now available

Hello all,

I now have the first run of HyperLight boards on their way to me.

If you're interested in buying one they are here: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/282842216604

Here they are:

Pretty huh?

You can drop me a line at bluffchill@gmail.com and we can sort out PayPal stuff.

Update: with a bit of fiddling, it fits in a 1590B.

Schematic for you home brew types: