KVR Audio

Skaven83 · Post by **Skaven83** » Thu Oct 13, 2005 12:28 pm

Hi,

I'm interested in creating electrical devices e.g. effect stomp boxes for guitars etc. I've retrieved a lot of information from courses in electrical engineering at my university, but I have no knowledge in creating things and soldering. Are there any "beginners kits" for this? With ready components and instructions for building things...

Scot Solida · Post by **Scot Solida** » Thu Oct 13, 2005 12:34 pm

Get yourself a copy of Craig Anderton's "Electronic Projects For Musicians" and "Electronic Projects for Guitarists" for basic soldering and construction instructions, and then go to www.paia.com. PAIA has loads of projects at different skill levels, but none of them are too difficult. The instructions are clear and easy to follow. Call or e-mail them before ordering, since many of their projects are currently on back order.

dharmawan · Post by **dharmawan** » Thu Oct 13, 2005 12:36 pm

http://www.geofex.com/

Hunter · Post by **Hunter** » Thu Oct 13, 2005 12:53 pm

There are loads of books in bookshops on these things, also if you are in the UK then Maplin is your friend, check their website for books. I used to build electronic cicuits when I was a kid, and learnt to solder through trial and error and of course a book. i can still just about make a nice join!

its quite satisfying when you make stuff that actually works. ahh, the smell of veroboard and smoking flux!

fake · Post by **fake** » Fri Oct 14, 2005 2:36 pm

Some fine emery/sand paper is your friend.

Make sure you give every part that's to be soldered a little clean first. It makes for a quicker and cleaner joint and less chance of burning the component out.

Make sure you have the components and leads correctly orientated as most are polarity sensitive.

If you are very new at this then use sockets for the sensitive stuff.

Like everything is just a matter of practice.

fake

annode · Post by **annode** » Fri Oct 14, 2005 3:37 pm

All you need to know about soldering techniques;

http://mamma91.mamma.com/Mamma?qtype=0& ... +technique

Search and read about opamp ic circuits also.
Transistors and opamps(and supporting components), are use in audio effects and bending.

clueless · Post by **clueless** » Fri Oct 14, 2005 4:01 pm

here's another guide. you might recognise the author, if not the writing style...

http://www.dancetech.com/aa_dt_new/arti ... =97&LANG=0

Hink · Post by **Hink** » Fri Oct 14, 2005 4:18 pm

clueless wrote:here's another guide. you might recognise the author, if not the writing style...

http://www.dancetech.com/aa_dt_new/arti ... =97&LANG=0

thanx for that clueless, xoxos makes some good points....when I was a kid radio shack had p-projects (made my first multi-meter), we built a heathkit tv, and when people trashed broken appliances my parents would bring them home so I could take them apart (it's likely they got tired of me taking everything we owned apart

)

Two important things (as mentioned in your link) to keep in mind is to use the proper heat, soldering guns should be used mainly for cables and such...and always keep the tip clean (use a damp sponge to wipe the iron on) and tinned...

Hink · Post by **Hink** » Fri Oct 14, 2005 4:22 pm

oh and heat the solder point and melt the solder to it whenever possible...as opposed to melting the solder and dripping it where you want....that's why a variable iron is wise...

ouroboros · Post by **ouroboros** » Fri Oct 14, 2005 4:23 pm

Two other important tips;

1.Don't pronounce it as "soul-der" infront of friends.
2.Do not eat solder.

Cool link to xoxos's article. Aside from being tremendously helpful, I got a kick out of his desire for a solar powered multimeter.

vurt · Post by **vurt** » Fri Oct 14, 2005 4:25 pm

do not solder on the carpet either,it may cause your wife to slap you...

Hink · Post by **Hink** » Fri Oct 14, 2005 4:26 pm

ouroboros wrote:Two other important tips;

1.Don't pronounce it as "soul-der" infront of friends.
2.Do not eat solder.

Cool link to xoxos's article. Aside from being tremendously helpful, I got a kick out of his desire for a solar powered multimeter.

yeah dont eat the solder, however it can be quite fun to bend it into shapes and words...

Hink · Post by **Hink** » Fri Oct 14, 2005 4:30 pm

vurt wrote:do not solder on the carpet either,it may cause your wife to slap you...

I still hear about the burn mark on my dads carpet (he moved into his apartment 34 years ago) from when I was a kid...that and the bong spill that stained the carpet (I forget how I explained that away) are still right there as a reminder...

Hunter · Post by **Hunter** » Fri Oct 14, 2005 5:35 pm

Hink wrote: when people trashed broken appliances my parents would bring them home so I could take them apart (it's likely they got tired of me taking everything we owned apart )

Me too! I used to use a solder sucker to remove all the components and kept them in a big box. Gosh it was fun growing up in the middle of f**king nowhere with no friends

Hunter · Post by **Hunter** » Fri Oct 14, 2005 5:38 pm

clueless wrote:here's another guide. you might recognise the author, if not the writing style...

http://www.dancetech.com/aa_dt_new/arti ... =97&LANG=0

f**king hell! He still isnt using capitals, but well written, like the emails his synth customers got. Wish I could figure him out.

surefire method is to attach a ground cable directly to a piercing (come on.. you're a synthesist.. you've got to have one..) just don't forget about it when you rush off to get the doorbell.

funny man.

A beginners guide to electrical engineering and soldering