I'm fairly sure I already know the answer to this, but...

I was randomly googling earlier today, and came across this:

http://home3.netcarrier.com/~lxh2/tapesat.html

Is this similar to the type of thing that the fatso does? Or is it just pointless & dumb?

--jon

It might make an interesting fuzz-tone stompbox <g>.

Bri

It's not completely bogus. It will give you a soft clipping.

I'm not sure how much it will sound like tape saturation, though.

I dont' remember what the 1N34 was designed for. You may have issues finding it.



-tINY

The 1N34 was a small signal germanium diode...sorta akin to the 1N914 silicon.

EDIT: I just checked...Mouser has an NTE version of the 1N34A in stock at 41 cents. A 1N914 is 3 to 5 cents apiece at Mouser.....

These guys have 1N34's for a lot less:

http://www.angelfire.com/electronic2/index1/In34a.html

http://www.web-tronics.com/1n34.html

It might be interesting to play with biasing the various nodes in the diode string with a DC offset......oh yes, and the base/collector node on any "common" silicon transistor also makes an interesting "soft" diode.

Bri

I have to agree with Brian, the 1/4" in/outs kinda suggest a guitar stomp box.

-Tony

tape works good as tape.......


be well

- jack

I've seen CD40xx series logic used in parallel for the same thing. (hint, get a Fender SS schematic from the 80's)



-tINY

I've seen a few of these but all were for guitar. Other combinations of silicon and germanium will yield different distortion effects. Also try putting the string of diodes into the opamp's feedback loop. Use an opamp that is somewhat tape sounding, like a BurrBrown 604. It will also drive the diodes better than TLOx opamps.

Jim Williams
Audio Upgrades

Or put LED's in the feedback loop, they're softer than diodes to clip

i'm not actually planning on building the thing...mostly just trying to cause trouble ;-)

and yes, themaidsroom, i'm a big fan of tape--some of the best sounds i've ever gotten were drums hitting GP9 on an 827.

thanks for the interest!

--jon

It's been years, but in the Eighties I had a Marshall that had this; does that sound right? It was a JCM800.

oooh! Especially the YELLOW ones! The RED ones always caused crackling when they lit up on the console...