Pages on DIY Audio Circuits

Get Your Circuit Designs Manufactured!

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 16:11:37 +0000

Turn your designs into reality! Once you have a solid design that you’ve prototyped, you should look into getting your board mass-produced. It’s a lot cheaper than you may believe and the results are often more than you ever could expect for the amount you pay. More on this to come shortly.

Knight Rider LED Sequence Project

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 15:59:50 +0000

Yeah, we’re going to make that! The basic circuit for the Knight Rider LED sequence can be accomplished with a CMOS solution such as the 4017 or with a more complicated microcontroller such as the Arduino or (good luck) a PIC. More to come on this one soon!

Projects

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 15:52:20 +0000

Projects page more content coming soon!

Experiments

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 15:32:40 +0000

Experiments home page

PT2399 Digital Echo Delay Integrated Circuit Breadboard Experiment

Sat, 15 Dec 2012 02:20:58 +0000

Here are some new pictures from a breadboarded PT2399 circuit I have been using to experiment with.

Get yourself a PT2399 datasheet, buy your components, and start getting down with some delay!

[caption id=“attachment_546” align=“aligncenter” width=“650”] A nice shot of the breadboard I have been using to mess around with the PT2399![/caption] [caption id=“attachment_549” align=“aligncenter” width=“650”] The switch, voltage regulator, power supply capacitors, and some hookup leads. This is pretty much a standard way of getting a steady regulated 5V from a higher voltage. Fun, fun![/caption] [caption id=“attachment_550” align=“aligncenter” width=“650”] Just a standard 9V Battery powers this 5V circuit. All you need is a 7805 regulator and you can start messing around with CMOS devices such as the PT2399![/caption] [caption id=“attachment_548” align=“aligncenter” width=“650”] A simple LED/resistor combo to indicate when the power is ON or OFF. It’s a good setup to use to troubleshoot your circuit and avoid drained batteries.[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_552” align=“aligncenter” width=“650”] Connecting power rails on different sections of the breadboard lets you space out your design for easier testing![/caption] [caption id=“attachment_547” align=“aligncenter” width=“650”] Trimpots are used like multiple variables in algebra. I got a good grip on how the PT2399 reacted by messing around with the controls.[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_551” align=“aligncenter” width=“650”] This is the section of the breadboard where the input and output audio are located. This could be improved…[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_554” align=“aligncenter” width=“650”] Another shot of the PT2399 Echo Processor Digital Delay IC. It’s fairly easy to set up![/caption] [caption id=“attachment_558” align=“aligncenter” width=“650”] The very cramped op amp filtering components can be laid out with a little bit of careful planning.[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_557” align=“aligncenter” width=“650”] A little experiment! By messing with the Vref and the GND levels, the digital clock output (visible with an LED/resistor combo) can be slowed to a crawl. The resulting audio output gives clues on how to best utilize this chip![/caption] [caption id=“attachment_556” align=“aligncenter” width=“650”] Just a nice overhead shot of the main schematic.[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_553” align=“aligncenter” width=“650”] The Mix, Feedback, and Voltage Reference trim potentiometers used for tweaking the output! Cool stuff, try it out![/caption] [caption id=“attachment_555” align=“aligncenter” width=“650”] Reference Voltage and Delay Length trimpots for experimenting.[/caption]

Eagle CAD

Wed, 25 Jul 2012 06:11:18 +0000

Make Your Own Parts - In this tutorial, I’ll show you how you can easily make your own Eagle CAD parts with footprints for both schematic and layout!

DIY Audio Circuits Eagle CAD Parts Library

Wed, 25 Jul 2012 05:38:39 +0000

(Download coming soon) Description: Over several years of designing PCBs, I have come to learn a few things. First off all, never trust a schematic until you’ve tried it out. The second lesson: never trust a parts library to be accurate. I have been burned and thrown off production schedules due to trusting component libraries that were just plain wrong. I have been slowly accumulating a collection of components that I use on a regular basis. It’s a good idea to keep a library of components organized for easy access. Several components are custom made and others are mere copies from other large libraries. My standard for addition to the parts library is proving each part through manufacture. Once a PCB design benefits from a solid part design, it becomes a welcome addition to the parts library. This page will have a download along with a short description of the parts included (Mouser part numbers, PCB design, etc.) Some future additions: Mouser part numbers If you would like to see a certain part made, send me an email. Depending on the complexity, I can make it available for free or an affordable minimum donation. If you like my parts library, show your appreciation by donating any amount you like.

Links

Sun, 08 Apr 2012 06:18:12 +0000

Teach Yourself Electronics!

If you’re just starting out learning how to build your own circuits or modify your gear, there’s a wealth of information out on the Internet that will open up a whole world of possibilities. How far you want to take your education is up to you; start with an in-depth tutorial or find what you need to know right now. Below are some great Electrical Engineering resources:

Resources

Sun, 08 Apr 2012 06:17:17 +0000

Portland Electronics Resourcess - They call this place the Silicon Forest, but you’d be surprised how difficult it can be to immerse yourself in electronics. Find places to source parts, meetups to meet like-minded people, events, and other great stuff that make Portland a tech-friendly place!

DIY Resources - Places to help get your next project off the ground.

DIY Audio Circuits Eagle CAD Library - I’ve been working with Eagle CAD for a number of years now, and I have built a parts library for my own work after having to deal with the bland/clunky default and just-plain-wrong 3rd party libraries.

Free Samples

Sat, 03 Mar 2012 12:51:05 +0000

(this page is currently under construction and will be totally awesome) Electronics manufacturing companies like Texas instruments and Maxim want you to use their components in your design. That’s right, they’re just giving them away. However, there’s a catch (there’s always a marketing angle). It’s the same reason that Microsoft will give out computers to school districts and Tektronics sponsors labs and provides them with damn good oscilloscopes Take advantage of the deals these companies give you. There is nothing wrong with getting free stuff from these companies, as they make millions of dollars annually and this is a small way for them to get new customers. Try out that new DSP or that hard to find op amp. Maxim sent me a couple of switch bounce ICs that worked perfectly for my sequencer design. Texas Instruments will be elated that you’re using their chip in your designs.

Portland Electronics Resources

Sat, 03 Mar 2012 12:46:10 +0000

(This page is not complete, but the information here should benefit the DIYer for now) Portland, OR is my favorite US city, and it’s very DIY place to live. The music scene here is thriving and churning out some great artists. There are classes for nearly any interest and hobby you can think of, and you’ll see all kinds of things going down all around the city. Here’s a list of places to buy components, meet up with like-minded people, and have fun: Norvac - A great local place to get your electronics components. They do charge a lbit much for their components, but the cost would be similar to ordering from Mouser or Jameco with shipping included. You can call them or send an email before you make the trek out to Beaverton. Most of their components are made by a company called NTE, which makes knock-offs that are very similar to the originals. It’s worth at least a trip to see what a real brick-and-mortar electronics store looks like IEEE Store at Portland State University - You might be able to find some parts here. I wouldn’t buy a lot from here, as they are kinda pricey and you do want to save some for the engineering students. I did find some NE5532 Low Noise Dual Op Amps here. You could save yourself a couple thousand dollars in student loans by just getting yourself a kit bag for the lab to go along with those lectures you find online… Dorkbot - Get your PCBs out of your CAD and into your hands! Meet other interesting people just like yourself! They have a group components ordering program going on right now! Check out their website for more info! BrainSilo - The only hackerspace I know of in the Portland area. Located close to the Albina/Mississippi MAX station, the people here are varied in interest and skill level. I had a great experience visiting during their open house (every Thursday at 7PM). They have a lot of resources for the DIYer, and a lot of really cool projects in the works.

Component Suppliers

Sat, 03 Mar 2012 12:12:02 +0000

It’s all well and good to learn theory and read schematics, but the real enjoyment comes from building your very own circuits. Here’s a list of vendors to purchase components for your next DIY audio project:

Mouser - One of the largest worldwide suppliers of electronics components, they have nearly anything that you’d ever need (close to three million (!) items). To actually find the part you are looking for is a task in itself; in no time at all, you’ll be knee-deep in filtering menus, datasheets, and a dizzying array of component variation. They send a very large catalog when you place a large order that is very useful for quick hands-on searches as well as holding doors open. Mouser’s sales people are very friendly and you can be connected to a technician should you find yourself confused. Most of the price breaks come from ordering in bulk.

About Us

Sat, 03 Mar 2012 10:39:11 +0000

We’re a small team of like-minded individuals striving to bring our visitors the highest-quality information so that they too can bring their ideas to life. The sense of fulfillment received from completing a project with one’s own hands and brain is a feeling like no other. DIY (Do-It-Yourself) is an attitude that puts the power and responsibility back into the user’s hand. Our consumerist society has increased the distance between product and end user; DIY bridges that gap. Don’t worry if you are an absolute beginner in the world of audio, the only requirement is a motivation to learn and explore. Learning by doing is the most instructive and important method of education. We were all once beginners, and we’ve all benefited from the rich resource that is the Internet.

Contact

Sat, 03 Mar 2012 10:14:26 +0000

Feel free to send us questions, complaints, suggestions, and we’ll be sure to read them. We’re always looking to improve the site for a better visitor experience. We’re also human and we make mistakes; please point out any errors you find and we’ll fix them so that it benefits the community. [clean-contact]