Build Your Own Guitar Effects Pedal | Anasounds Ego Driver

We all love guitar pedals, but have the electronic innards ever been a mystery to you? Learn about how pedal circuits work as you construct an incredible overdrive pedal with the FX Teacher Ego Driver from Anasounds.

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Thanks to Anasounds for funding this video.
#DIY #Guitareffects #Overdrive

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[ScienceofLoud]

We all love guitar pedals, but have the electronic innards ever been a mystery to you? Learn about how pedal circuits work as you construct an incredible overdrive pedal with the FX Teacher Ego Driver from Anasounds.

Links:

Thanks to Anasounds for funding this video.
#DIY #Guitareffects #Overdrive

More from CSGuitars:

Affiliate Links:

[AnasoundsPedals]

Amazing video! A great way to give the opportunity to your community to jump into DIY, congrats! :)

[achannel]

Just as I'm almost done building my first pedal (a version 1 Big Muff with vintage Ge transistors). This will be a great video.

[markhammer]

Decent project with some useful options. Good documentation.

I would take exception, however, to a few points you made. First - and it's a minor point - few op-amps will "swing" from rail to rail. They can usually swing to within a volt or two of each rail. So, with a +9V supply, a 4558 can deliver an output of around +/-3.5V, after which it simply runs out of headroom because it can't "swing" any farther. ("Swing" is how it is referred to on op-amp datasheets)

In theory, increasing the supply voltage via a charge pump like the TC1044, *can* increase headroom...assuming there were no diodes involved. If the goal were to be as clean as a whistle, a 4558, running off +/-15V (which it can do) would be capable of producing an output of +/-13V (26 volts?! Aye caramba!). However, no matter how much we crank the gain of the op-amp in this circuit, having a diode pair in the feedback loop (as Tube Screamers and many other pedals do) *limits* the amplitude produced. Remember that once the signal at the op-amp output reaches the forward voltage of the diodes, they begin to conduct, providing negative feedback that momentarily *reduces* the gain of the op-amp. In effect, the op-amp is never allowed to produce a signal greater than around +/-600mv. Increasing the headroom by increasing the supply voltage does not affect that. The chip may well behave differently in other respects, but the dynamic possibilities of the circuit are strongly dictated by use of that diode pair, to the complete disregard of the supply voltage.

Now, if a person wanted to use, say 2 green LEDS in series, going in each direction, instead of the humble pair of silicon diodes, then use of a higher supply voltage would indeed permit much greater dynamic range since the clipping threshold would now be something like +/-4v or more, instead of +/-600mv, something which would be pointless with a simple 9V supply since the chip would run out of headroom before it ever reached the clipping threshold.

Note that a number of pedals of good reputation, like the Timmy, will use a 2+2 configuration of diodes in the feedback path, instead of the simple 1+1 we see here. By allowing the op-amp to produce an output of roughly +/-1200mv before it clips, one not only achieves a greater dynamic range, but also greater output from the pedal, such that even modest gains can push an amplifier hard. And, as illustrated in the video, using a pair of red LEDs is roughly equivalent to using 3+3 silicon diodes.

Note that since, as I like to put it, most of the guitar signal "lives in the basement", any increase in bass amplification will not only change the bass content, but also push the clipping elements a little harder, such that increasing the bass will make it seem as if you have turned the gain up a bit. That's not a *bad* thing.

Finally, the Ego Driver employs the component values in the output buffer that a TS-808 uses. The later TS-9 changed these values from 100R and 10K to 470R and 100K. I gather they did so because they felt the original buffer values were loading down the output. But bear in mind the Ibanez release used electronic switching, so the buffer was always in circuit. Concerns about loading would have been about what was happening to the bypass signal, not the overdrive. Since the Ego Driver is using a stompswitch for true bypass, there is no need to be concerned about what the 808 values might be doing to the bypass signal. We are free to benefit from the loading, that might smooth out some of the potential fizz.

[Stratomacaster]

I see the Laphroaig 10 year is an essential tool for the building process. Indeed.

[PedalChainsAddiction]

Holy crap! I’m so glad I found this video. Thanks, Colin! I’ve built a handful of pedal kits, but Ana Sounds schematic lessons and explanations look like they will take my understanding to new heights. Ta very much for showing this to us! I just ordered the tremolo and the spinner. I can’t wait!

[akrmfk]

this channel helped me with my first pickup swap which was a feat for me(a total soldering phleb). I guess this is the next logical step..

[marcusdluxe]

I built one of these during the early stages of lock down.
Was a great experience, my first ever build. Although my first build however I did blast through not really reading the wheres and whys but have since gone back and took in a bit of the theory.
The pedal works perfectly, tons of tones on tap!
Great video Colin...and good to see my little board in use again.

[celestinejoseffgarcia]

you deserve so much views brother. keep it up. amazing videos

[BigDumbMeRC]

when you start demoing the tone at around 10:08 it sounds almost like ride like the wind by christopher cross. but heavier

[lorez]

What a wonderful video. Thanks Colin. I am glad to see you going more into the science and electronics of music, which is where my own journey is taking me too.

[jayden]

I was buildin a tubescreamer clone a few weeks ago
Didnt work endet up buying a tubescreamer
But i built a fuzz face once and it sounds amazing
Building pedals is realy fun

[dutch_urth]

I'm actually currently in the market for a new overdrive pedal, so this is actually a very interesting resource to me. While I don't have that much of a background in electronics, I have in the past attempted to build a tube amp together with a very technically minded friend of mine. I sadly don't feel like I learned much from that experience, other than soldering, so if the documentation on this thing is as good as you say, this might make for a good next step for me to learn more about the inner workings of these devices.

Bit of a shame I missed the discount offer, though to be fair, €80, - for a great overdrive pedal + a DIY course like this is still a pretty sweet deal. Thanks for the tip, Colin! Keep it loud! \m/

[coooolibri]

why is this so underrated? not many technical geeks on youtube, or what :D

[joerushing]

I just built an OD my first and I was surprised how small the board was. Looking forward to this vid.

[jeffreymckeown]

You always found something amazing to show. All my thumbs is up for you

[deilsonperes]

10:25 sounds like 'ride like the wind'

[msanders]

What a great concept for learning. I have been looking at kits to learn from and this seems to be a great option. I ordered all three kits and am looking forward to diving in and learning. Thank you for sharing this with us!

[aiden_macleod]

Nice pedal. Great tone and definition in the notes and chords and doesn't sound like a fuzzy mush like a lot of other clones!
Definitely have to pick a kit up.

[stephanematis]

Colin, any chance you can cover Dumble ODS and look-alikes ? Even if just from logical design perspective. Thanks!