astro-aquatic animals lead the way to otherworldly overdrive

[ships in 3 days]

SOUND: A dynamic overdrive, ubiquity flexes from punchy jangle to dreamy drive, with gobs of gain.  Featuring soft or hard clipping and frequency pre-emphasis/de-emphasis for tone sculpting.

CIRCUIT & CONTROLS:  Preamp emphasis allows one to set which frequencies get overdriven and clipped by a dual op amp circuit.  The 2nd amplifier stage is set to add even more gain and op amp choice influences the character enough to warrant a socket for experimentation. 

Post-amp tone shaping helps remove or retain high frequency content generated during signal amplification and clipping.

VOLUME:  Output volume.

GAIN:  Controls the 1st op amp stage gain.

PRE-CLIP: Pre-emphasis = high pass filter that determines how much low frequency content is overdriven.   Turning this to the right adds more low end, while turning it down creates more mid/high frequency boost.

FILTER:  De-emphasis = low pass filter after both gain stages.  Turn it up for retention of all frequencies generated, or back it off to remove high end content.

DISTORT:  Toggle up = “hard clipping”, an asymmetrical diode configuration that provides more clipping and a fuzzier drive.  This style of clipping can be found in early distortion circuits.

DRIVE:  Toggle down = “soft clipping”, a symmetrical diode configuration giving a cleaner, louder overdrive.

OP AMP:  stock chip is the LM1458, a dual version of the LM741.  The op amp is socketed and can be changed.  

DIODES:  a mix of silicon and Schottky. 

DESIGN

Sounds are inspired by pre- and de-emphasis filtering  for tone shaping.

Graphics are inspired by 50s-60s jazz album artwork, black & white photos with a single color wash.  

Overdrive is ubiquitous in the effects world; we chase the one that inspires… we dream.  A young space traveler looks up to stars for guidance.  

 

TECH

• 9V center negative power supply, no battery

• Current draw: < 5mA

• Dimensions including jacks & knobs:  1590BBS enclosure, 4.6 x 3.8 x 2.4 in