Space Tremor - A modulated Shocktave/Synthbox

[isildur100]

I have been working on this project for some time now. Basically I started fooling around with the shocktave and the synthbox trying to obtain the best tracking and sound. While adjusting the collector voltage of Q3 using a pot (see the schem) I noticed that when I was sweeping the pot while playing it created a cool modulation effect. I am not an electrical engineer and I can't really explain why it produces that effect but it's cool anyways  

So I hooked up an LFO on the collector so that it could vary the voltage at different speeds and intensities automatically. After a lot of tweaking, the results are very satisfying, for me at least   The result is a very synth sounding effect with lots of different tones and textures possible. Listen for yourself, the sound clips were made without any other effect. A strat on the neck pickup connected into the Space Tremor, then to a Peavey amp. No added reverb or any effect whatsoever. I have put a lot of sound clips as there are so many possible sounds with this. Sorry if the playing gets boring, I did that late last night  

http://www.upload-mp3.com/files/155088_jozms/SpaceTremorClip1.mp3
http://www.upload-mp3.com/files/155089_lr1lc/SpaceTremorClip2.mp3
http://www.upload-mp3.com/files/155090_axfpg/SpaceTremorClip3.mp3
http://www.upload-mp3.com/files/155091_kgj5s/SpaceTremorClip4.mp3
http://www.upload-mp3.com/files/155092_ulf3k/SpaceTremorClip5.mp3
http://www.upload-mp3.com/files/155093_rollp/SpaceTremorClip6.mp3
http://www.upload-mp3.com/files/155094_55f4z/SpaceTremorClip7.mp3

And the schematic:



Note that it can be hard to tweak the pots sometimes, especially the Depth and LFO Bias pots which closely interact together. But once you find the sweet spots, it produces some very cool sounds.

I'd like to thank liquids for the inspiration he gave me with his synthbox, which was in turn inspired by the shocktave.

cheers

John

[liquids]

Interesting clips - but I think you forgot to link the schematic!   

[isildur100]

Thanks Matthew! It's strange, the schem was there when I first posted, at least in the preview mode... And now it does not even want to display at all in this reply.

Here is the link to it at least...

http://www.upload-mp3.com/files/155245_gg6nf/space_tremor_sch1.jpg

[Top Top]

It's showing for me...

And the sounds are very promising.

[glops]

I like it!

[isildur100]

Thanks guys,

If any of you build it, I'd like to hear about it!

cheers

John

[alex frias]

It really promies, very well done!!!

[blue_lu]

anybody still has the schem for this? seems very much gone...

[isildur100]

Sorry, I just realized that the schematic and sound clips were not available anymore. Here is the schematic again for the interested:

[deadastronaut]

@john. i'd be very interested to hear this,

i remember the synthbox, and it was always on my list, cool project,  but never got round to it, this looks like a great updated version...

[isildur100]

@deadastronaut: I will try to put something on youtube very soon.

[deadastronaut]

that would be great ....nice one..

[isildur100]

Ok, I have put a sound clip on youtube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D3K5aiM9_-Y

John

[rousejeremy]

Love it!

[deadastronaut]

oh yes!!!!!!!....^^^..nice one john,

whats it like without lfo, and tracking, playing faster runs..mono obviously. but with hammer on offs etc........or does it cope with a 2 noter?....great stuff!..sounds excellent without any fx.....

[isildur100]

@rousejeremy: Thanks!

@deadastronaut: The thing behaves like an octave down pedal, so playing chords does not sound like you would wish. In general chords with this effect make good chaos sounds...  Playing fifths sounds not bad but is not always stable. Tracking is not bad but not perfect and depends on your guitar pickups a lot, neck pickup is best. But as you can hear it has very good sustain. Sometimes I was just holding the note and it kept on almost endlessly.

Without LFO? It becomes very similar to the Synthbox but with additional knobs to shape the sound.

Hammer-ons? I guess if you make them clean enough (without hitting neighboring strings) it can make very synth like licks.

I'm glad you like it, if you build it let me know

[deadastronaut]

@rousejeremy: Thanks!

Sometimes I was just holding the note and it kept on almost endlessly.

similar to the Synthbox but with additional knobs to shape the sound.

Hammer-ons? I guess if you make them clean enough (without hitting neighboring strings) it can make very synth like licks.

I'm glad you like it, if you build it let me know

those are the points i like....well explained too..thanks...its on my list for sure now!!!!...i'll bread it when i get a clear board agaiin    ....and have a little tweak around...

sounds like it could almost go into geddy lee type bass synth sounds...great!..