EasyVibe made

[Hungeryhippie]

Last week end I built the easy vibe, and I am very happy with it, and every one who's heard it thinks is pretty good. Especially since its my first project that wasn't fuzz/distortion or booster!

I have a question though for those of you who have also made this project, or are familiar with it. The Depth control, it seams to only make a difference when set to 3/4 on, through to max, less than this there is no effect, every thing else is working fine I just wondered if any one else had experienced this?

[Marcos - Munky]

Congratulations. I think you didn't used the right pot. If I remember right, you need to use a reverse log pot.

[Hungeryhippie]

cheers, I'd read about reverse tapered pots but I didn't think it was necessary on the easyvibe depth control. I thought the reverse pot was for the foot controller which controlled the speed? or am i mistaken?

I'll give it ago though.

[Jim Jones]

Hi there,

I had similar results with my build - really no apprent effect with the "Intensity" turned way down.  It sounds more phase shifter-y when turned to about 11 o'clock and by 2 o'clock I'm getting the Univibe wobble happening.  

Adjusting the trimpot on the board dials in the "Intensity" range, so maybe muck with that some.  There are some notes on how to do that on John Hollis' homepage.  I believe the genereal idea is to have it set so that when you crank up the "Instensity" control the LED's get overmodulated and you get the exaggerated "wobble" sound.

Hope this helps some!

Jim

[Bill_F]

Here is what John Hollis says about the trimpot.

The 1K drive pot is a small trimpot used to tweak the LED drive. Turn the depth most of the way up and adjust the trimpot for an even sweep. The depth control is designed to slightly over modulate at the maximum setting which helps to get the nice swaying effect that univibes are known for.

[dubs]

The Depth control, it seams to only make a difference when set to 3/4 on, through to max, less than this there is no effect, every thing else is working fine I just wondered if any one else had experienced this?

Use 100K linear pots for depth and rate  and put a 33k tapering resistor across the wipers, that will simulate a reverse taper pot, it will be smooth then, worked for me!

[Hungeryhippie]

cheers dubs, I'll try that, I have just been looking at the secret life of pots at geofex, the last article on reverse log series resistor, is that the way I go about it?

cheers for your help

[Jim Jones]

Hi all,

Hey Dubs, thanks for giving me a kick in the butt!  I'd looked at RG's "Secret Life of Pots" before but never got around to trying the tapering resistors.
I used 100K linear pots for both Speed and Intensity in my Easyvibe build and there was definite room for improvement when it came to both pots' useable reange.  I initially tried 33K R's and wired both pots as "reverse log".  I liked that for the Intensity but not as much for the Speed (John Hollis specifies log for both BTW.)  I moved the 33K over to the wiper and CCW lugs on the Speed pot and am now a happy guy.  Much more useable and "natural" feeling this way!  Thanks again!

Jim

[Bill_F]

I want to make some reverse audio pots for the EasyVibe and EA Trem. I believe that you connect a resistor between the wiper and CW lug. Now the stupid question part.
Which one is the CW lug. Looking at it from the bottom with the lugs down I thought "Must be the one to the left. Simple, until I turned it over and looked from the top down then it was the opposite lug.  
So once again I was confused, a state all to familiar since I've started this hobby.

Also would I use a 33k resistor on a 100k pot?

Thanks,
Bill

[Jim Jones]

Hi Bill,

I agree - it does take a bit to get the hang of the terminology.  

Picture the pot, with the shaft sticking out towards you, with the lugs at the bottom.  When you turn the shaft all the way to the left or CCW, the wiper will make contact with that lug on the left - your CCW lug.  And if you turn the shaft all the way to the right, or CW - the wiper will make contact with the CW lug.  

I have to picture this is my head all the time or I'm screwed.  

You can experiment with different tapering resistors as per RG's article at GEO, http://www.geofex.com/Article_Folders/potsecrets/potscret.htm - but I found that 33K did work very well with the Easy Vibe.

For reverse log (audio) (voltage divider) simulation - stick a resistor between the wiper and the far right or CW lug.

For "regular" log (audio) simulation - stick a resistor between the wiper and the far left or CCW lug.

Hope this helps some!

Jim

[Bill_F]

Thanks Jim that helps a lot.

[Joep]

Simple but clear description! Thanks Jim.

I breadboarded the Easyvibe lately and I used two VTL5C3/2's for the opto part. Worked real nice.

I order a view more at smallbear and add some more stages to the Easyvibe, and I will play around with the LFO to get some more type of sounds. Creating my homemade Doppelganger work-a-like.... :wink:

Bye,

Joep

[Jim Jones]

Hey Joep,

How've ya been?!  I like your Easy Vibe idea - let me know how that turns out!  I love phase shifters so much - my favourite effect by far.  Whenever I fire up a good one I lose track of time and wind up noodling for half an hour like some kind of acid casualty.  

Jim

[Joep]

Hi Jim!

I'm fine, and yourself? Kinda busy lately.

I've started to grow interest in phasers lately. The Easyvibe is simple (with all respect) and easy to mod. The VTL53C/2 came out of my Fender Champ and they were nice for this project. But I have only two.

More stages seem to improve the sound. Let's see if this is true!

Keep you posted!

Joep

[petemoore]

I think there are spirits in my EZ vibe...it's like they start floating in the air when it's in the signal path...that thing puts me in the zone where time and space become irrelevant...  it seems to morph and form rythms in my head when my hands are connected to the guitar !!!

[Hungeryhippie]

just to let you all know that i finaly got round to changing those pots on my easy vibe, 100k lins with 33ks on then, and it worked good. thank you for your help.