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I've been using Protel DXP for a while. This software does everything (schematic capture, PCB, simulation) but is quiet expensive.

Eagle software is free for personnal use and is pretty good too.
 
I've been using EasyPC from Number One Systems (for DOS). A very old pakage - but once you get the hang of it, it'll do what you want it to.

But I'm seriously considering switching to the much newer windows version though.

Jakob E.
 
I use the "free" software at http://pcb123.com. If you're going to build in quantity the prices for the boards are much lower than the prototype prices. Just contact them and ask. The software is very easy to use.
-Scott
 
I use eagle - http://www.cadsoftusa.com/

took a while to get used to (kinda like logic audio) but then ya learn to luv it :) (kinda like logic audio) :razz:
 
Protel's got Autotrax, which they've made available for free on their download page http://www.protel.com/downloads/. If you grab it, you'll want to go to Airborn http://www.airborn.com.au/layout/easytrax.html to get a video driver so you don't have to look at it in VGA 640 x 480 resolution. Look around for Airborn's library there too - not a lot of audio related stuff though.

It's DOS and clunky at first if you're not used to DOS but once you get the hang of it it's very fast to use. You'll be annoyed at the Windows version, called Traxmaker, if you've become proficient in Autotrax first.

You may balk at having to pay for the information but the Australian mag Silicon Chip published an invaluable tutorial (in three parts) which is apparently available online for $8.80 AUD per article. If you decide to try Autotrax you really owe it to yourself to look at the tutorial. Hey, remember the software was free! http://siliconchip.com.au/cms/A_100600/article.html

Autotrax allows you to run a netlist from a schematic to aid routing. You can make real vector based PDF files from it so your schematics, when zoomed all the way to max, still look perfectly smooth in the PDF.

Bob Barnes http://www.cia.com.au/rcsradio/ has some good information on PCBs in general and Autotrax specifically as well. The format is useable directly by many manufacturers.
 
I was facing this dilemma a few months ago and after much research I bought Rimu. It?s great, inexpensive (~$120 total), Windows based software. You can get it here: http://www.hutson.co.nz/

I?ve used the DOS versions of OrCad and Tango, and new Windows versions of PADs and P-Cad (~$5000 programs), but next to them, the ~$120 Rimu stuff is pretty impressive. I?ve already ordered some boards from ?Barebones PCB? using it and it went off without a hitch.

Someone here recommended another program for around $100 that looked pretty good, but I didn?t save the link and forgot what it was.
 
I use OrCAD SDT III for schematics (ancient DOS software) and Layo1 for PCBs (not quite as ancient DOS software). The important part is to get schematic and PCB software the can work together.

Best regards,

Mikkel C. Simonsen
 
EasyPC...Newest version! Lovely!!! Easy to use too... :green: The best thing is that you can call them up and moan cos they're in Worcester or thereabouts...Not far!!!
 
I'm also using Eagle. It has a bit of a learning curve but it's great once you get the basics down and the FREE version can do almost any of the audio projects you decide to tackle.

regards, Jack
 
I'll toss in my hat again and recommend EAGLE as well. I've used it for everything from a 2x3cm 78xx board to a 7 layer 22x16cm SMT design for an industrial wireless data collection module. The learning curve isn't too bad, but it will take you a few days to get used to the quirks of the interface. 4.1 is the current version, and the improvements they've made since I started using it (2.x IIRC) are phenomenal. The nicest part about 4.1 is the autorouter has gotten a lot smarter, and can actually be used for secondary routing of tertiary-path signals and occasionally power distribution. The professional version is offered at a substantial discount for those of you still in school as well (that's how I got my copy).

-dave
 
Phew !
how easy are the to use, as in do you draw the traks manually,or do you put components onto a virtual board and the computer does the rest ?.
I have no knowledge of designing PCB's whatsoever, my work is more breakdowns and fault finding. the closest i've come to designing my own circuits have beed on protoboard !
So for a total new guy to this, whats the best way of going about this ?

Best regards + thanks

Steve :guinness:
 
Protel DXP has a very efficient autorouter BUT you HAVE to learn it before you can get something nice (and working :) ) and this leanring time is quiet long (it's based on a kind of scripting ...)

Most of the time I prefer manual routing.
 
[quote author="Kid Squid"]Phew !
how easy are the to use...[/quote]The best answer to that is to download the demo versions and try them out.
 
On the low end the industry standard Is PADS PowerPCB, on the high end the industry standard is Allegro. I hate Allegro but some just love it. Currently I'm using Visula at work and it's ok but I love how productive you can be on PADS.
Kelley
 

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