The beginners guide

Hello I'm a complete novice so I apologise to those of you who are wiz at electronics. I'm sure those with expertise simply just download the schematics, the parts list and build away, I'm not that clever, so I'm wondering how best to start, I'm thinking of buying a PCB and going from there, will this be the easiest way to get some results fast? Any help on how to get up and running would be really great, If you have never done something like this you need someone who has to give you a step buy step guide on what to do when and how. Thanks :?:

Hi Seb,

I was going to recommend Kev's page over at recording.org, but I see it's gone! Kev's site was fantastic and is what got me into DIY in the first place - without him I'd still be struggling to solder my own leads, let alone building compressors, preamps and EQs! Maybe it's moved somewhere else - anyone know?

I'm currently bouncing about with excitment at the stuff thats going on in these forums, my problem is I'm no great reader of schmatics ...yet, but im gonna bloody learn, I'll see what I can find out about Kevs page :grin:

Hiya,

Kev's site is now at http://www.diyfactory.com/

Also check the newbie meta's here, great starting info. http://www.groupdiy.com/index.php?topic=349 If you are looking for a good first project, maybe try a stompbox. If you are feeling a bit more adventurous, try some of the projects in the Black Market section. Also, Seventh Circle Audio has some great kits, which come with all parts you need, as well as a case, PSU, etc. http://www.seventhcirclestudios.com/SCA/SCA.htm Metal Work and Parts Sourcing can be some of most difficult parts of an electronics project!

kfg

Thanks for that, yes the genral view is start small then build a rack of great gear. Ill start reading :grin:

Check the Black Market.
There is everything there from PC Boards to a complete kit for the LA2a.

Also check the Meta's, like electronics 101.

cj

Welcome! One of the best projects to start with is the Green pre in its many incarnations. The older design (and simpler) can be seen in Kev's walkthrough HERE It probably won't be up much longer as well, so copy the info you need.

Joel

I amazed...this is a real community of like minded people, never had so much feed back in such a short time..i feel even more inspired...thankyou to all for advice :grin:

[quote author="Nat"]I was going to recommend Kev's page over at recording.org, but I see it's gone!
Maybe it's moved somewhere else - anyone know?[/quote]

The original Group DIY site is still there and just about complete BUT the front page links have been removed.

I don't intend to move it to a new location BUT as has been pointed out there is a new site ... The DIY Factory.

It will recycle a few projects from the old site with some getting a face lift and update.
It will have new projects with a lower focus of the classics. Nothing wrong with classics, it is just that we have already launched that well and the fall of Tech Talk and the fact that Group DIY's name has been taken to here it was better that I sit back and let the idea live by it's own and the will that the members bring to it.

I think it is doing well, although different to my original view.
It's all good.

My personal site is still there and the new DIY Factory is growing in the background. An anniversary is coming and with any luck and bit of spare time the Factory with open very soon.

... I'm never far away


in the mean time
some simple projects

the old green
http://www.diyfactory.com/projects/green/green.htm

a new project from the country
http://www.diyfactory.com/projects/countryhick/countryhick.htm
still in development

we all know I have a connection to Joe at JLM Audio
http://www.diyfactory.com/projects/jlmsimpledi/jlmsimpledi.htm

The big , ambitious Neve project
http://www.diyfactory.com/projects/diy81/diy81.htm

one from Kent and our resident Mod PRR
http://www.diyfactory.com/projects/diy12au7comp/diy12au7comp.htm

Dave R doesn't know about this but here it is
http://www.diyfactory.com/projects/royerproject/royerproject.htm

and one from me
http://www.diyfactory.com/projects/talkback/talkback.htm
a work in progress


and so much more ... and more to come

as you can see the Factory is quite different but will still have a group theme to it.

We love our DIY

If you give me a few weeks, i'll have the complete gren pre parts kit for sale, not including the boards, peter's just about to send a new run to fab...

I built the green pre with no real experience, with some questions (or 20) along the way. In 2 weeks i had 3 of 4 running perfectly.

I'll keep you posted

Cheers

I haven't recieved a GroupDIY newsletter in months.
Whats up?

[quote author="CJ"]I haven't received a Group DIY newsletter in months.
What's up?[/quote]

:razz:
stop stirring

however,
even though I've done my best to keep out of the way here and let things find a self sustaining state ...
I'm always open to suggestions and the weekly update was something that did fuel the early formation of Group DIY.
NO
I'm not going to take on a weekly thing again just now as I am pressed for time and spread across a few forums and projects that go beyond Group DIY and DIY Factory related things
BUT if someone else wants to do it .... that's fine with me.
... I could be talked into being a guest writer or perhaps a monthly or two monthly thing.
I still maintain a Web site here to complement the Meta Threads and the forums in general would be a positive thing.

ALL credit to Ethan who, with a window of opportunity provided by his boss and the circumstances presented nearly a year ago ... took the challenge and made something happen.
This stuff always takes more time and effort than people think and sometimes from people that often stay in the background.

Thanks to Ethan and his backup and support crew ... whoever they are.