dbx 160vu clone

[TheGuitarist]

Any news?

Here are the links to everything if anyone needs them (including the ones on the first page)

http://www.dbxpro.com/product_downloads/Schematics/160%20Schematic.pdf

http://www.dbxpro.com/vintage_download.php?product=160

http://www.gyraf.dk/schematics/Dbx202.pdf

And the schematic for the 208 (reverse engineered and includes layout and pcb as well!)

http://www.gearslutz.com/board/geekslutz-forum/38317-rms-block-needed-dbx-160vu.html

Looks like a fairly easy build all in all, anyone good at designing PCB's? Most of the info is in the DBX schematics, including the VCA and RMS details but hey.

 

[machineintel]

Has anyone verified the 208 schematic?

 

[Biasrocks]

Has anyone verified the 208 schematic?

I haven't, but there are a bunch more versions of the 208 schematic/layout included in the official dbx docs.

http://www.dbxpro.com/product_downloads/Schematics/160%20Schematic.pdf

Mark

 

[strangeandbouncy]

How did I miss this thread?


    I don't care if this is rack or 51x, I am verry interested. Even if it is not quite the same as 160vu, I am sure it would be very very welcome round these parts! That's one flavour I have been really missing . . . .


      Excellent Guys!


      ANdyP

 

[machineintel]

It looks like the reverse-engineered 208 schematic varies greatly from the ones in the dbx documentation, which is why I asked. Even the chip pin-outs are different.

Has anyone verified the 208 schematic?

I haven't, but there are a bunch more versions of the 208 schematic/layout included in the official dbx docs.

http://www.dbxpro.com/product_downloads/Schematics/160%20Schematic.pdf

Mark

 

[damnyankee]

The 200 VCA & 208 RMS looks like an easy build.  I'll reverse engineer from my dbx 119 if I have to.

However, I do not have the technical know-how to take a schematic and create the main PCB board.  I'd be willing to do it for the group if someone can get me jump started.  It would be a great learning lesson for me and we'd have a dbx 160VU pcb to boot.

DY



 

 

[damnyankee]

Or, if someone would scan their pcb to their 160VU.... ;D

 

[Rybow]

This would be a very cool project indeed. I have been interested in the 160 for a long time, especially the VU version. Don't know what kind of support I can offer, but I'm in for at least 4 PCB's if they get going.

 

[abechap024]

I'm working on an Eagle Layout, we'll see how far I get before confusion sets in  . Right now I am basically copying the schematic to eagle and then I'll do the "convert to board" and arrange it as logically as i possibly can...

anyone already do this ?

AC

 

[abechap024]

i'm thinking of putting the rms and vca circuit right on the board. that way it would be easier as you wouldn't have to build seperate modules. But it might make it harder to trouble shoot....
thoughts?

 

[damnyankee]

First, thank you for creating the PBC. 

If I had a preference, I would keep it as original as possible.  I personally am not going to make the cans but rather, I'll suspend the PCBs for the VCA & RMS above the PCB with pins.  

I am in agreement keeping them separate from the main PCB would make troubleshooting easier...and it'll make PCB creation in Eagle MUCH easier as well.  

 

[damnyankee]

This would be a very cool project indeed. I have been interested in the 160 for a long time, especially the VU version. Don't know what kind of support I can offer, but I'm in for at least 4 PCB's if they get going.

I too, am in for 4 boards.

 

[Rob Flinn]

I think part of the reason they're in cans is so the transistors are thermally coupled, which helps keep the VCA's stable, since they're quite primative as VCA's go.

 

[damnyankee]

I think part of the reason they're in cans is so the transistors are thermally coupled, which helps keep the VCA's stable, since they're quite primative as VCA's go.

Hmmm...I did not know that.  I know the dbx 117, 119, & 160VU used the 200 VCA & 208 RMS in cans; the dbx 118 didn't use the cans...but I'm not sure what VCAs/RMS was used in the 118.

If we have to use cans, we can take a look at these (approximately 2" x 3" x 1" tall) and there's a color choice - unpainted or black:

http://www.hammondmfg.com/pdf/1550P.pdf

http://www.hammondmfg.com/jpeg/1550P_Rs.jpg

http://www.hammondmfg.com/jpeg/1550P_IB.jpg

http://www.hammondmfg.com/jpeg2/1550PBK_As.jpg

 

[abechap024]

ok making good progress on the PCB. Practically done but need to look over it for mistakes - I know there is at LEAST one hiding in there. I haven't made the power supply, because there are plenty of great pcbs for those around the net(mnats has a great one that comes to mind). But it wouldn't take long to add it in there either. Its a +15/-15 with a jump of +24/-24 off the rectified transformer voltage...unless I'm over looking something here...
Plus that way we could rack up a couple off one power supply. But always open to ideas

AC

 

[abechap024]

So modules it is. Good it would be great of someone wanted to look over the eagle drawing i'll uploadwhat I've have so far soon
AC

edit: www.acsoundstudio.com/DIY/160vu/mainDouble.sch

its my first real project on eagle, jsut the schematic noot loaded on a board yet. I'm taking a break from it today...

 

[abechap024]

anyone know dimensions of the pins for the modules?
Thx
AC

 

[damnyankee]

AC,

I have a pic of the top of a dbx 161VU if it helps:

http://www.gearslutz.com/board/attachments/so-much-gear-so-little-time/122448d1243174933-dbx-160-161-vu-dbx-161vu-pic.jpg

Other than a couple of resistors and rca jacks, it's pretty much a duplicate of the 160VU.

Also, I think it was Jim Williams who posted the crappy power supply is what contributes to the 160VU's sound, so I would be in favor of leaving the power supply as is.  (Jim recommends changing the 470uf main caps to 4,700uf to reduce noise)  

DY

 

[damnyankee]

anyone know dimensions of the pins for the modules?
Thx
AC

Here's the pins in the 200 VCA (this 200 VCA is from a dbx 119). Looks to me like the size of the component leads:

http://www.gearslutz.com/board/attachments/geekslutz-forum/36110d1181243868-dbx-128-inside-vca.jpg

 

[abechap024]

ok nice! that picture of the inside of the 160vu does help a lot. I was wondering about certain  placements and such...

edit: But woa, looking at it ... they sure do have things spread out on the board! This circuit is actually seems pretty simple... I am going to make a version that uses a Quad opamp for all the tl082s. A lot of smart people on here that have actually had experince with these compressers say that the sound that is loved so much comes from the RMS and VCA modules, so i'm assuming that the extra components aren't really going to affect the sound a whole heck of a lot. (as far as power supply, quad opamp verses dual - little stuff like that)
Mybe a version that is faithful to the original and then a verison that is user friendly should be made. Who knows maybe getting a better power supply and uprgading the 4558s and tlo82s might *improve* the sound? or ruin the *magic*?
questions question questions

Yea the power supply is different I give it that....It will affect the sound somehow but i'm not sure how much? is it worth the extra $$ for something that only maybe is .01% of the sound?

Also anyone have the rms and vca modules that can measure the pin spacings? that way I can create a custom footprint one the PCB so we can maybe just switch in modules we ccanabalize off the bay