DISTortion compRESSOR

[REDLINE]

anyone figured out the ic-types used in the distressor....
especially in the logic section that is controlled by the buttons on the front..??

 

[dale116dot7]

I didn't really bother with those digital ones - they are just a bunch of counters that sequence the control signals as you see, along with switch debounce circuitry to avoid having the counters count continuously. Basically, just 74HC family logic as far as I can tell. You can easily look up on the internet how to design counters to do that.

The analog section is where the interesting stuff happens - the 'digital' part is only used for not having rotary switches to select the various modes. I like the Distressor, but IMHO the digital part is quite a large part of their marketing, and really, it's a very small part (or practically no part) of the sound.

Somewhere or another is a rough sketch of the Distressor analog section - just do a search here.

I didn't do a full reverse engineer of the unit, I just wanted to know the topology. It's basically an IC version of the 1176. The distortion modes are generated by unbalancing the drain-channel modulation balance circuit.

 

[REDLINE]

switches is an alternative, but then I need to layout a new pcb....
but I think it would be much easier and more time efficient
to duplicate the original pcb.

I just made some shots from the goods.

http://testing.imagehosting.us/showimg.php?pid=1086&uid=0&th=0&ext=JPG

http://testing.imagehosting.us/showimg.php?pid=1087&uid=0&th=0&ext=JPG

http://testing.imagehosting.us/showimg.php?pid=1088&uid=0&th=0&ext=JPG

http://testing.imagehosting.us/showimg.php?pid=1089&uid=0&th=0&ext=JPG

http://testing.imagehosting.us/showimg.php?pid=1090&uid=0&th=0&ext=JPG

http://testing.imagehosting.us/showimg.php?pid=1091&uid=0&th=0&ext=JPG

http://testing.imagehosting.us/showimg.php?pid=1092&uid=0&th=0&ext=JPG

http://testing.imagehosting.us/showimg.php?pid=1093&uid=0&th=0&ext=JPG

http://testing.imagehosting.us/showimg.php?pid=1094&uid=0&th=0&ext=JPG

 

[gyraf]

I don't think it's doable:

There is a memory backup battery in there. Which points to an embedded processor somewhere. Which means that it's run by software. Which is (if done right) not possible to extract to copy..

Also, copying a current commercial product is not nice.

If you want to do something like this, analyze what's going on - and design from-scratch your own version of the digital control sections. How hard could it be anyway..

With modern pic's I'll bet it can be done much much simpler than the original.

Jakob E.

 

[REDLINE]

there is no pic inside. only logic ics from the 74-series
the goldcap is used to buffer the control-signal to the logic ics.
so the last settings will appear, when you turn the unit on.

Also, copying a current commercial product is not nice.

yes, but I think it's also not nice selling a professional manufactured unit
that is build with the cheapest parts available, for 2000 bucks.
I feel a bit "ripped off".

 

[jensenmann]

Well, what´s going on in a 1176? Less electronic, only one sound - not three - and all this for the same 2 grand!
You pay for the sound that comes out, no matter which product. If you buy a even more expensive GML, Masselec or whatever there are only available parts from our planet inside. No mistery, only engineering + a little art and talent. Companies like these still try to make their living because they sell small quantities. You get ripped by companies that try to make profit, not a living, out of their products (Harmon, ...)
Jens

 

[Peter Simonsen]

[quote author="REDLINE"]yes, but I think it's also not nice selling a professional manufactured unit
that is build with the cheapest parts available, for 2000 bucks.
I feel a bit "ripped off".[/quote]


Jesus F....... Christ ..Do you know anything about running a bussiness at all !!! its not just the parts you pay for..!!!

If its that eazy to design such a units as the El8..Why on earth have you not done it..then it would be you who earned "ALL the money" you think is beeing earned..why..oh why is it not you..???..

Stop trying to change the face of what you are trying to do..be a man..design something by yourself..try to make a living out of it...comeon..it soo eazy money..come up with the next great idea..build/design it with the cheapest part you can find....set the price to around..ohh sall we say 1500-2000 usd...it does not really matter does it..noo let just say..hmmm 500 usd..yes that would make it..you still make a lot of money *S*..you´ll be a millionair within the next couple of month....

Now then start you business..and return and tell me who are willing to work for you for free..tell me how you pay for the building in which you do R&D...build the units...machines/tools to build...who´ll pay for power..insurance/not just for the building/s..also for the workers...wages...(hope nobody get ill working for you)..etc..dont forget the lawyers..who´ll take care of Intern/local/national/international business rules.. etc...Taxes..travel expences..you are going to attend AES are you not..???..Hotel bills..food..etc

Now someone is gonna sell these units for you..dont you think !!! will they do that for free !!!..and these people who are willing to sell your unit for free..will they also pay for the building/store..etc in which they do this...???..

You feel "ripped off"..give me a ******´ break will ya´.. :evil:

oh man the list is long...I have only touched the surface involved with everyday bussines lifes..!!! Get real !!!

kind regards

Peter

 

[StephenGiles]

......and then there are the Accountants, Inland Revenue, Companies Registration Authority..........etc
Stephen

 

[laitue5]

oh stop please! I?ll never say that again :green:

 

[REDLINE]

nothing against business...


but ...... I think the distressor tends to be a high end product
and its price is also "high end" for a mono compressor unit...
but the parts inside are no high-end.

just an example, what comes to my mind.
for the same money you could get the studio electronics c2.
it features an 1176 type compressor with a neve 1272 output stage.
it contains 2 input trafos from jensen and 2 output trafos from sowter + special manufactured input t-atten potentiometers, no ics in the signal path.
and it is stereo

 

[Guest]

for the same money you could get the studio electronics c2

So buy that instead. Lots of high end products have been made from 'cheap' parts. The early focusrite products were all made with 5532's(or 5534's, whatever). I guess that makes them 'not so professional'? It's not the parts that make something high end, it's the implementation of said parts. And by the way, the list price of the mono distressor is $1,500 USD, you can buy one for around $1,300-$1,400. And they are well worth the price.

Zach