[sdiy] diode war

[Dave Krooshof]

Y'ellow Y'all,

I am experimenting with clipping/distorion etc. In the basics
it's just an opamp with two diodes anti-paralel in the feedback loop.
Or, like in the big muff, three diodes in series in both directions.
->>>-
-<<<-
I like the simple design, as it is the clipping component that reveals
its audio qualities this way. I tried several of the diodes I had
about the house.

[black] I first had two black ones (no type #, sorry): Familiar fuzz sound.
Then I tried 3 by 3 regular standard diodes (those orange glassy ones that
open @ 0.7 volt), like the big muff does. That's relatively sweet/warm,
I imagine that this is due to the fact each diode opens up slightly
different.

[blue] I now have blue LEDs in them (open @ 1.5 volt), they sound fairly clean.
That is: this is just clipping, not a distortion. Cool as in not warm.

[red] I'll make a switch to hook the semi-transperant light-red LEDs in again,
as those sound crazy in the midrange. Wow!

             So the QUESTION is:
             What's _your_ favourite clipping component?

Any experience with the expensive LEDs like IR and bright-white
for the purpose of clipping?

Dave
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