[sdiy] pro EQs

[TIm Daugard]

From: "Kenneth Elhardt" <elhardt at worldnet.att.net>

> . . .  But in most cases it seems like
> many already know their stuff pretty well or if they don't, they're just
> copying circuits to prevent from simply buying a piece of gear only to end
> up with something probably inferior and without a nice pretty professional
> look to it.

I disagree also, building something does not imply it is inferior.

1) Functionality: Anything can be built to match exactly the systems you are
building. Look at effects boxes. Each box generally adds a capacitor at the
input and output for decoupling. All these capacitors inline seriously skew
signals in the signal path. I play bass. If I put four guitar effects boxes in a
chain, I'd have very little of my bass signal left.

2) Cost: Manufacturers do everything the can to save the cents as the add to the
profits. As a DIYer I can add parts to improve the performance of the circuit,
or at least use higher (or occasionally lower quality parts.) If that one
expensive opamp will improve the circuit, use it. If I have to hunt for a
germanium transistor for that one circuit that needs it, I can.

3) Reliability: My circuits rarely fail. If they do, it's because I did
something stupid like feeding 12 Volts into a TTL output. If they do fail, I
built it, I know what is in it, and I have the spare parts for it. I never build
anything without making sure that I have at least one of every active device set
aside as a spare.

4) Looks: I'm building for myself. If I can tell what every connection does and
what each knob controls, the front panel works. If it's not pretty, so what.
There is not that many of us in the world, I'm pretty sure nothing I build will
ever be sold. So looks doesn't matter. Should I throw out my wife of 30+ years,
who I'm sure I helped in her current looks from wear and tear and replace her
with something prettier? Looks aren't everything, and generally many spend too
much time worrying about looks and less about function.

Which brings me to my main DIY concern, what happens to my stuff if anything
happens to me. Do I just leave a note that says toss everything in the trash?
Leave a note that says donate it all to a local school and let them sort what
they want? Find somebody to sell it on e-bay?

Anyway, 70 more e-mails to got through, so this is not proofread. My you are a
talkative bunch lately. I think I'm going to get to power up the first EPROM on
my DIY universal prom programmer this week. I hate digital . . . too many lines
to solder (working the 16 address lines and their buffers next.)

And six roofers called, no call backs. I'm going to have to DIY the roof also.
Some of the hurricane damage pictures are on my web-site (from the home page.) I
put them there so the family could see it. Nowhere near as bad as Asia.

Tim Daugard
AG4GZ 30.4078N 86.6227W
http://home.sprintmail.com/~daugard/synth.htm