Difference between revisions of "Armstrong Twin"

From Thermionic Studios
Jump to: navigation, search
(Phase Inversion: Mostly Inverted)
m (Controls)
 
(20 intermediate revisions by the same user not shown)
Line 10: Line 10:
  
 
The Green Ringer is a kind-of-octave-kind-of-ring-modulator sounding device that has no controls. It's either on or it's off. It's an interesting sounding device with the effect most prominent, like an octave fuzz, when notes around the 12th fret are played.
 
The Green Ringer is a kind-of-octave-kind-of-ring-modulator sounding device that has no controls. It's either on or it's off. It's an interesting sounding device with the effect most prominent, like an octave fuzz, when notes around the 12th fret are played.
 +
 +
The BYOC Armstrong Twin is no longer being made.
 +
 +
 +
; Thermionic Studios has one(1) BYOC Armstrong Twin pedal available for rental.
  
 
== Controls ==
 
== Controls ==
[[File:BYOC_ArmstTwin_front.png|right|frame]]
+
[[File:BYOC_ArmstTwin_front.png|right|frame|<div style="text-align:right">Image from expired [http://reverb.com Reverb.com] auction</div>]]
 +
 
 +
* Switch 1 - '''"Compressor Attack"''': See note immediately below. This switch sets the aggressiveness for the attack of the compressor.
 +
* Knob 1 - '''"Compressor Squish"''': The amount of compression increases as the knob is turned clockwise.
 +
* Knob 2 - '''"Function"''': This is a rotary switch that allows you to select between the three pedal functions:
 +
** Mode 1 - LED '''(RED)''' Orange Squeezer Compressor only.
 +
** Mode 2 - LED '''(GREEN)''' Green Ringer Octave only.
 +
** Mode 3 - LED '''(BLUE)''' Orange Squeezer and Green Ringer combined.
 +
* Footswitch 1 - '''"On/Off"''': This switch toggles the Armstrong Twin pedal between active ("on"), and bypassed ("off").
  
* Switch 1 - '''"Release"''': Compression release selector
+
The Compressor Attack is a three-way switch at the very top of the pedal that toggles the attack of the Compressor envelope function.
* Knob 1 - '''"Compressor Squish"''': Potentiometer increases the amount of compression as the knob is turned clockwise.
 
* Knob 2 - '''"Function"''': Switches between the three pedal functions:
 
** Mode 1 - Orange Squeezer Compressor only
 
** Mode 2 - Green Ringer Octave only
 
** Mode 3 - Orange Squeezer and Green Ringer combined together
 
* Footswitch 1 - '''"On/Off"''': This switch toggles the Armstrong Twin pedal on and off.
 
  
The Compression Release is a three-way switch at the very top of the pedal that toggles the release of the Compressor envelope function between Slow, Fast, and Medium.
+
Attack settings for '''Switch 1''' are Slow (left), Fast (middle), and Medium (right).
  
 
== Bypass:True ==
 
== Bypass:True ==
Line 34: Line 41:
 
If you're looking to create your own, you'll likely have to source an Orange Squeezer PCB and a Green Ringer PCB and then combine them into a single enclosure. However, the upside of this is that you'd be able to put in a switch to select the order that you'd like the effects placed.
 
If you're looking to create your own, you'll likely have to source an Orange Squeezer PCB and a Green Ringer PCB and then combine them into a single enclosure. However, the upside of this is that you'd be able to put in a switch to select the order that you'd like the effects placed.
  
== Phase Inversion: Mostly Yes ==
+
== Pedal Manual ==
 +
As of this time, [[Build_Your_Own_Clone|BYOC]] has not issued a separate manual on how to use the pedal. The best reference is either this wiki page, or the instruction manual (linked above in General Information) at [http://www.buildyourownclone.com Buildyourownclone.com] which describes the architecture of, and how to build the pedal.
 +
 
 +
== Phase Inversion: It Depends ==
 
From our examination of the schematic below, three things stand out:
 
From our examination of the schematic below, three things stand out:
 
# Each pedal "half" or "color" inverts phase.
 
# Each pedal "half" or "color" inverts phase.
Line 68: Line 78:
 
|}
 
|}
  
(*) While the schematic calls for a 2N5088, we use a 2N5089 for lower noise and higher gain.
+
(*) While the schematic calls for 2N5088s, we use 2N5089s for lower noise and higher gain.
  
Again, studying the schematic, the most important thing to note is the Q2, or the 2N6523 transistor. Notice that the signal goes through both the emitter and collector. The emitter portion of the transistor inverts the phase of the signal. The collector maintains the original phase. When recombined, after all phase cancellation is taken into account, here we see "The Magic" of the 2N6523 creating the "green ringer" octave/ringmod sound.
+
Again, studying the schematic, the most important thing to note is the Q2, or the 2N6523 transistor. Notice that the signal goes through both the emitter and collector. The emitter portion of the transistor inverts the phase of the signal. The collector maintains the original phase. When recombined, there is phase cancellation that occurs on the signal. What remains of the signal after most of it is destroyed or "zero-summed" by the phase cancellation, is "The Magic" of the 2N6523 that results in the characteristic "green ringer" octave/ringmod sound.
  
=== "Mostly" Yes? ===
+
=== "It Depends"? ===
If you take a signal and invert the phase, and then invert is again, you get the original phase. So if you use only one half of the Armstrong Twin, you'll invert phase. If you use both, you'll invert phase, and then invert it back again, getting original phase.
+
Supposing you use only one half of the Armstrong Twin, you'll invert phase. In fact each half, both the compressor, and the ringer... Each of them inverts phase!
 +
 
 +
So:
 +
* If you're only using one half of the pedal - only one of the functions, you'll definitely invert phase in the signal coming out of the pedal.
 +
* However, if you end up using BOTH the Orange Squeezer and Green Ringer, you'll invert phase once through the first effect, and then AGAIN through the second, resulting in no phase inversion when the final signal comes out of the pedal.
  
 
Good Luck!
 
Good Luck!
 
== Pedal Manual ==
 
As of this time, [[Build_Your_Own_Clone|BYOC]] has not issued a separate manual on how to use the pedal. The best reference is either this wiki page, or the instruction manual (linked above in General Information) at [http://www.buildyourownclone.com Buildyourownclone.com] which describes the architecture of, and how to build the pedal.
 
  
 
== Schematic ==
 
== Schematic ==

Latest revision as of 06:59, 19 November 2020

The BYOC Armstrong Twin, as a pedal, is an homage to Dan Armstrong who created a line of color-coded and labeled effects in the 1970s. The Armstrong Twin combines two of the most popular effects of the Dan Armstrong line:

The Orange Squeezer is a fairly popular compressor due to the simplicity of the circuit, the good sound of the circuit, and the ready availability of parts. It has been cloned many times by many people and companies. Unlike other compressors that are valued for their lack of clipping, the Orange Squeezer is known for not being a perfectly clean compressor and this quality, while unacceptable for most other compressors, is considered part of its "charm".

The Green Ringer is a kind-of-octave-kind-of-ring-modulator sounding device that has no controls. It's either on or it's off. It's an interesting sounding device with the effect most prominent, like an octave fuzz, when notes around the 12th fret are played.

The BYOC Armstrong Twin is no longer being made.


Thermionic Studios has one(1) BYOC Armstrong Twin pedal available for rental.

Controls

Image from expired Reverb.com auction
  • Switch 1 - "Compressor Attack": See note immediately below. This switch sets the aggressiveness for the attack of the compressor.
  • Knob 1 - "Compressor Squish": The amount of compression increases as the knob is turned clockwise.
  • Knob 2 - "Function": This is a rotary switch that allows you to select between the three pedal functions:
    • Mode 1 - LED (RED) Orange Squeezer Compressor only.
    • Mode 2 - LED (GREEN) Green Ringer Octave only.
    • Mode 3 - LED (BLUE) Orange Squeezer and Green Ringer combined.
  • Footswitch 1 - "On/Off": This switch toggles the Armstrong Twin pedal between active ("on"), and bypassed ("off").

The Compressor Attack is a three-way switch at the very top of the pedal that toggles the attack of the Compressor envelope function.

Attack settings for Switch 1 are Slow (left), Fast (middle), and Medium (right).

Bypass:True

BYOC makes all their pedals true bypass. The Armstrong Twin being no different, is true bypass.

General Information

http://byocelectronics.com/atinstructions.pdf

This pedal is no longer available from BYOC. While we think it's a cool implementation, apparently it did not sell well enough for BYOC to keep it as an ongoing product offering. In fact, when we contacted BYOC, we were only able to get one of the last PCBs, as all the kits has already been sold out. Like the other PCBs we've purchased (like from Fuzzdog), we had to source the parts and the enclosure to complete the pedal.

If you're looking to create your own, you'll likely have to source an Orange Squeezer PCB and a Green Ringer PCB and then combine them into a single enclosure. However, the upside of this is that you'd be able to put in a switch to select the order that you'd like the effects placed.

Pedal Manual

As of this time, BYOC has not issued a separate manual on how to use the pedal. The best reference is either this wiki page, or the instruction manual (linked above in General Information) at Buildyourownclone.com which describes the architecture of, and how to build the pedal.

Phase Inversion: It Depends

From our examination of the schematic below, three things stand out:

  1. Each pedal "half" or "color" inverts phase.
  2. The Orange Squeezer runs in series into the Green Ringer.
  3. The numbering for the active devices is askew - with "Q3" listed for both the Orange Squeezer and the Green Ringer portions of the schematic. We've grouped them together in an effort to make the schematic easier to read.

There's something else to note, but we clarify below...

Orange Squeezer

Schematic ID Electronic Part Action Phase State
Q3 2N5457 Compressor Envelope N/A
Q4 2N5457 Compressor Trigger N/A
IC1a JRC4558 Inverts Inverted

If you look at the schematic, you'll notice that the signal flow to the 2N5457 transistors is one-way - the flow goes to ground. This is how this device becomes a compressor. The signal hits Q4 first, with Q4 acting as an electronic switch. It's the compressor "trigger". Once signal hits this, it opens up the flow to the next transistor, Q3, which regulates the flow to ground, thereby establishing the compressor envelope.

Green Ringer

Schematic ID Electronic Part Action Phase State
Q1 2N5089* Inverts Inverted
Q2 2N6523 Both Inverted and Original signal "The Magic"
Q3 2N5089* Does not Invert Inverted

(*) While the schematic calls for 2N5088s, we use 2N5089s for lower noise and higher gain.

Again, studying the schematic, the most important thing to note is the Q2, or the 2N6523 transistor. Notice that the signal goes through both the emitter and collector. The emitter portion of the transistor inverts the phase of the signal. The collector maintains the original phase. When recombined, there is phase cancellation that occurs on the signal. What remains of the signal after most of it is destroyed or "zero-summed" by the phase cancellation, is "The Magic" of the 2N6523 that results in the characteristic "green ringer" octave/ringmod sound.

"It Depends"?

Supposing you use only one half of the Armstrong Twin, you'll invert phase. In fact each half, both the compressor, and the ringer... Each of them inverts phase!

So:

  • If you're only using one half of the pedal - only one of the functions, you'll definitely invert phase in the signal coming out of the pedal.
  • However, if you end up using BOTH the Orange Squeezer and Green Ringer, you'll invert phase once through the first effect, and then AGAIN through the second, resulting in no phase inversion when the final signal comes out of the pedal.

Good Luck!

Schematic

© Copyright 2007, BYOC LLC.

Artists

We are currently unaware of any artists actively using the pedal now, or who have in the past.


Additional Sources
  1. http://www.effectsdatabase.com/model/byoc/armstrongtwin