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First Budgie Preamplifier Post

PostPosted: Tue Nov 26, 2013 2:59 pm
by Shannon Parks
Arduino + Tubes = O:)

[moved files to main product thread]

Probably ordering boards next week. I also have a Front Panel Express file but will try and discount my own top plate (haven't ran the numbers $$$ on those yet, but want it much cheaper than FPE). Trying to get the complete project under $250 (totally doable).

Shannon

Re: Budgie Preamplifier *NEW*

PostPosted: Tue Nov 26, 2013 5:38 pm
by Geek
Impressive!

How did you solve the digital noise problem that these types inevitably have?

Re: Budgie Preamplifier *NEW*

PostPosted: Tue Nov 26, 2013 6:53 pm
by Shannon Parks
Geek wrote:Impressive!


Thank you!

Geek wrote:How did you solve the digital noise problem that these types inevitably have?


I stayed away from using an SPI bus in the design and just use a couple of dumb chips: the motor driver and the power 595. So most data lines are usually static and not changing unless a command is received. Also I'm very careful how I use PWM. I only use it for the power LED when the unit is in Standby (very dim light) and when the unit is Muted (pulsating light). Both those events employ a muted output, so the PWM noise is not a factor. Finally, I think having the Arduino self contained on its own little PCB can't hurt.

The board is a 2-layer board. I looked at trying a 4-layer design, but it became too expensive for the DIY market. The only snafu was one of the high impedance feedback lines was picking up audio from the input circuit so I cut it out and replaced it with a shielded jumper.

I'll up the code later this week.

Shannon

Re: Budgie Preamplifier *NEW*

PostPosted: Tue Nov 26, 2013 8:50 pm
by smuschwar
This is really awesome. I'm really excited for this.

Re: Budgie Preamplifier *NEW*

PostPosted: Mon Dec 02, 2013 12:31 pm
by IceFyre13th
First time I am glad I have not ordered something yet........

Now it will be this and a Budgie MM.

thanks Shannon

Re: Budgie Preamplifier *NEW*

PostPosted: Tue Dec 03, 2013 12:23 pm
by IceFyre13th
Really cant wait to order the board.....but I do have some suggestions.

Add some headers, one for the LCD display, one for the Volume pot, one for the push buttons, one (or two) for the LED and IR receiver. This would allow those parts could be remote mounted away from the main PCB.

It would be neat to have small PCB's to mount those parts onto as well......but hard wire to the parts should be fine too.

Might be neat to have the audio section on its own PCB and the control section (anduro, relays, etc.) on a separate PCB, be really cool to have a RIAA phono section too (but this would be satified with the budgie MM Phono board added in the case).

Even if you just make this as it is now, I want one......let us know when we can order these from you!!!!

What remote is pictured in the post too, its not on your parts list?

Re: Budgie Preamplifier *NEW*

PostPosted: Tue Dec 03, 2013 4:32 pm
by Shannon Parks
Any remote can be used and I presume that's what people will do, but that's an Apple remote from eBay. As far as headers, it isn't a problem to solder flying wires. One could use a ribbon cable and mount the LCD on the front, for example. I'll up an Front Panel Express file so folks are welcome to mod a chassis to their heart's content.

This design is all about making a super inexpensive tube preamp that is feature rich and easy to build. It really is kind of an Arduino project board, too. Plus a single PCB makes debugging custom code on your desk very easy without several assemblies dangling about.

Shannon

Re: Budgie Preamplifier *NEW*

PostPosted: Mon Dec 09, 2013 1:55 pm
by IceFyre13th
Well, spent some time going over the schematic. That's when I noticed the 24 Volt Audio supply......(I want to build a Budgie MM Phono as well, it runs on 48 volts) I intend on building a preamp that has this and the Budgie MM in one chassis.

If I were to use a 48 V supply could I just change the R1,2,3,4 / D1, 2 / Q1, 2 circuits to the Budgie Line Stage circuit uses and run the audio amp section on the same 48 volts the Budgie MM uses, I would also mod the tube heaters to run on the Budgie Line Stage 6.3 volt circuit as well (jump pin 3 to ground and run pins 4 and 5 to 6.3 Volt). Yes I know I would have to cut some traces and run wires from the budgie MM power supply section, but thats part of the fun.

It would also mean coming off of a 12 volt tap (easy) for the Arduino to use (go in with 12 V at J4) and change the relays to 12 volt coils instead of the 24 volt coils you currently use. And looks like r 20 would have to be fed 12 volts from this as well, looks like the heater from tube V2 supplies this currently.

I will be building my own power supply, so I would use a transformer with windings to make the 48 Volt / 12 volt / 7.5 volt regulated circuits. Have a main switch to turn the primary windings off, and switch the 12 volt (with a slave relay to turn off the 7.5 volts at the same time) for normal every day use.

Did I miss anything or do you have a better idea?

Let us know when we can order the new boards!!!

Thanks again too.

IF13th

Re: Budgie Preamplifier *NEW*

PostPosted: Tue Dec 17, 2013 10:01 pm
by dsound
This looks amazing. Great work Shannon.

Re: Budgie Preamplifier *NEW*

PostPosted: Sat Dec 21, 2013 6:38 am
by Shannon Parks
IceFyre13th, unfortunately the design is not flexible regarding changes to the power supply voltages. It has to be 24V, else there are a ton of changes.

Boards and top plates should be here sometime between Christmas and New Year's Eve.

Shannon

Re: First Budgie Preamplifier Post

PostPosted: Thu Jan 02, 2014 11:18 am
by IceFyre13th
Just ordered the PCB, and the rest of the parts!!!

BTW, I did find the ALPS pot, tube sockets and tubes for less than the links provided......just took a little googling to do it

Re: First Budgie Preamplifier Post

PostPosted: Thu Jan 02, 2014 1:59 pm
by IceFyre13th
Shannon,

Help....

Upon using Verify in Arduino 1.0.5 of the budgiesketchV0_04 sketch the following happened;

In file included from budgiesketchV0_04.ino:8:
mem.h:120: error: 'IRrecv' does not name a type
mem.h:121: error: 'decode_results' does not name a type
In file included from budgiesketchV0_04.ino:9:
/ir.h: In function 'void IR_learn()':
ir.h:75: error: 'irrecv' was not declared in this scope
/ir.h: In function 'void IR_incoming(long int)':
ir.h:88: error: 'irrecv' was not declared in this scope
ir.h:126: error: 'irrecv' was not declared in this scope
/ir.h: In function 'void IR_learn_VolumeUP()':
ir.h:138: error: 'irrecv' was not declared in this scope
ir.h:138: error: 'results' was not declared in this scope
ir.h:141: error: 'results' was not declared in this scope
ir.h:143: error: 'irrecv' was not declared in this scope
/ir.h: In function 'void IR_learn_VolumeDOWN()':
ir.h:158: error: 'irrecv' was not declared in this scope
ir.h:158: error: 'results' was not declared in this scope
ir.h:161: error: 'results' was not declared in this scope
ir.h:163: error: 'irrecv' was not declared in this scope
/ir.h: In function 'void IR_learn_InputUP()':
ir.h:178: error: 'irrecv' was not declared in this scope
ir.h:178: error: 'results' was not declared in this scope
ir.h:181: error: 'results' was not declared in this scope
ir.h:185: error: 'irrecv' was not declared in this scope
/ir.h: In function 'void IR_learn_InputDOWN()':
ir.h:192: error: 'irrecv' was not declared in this scope
ir.h:192: error: 'results' was not declared in this scope
ir.h:195: error: 'results' was not declared in this scope
ir.h:199: error: 'irrecv' was not declared in this scope
/ir.h: In function 'void IR_learn_Mute()':
ir.h:206: error: 'irrecv' was not declared in this scope
ir.h:206: error: 'results' was not declared in this scope
ir.h:209: error: 'results' was not declared in this scope
ir.h:213: error: 'irrecv' was not declared in this scope
/ir.h: In function 'void IR_learn_Standby()':
ir.h:220: error: 'irrecv' was not declared in this scope
ir.h:220: error: 'results' was not declared in this scope
ir.h:223: error: 'results' was not declared in this scope
ir.h:227: error: 'irrecv' was not declared in this scope
/ir.h: In function 'void IR_learn_Gain()':
ir.h:234: error: 'irrecv' was not declared in this scope
ir.h:234: error: 'results' was not declared in this scope
ir.h:237: error: 'results' was not declared in this scope
ir.h:241: error: 'irrecv' was not declared in this scope
/ir.h: In function 'void IR_learn_Boost()':
ir.h:248: error: 'irrecv' was not declared in this scope
ir.h:248: error: 'results' was not declared in this scope
ir.h:251: error: 'results' was not declared in this scope
ir.h:255: error: 'irrecv' was not declared in this scope
In file included from budgiesketchV0_04.ino:12:
/setup.h: In function 'void setup()':
setup.h:135: error: 'irrecv' was not declared in this scope
budgiesketchV0_04.ino: In function 'void loop()':
budgiesketchV0_04:22: error: 'irrecv' was not declared in this scope
budgiesketchV0_04:22: error: 'results' was not declared in this scope

Re: First Budgie Preamplifier Post

PostPosted: Thu Jan 02, 2014 2:47 pm
by Shannon Parks
You need to go to “Sketch>Import Library…>Add Library…” and select the IRremote library from the Budgie files folder. This is the IR decoding library.

Shannon

Re: First Budgie Preamplifier Post

PostPosted: Thu Jan 02, 2014 5:11 pm
by IceFyre13th
At first I still had problems, but once I loaded the IRremote library correctly it was fixed.

Now I can program the Nano and build a bread board to test the IR part of the unit.

thanks.

Re: First Budgie Preamplifier Post

PostPosted: Fri Jan 03, 2014 12:40 pm
by IceFyre13th
Shannon,

What are the dimensions of the PCB? I am going to build in a larger sized chassis so I can add a Phono stage in it later on........that leads to another idea, 24 volt phono preamp to match the power supply requirements of this build.