Breadboards:
Breadboards are a simple, non-permanent tool on which to test and create circuits. A power source — in our case a battery — is connected to both the positive and negative columns. The positive columns marked by a red line and plus signs supply power, while the columns marked by blue lines and negative signs supply ground or common. Wires or components can then be used to connect these power and ground columns to the large middle portion of the breadboard. Each row of 5 is electrically independent from the rows above it, below it, or across the middle divide. The breadboard is made for non-permanent connections, so connections can be easily made by pushing a wire into a hold in the board and easily broken by pulling the wire out.
Schematics:
Schematic 1: This is a schematic of a circuit in which a switch is use to switch between either a pair of LEDs whose brightness is controlled by a potentiometer or a single LED. The circuit is powered by a 9V battery and includes one 1kΩ resistor.
Schematic 2: The general scheme of this circuit is identical to the previous circuit, but a photo cell is used to control the brightness of the solo LED.
The following is a video of the above circuit in use:
Multimeters
Multimeters are used to take measurements of various aspects of a component or circuit. You can measure current, voltage, resistance, and other values by touching the positive and negative prongs to two different point in your circuit. The screen will then read the value that exists between those two points.
Past Final Projects
– Ryan Mahaney: Envelope following tremolo
This is super cool. This is a very unique thing that it doesn’t seem like many effects manufactures make use of. I have the Roland AP-5 Phase 5 which does a similar kind of envelope following thing but with a phaser. I don’t know how complicated this kind of circuit is, but I think in general I’d like to see more effects that are controlled directly by the users playing (like this new pitch-following tremolo that just came out not too long ago, I forget by who)
– Amelia Murray: Analog Synth in Laser-Cut Enclosure
For my final project, I definitely want it to end up in a permanent enclosure like this. I love how it’s basically just one pitch knob, making it look super clean. The notes sound a little out of tune, and I wonder how difficult it is to get analog oscillators totally in tune. I’m not sure yet whether or not I want me final project to be synthesizer or an effects pedal, but I love the looks of this
– Alex Forjaz: VCA Tremolo/Frequency Modulator
I really dig the frequency modulation on this, and the bit-crushed effect he got out of the fast setting. It sounds a bit like like ring modulation, and I wonder how far off this circuit is from doing proper ring modulation. That’s a super cool effect, especially for a guitar pedal.
Rain's Electronics Lab 