Difference between revisions of "Testing Rig"

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(Created page with "{| align="right" | __TOC__ |} JMKPCBs '''Testing Rig''' pedal troubleshooting tool. Thermionic Studios has two(2) Testing Rig tools. We have two of these because we h...")
 
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Thermionic Studios has two(2) Testing Rig tools. We have two of these because we had to build the first to make sure we could build it correctly, and then we built the second while creating a video of assembling said Testing Rig, both to show how to assemble one and then to show how it works.
 
Thermionic Studios has two(2) Testing Rig tools. We have two of these because we had to build the first to make sure we could build it correctly, and then we built the second while creating a video of assembling said Testing Rig, both to show how to assemble one and then to show how it works.
  
−
==Controls==
+
== Controls ==
 
[[File:PedalImageTemplate.png|right|frame|<div style="text-align:right">Image from [http://www.thermionic-studios.com Reference Image]</div>]]
 
[[File:PedalImageTemplate.png|right|frame|<div style="text-align:right">Image from [http://www.thermionic-studios.com Reference Image]</div>]]
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* Knob 1 - '''"Control1"''': Adjusts the control1 feature with fully clockwise being maximum.
+
* Knob 1 - '''"H-Volume"''': Adjusts the volume of the built-in headphone amp with fully clockwise being maximum.
−
* Knob 2 - '''"Control2"''': Adjusts the control2 feature with fully clockwise being maximum.
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* Knob 2 - '''"T-Level"''': Adjusts the output volume of the signal generator with fully clockwise being maximum.
−
* Footswitch 1 - '''"On/Off"''': This footswitch toggles the pedal between engaged/active ("On"), and bypassed ("Off")
+
* Toggle 1 - '''"Phones/Amp"''': This toggle switches the Testing Rig between a signal being directed to the headphone jack ("Phones"), or going to an instrument cable and then an amplifier ("Amp")
 +
* Toggle 2 - '''"Probe/Return"''': This toggle switches the source of signal going to the headphone amp from either A., the handheld probe ("Probe"), discussed later, or from the lead attached to the return line ("Return") from the effect.
 +
* Toggle 3 - '''"Bypass"''': This toggle switches the Testing Rig tool between engaged/active ("On"), and bypassed ("Off").  This is useful for verifying unity gain in the effect itself.
 +
* Toggle 4 - '''"OSC/Guitar"''': This toggle switches the Testing Rig between the signal being inputted into the effect coming from the signal generator ("OSC"), or an instrument plugged into the instrument jack of the Testing Rig ("Guitar") so as to be able to hear the effect as intended.
  
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==Bypass: Buffered/True==
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== General Information ==
−
Delete whichever header piece is incorrect and provide a small description for the other.
+
The Testing Rig is actually a very simple tool that combines 2 functions into a single PCB (printed circuit board) along with some additional terminals and switching logic that allows you to use the 2 functions to find out where your pedal assembly went bad so you can go back to your PCB and fix it.
  
−
==General Information==
+
=== The Oscillator ===
−
The Testing Rig is actually a very simple tool that combines 2 functions into a single PCB (printed circuit board) along with some additional terminals and switching logic that allows you to use the 2 functions to find out where your pedal assembly went bad so you can go back to your PCB and fix it
+
This is a stupid simple oscillator that creates a tone that gets sent through a pedal you're trying to either verify the build on, or trying to troubleshoot because it does not work correctly.  It's a single tone put on the line and rings.  The effect will pass this tone through to where it either runs into a problem, or it makes its way through the effect and is then considered "finished".
−
===Ad-libbing===
+
 
−
Never forget that regardless of whatever informational section, good descriptions of things (in this case pedals) require ad-libbing additional Subjects/Titles, and Sub-Subjects/Titles. This is important as particular and peculiar features regarding a pedal stand out, and thus require calling out.  Let form follow function.
+
=== The Headphone Amp ===
 +
This is a stupid simple mini-amplifier that sends signal to either a headphone jack so you can troubleshoot in the quiet of the late night, or you can send the signal to the "normal" out and then using an instrument cable, plug it into an amplifier for testing without headphones.
 +
 
 +
=== The Probe ===
 +
This is a special part that you'll have to purchase in addition to any resistors, capacitors, ICs, etc. that you might be purchasing in order to build your effect. If you're familiar with a digital multi-meter, the idea of a probe shouldn't be new.  Any digital multi-meter has 2 probes that you would touch down to your PCB in order to get a reading that gets sent to the multi-meter. In this case, the probe will be used to touch various parts of the assembled or partially-assembled PCB in order to determine where the signal is not getting through the effect.  If the effect is working properly, then anywhere on the PCB that signal is being carried, touching the probe to those various portions of the PCB should send signal to the headphone amp, and it should be easy to diagnose where on the PCB a failure is occurring.
 +
 
 +
=== The Switching ===
 +
The power of the Testing Rig is in the switching and is really where the value proposition of this tool happens. You can use your own guitar (or other instrument) to plug into the Testing Rig, and presuming your effect is wired up correctly, or if you've just properly troubleshot your problem and fixed it, the effect should sound (perhaps with a bit of extra noise) almost exactly like it should when it's been housed into its enclosure.  You'll be able to test for the effect, or a signal generator; you'll be able to test for unity volume by turning the Testing Rig bypass off and on, you should be able to use the probe to identify where on an effect the signal stops; and again toggle between headphones, if late at night, or through your own amplifier.
  
 
==Pedal Manual==
 
==Pedal Manual==
−
Upload and link a digital version of the provider's manual for corresponding pedal. When unavailable, this page may be the best reference for use of such pedal.
+
JMKPCBs copyrights forbids redistribution of their manuals.  As we have not seen any other reference on how to build or set up this pedal tool, this page may be the best reference for use of such tool.
−
 
 
−
Copyright may prevent us from sharing the manual and this should also be mentioned, if applicable.
 
  
 
==Build Details==
 
==Build Details==
−
In the instance where this is a pedal built by Thermionic Studios, provide the specifics of the build in this section here. In the instance of a production pedal, either post an image of the completed PCB of the production in the enclosure, or remove this page section entirely.
+
This our picture of the new Testing Rig PCB.
 
   
 
   
 
[[File:JMKPCBs_TestingRig_PCB.png|center|frame|<div style="text-align:right">JMKPCBs Testing Rig PCB</div>]]
 
[[File:JMKPCBs_TestingRig_PCB.png|center|frame|<div style="text-align:right">JMKPCBs Testing Rig PCB</div>]]
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! Item || Value
 
! Item || Value
 
|-
 
|-
−
| '''''PCB Creator''''' || (PCB Creator)
+
| '''''PCB Creator''''' || JMKPCBs
 
|-
 
|-
−
| PCB Dimensions || length X width (metric)<br>length x width (SAE)
+
| PCB Dimensions || 77 mm x 47 mm (metric)<br>3-1/16" x 1-7/8" (SAE)
 
|-
 
|-
−
| Enclosure Size || Hammond 1590(!!)/1550(!!)
+
| Enclosure Size || Hammond 1590BBFL (1590BB with flanges for screws)
 
|-
 
|-
−
| Enclosure Orientation || Portrait / Landscape
+
| Enclosure Orientation || Portrait
 
|-
 
|-
−
| Power Adapter || 9 volts, Standard Boss "barrel-negative" supply <br>9-volt battery snap available
+
| Power Adapter || 9 volts, Standard Boss "barrel-negative" supply
 
|-
 
|-
 
| Power Consumption || 'XXX' milliamps
 
| Power Consumption || 'XXX' milliamps
 
|}
 
|}
 
</center>
 
</center>
−
 
−
==Phase Inversion: Yes/No==
 
−
{| class="wikitable" style="left; margin-right:20px; background-color:#eeffee;" cellpadding="10"
 
−
|-
 
−
! Schematic ID || Electronic Part || Action || Phase State
 
−
|-
 
−
| X || X || X || X
 
−
|}
 
  
 
==Schematic==
 
==Schematic==
  
−
[[File:Thermionic_TemplateSchematic.png|center|frame|<div style="text-align:right">&copy; Copyright 2019, Thermionic Studios</div>]]
+
[[File:Thermionic_TemplateSchematic.png|center|frame|<div style="text-align:right">&copy; Copyright 2019-2025, Thermionic Studios</div>]]
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−
==Artists==
 
−
We are currently unaware of any artists actively using the pedal now, or who have in the past.
 
−
<div style="column-count:3;-moz-column-count:3;-webkit-column-count:3">
 
−
</div>
 
  
 
----
 
----
 
;Additional Sources
 
;Additional Sources
  
−
 
+
[[Category:Pedals]] [[Category:Tools]]
−
[[Category:Templates]]
 

Revision as of 09:00, 2 January 2026

JMKPCBs Testing Rig pedal troubleshooting tool.

Thermionic Studios has two(2) Testing Rig tools. We have two of these because we had to build the first to make sure we could build it correctly, and then we built the second while creating a video of assembling said Testing Rig, both to show how to assemble one and then to show how it works.

Controls

Image from Reference Image
  • Knob 1 - "H-Volume": Adjusts the volume of the built-in headphone amp with fully clockwise being maximum.
  • Knob 2 - "T-Level": Adjusts the output volume of the signal generator with fully clockwise being maximum.
  • Toggle 1 - "Phones/Amp": This toggle switches the Testing Rig between a signal being directed to the headphone jack ("Phones"), or going to an instrument cable and then an amplifier ("Amp")
  • Toggle 2 - "Probe/Return": This toggle switches the source of signal going to the headphone amp from either A., the handheld probe ("Probe"), discussed later, or from the lead attached to the return line ("Return") from the effect.
  • Toggle 3 - "Bypass": This toggle switches the Testing Rig tool between engaged/active ("On"), and bypassed ("Off"). This is useful for verifying unity gain in the effect itself.
  • Toggle 4 - "OSC/Guitar": This toggle switches the Testing Rig between the signal being inputted into the effect coming from the signal generator ("OSC"), or an instrument plugged into the instrument jack of the Testing Rig ("Guitar") so as to be able to hear the effect as intended.

General Information

The Testing Rig is actually a very simple tool that combines 2 functions into a single PCB (printed circuit board) along with some additional terminals and switching logic that allows you to use the 2 functions to find out where your pedal assembly went bad so you can go back to your PCB and fix it.

The Oscillator

This is a stupid simple oscillator that creates a tone that gets sent through a pedal you're trying to either verify the build on, or trying to troubleshoot because it does not work correctly. It's a single tone put on the line and rings. The effect will pass this tone through to where it either runs into a problem, or it makes its way through the effect and is then considered "finished".

The Headphone Amp

This is a stupid simple mini-amplifier that sends signal to either a headphone jack so you can troubleshoot in the quiet of the late night, or you can send the signal to the "normal" out and then using an instrument cable, plug it into an amplifier for testing without headphones.

The Probe

This is a special part that you'll have to purchase in addition to any resistors, capacitors, ICs, etc. that you might be purchasing in order to build your effect. If you're familiar with a digital multi-meter, the idea of a probe shouldn't be new. Any digital multi-meter has 2 probes that you would touch down to your PCB in order to get a reading that gets sent to the multi-meter. In this case, the probe will be used to touch various parts of the assembled or partially-assembled PCB in order to determine where the signal is not getting through the effect. If the effect is working properly, then anywhere on the PCB that signal is being carried, touching the probe to those various portions of the PCB should send signal to the headphone amp, and it should be easy to diagnose where on the PCB a failure is occurring.

The Switching

The power of the Testing Rig is in the switching and is really where the value proposition of this tool happens. You can use your own guitar (or other instrument) to plug into the Testing Rig, and presuming your effect is wired up correctly, or if you've just properly troubleshot your problem and fixed it, the effect should sound (perhaps with a bit of extra noise) almost exactly like it should when it's been housed into its enclosure. You'll be able to test for the effect, or a signal generator; you'll be able to test for unity volume by turning the Testing Rig bypass off and on, you should be able to use the probe to identify where on an effect the signal stops; and again toggle between headphones, if late at night, or through your own amplifier.

Pedal Manual

JMKPCBs copyrights forbids redistribution of their manuals. As we have not seen any other reference on how to build or set up this pedal tool, this page may be the best reference for use of such tool.

Build Details

This our picture of the new Testing Rig PCB.

JMKPCBs Testing Rig PCB
Item Value
PCB Creator JMKPCBs
PCB Dimensions 77 mm x 47 mm (metric)
3-1/16" x 1-7/8" (SAE)
Enclosure Size Hammond 1590BBFL (1590BB with flanges for screws)
Enclosure Orientation Portrait
Power Adapter 9 volts, Standard Boss "barrel-negative" supply
Power Consumption 'XXX' milliamps

Schematic

© Copyright 2019-2025, Thermionic Studios
Additional Sources
Retrieved from "https://thermionic-studios.com/wiki/index.php?title=Testing_Rig&oldid=6145"