Difference between revisions of "Testing Rig"
| Line 16: | Line 16: | ||
== General Information == | == General Information == | ||
| − | The Testing Rig is actually a very simple tool that combines | + | The Testing Rig is actually a very simple tool that combines two functions into a single PCB (printed circuit board) along with some additional terminals and switching logic ("The Others") that allows you to use the 2 functions to help find out where your pedal assembly went bad so you can go back to your PCB and fix it. |
| − | === The Oscillator === | + | === 1.) The Oscillator === |
| − | This is a | + | This is just a simple oscillator that creates a test tone that gets sent through a pedal you're either trying to verify the build on, or trying to troubleshoot because the effect does not work correctly. It's a single tone put on the line and simply rings out. The circuitry of the effect you're attempting to build should pass this tone through to where it either runs into a problem, or ideally, it makes its way through the entirety of the effect and so your effect is then considered "finished". |
| − | === The Headphone Amp === | + | === 2.) The Headphone Amp === |
| − | This is a | + | This is just a simple mini-amplifier. The Testing Rig then either sends signal to the headphone amp and then out to a headphone jack so you can troubleshoot in the quiet of the late night, or you can send the signal to the "normal" instrument out and then using an instrument cable, plug into an amplifier for testing without headphones. |
| − | === The | + | === The Others === |
| − | + | In addition to the two main functions, there are a couple of other nice features made conveniently possible through the magic of PCB circuitry. | |
| − | === The Switching === | + | ==== The Switching ==== |
| − | The power of the Testing Rig | + | The power of the Testing Rig isn't just in the signalling and listening, it's also in the switching where the combination of everything creates the value proposition of this tool. You can use your own guitar (or other instrument) to plug into the Testing Rig. If 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 would when 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. |
| + | |||
| + | ==== 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. The probe is essentially a flying "return". 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. The signal return function is really all it does, but because it's a flying probe the return can come from anywhere on the PCB and as a result, this feature is very powerful. | ||
==Pedal Manual== | ==Pedal Manual== | ||
| − | JMKPCBs copyrights forbids redistribution of their manuals. | + | JMKPCBs copyrights forbids redistribution of their manuals for sale. We're not reselling any JMKPCB products or attempting to sell modifications of their intellectual property, but as we're trying to honor their wishes, we're going to avoid reposting their manuals. |
| + | |||
| + | Regarding how to use the Testing Rig, as we have not seen any other reference on how to build or set up this pedal tool, this page, combined with our YouTube channel may be the best reference for use of such tool. | ||
==Build Details== | ==Build Details== | ||
| − | This our picture of | + | This our picture of a 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>]] | ||
Revision as of 09:16, 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
- 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 two functions into a single PCB (printed circuit board) along with some additional terminals and switching logic ("The Others") that allows you to use the 2 functions to help find out where your pedal assembly went bad so you can go back to your PCB and fix it.
1.) The Oscillator
This is just a simple oscillator that creates a test tone that gets sent through a pedal you're either trying to verify the build on, or trying to troubleshoot because the effect does not work correctly. It's a single tone put on the line and simply rings out. The circuitry of the effect you're attempting to build should pass this tone through to where it either runs into a problem, or ideally, it makes its way through the entirety of the effect and so your effect is then considered "finished".
2.) The Headphone Amp
This is just a simple mini-amplifier. The Testing Rig then either sends signal to the headphone amp and then out to a headphone jack so you can troubleshoot in the quiet of the late night, or you can send the signal to the "normal" instrument out and then using an instrument cable, plug into an amplifier for testing without headphones.
The Others
In addition to the two main functions, there are a couple of other nice features made conveniently possible through the magic of PCB circuitry.
The Switching
The power of the Testing Rig isn't just in the signalling and listening, it's also in the switching where the combination of everything creates the value proposition of this tool. You can use your own guitar (or other instrument) to plug into the Testing Rig. If 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 would when 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.
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. The probe is essentially a flying "return". 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. The signal return function is really all it does, but because it's a flying probe the return can come from anywhere on the PCB and as a result, this feature is very powerful.
Pedal Manual
JMKPCBs copyrights forbids redistribution of their manuals for sale. We're not reselling any JMKPCB products or attempting to sell modifications of their intellectual property, but as we're trying to honor their wishes, we're going to avoid reposting their manuals.
Regarding how to use the Testing Rig, as we have not seen any other reference on how to build or set up this pedal tool, this page, combined with our YouTube channel may be the best reference for use of such tool.
Build Details
This our picture of a new 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
- Additional Sources
