Ceriatone Forum

Hi guys,

I'm in the middle of a D-lator build similar to the one I previously build ( http://ceriatoneforum.com/index.php?topic=900.0  (http://ceriatoneforum.com/index.php?topic=900.0) and http://ceriatoneforum.com/index.php?topic=1163.0 (http://ceriatoneforum.com/index.php?topic=1163.0) )

This time I'm building 3 pieces because I want to test some different coupling caps.
Also the power supply is modified with some slightly lighter filter caps.

Coupling caps used in this 3 builds: Orange drop Ps6/ 225P series, Xicon MPP, Cornell Dubilier CDE DME series.

I'll post some pics asap.

Awesome...

...hey, will you be selling the extra ones after you're done?

4 D-lators may look nice while playing ;D  When the test is done, I'm selling the 3 other ones.

im interested in buying one when youre done

what do you think you'll sell them for?

It will take 1-3 weeks when all is build and testing is done. Also I have a holiday planned in between :D
Note: This is a EU based  power supply design, it only works at 230v mains.

If your interested please sent me a PM.

vriendenprijs? LOL

Hoi Steven! Als het klaar is, kom je even luisteren? You're invited for a testdrive :P

of course. I'd be glad to do a test!

Some pictures; layout, drilling, eyelet board was the easy part. Adding waterslide decal to the frontplate was a nightmare. I will never use it again >:(

Today I populated and soldered the boards.

Impressive!. Hat of to people who can use a soldering iron!

Today I finished the first out of 3. This one is loaded with Xicon MPP.

Today I finished No.2 out of 3. This one is loaded with OD 6ps/225P. The last coupling cap is CDE dme because I couldnt get a PS serie for that one.

Hi Erwin

WOW Looks like pro stuff. Very impressive. So is your plan to test all 3 configurations (or maybe all 4 with your previous build), Test them and then select the best option and then alter the others to those specs?

Greets
Steven

Hi Steven,

Thnx! It's all high quality stuff. The only thing I'm not happy with, is the waterslide decal. It's just not as neat as the-old-skool-rubbing-on-lettering.
 Test, select, upgrade; that's the plan :P My previous build will include the test because it's got a slightly different filtering on the power supply.

cool you'll end up with 4 great units  :P
GAS allready LOL

Today I finished the last one loaded with CDE DME. It's name is from a notorius pre 70-ies coffee machine  :)

Good job... now we want test results.....ASAP  ;D


 ;)

Tomorrow I'm gonna double check every connection, then a 2 week summer holiday, then extensive testing...keep you posted :P

Can't wait to hear what is the outcome...


... my guess is, the difference is going to be minute
 ;)

Just tested them at moderate volume.
First impression: They sound/feel very different.

Xicon MPP; couldnt get it smooth, maybe at higher volumes. Lows were not tight.

Orange drop 6PS/225P: Lower volumes were same as Xicon MPP. At moderate volume lows got more tight and highs were smoothed out. Nice mid range!

Cornell Dubilier CDE DME: Smooth at all volumes, these caps produced the most tight lows. Less pronounced mids compared to the Orange drops. Did I mentioned these caps are really smooth?


Coming weeks I'm gonna test them in real life. Keep you posted

I have a bad day: turns out on 2 dlators the bright switches at the output section were shorting, I had to disconnect them otherwise the bright caps are constantly on.
The dlators affected: with Xicon and with Orange drops.

Xicons are smooth now too  :-\
Orange drops still got the pronounced nice midrange.
The CDE are the closest to the Orange drops but still have the tightest bass response

Interesting...

...we expect some clips... they are coming, right?
 ;)

Tomorrow going on a 2 week holiday; clips after the holiday 8)

 ???  What happened to the test? :'(

+1  ???

This friday I make clips. Just a little patience ;D

This friday I make clips. Just a little patience ;D
[/quote]

OK,
I enjoyed your D'later/Klein comparison file.

And I wonder if the Klein could be modified to sound like a D'lator, by adding

- 500p/220k intrance filter 
- 44m/50n LNFB network

to FET2. What do you think?

Thnx!
Maybe it will do the job. In the pics on the CT website the 220k/500pF is already incorperated. I tested the commercial CT version so I guess it's the same, older Public domain is different.
Fet with NFB? That has to be calculated: The voltage swing on a tube based design is somewhere between 20 and 70 volts.  The FET design: don't have a clue: max 20v.?
However  the tube compression is difficult to emulate with FET.

I'm done with the Kleinulator, it's such a different feel when playing through it compared to the real thing. For me: tubes all the way

BTW my last 3 d-lators builds have a slightly lighter filtering compared to my first one. And I like that better. It's less stiff.

Testing will be delayed by a week; I have some gigs and have to rehearse...

Today I made some clips with the different coupling caps.

All dlators have no fx in the loop except for the favourite_dlator clip.
Recording was done with a condenser mic at 6 1/2/feet(2 meter).
Hum you hear is: neon light picked up by my strat.

Please let me know what you think:

Orange drops :www.e-noize.nl/goodies/Orange_drop.mp3 (http://www.e-noize.nl/goodies/Orange_drop.mp3)
Cornell Dubilier:www.e-noize.nl/goodies/Cornell_dub.mp3  (http://www.e-noize.nl/goodies/Cornell_dub.mp3)
Xicon:www.e-noize.nl/goodies/Xicon.mp3  (http://www.e-noize.nl/goodies/Xicon.mp3)
My old dlator loaded with orange drops:www.e-noize.nl/goodies/Old_dlator.mp3  (http://www.e-noize.nl/goodies/Old_dlator.mp3)
My favourite dlator with a replifex in the loop:www.e-noize.nl/goodies/Favourite_dlator_with_replifex.mp3 (http://www.e-noize.nl/goodies/Favourite_dlator_with_replifex.mp3)

Hi Erwin,

I like orange drops (1st clip), your old dlator and last one is great, lovely playing too.
In all clips clean take distorts on highs, can be a recording fault.
Cheers mate.

Hi Pickmaster,

Thnx for listening! I appreciate your comments.
Recording clean has some spikes over 0 dB, just discovered it while checking. Sorry for that. :-[

Man this is tough one to call... but I think I would go for Orange drops

...but would be happy with the Cornell or Xicon too
 ;)

I cant' really hear a difference - even on my hifh headphones.
Do they 'feel' different in regards to compression etc.?

I like your playing on the last clip ;-)

Thanks for listening bluesfendermanblues!

On my monitors the Orange drops are the most fat.
In real life I prefer the cornell dubilier because they are the most tight in the lows.
The Xicons are great with cleans but less great with od on.
Differences are not miles away from each other. I would be happy with just one of those four units I build. :P
They feel pretty much the same. They all have a different emphasis in the tonal spectrum, that's the difference. It's minor but's it's there.

The last clip, thanks; adding a little amount of effects can really fatten things up, I love playing with that sound :)
 

Hi Erwin, have you read this thread on TGP?
http://www.thegearpage.net/board/showthread.php?t=600679
 (http://www.thegearpage.net/board/showthread.php?t=600679)
And have you tried yours in a similar fashion? When I get a minute I'll try it with my Klein.

Hi Hywel,

I read it, what part are you reffering to?
The three knobber? I do since 2 months run my middle knob all the way up.

The master volume on my amp is at 2 'o clock. the last knob on the dlator controls the master volume.

Yes I was referring to the use of a D*ator as a volume control device. Sound like you are using like that.

Must try it.

The signal path of the OTS is: pre-amp-->master volume-->fx out-->(dlator)-->fx in-->PI/power amp.
So it's kind of normal that the last knob of the dlator becomes the master volume.
When turning the middle knob up, you get more compression and the tone loses it's sharp edges.

One more day to go............ :chairdance:

Till what? I'm off on holiday tomorrow, what are you planning?

Just got one of Erwins D-lators. GREAT!!! There is a difference with my Klein. The unit gives a natural compression which is realy nice. It feels more natural now. It sounds a bit more transparant now.
Erwin was realy helpfull with some adjustments to my OTS as well. He's turning into the Dutch Alexander  ;D

Will do some more testing as soon as the sun is up

I was a nice day with Steven.
When listening to Steven playing through the different D-lators we both agreed that the one with Orange drops sound best.
I'm gonna put Orange drops in the other 2 builds.

Look what I've got!

http://home.kpn.nl/s.scholten17/rig2.jpg

I'm proud  :chairdance:

Hi Steven,
It looks pretty good, I have a couple of questions for you:

1) Which Orance drop caps did you use (715,716, 225 or?)
2) How do you connect both the dynacord and the Rocktron
3) Do you run the effects in serial or parallel mode


PS: I love the name "Rollator" :-D

Hi
1 The Orange Drops are OD 6ps/225P. Read earlier in this post plz (no idea about this, just trusted my ears)

2/3 I run everything in series, OTS-->Rollator-->Dynacord --->Rocktron-->Rollator-->OTS (the whole signal goes though the Rollator)
But!
The Dynacord is moddified and is now true bypass
The Rochtron (only used for Reverb, Delay, Tremelo and Chorus) has an internal mixer. The dry signal stays analog and you mix in the (digital) effect. So only the wet singnal goes through an A/D converter. I feel this is very important. In a sense the Rocktron is almost parralel

I would have preferd Verdumulator myself, but this was Erwins choise

Thanks for fast reply

There's a hot topic about which orange drops to use at:

http://ampgarage.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=9553

with preferences lending towards 225p and 6ps :-)

You're welcome
LOL that's all beyond me. Luckily Erwin knows what he's talking about. We just did some A/B/C testing and agreed the OD sounded best. I think if you listen to the clips it gives a pretty good idea.