Diode clipping

336

07:15:07

This is how guitar distortion pedals work. The diodes force the voltage peaks to clip. The capacitor smoothes the clipping into a true sine wave.

published 11 years ago

hunterrutz

5 years ago

Since creating this, I have since realized that when the diodes are in the feedback loop of an op amp, a capacitor in parallel like this creates a low pass filter, and that's why the sine wave smooths out at the output. It's creating enough impedance in the circuit that the diodes aren't clipping anymore. A good recommendation for a capacitor to put in parallel with feedback diodes would be something in the 68-220pf range. Try them out and see what you like. As with all guitar pedals, what you hear with your ears is what's important. Just try values until you're happy!

chazincaz

3 years ago

nice work! I guess I dont understand where in the circuit it is actually clipping… wouldn't this technically clip the BOTTOM of the wave? long time musician - newbie circuits here. thnaks for you work!

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