Prototyping Rescources

[funkmeblue]

ya, but doesn't it make you want to buy one of his amps, sounds like a great guy to deal with.......not

[Noel Grassy]

MHuss, Benoit, Tonegeek,
You gentlemen IMHO handled the collinsamps' vitriolics with courtesy and addressed the OP's question very effectively. If only others would perhaps take note of this our fine community might set an example for
everyone who believes they're Mr/Mrs KingHell Amp Creator. The posturing behind the interweb has been wearysome since forever. [file under: chimeboss ]

At DIY Stompboxes they offer a free layout creator download that's another fine tool to add to your quiver.

Always try to have fun, and not at other's expense, OK?

NG.

Mighty amp posers are more likely the second figure shown below!

[collinsamps]

Threatened? Hardly my point.

I'm pretty sure Albert Einstein called himself Albert, instead of Lord of physics or Wizard or quantum mechanics. If you can walk the walk & talk the talk you don't need self proclaimed(like someone else came up with it?) monikers for egocentric self gratification. Just as Freud had theories about everything being phalic and porsche 930 turbos are known to be compensation for other shortcomings, Giving your self a Lord, or Wizard title sort of speaks for itself. It's your money, give it to the Prince of Pentodes if it makes you happy.

Ok, I'm going to have to call bull****.

Based solely on a name, you've implied that Merlin doesn't know what he's talking about, has a massive ego, and that he goes around calling himself Valve Wizard in day to day life, as in "Hi, I'm Lord Valve."

To me the name Valve Wizard (esp given his real name is Merlin) just says "this guy has a sense of humor and a little creativity in naming his business". Apparently to you it says "even though I've apparently never met or done business with this guy, I'd better slander him publicly in case someone thought they should read his book."

All the talk about his latest book that I've seen, here and elsewhere, has been very positive, and some of these comments have come from very knowledgeable people. I've also never heard anything but good things about people who have done business with him.

How would you like it if some person you'd never met (a business owner in your industry, no less) was talking crap about how boring your business's name is and how no company with such a boring name could ever produce an interesting amp.

You have a problem with "Lord Valve" or "Valve Wizard" but you let "The Ultimate Tone" slide? If we're going to judge everything ultra-literally, that's the most pretentious book title I've ever heard. According to your logic, it must be horrendously short on solid facts. I don't actually have a problem with it at all, because it's not meant to be taken literally any more than "Valve Wizard" should be taken to mean the guy thinks he's an actual wizard or is compensating for a lack of skill.

So maybe let's get back to amps and be done with the totally unfounded attacks on people's character. It's not right.

GOOD GOD!

I said NOTHING about anyones skills or abilities..............read it again and again........................till it hits home...........K?

I said it was REDICULOUS to call your self LORD , WIZARD or WTF EVER!

It's an opinion last time I checked............you have one, so do I.

CHILL OUT for christ sake..........

Or relabel this place TGP2 and get some tampons.

[soma_hero]

you say a lot of inflammatory things man. as has been said, a lot of your posts seem phrased with a bit of an attitude that is mostly absent from this forum. for real just think about whether your potentially aggravating opinion needs to be shared, especially in the technical discussion section.

but you have contributed good info in other threads and for that, i appreesh..

[M Fowler]

So sniffyduke, did you ever decide on some prototyping tools? I would like to bite the bullet and get visio to do my layouts but maybe for Christmas.

I have had trouble with the Express PCB and SCH programs but that is probably because I downloaded a while back and maybe should remove and then reload.

Mark

[benoit]

I said NOTHING about anyones skills or abilities..............read it again and again........................till it hits home...........K?

I did read it again. It says this:

If you can walk the walk & talk the talk you don't need self proclaimed(like someone else came up with it?) monikers for egocentric self gratification.

Whether you meant it that way or not, in context it implies that Merlin (and his ilk - the Lord so-and-so's and King whosits) can't walk the walk and talk the talk (or put another way, don't have the knowledge and skills).

I said it was REDICULOUS to call your self LORD , WIZARD or WTF EVER!
It's an opinion last time I checked............you have one, so do I.
CHILL OUT for christ sake..........
Or relabel this place TGP2 and get some tampons.

It's the internet, and there's no chance to read facial expressions, catch someone's tone, etc. I just felt like you were slinging some pretty serious mud on people who didn't deserve it. As for chilling out, I guess it seemed to me that calling out someone for a nickname which was really not even a nickname but the name of a business was a little un-called for. It came off snarky and insulting.

I always regret replying to things like these because even if I carry myself with complete dignity and politeness (which I don't always do) I still feel crappy about the whole thing. I've been on edge lately because it seems like every other thread around here deteriorates into a war because somebody either doesn't think about how their post comes across or doesn't care (probably more of the former than the latter, it's so easy to do).

I still think what you said was a little overkill, but I may very well have jumped on it too hard and too fast. Whatever the case, I'm more than ready to chill out.

[sniffyduke]

I'm not sure about your basic electronics background or tube theory knowledge but the Navy Neets modules(quick search will get them free) are the best source for getting up to speed fast(yes I'm biased after 21 years). After that if you go through London Powers TUT series(The Ultimate Tone....not cheap but one of the best "complete" amp design sources available anywhere) volume by volume you'll be 99% more knowledgeable than the average web guru who calls himself Lord this or wizard of that(these are grown men mind you).

Thanks for all your help. I can't find the london tut series : (
But I will use all the other resources.

[benoit]

Thanks for all your help. I can't find the london tut series : (
But I will use all the other resources.

Are you talking locally or at all? http://www.londonpower.com/books.htm. I only have the first volume, but it's definitely got a lot of useful info.

[M Fowler]

The books are at this site.

http://www.tubesandmore.com

[sniffyduke]

So sniffyduke, did you ever decide on some prototyping tools? I would like to bite the bullet and get visio to do my layouts but maybe for Christmas.

I have had trouble with the Express PCB and SCH programs but that is probably because I downloaded a while back and maybe should remove and then reload.

Mark

What are the Express PCB and SCH programs?

Yes I will check out visio. : )

I have built off of latouts before. I have a little trouble reading shcematics.
It's usually a grounding issue. I am a novice, so layouts suite me better
I guess because it spells it out for you.
I could read a schematic but would be lost when wiring.

I appreciate all of your guy's input. I guess my goal is to learn so someday, I do not have to build off of someone elses designs and create my own.

Is this achievable or am I in over my head.

[benoit]

So sniffyduke, did you ever decide on some prototyping tools? I would like to bite the bullet and get visio to do my layouts but maybe for Christmas.

I have had trouble with the Express PCB and SCH programs but that is probably because I downloaded a while back and maybe should remove and then reload.

Mark

What are the Express PCB and SCH programs?

Yes I will check out visio. : )

I have built off of latouts before. I have a little trouble reading shcematics.
It's usually a grounding issue. I am a novice, so layouts suite me better
I guess because it spells it out for you.
I could read a schematic but would be lost when wiring.

I appreciate all of your guy's input. I guess my goal is to learn so someday, I do not have to build off of someone elses designs and create my own.

Is this achievable or am I in over my head.

Visio is sweet! Just got Visio 2007 for free through IEEE (ieee.org) and am enjoying it. If you do end up using it I've accumulated some odds and ends of libraries, both specific parts libraries and other people's layouts.

Mark, and sniffyduke as well, if you buy visio, try to find 2003. Cheaper, does everything you'd probably ever need. I'd been using that and it's great!

Ben

[sniffyduke]

Thanks for all your help. I can't find the london tut series : (
But I will use all the other resources.

Are you talking locally or at all? http://www.londonpower.com/books.htm. I only have the first volume, but it's definitely got a lot of useful info.

Oh thanks

[M Fowler]

Ben,

I have been trying to find 2003 visio but maybe I should google it and see what I find. I have some tools that bnwitt and Normster offered on AG.

Us government employees get a huge discount on Microsoft software but unfortunately visio is not one of the options, rats.

Thanks,

[mhuss]

Does someone have a link to a layout done in Visio handy, so I can take a look?

I like ExpressSCH for doing schematics, but I have yet to find something that does quick and professional-looking layouts for things like turret board tube amplifiers.

--mark

[Aurora]

Most layouts you'll find in both file sections around here are made in Visio, although they are printed as jpg's og pdf's..
Here's just one example....: https://tubeamparchive.com/viewtopic.php?t=4580

The advantage of real schematic and layout programs are the inherent coupling between the schematic and pcb layout. Usually when you define a component in the drawing, you also define the mechanical dimensions of that part, and all its connections. When you open the pcb part, all sizes and connections are already defined. I'm working on a Visio layout myself, and it works, although there are some quirks associated with the grouping of parts as you move around,- maybe particularly if you're used to real PCB cad programs. I've downloaded Express and used it to open premade drawings and schematics, but not really tried to load it fully. Looks OK though. I'm more used to the higher priced PCB suites we use at work.

Benoit: I'd really like to have those libraries....

EDIT: To those looking for older versions off Ebay or such...
files and libraries made in the 2007 versions may not open, and I've also had some poblems converting older libraries and templates to the new version....... Microsoft is forever Microsoft.. they keep changing and moving stuff around in every version they release! A real PITA!!!!!!