What do all the parts do on a guitar pedal? Zendrive circuit experiment

In this video we have some nerdy fun going through the signal chain in the popular Hermida Audio Zendrive circuit, experimenting with each part to see what difference it makes to the sound. If you like these types of videos, please do two things:
-Comment below with what pedal circuit you would like for me to do next like this
-Go to this link to be notified when I do DIY type videos like this: modyourownpeda...
New "How to modify the Boss DS-1" ebook on Kindle:
www.amazon.com...
Other Amazon links from video:
Purchase your own small breadboard:
bit.ly/3cewKPs
Large Breadboard:
bit.ly/3b2D4JW
Breadboard wiring kit:
bit.ly/3b4jlcT
How to modify effects book on Amazon:
bit.ly/3a8pljb

[@oldtomthestoryteller6517]

Great Stuff, Brian. As I see it, you and Josh fill different niches. Josh is The Biggest Pedal Fan in the Universe, and gets us all charged up with his enthusiasm YES, I need fifty different Screamers in the same box . You on the other hand are the Bob Ross of electronics, "How about I put a diode here . . what kind of diode? Well . . you can't go wrong with a 4148, so how about we put a pair of happy little 4148s here for some soft clipping . .and maybe a 741 opAmp here . . .it's your pedal . . you can make it however you want..."

[@wampler_pedals]

hahahaha! 😂

[@DrewMonge]

Best comment! 😅😅😅💯

[@captaintony1227]

I couldn't have said it better .

[@thomasr.5443]

There is no wrong or right in here, just happy little accidents.

[@thomasr.5443]

Put the 1k through the holes, cut off the excess and just >>ha, ha

[@Gonzo2707]

Like? Yes. More? Please. Do I want my chorus to sound like Whitesnake? Nope, I want it to sound like Alex Lifeson. Good stuff.

[@michaelcottle6270]

Dimension C. Instant Xanadu.

[@Gonzo2707]

Michael Cottle Yepp, the chorussy stuff on early Rush is easy enough, Dimension D or C or CE-1 plus a Mistress. „Show of Hands“-era albums are another kettle of fish. Haven‘t really found anything that can adequately mimick a TC 1210, and a „vintage“ 1210 is kinda expensive these days (1400€+ on Reverb).

[@Gonzo2707]

Thomas Jefferson Erm, nope. Alex‘s rig on the HYF tour at least contained no less than. 6! potential sources of Chorus - GK CPL preamp (built-in), Dimension D, TC 2290, two TC 1210s, and a Yamaha SPX90, all run through mixers. Usage info conflicts between AL himself and his guitar tech at the time, so it‘s difficult to tell for sure now, In any case, one unit for Chorus/Flanging isn‘t enough to cop his sound. My guess is that he used either the Dim D or one of the TC 1210 in spatial expand / doubler mode as the „baseline“ chorus, and added a 1210 set to a „chorussy flange“ for solos/lead parts, where the modulation thickens noticeably. The Dim D alone doesn‘t do the trick, and neither does a single 1210. ...l‘ve tried...

[@Gonzo2707]

@Thomas Jefferson Mate, chill, all the albums you name aren't SOH, and yes, a single Dim D is definitely NOT enough for neither AL's live nor studio sound modulation sounds. And yes, there is conficting info from AL himself and his back-then guitar tech from various 80s GW, GFTPM, GP and NME magazine articles on what he used on which track and to which effect. If it were as simple as "just get a Dimenson C or D", his SOH-era tone wouldn't be anywhere near as difficult to reproduce _closely_ as it is.

[@godbyone]

Pcm 70

[@homeboyjon4885]

I love the part when Brian says, “Us do-it-your-selfers.”

[@mikebranda7585]

Just bought a breadboard to learn more about pedal and amp circuits as a hobby. Definitely interested in this stuff, Brian. Thanks!

[@endezeichengrimm]

What Branda will your pedals be?

[@brisson182]

Lol good one. Or “what branda pedals are your fav?!” Lol

[@williamwheeler2026]

@@brisson182 ccc. Ccc

[@JudgeFredd]

Yes please more of this kind of videos for the musician geeks

[@christopherdaniel8230]

LOVE when you do these educational/testing videos on pedals and schematics. Could watch all day!

[@brianmoffet7237]

Yes, please, more nerd videos. I also like it when Brian says "DIY'ers like us". Makes me feel cool.

[@mrshatters]

No joke this was one of my favorites. Can I put in a request to do the same with the Rat? It’s the Year of the Rat and I’m building a few... Thanks Brian!

[@ericcarpenter3263]

Matthew Lees yes!! Bring on the RAT.

[@michaelcottle6270]

Yep, works for me too. A good example of the various distortion families, but also a walk through some other classic pedals like, say, a Phase 90, compressor, octaver, ring modulator, or an analogue delay...

[@jimtroeltsch5998]

Fuck yeah! Would love to see a video like this of the Rat

[@moxow]

Damn yeah, I was just gonna post that myself! The Rat would be great fun, swapping op-amps & transistors and all the tone mods & stuff!

[@ralph_clay]

Thank you for making tutorials/videos like this Brian. I've always struggled with understanding how electronics work.

[@parasolaudio4621]

This video is fantastic. Id would watch more of this all day.

[@TyRobertsmedia]

As an owner of a Zen Drive - I really thought it was very interesting. Love your videos

[@yowild9629]

more of this please! Love this content.

[@officialdirtmcgurt]

Hell yeah. Finally a Quality quarantine video

[@drayve8590]

PLEASE MAKE MORE OF THIS TYPE OF VIDEOS, BRIAN!!??!?!? Me enjoys dem!

[@GREENMTGENE]

I would love to see as many of these demonstrations as you’re willing to post. Many thanks

[@MrRob86753]

Honestly as a sophmore Electrical Engineering student who chose this major to build music equipment for a living, your books and videos have helped me so much in understanding how to creatively build circuits since universities really just focus on the math and graphs of things. Please continue to make videos like this.

[@MrRob86753]

That being said i think it would be extremely interesting if you made a vid on some modulation pedals

[@noisesoundtonevibe]

This might be my favorite video you've ever made. It would be cool if could further explain why these things work like they do. Something along the lines of "If you put a resistor and a capacitor in series in this order, you have a low pass filter, and the capacitor sets the cutoff frequency,... now if you put them in that order, you have a high pass filter..." I don't know what I'm talking about but I sure would like to know.

[@noisesoundtonevibe]

@k halliday I didn't know about it. Thanks for this wonderful tip !

[@charlesdbruce]

I would love to see something about phase shifters and the difference between the number of stages.

[@therugburnz]

Great idea.

[@ryanhillclimber]

I’m just starting to tool around with pedal building, and without an electric engineering background, I can’t tell you how helpful these videos are. I love all your “techy” videos. Thank you for sharing your knowledge!

[@andreasdavour9973]

Few if anyone else does this kind of electronics stuff and I *loved* this one! Thanks Brian! If I may add my favourites to the list, that would be the Blues Driver and the Big Muff. Cheers.

[@IAmattadams]

I love the video. I'm a guitar player but I'm also an aircraft mechanic (arts & crafts) so I love the lesson in circuits.

[@dumbamerica]

Thanks for the letting me see and hear the differences of symmetrical and asymmetrical clipping. I have been obsessing over that since the shutdown began. Now, that I know, I must have asymmetrical clipping in everything!

[@ScottfromBaltimore]

KZbin puts videos like this as the top of my feed, because I watch mostly this type of videos. Thanks for showing the science/trial-and-error behind the magic. It kinda blows my mind.

[@GregSummersMusic]

Loving these drive videos. Thanks for de-mystifying things for many of us. Drives can be the rabbit hole of pedals and can feel like we are chasing our tails most of the times.

[@scrummyvision]

fantastic, extremely helpful. I like to look at schematics and try to imagine how the sound changes (specifically frequency response), so it's even more fun to hear the component changes in real time. I'm still dusting off ancient circuits knowledge from university, so this video format is especially helpful.

[@bastiangustavsen3168]

My favourite part of the day, when mr.Wampler puts out a new video. Would really love to see more of this. Your Enthusiasm for pedalbuilding makes me all juiced up to try and build something. Greetings from Norway :)

[@alexsilberman7907]

Hi Brian, as a budding DYI'r, I love this type of content. More, please, sir.

[@derelictelectric2216]

I constantly wish I could find in depth geeky circuit talk to help me learn. I'm glad you aren't avoiding it and you can go as deep as you please as far as I am concerned.

[@alejandroluengopato9957]

Masterful, now I understand the Zendrive concept well. Thanks a lot

[@gainstageeffects1235]

Man, couldnt be more excited about this video. As a fellow DIYer, i love these videos and would love to see one on all the popular circuits. These type of videos teach me so much! Thanks for making them

[@chipsterb4946]

This is really cool for anyone who has diddled with amp or pedal circuits. Thanks and stay well!

[@bobconklin9250]

Yes! These are the kinds of videos we want. Thanks so much.

[@demantoid418]

Thanks Yes i like the ability to look over your shoulder and watch ya mess with values of components. I have wished i could do this type thing for a long time. Thanks again

[@bobbarcus8310]

Please do more videos like this one it’s greatly appreciated

[@rossthomas5357]

This is cool. Would love to see more maybe some exploration into octave pedals such as oc2 or octave multiplexer

[@markthespark6240]

All you need is Fuzz!! Great episode Guru!! Stay safe and healthy!!

[@martinmeinfreund1892]

2min of testing a Zendrive actually made me buy it, the voice control really made it for me...and watching this now again I think I made the right decision, it´s pretty much perfect as it is...

[@diatonicdude5290]

Great video Brian, of course we want to see more. Thanks,and stay safe!

[@asruiz7360]

I just to this video. Yes, please more of these videos! By the way, THANK YOU for breaking this stuff down, Brian!!

[@larryivymusic]

I enjoy hearing this. I don’t really have a desire to diy myself but I like the knowledge.

[@DoDoxTM98]

Always waiting for this kinda video, please make this stuff more and more.

[@ran-diy-audio]

Thanks Brian! this kind of videos are so helpful for understand electronics on guitar pedals. Keep On! greetings from Argentina!!

[@sclinchy]

This was great! As a newbie DIY pedal builder, this is exactly the kind of stuff I want to learn. It’s fun to build pedals, but I really want to understand what these circuits are doing. This really helps. Thank you.

[@jasonmartin9966]

Great video, Brian! Yes, please do more of these!

[@StevenParente]

I enjoyed this very much! Great info. I used to be an eletro-mechanical draftsman in another life around 40 years ago at Boeing, but didn't have much of an understanding of what the components and circuits actually did. Music/audio applications makes it fun! You're a good teacher. Thank you.

[@scottblair633]

Like it. Love it. Need more! This kind of information is exactly what a fair amount of us are looking for.

[@WrathPassion]

More of this please, it was very interesting!

[@hugocarvalheiro]

You should do an online course for the enthusiasts. Most of us just build pedals without knowing whats going on in the circuit. We just follow the map. It would be great!!!!

[@hugocarvalheiro]

@Zen Thanks! I have the Craig Anderton one wich I love but is more like a manual for building specific pedals. I'm going to look for Brians books now :) Thanks

[@felinekaiju4517]

Man I love these. Wish I'd seen these here in Aus during lockdown. I'll be buying your book soon, can't wait!

[@_RLP]

Personally, I dig all of your content. One of my favorite channels for sure. Cheers

[@johnnymoondog5818]

It’s great to have a few clips like this one!

[@OnTrackRails]

+1 love this kind of video. Thanks for continuing to provide great tools for the DIY people!

[@kirabarsmith9353]

Great video, would love to see more, and with all types of effects.

[@serenemachine9110]

I would LOVE to see more videos like this!

[@patrickbutcherine142]

I'd like some p2p tag turret component layout videos with transistors and maybe even ICs done on vero/strip daughter boards so we can learn how to connect off turret strip buffers or drop in power supply daughter boards or something like that. Is there any way we can get a How To Build In Old Skool FX Styles, episode... hour long and get extra nerdy. Not enough super nerdy videos out there! We need a weekly SUPER GEEK hour. thank you so much for all you do Brian. We all greatly appreciate you so much. Be safe man✌🤟🤘🤘🤘

[@bluzzjazz]

I have one of the "gooped" Zendrives, so can't tell what's in that thing, but I really like it!

[@bluzzjazz]

I have a gooped Zendrive. It provides a nice lush base tone without too much tone altering. I really like it in conjunction with my Ego

[@Damblan]

yes please more of this type of video , I see a turbo distortion sitting on your vox would love to see a video on that one there are a million ds1 and tube screamer mods out there but keep it interesting with some of the not so common pedals

[@markrash6763]

I’ve been building diy pedals for a few years, and really enjoy your videos! It’s like buying a new car. The same type car is everywhere all of a sudden...I think a question or scenario about a guitar pedal, and bam! You have a video up explaining it! Then this morning I sat down and you came on in the same pajamas as I was wearing...I said it’s a sign! I’m gonna build pedals and be like Brian Wampler! LOL 😂 I know, I don’t have a shot...but I’m gonna try it anyway....(if the klon clone is successful;)

[@bobsteingraber]

Very cool, Brian! I'd love to see more videos, like this.

[@dominusegomet4462]

Love this content. For the limited amount of quality content about guitar pedal circuit analysis and diy guitar/audio gear, your content is the most enjoyable and easiest to digest. Hope to see more like this in the near future. Thanks

[@jonathandranoff1721]

Love this, man. Please do more of these for those of us who don't have audio electronics backgrounds but still want to geek out about their pedals.

[@mattgilbert7347]

I'm a total newbie but would love to see more.

[@flaconsius]

This kind of "how it works" Videos is great! Thanks for making it.

[@DougMen1]

I love this stuff Brian. Between your more technical tutorials, and Josh's broader, less technical history of pedal types, and different pedal companies, I'm constantly entertained. And, I always learn a lot too.

[@josephkatusich2551]

Sir, I have owned a couple Zendrive’s and own some great gear and your version SMOKES any Zendrive that I have heard. Nice job ! Great playing ! Yes, more!

[@Kozzy_music]

Yes please Brian more of this! Maybe let us all DIY our own drive together, i have a breadboard here, and if i know what components to get and how/where/why to place them, we can all make our own drives!

[@elraim73]

Hi Brian, This is exactly the type of video I asked you to do. I love it! Thanks

[@eddiepierce7028]

Please do more videos like this. I’m trying to play around with tone and want to try my own diy pedals. Thanks!

[@michaelcottle6270]

Yep, this is exactly the sort of article I subscribed for. I'll savour this slowly on my laptop this evening. Thanks, and stay safe.

[@villes8619]

Great video, Thanks! Would have been nice to hear how different opamps sound in that circuit. Perhaps that could be the next video.

[@merbertancriwalli8622]

I came here because of the comment on That Pedal Show VCQ - loving the That Pedal Show t-shirt. They said thanks on their feed...

[@wampler_pedals]

Can you post a link to the video you are referring to?

[@PauloMaglio]

Awesome video! Definitely woke my curiosity on building my own personalized effect. Thanks

[@meesterdinglefritz2064]

The video I’ve been waiting for!! Very cool, thank you kind sir!

[@johnwatson6686]

This is great. I'm just getting into this world, and this is basically exactly where I'm at. If you change X, then you get effect Y. Perfect.

[@jeffjenness7651]

I vote "More Circuit DIY analysis". This was very nice to hear the changes as you swapped out components. Very informative. Now something that came to mind was your last comment on the exiting resistor. Can you talk about the standards in signals and what you have to manage coming into the circuit and going out of the circuit? What are the expectations? I figure this is something that needs to be planned and understood to get the entire chain of effects to work properly. Again, thanks for the video!

[@OutstandingBill1]

More please Brian - this is gold for me :)

[@DalelCampbell]

This is awesome! Please do more of them!

[@shawnbarron7900]

More of this kind of stuff please!

[@mikebills9414]

Thanks for this video! I dabble in diy pedal building, and I learn tons from these videos. Please keep them coming.

[@jjerg]

I LOVE this kind of thing. I've been acquiring clones of expensive pedals & changing op amps, caps & resistors. Some have been cool, some not so cool, some produced cool pyrotechnics. 🤘🏼

[@bass3003]

Awesome video. I watched it three times. The questions that came to mind are: How do capacitors filter highs? (I thought they just filtered lows) What is the difference in using capacitors in series vs to ground? Most pots are resistors. Is there an application for variable capacitors in pedal circuits? I'm better with these components in power circuits vs tone circuits. I guess I need to keep reading and watching. Preferred circuit for next time? Reverb!

[@niektenbrinke5733]

You almost answered your own question haha; a capacitor in series filters low, a capacitor to ground filters highs. However, it's the other way around when placed in an opamp feedback loop :)

[@niektenbrinke5733]

I guess pots are much cheaper and precise than varicaps

[@51bobtube]

Wish I would have seen this 20 years ago! Would have saved me a lot of time!

[@yach1d]

Loved it and I'm definitely looking forward to watching more content like this. I wish to see also what's your personal opinion on what's worth changing on a given circuit or not, like if you were to change something on a circuit what would be your first, second and third primary places to look at and why. This type of content is being a grate complement to your "how to modify your 'bd2/ds1' pedal" book. Keep it up.

[@electromatic2014]

Amazing! I would love seeing some distortions too!

[@herroglop7411]

Great video Brian! Keep them coming. May be someday something will click in my head and I will be able to understand the electronics of pedals and amps......Thanks

[@joerivde]

Yes, would love more stuff like this! Great video

[@benmorris118]

Such a helpful video. I'm trying to learn how to put pedals together atm and this is a great vid for my needs

[@Paul_Lenard_Ewing]

I love these shows and I have reviewed over 1000 pedals and have taught myself a lot. BUT these shows really make sense of why the cuckoo clock ticks! A big time thanx!!!!

[@r2d2graphics]

MORE OF THIS STUFF BRIAN PLEASE.

[@ElectrikDave]

Yesss. This is the content I have been seeking. Thank you for this video. 🙏

[@danielsperry8114]

Now this is fun stuff Brian ! Oh the Zendrive is my next pedal pedal purchase .... I do love my dual fusion pedal ...

[@wreckoningday]

I love this video and want to see more of this type of video. Thank you for this video

[@orryfishburne5326]

Brian I definitely want to see more of this type of content. I’m not a circuit builder or tinkerer but learning how my pedals work is very interesting and fun to watch. Thanks for doing what u do

[@valuedhumanoid6574]

The first pedal mod I ever attempted was just adding an LED to my wah pedal so I know when it's actually on/off. That gave me a little confidence and I did the Keeley mod to my Boss MT-2 Metal Zone. That turned a punch line of a joke into a decent sounding overdrive pedal. But I do love these style teaching videos, you are a natural at it. Please expand the series to include amps as well as guitar circuit mods. I know the "orange drop" capacitor change will really make a huge difference in the tone circuit. I don't know why, but maybe that would be a good place to start.

[@taylorthediscordian]

Would love to see more of these!

[@Terry_Dale]

LOVE this, would really like to see more dissections of other circuits and how the different components work together to create the final sound.

[@Stu66orn]

Yes! Can we explore Nobels ODR-1 circuit how it's different from Tubescreamer. What mods could be done to it. Or fuzz circuits why some use NOS transistors what difference do they make. How could be fuzz be properly made with modern available parts

[@rowlandstraylight]

This is really helpful. I have a mech eng and comp-sci background and running spice sims of pedal or part of one, or poking around with an oscilloscope, function generator or even a VNA will tell me loads when I start messing with pedal, but actually getting desing building blocks and an idea of what they do and why on a useful level without being immediately bombarded with a load of maths that whilst ultimately helpful in an electronics oriented degree is more work than I want to put in to modding a fuzz or distortion. Mostly I'm a pickup builder and my analysis is fairly simple.

[@kenwinston2245]

I like, thanks. Fun to see how the magic works. I do get notified