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: modyourownpedal.com/blogs/news/if-youre-interested-in-the-nerdy-circuit-details-on-pedals
New "How to modify the Boss DS-1" ebook on Kindle:
www.amazon.com/dp/B0872JN3GF
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

[@nilsmclellan868]

I know I’m two years late and we aren’t in the pandemic anymore, but yes this is exactly the sort of content I like. I love the comparison between capacitors etc. I’d watch this all day long.

[@adriatic.vineyards]

I miss quarantine 😢

[@Jay-cp9kd]

@@adriatic.vineyards​​⁠really?? No way!! ha… Now, I’ll admit that the free time/ “adult snow day” vibe was definitely cute for about two weeks. However, I personally get a sour taste in my mouth when I see these lockdown videos, andI remember how violated I felt from the obvious government overreach

[@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

[@homeboyjon4885]

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

[@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

[@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

[@ralph_clay]

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

[@drayve8590]

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

[@christopherdaniel8230]

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

[@parasolaudio4621]

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

[@JudgeFredd]

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

[@yowild9629]

more of this please! Love this content.

[@diatonicdude5290]

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

[@jasonmartin9966]

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

[@NathanielAbernathy]

These are the best. Helps to really understand how the parts interact with the signal. Thanks

[@GREENMTGENE]

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

[@TheFrozenDesert]

This was great Brian. The concepts are applicable to more than just pedals. Thank you for taking the time to do this.

[@alejandroluengopato9957]

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

[@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!

[@enriquedelima396]

love this concept, im thinking of getting into pedal circuitry myself and you've been a great help. Thank you Brian!!

[@picksalot1]

I love this kind of video. You really have great insight on how pedals work, and what all the different components actually do. You got some great tones out of your breadboard circuit. Thanks

[@chipsterb4946]

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

[@maxostrowski5269]

Love this. I’m getting into this stuff myself. It’s so intriguing to see what happens internally. I hope to see more of this in the future!

[@workingdb]

Awesome, love to hear an in-depth analysis from a pro. I was just messing with this very circuit to make it better for bass, thanks!

[@CharlesWillisBonsai]

Brian, thanks so much for making these kinds of videos. As somebody getting into DIY pedal building they're really helpful for learning how these circuits work.

[@TyRobertsmedia]

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

[@larryivymusic]

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

[@serenemachine9110]

I would LOVE to see more videos like this!

[@bobbarcus8310]

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

[@KimonFrousios]

Good stuff! I love that you are doing this type of vids, jump-starting new DIYers. It's extremely satisfying to breathe new life into not-quite-satisfying pedals bought as a novice player back when. I just finished my 5th one of those today.

[@bobsteingraber]

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

[@donhearl]

Absolutely, I love this kind of thing. Thanks again for providing your knowledge and time to us!

[@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

[@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.

[@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

[@mikebills9414]

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

[@patsquanch]

As someone trying to learn more about pedals and start building my own this is exactly what I've been looking for. Love the channel Brian, thank you!!!

[@zomat7955]

I've never modded a single one of my pedals, but this kind of content is still just so interesting to me. Love the info, the presentation, the general feeling of "yeah, I should do more of that myself" that I'm coming away with. Good stuff.

[@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

[@bobconklin9250]

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

[@1upfx281]

Loved this episode Brian and would really enjoy seeing more along this line, especially when it comes to fuzz. Thank you for the awesome content!

[@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

[@midwestrepairdesk]

Loved it! PLEASE MAKE MORE VIDEOS LIKE THIS!! I’d love your channel to go more in depth into pedal building.

[@nicolasbeine913]

Thanks Brian. Love those circuit breakdown videos you put up. Learned so much from them! I actually breadboarded your "basic overdrive" circuit. Sounds amazing yet being so simple! Still mounted on my breadboard and using it regularly.

[@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.

[@lexinwonderland5741]

please please make more of this content!! you are fantastic at explaining!

[@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.

[@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.

[@elraim73]

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

[@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.

[@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.

[@tremelo68]

This is a very great resource for understanding pedal circuits! Please do more. BTW, Love that guitar color/pickguard combo!

[@ianglencross]

Thanks so much. I have been playing with this sort of thing myself while in lockdown. But getting it from you is just great. Bring on some more different circuits. Especially modulation.

[@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 :)

[@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.

[@tullnfloyd]

Yeah Brain, more of this please!! Great to see you are doing well... Stay safe!

[@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.

[@hoytdotblohm]

I love this sort of thing, so much, I am just starting to design some pedals and this video along with the one you did on opamps is what I’m here for. Thank you for your content.

[@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.

[@onlineguitaracademy5667]

Fantastic video. Thanks for doing these Brian!

[@taylorthediscordian]

Would love to see more of these!

[@joerivde]

Yes, would love more stuff like this! Great video

[@DoDoxTM98]

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

[@brandonvaughan4236]

This video ruled! Thanks for this and I'd love to see more.

[@DalelCampbell]

This is awesome! Please do more of them!

[@flaconsius]

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

[@gonzoduke6805]

Thanks for this Brian. I found this a few months after you posted it. Videos like these are very helpful. I’ve recently bought a couple of pedal kits and some breadboards and components. I’ve challenged myself to first breadboard the circuits and get them working before I just solder-by-numbers onto the PCBs so that I can learn what is really going on. I plan to change components in and out from the stock circuit while it’s still on the breadboard to learn more about what each component does. This video was exactly what I’ve been looking for. Been a subscriber to your channel for a while now. I love all your videos. Please, please, please post more videos like these for those of us trying to learn this craft ourselves. Thanks very much. Peace and Rock and Roll!

[@johnnymoondog5818]

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

[@kgriff1205]

Great show as always, Brian, personally, I love the "nerdy" type guitar, amp and effect videos, and I would definitely like more of them! You opened my eyes to several things I thought that weren't true at all! Thanks again, have a great week!

[@olnberg]

Really grateful for you taking the time to do this. I need to get a breadboard!

[@WrathPassion]

More of this please, it was very interesting!

[@meesterdinglefritz2064]

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

[@awwwyeaboyeeee]

I have been craving this kind of video for a long time. Thank you, Brian!

[@alexsilberman7907]

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

[@glennlilley8608]

I for one would love to see more like this! especially regarding effects other than distortion/overdrive, delay, reverb, chorus etc. I just like knowing how things do what they do

[@scottblair633]

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

[@eddiepierce7028]

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

[@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!

[@PauloMaglio]

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

[@vickykillz9769]

Hey Brian, quarantine has awoken my inner DIY electrician, and this kinda content is super helpful! I'm definitely looking forward to more!

[@thramkammarat]

This was amazing. Please do much more of this!

[@jalmonsalmon]

Thank you Brian for all you do! Glad you send me some emails of what is up and I really enjoy these kind of videos! Great playing and I just love the Zen Drive! made my own version crammed inside a 1590bb next to a Timmy circuit. They work well together in fact lol

[@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!

[@wreckoningday]

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

[@phildawson3441]

Very helpful video! Would love to see more like it, thanks for all the great info :)

[@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.

[@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.

[@daxliniere]

Absolutely love this content! Hope we get some more of this! Thank you!!

[@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.

[@shawnbarron7900]

More of this kind of stuff please!

[@davidbaines7330]

Love this stuff. Please keep it coming. I appreciate all your content!

[@neilmcnaughton9289]

Love it Brian. Thanks for the content as always. I have been really liking the last few circuit based videos. It properly brings the concepts to life and is inspiring me to dig out my old electronics gear and have a go. 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!!

[@WolfGuitarsandGear]

Yes. Definitely do more of these. I love the nerdy info.

[@CapoOfficial]

Yes yes yes yes yes. This is what I have been waiting for! Please do more!

[@JoshuaBeekOfficial]

Keel 'em coming Brian! Love this content and I'm looking forward for more :)

[@rayprevailer8454]

I’m a learning bread board DYI guy. Love this kind of video. Thanks Brian.

[@meonchris]

That was great, really helpful and interesting. Thanks Brian.

[@tukoramirez8478]

Wow, awesome backgorund gear collection!! and of course keep up with this content!!