| Title: | * * Computer Music, MIDI, and Related Topics * * | 
| Notice: | Conference has been write-locked. Use new version. | 
| Moderator: | DYPSS1::SCHAFER | 
| Created: | Thu Feb 20 1986 | 
| Last Modified: | Mon Aug 29 1994 | 
| Last Successful Update: | Fri Jun 06 1997 | 
| Number of topics: | 2852 | 
| Total number of notes: | 33157 | 
Ok guyz, its technical time.  I would like to build a mono noise gate from
scratch, and would like some input on my current design attempt. (havn't
tried implementing it yet.)  I'm sorry to say that the design I have in
mind utilizes a relay (a relic, you say?), so if anyone wants to come up
with a transistor-going-from-the-active-region-to-the-cutoff-region type
of concoction, I'd certainly be willing to hear it.  The design I currently
have in mind looks like this:
                    
                    
                            RELAY |
                                  V 
                                 ,'   
       INPUT ->-----+----------o'  o----------> OUTPUT
       SIGNAL       |            |              SIGNAL
                    |            |
                    |            ^
                    |            |
                    |       +----------+
                    |       |          |
                    |       | THRESHOLD|
                    +------>| DETECTOR |
                            | CIRCUIT  |            
                            |          |
                            +----------+
The threshold detector circuit monitors the input signal level, tripping
the relay when the input signal exceeds a presetable level.
I already have a threshold detector circuit.  It was made back in my Ham
Radio days, when I needed a circuit that would toggle my tranciever over
into transmit mode when I talked into a mic (VOX circuit).  Any comments
regarding noise immunity through the relay, or anything else for that matter?
Oh yea, I should probably ground the output signal when the relay is open.
Todd.
| T.R | Title | User | Personal Name | Date | Lines | 
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 389.2 | BARNUM::RHODES | Fri Jun 13 1986 09:08 | 8 | ||
|     Sounds like the operational transconductance amp is the magic device.
    I will look into this.  What is the cutoff freq/rolloff of the LP
    filter?  It seems that if the cutoff freq is too low and the filter
    exhibits sharp rolloff, high frequency signals will not trigger
    it properly.
    
    Todd.
    
 | |||||
| 389.3 | Delay | DSSDEV::SAUTER | John Sauter | Fri Jun 13 1986 09:21 | 4 | 
|     If you insist on using a relay, consider putting a few milliseconds
    in the audio path in front of it.  That will give the threshold
    detector time to switch the relay before the relavent sound arrives.
        John Sauter
 | |||||
| 389.4 | EVER11::WAKE | Fri Jun 13 1986 09:58 | 5 | ||
| 
    You might want to look at the one in Craig Anderton's
    "Home Recording for Musicians".  I think he used an
    optoisolator instead of a relay along with a 555 timer/741
    opamp combination for the detection part of the circuit.
 | |||||
| 389.5 | It's a CLM6000 opto-isolator | MAX::MCPHERSON | It's my life and it's my wife. | Fri Jun 13 1986 11:25 | 10 | 
|     Re -.1
    
    Yep.  Anderton's kits are pretty neat.  I've got his Electronic
    Projects for Musicians and it's a really good book for "low-budget
    gizmo manufacturing at home."
    
    i highly recommend it.
    
    /doug
    
 | |||||
| 389.7 | Sure, no problem | KRYPTN::JASNIEWSKI | Fri Jun 13 1986 14:26 | 10 | |
|     
    	You can make it as simple or as complex as you'd like. I have
    a scheme for a rather simple one, based on a CD4016. If you'd like,
    send me mail and I'll try to dig it up for you. there's a book
    "electronic circuits referance manual" that probably has 25 different
    ways to do this, if a library is nearby. Its by markus.
    						
    							Joe Jas
    
    
 | |||||
| 389.8 | In case you were wondering... | BARNUM::RHODES | Thu Jul 17 1986 17:00 | 15 | |
|     Thanks for all the responses.  I looked for but couldn't find my
    'VOX' circuit so I guess I'm back to square one.  
         
    I haven't had much time lately as I have been busily renovating 
    parts of my house and thus using the music room for storage, ironing, 
    and various other non-midi things  [where the heck are my priorities?  
    I should be using the living room for storage and ironing dammit!]
    I have also been spending some tidbits of time on the FM program,
    discussed elsewhere.
    
    Soooooo, the noisegate is officially on the back burner for an
    undeterminable amount of time.
    
    Todd.
    
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