Tuesday, November 13, 2007 10:02:21 PM (Central Standard Time, UTC-06:00) ( )
I'm done deigning the PCB for the IO-module!
Optimized paths and simplified routes, move components around for
simpler routing, made sure ground fill is covering as much of the
PCB... had to nudge paths a mil here and there.
Design Rule Check and Error Check reports 0 errors, 0 warnings in the PCB design. That's always a nice thing to see 
I just now need to clean up the text and part#s so they don't overlap and are easily readable on the PCB silkscreen.
I designed a logo for FiveFishStudios. My goal is a simple design that
can be etched/milled/CNC'd easily. (looking forward to getting my own
CNC machine to do custom cases in-house)
Here's a photo of the new logo. It's a fish, and a sine wave. And the
fish is made from normal and inverted sine wave... kinda like a
balanced line.. opposite polarity on each line. The fish eyes remind me
of solder pads on PCBs.
BYW, this is just Rev1.00... prototype.
I'm still deciding about that output transformer that can be made switchable in/out by simple switches (instead of jumpers).
That "little" feature will add (2) relays, another switch, and on-board
regulators to bring down the 18Volts supply to 12V (or 5V) to power the
(2) relays... and also increase power draw on the PSU. And I'm thinking
if all that is worth it for something that may or may not get used a
lot in the field by majority of people.
As I said, this is only Rev1.00 PCB... using relays will definitely
shorten the signal path around the PCB... which is always a good thing.
I am concerned about the signal path travelling from the XLR jack to
the IO-module, before reaching the SC-1.
But then again... that same signal just came from 50ft or 100ft of mic
cable from the source, so maybe a few inches of extra travel (via the
IO-module) is not really a big concern.
The schematic for the IO-module is done... I
forgot I had this finished, but haven't tested a few sections of it in
real life... well, tonight I got to test the output trafo with the
SC-1... and tested it also with both the input and output trafo...
MAN!!! IT sounds really great! I dig it.
Anyways, I've finally decided on the input and output trafos.... THIS IO-MODULE WILL BE AWESOME!!!! REALLY!
I've designed this IO-MODULE so it can be used for a future FiveFish
preamp model... i.e. re-use the IO-MODULE with a different main preamp
board... voila... a new preamp model/design. i.e. It will be modular in
approach.
So guys... WATCH OUT FOR A FUTURE PREAMP PRODUCT FROM FIVEFISH!... more
likely will happen after the IO-MODULE gets out the door and is in
production.
Finished. But I don't want to send it out yet
for PCB prototype manufacturing. I want to wait until the output trafo
I ordered gets here so I can test fit it on the PCB printout.
So far, everything looks good. Size is 4.5" x 3.5". All switches and DI
jacks are PCB mounted... both input and output transformers are also
PCB mounted.
I'm using Molex connectors for the Power connection, and for hookups to
the SC-1 board. There is also an extra power connection so you can wire
the SC-1 board to the IO-module instead of running power lines all the
way to the PSU.
So it will be PSU ----> IO-Module -----> SC-1
The two switches are the polarity invert switch, and the mic/instrument select switch.
The 1/4" jack is for guitars/bass, Hi-Z instruments. Yes.. it's a
built-in DI circuit! And not just any DI... the output of the DI
circuit goes to a balanced converter, then to the input transformer...
to give it that additional flavor! I mean, it's an expensive trafo...
why not use it! It's probably overkill. But I think it will sound nice.
I've breadboarded it and I like the sound. Very quiet too.
I added a -20dB PAD... reduce width to 3.00" and extended length.
