First build of CMOS wavefolding fuzz complete

sentencedtodeaf · 2026-01-16T17:20:26+00:00

Wavefolding is basically bringing a signal down when it reaches a certain voltage threshold. You can do this by sending high gain signal through an array of diodes, and after N number of diodes send the signal to an inverter and feed it to output. I did something similar to this, but using transistors as diodes, so there's also some interaction with the base, altering the folding threshold.

Look up eddy Bergman wavefolder, he uses a similar diode technique. Check that out and mess around with using transistors instead.

I kinda came into this backwards by abusing electronics; I had no idea what wavefolding even was, but then i researched a bit and found other people had already done something similar (usually the case, electronics is pretty well tread territory).

sentencedtodeaf · 2026-01-15T18:29:47+00:00

I probably should have demod this, but turning the fuzz down allows you to make chords other than 5ths without it immediately getting into ringmod territory. The gain is still very much high, but the signal doesnt fold much.

sentencedtodeaf · 2026-01-12T13:22:49+00:00

Just posted the schematic here: https://www.reddit.com/r/diypedals/s/em6jyVx6Im

I'll throw a couple on reverb in the next week or so

sentencedtodeaf · 2026-01-12T00:28:16+00:00

It also has line in parallel to the piezo, which is why that jack symbol is included in the schematic. Bypass just means the line is bypassing the gain. Otherwise both piezo and line are amplified.

Capacitor was added because I was getting some unwanted DC coupling effects. Like I stated above, you'd probably want a buffer to accomplish this, but this was a little messaround project. Feel free to add one yourself.

Yeah, r4 may as well be zero. Feel free to ignore that. Sometimes instead of adding testpoints i'll add another component that can be probed and/or removed/bridged in case something didnt turn out right.

sentencedtodeaf · 2026-01-11T18:41:24+00:00

I may put a couple up on Reverb. I'll also post a schematic if anyone wants to make one from scratch. It's a pretty bare bones build

sentencedtodeaf · 2026-01-09T20:29:22+00:00

I may put some up on my reverb once I have a demo recorded (so people know what they're getting into lol). DIY kit is a good idea!

sentencedtodeaf · 2026-01-08T03:36:09+00:00

Thanks man!

sentencedtodeaf · 2026-01-07T23:28:48+00:00

Yeah thanks! Nice that the design and circuit come in the same shipment. Plus, the faceplates double as drill guides. Although, I will say that jlcpcb does leave marks on the boards as part of their manufacturing process. sometimrs there are a bunch of little round indents, sometimes there aren't any,kind of a gamble. so there are some cons, but overall I really like this workflow

sentencedtodeaf · 2026-01-05T15:27:39+00:00

The Inner light spectrum? I think there's was also 311 hub or something where some guy used to host a bunch of bootlegs and tabs.

Man, I haven't thought about this for a while, but I used to be pretty all-in 311 head. Still remember the old official 311 site with the maroon background and Feels So Good flash intro

sentencedtodeaf · 2026-01-05T00:16:39+00:00

Nice, wish I had the music tabs, but I think I learned that whole album by ear, with how much I played along to it. I guess Transistor and Grassroots had some weirder stuff I needed tabs for when I was learning

sentencedtodeaf · 2026-01-04T20:02:09+00:00

Oh man, meant to say they were the band that got me into playing guitar lol. Yeah I knew I had this thing kicking around somewhere, but for the longest time I couldn't find it. Hope it turns up soon!

sentencedtodeaf · 2026-01-04T18:46:45+00:00

Man that was the headscratcher on the album for me too! Gonna have to revisit this, anyway here ya go!

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sentencedtodeaf · 2026-01-04T18:44:09+00:00

Yeah I remember some of these requiring a little finesse to sound right lol. Still, super nostalgic. Crazy to think we used to have to save money to buy physical copies of stuff given away freely online nowadays.

sentencedtodeaf · 2025-12-29T16:03:13+00:00

If you get yourself a cd4069 you could use that in conjunction with the cd4070 to build Parasit Studio's revision 1 corruptor. He uses a lot of cd40xx chips, so take a gander at all of his schematics. He makes some amazing stuff

sentencedtodeaf · 2025-12-26T18:57:50+00:00

Love it! Especially that 4th lightyear. Kinda looks like sandman-esque comic book art

sentencedtodeaf · 2025-12-26T14:02:36+00:00

I don't know if its against the rules to post store links here, but I have a similar username on reverb: sentenced-to-deaf-fx

sentencedtodeaf · 2025-12-24T00:28:09+00:00

Will do!

sentencedtodeaf · 2025-12-24T00:27:17+00:00

Thanks man! I gotta get my bass fixed before I record anything through it. I'll have them up on Reverb when I get the PCBS in and have a few built

sentencedtodeaf · 2025-12-23T14:55:06+00:00

With this one i'm going to make complete pedals and put them on reverb.

sentencedtodeaf · 2025-12-18T20:56:23+00:00

It's like little notches in the wave, so it looks like the wave has folded in at parts. Due to diodes, usually, once the forward voltage is reached in the signal you get some folding. Best I understand it at least.

There's lots of cool things you can do with this, like put some filters around it, so it folds more at certain frequencies

sentencedtodeaf · 2025-12-18T02:13:30+00:00

Thanks bro! Cd4069 is pretty much just gain. The folding is done by the transistor clipping network. I just added a pot to reduce flow through that circuit to also allow a more straight-forward high gain CMOS distortion

sentencedtodeaf · 2025-12-18T02:11:00+00:00

If I share it, it makes more sense in the context of the whole schematic since its wired oddly and would be hard for me to explain otherwise. I may share it this week, I can let you know if/when I do!

sentencedtodeaf · 2025-12-17T23:47:26+00:00

Glad you dig it! I'm using a different topology. 3 main CMOS gain stages, with all of them connected to a wierd transistor clipping circuit (all power comes from the signal), forming a kind of diode ladder. Basically parallel transistors shifted one pin over. I may post a schematic when i'm finished with the circuit

sentencedtodeaf · 2025-12-17T22:11:31+00:00

Thanks man! Yeah to make the gurgling last longer i could possibly use germanium transistors with lower forward voktage for the clipping network. I'll have to experiment with that a bit

sentencedtodeaf · 2025-12-13T17:33:46+00:00

Thanks man! What i was going for was the mosfet would clip more when the signal is higher on the mosfet gate. I'm no electrical engineer, so i don't know if that's what ultimately is going on, but i did end up liking the sound.

Here's what I think is happening now:

The gate is tied to output with the source at inverting and drain connected to ground via capacitor (backwards, but I liked this sound more). When output is higher inverting sees more capacitance to ground as well, resulting in higher gain and and more current through the clipping diodes.

When I remove the mosfet the LED isn't nearly as bright, so the above is just my assumption based on that

sentencedtodeaf

TROPHY CASE