aion QUARTZ Manual
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aion QUARTZ Manual

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PROJECT NAME
QUARTZ
BASED ON
Diamond Compressor
EFFECT TYPE
Optical compressor
PROJECT SUMMARY
A vintage-inspired optical compressor with an EQ adapted from hi-fi consoles of the 1970s and 80s.
Actual size is 2.3" x 2.55" (main board) and 1.78" x 0.91" (bypass board).
QUARTZ OPTICAL COMPRESSOR
BUILD DIFFICULTY
Intermediate
DOCUMENT VERSION
1.0.0 (2024-04-19)
1

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Summary of Contents for aion QUARTZ

  • Page 1 DOCUMENT VERSION Optical compressor 1.0.0 (2024-04-19) PROJECT SUMMARY A vintage-inspired optical compressor with an EQ adapted from hi-fi consoles of the 1970s and 80s. Actual size is 2.3” x 2.55” (main board) and 1.78” x 0.91” (bypass board). QUARTZ OPTICAL COMPRESSOR...

  • Page 2: Table Of Contents

    These have been very well received, but are not identical circuits to the original versions. The Quartz is an adaptation of the original Diamond circuits that allows either the standard or bass version to be built. Our version also adds a third position to the frequency selector, which is a feature in the 2023 compact pedals but not the originals.

  • Page 3: Parts List

    Metal film resistor, 1/4W 100k Metal film resistor, 1/4W 150k for bass version. 221k Metal film resistor, 1/4W 470k for bass version. Metal film resistor, 1/4W 221k Metal film resistor, 1/4W Metal film resistor, 1/4W Metal film resistor, 1/4W QUARTZ OPTICAL COMPRESSOR...
  • Page 4 Power supply filter capacitor. 100n MLCC capacitor, X7R Power supply filter capacitor. 100n MLCC capacitor, X7R Power supply filter capacitor. 1N5817 Schottky diode, DO-41 1N914 Fast-switching diode, DO-35 1N914 Fast-switching diode, DO-35 1N914 Fast-switching diode, DO-35 1N914 Fast-switching diode, DO-35 QUARTZ OPTICAL COMPRESSOR...
  • Page 5 Switchcraft 111X or equivalent. 1/4" mono 1/4" phone jack, closed frame Switchcraft 111X or equivalent. 2.1mm DC jack, 2.1mm panel mount Mouser 163-4302-E or equivalent. 3PDT Stomp switch, 3PDT 125B Enclosure, die-cast aluminum Can also use a Hammond 1590N1. QUARTZ OPTICAL COMPRESSOR...

  • Page 6: Build Notes

    Modifying the EQ frequencies The Quartz has a toggle switch to change between three different center frequency pivot points for the EQ. If you use the suggested values, the center position is stock for the guitar version, which is around 890 Hz.
  • Page 7 • C18: omit → 100n • R21: jumper → 47.5k • R22: omit → 100k • R27: 100k → 150k • R28: 221k → 470k • R34: 1k5 → 100R • R35: 3.32k → 6.81k (continued on next page) QUARTZ OPTICAL COMPRESSOR...
  • Page 8 The bass version of the pedal came with an 18V adapter. According to the user manual for the bass version the pedal works best at this voltage, though it will still operate at 9V. The Quartz project supports the same external 18V provided that C26 (the main filter capacitor) is at least 25V.

  • Page 9: Design Notes

    0.001%. This may be noticeable in an expensive hi-fi stereo, but it’s entirely unnecessary for guitar work, since the signal path will almost always have intentional distortion at some point between the guitar and the speakers. Nevertheless, we left these in place for the Quartz project. Tilt EQ resistors The tilt EQ control has two “vestigial”...

  • Page 10: Schematic

    HI CUT FREQUENCY A FREQUENCY B 100pF COMPRESSION 100kB 50kB MPSA18 100R 47k5 47k5 330n 95.3k 100pF 2N5088 22.1k IC2A LM358N 3k32 VACTROL A 2.2uF 2N4401 IC1B OP275 (jumper) OMIT 2N5088 4.7uF 2N4401 2N4401 100k IC2B LM358N QUARTZ OPTICAL COMPRESSOR...

  • Page 11: Drill Template

    ø1/2” VOLUME COMPRESSION x: -0.65, y: +1.71 x: 0.65, y: +1.71 ø9/32” ø9/32” FREQUENCY x: -0.85, y: +0.66 x: 0, y: +0.66 ø1/4” ø9/32” CENTER (0,0) FOOTSWITCH x: -0.775, y: -1.775 x: 0, y: -1.775 ø5/16” ø15/32” QUARTZ OPTICAL COMPRESSOR...

  • Page 12: Enclosure Layout

    ENCLOSURE LAYOUT Enclosure is shown without jacks. See next page for jack layout and wiring. 125B QUARTZ OPTICAL COMPRESSOR...

  • Page 13: Wiring Diagram

    WIRING DIAGRAM LED NC OUT GND +V +V JACK GND JACK LED GND PCB 125B QUARTZ OPTICAL COMPRESSOR...

  • Page 14: Document Revisions

    (In other words: you don’t have to go out of your way to advertise the fact that you use these PCBs, but please don’t go out of your way to hide it. The guitar effects industry needs more transparency, not less!) DOCUMENT REVISIONS 1.0.0 (2024-04-19) Initial release. QUARTZ OPTICAL COMPRESSOR...

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