Recent content by John Burgess

Dave Jones of the EEVBlog did a video trying out DeepPCB and was likewise totally unimpressed. I don't think any of the "AI" or even professional autorouters can match the logical flow of a person - yet. They don't split the design into tight functional blocks, or have an understanding of which...

My main unit is a Hakko FX-951 which uses T12 tips, which have the integrated heater and thermocouple. They might be a bit on the pricey side for the occasional soldering though. OTOH I wouldn't have any problems recommending the cheaper FX888 either even with the older tips. The interface sucks...

The tip type is more generally important than the power. 40W will do the job with a well designed and well regulated tip that can actually use the power. Older style regulated soldering tips use a separate heater element, tip and thermocouple. Due to the thermal lag in the control loop, the...

Can Live handle multi-channel MIDI messages on a track these days? I used to use Live 8, but that was a huge roadblock for using VSTs like Reaktor, Kontakt etc.

Chord symbols are more often the way they are through convention rather than logic. If a symbol causes an argument, I'd say that's already a flaw in communicating what the chord is trying to convey. In this case, C7+ isn't too confusing. Without specifying a scale degree, "+" augments the 5th...

I played on an multi-scale Ibanez BTB 6 string and was quite impressed with the low B, it had great clarity and response. I had no problem adapting to the multi-scale frets, my main bass is a 35 inch fretless anyways so having any frets is easy. If I was going for the fretted sound again as my...

Here's a perfect example. The equations for adding both series and parallel resistances* can easily derived utilising ohm's law, KVL and KCL and simple algebra. *I say resistance and not impedance here because you can't add impedances in the same way without going into phasors and the complex...

For ohms law to make sense, you actually require at least 2 more electronic fundamentals. These are Kirchoff's Voltage law and Current law. I suppose you can argue you need underlying mathematical axioms too, but unlike those, I've never seen KVL and KCL taught in school. I get that it might be...

Of all the times I used connectors on electronics or even car wiring, thinking that it would be more convenient the next time I removed them, I never removed them more than once and always ended going back to solder them. Far more compact and electrically reliable. I generally don't like to use...

I spend all day up in thumb position, lol. Have to remind myself that I play a bass sometimes. The transition point to thumb position can be as low as 8th or 9th position for me.

Fan quality is not a constant. Some have cheap bearings that will result in more noise than other models. There may also be cost cutting in mounting ie they're rigidly mounted to solid surfaces which transmit the vibrations. You could try a quality brand name fan and make sure it's on rubber...

A battery is a very quiet fully floating voltage source. It solves more problems than it causes. You would have to be careful how a particular DC power supply is referenced to your signal earth. Coupled with the fact that you will likely be using a switchmode supply, noise will probably be an...

I used to have a Biesele pickup. I did like the tone, but it was hard to see the point of it in the end. By that I mean it considerably altered the acoustic tone of the bass, as you are attaching a heavy weight to the end of the fingerboard. It sapped a lot of resonance and almost made the bass...

As per the thread title. Any suggestions for online stores? Looking for a wide selection as I need to piece together 6 string sets with a high C as thin as 0.028. Piecing together a custom Elixir set has been quite pricey. Keep in mind, in Australia we recently had changes to the tax law so...

Basically when one came up for sale at the right time when I was in the right frame of mind. In my case it's a 6 string fretless, with a string spacing of around 16mm. Workmanship was beautiful and has some nice sounding Lane Poor pickups. I wasn't specifically looking for a one-off custom...