Who has built the Heliotrope?

[Geiri]

Alright, so I was going to build two Catalinbread Heliotropes, assuming it would be a piece of cake.

I've spent hours and hours trying to get one working. I'm using all the exact values to the layout. I've checked every single component placement a few times and they're spot on. All the wiring is as it should be. There are no solder bridges. I've tried two circuits and both sound identical.

The volume and gain work as supposed but the actual bit crushing effect doesn't. I can hear a low-volume oscillation that changes when I turn the knobs and the switch alters the pitch too. The resolution knob alters the pitch but the sample rate either lets it through or cuts off the oscillation.

I'm realising as I'm typing this that the sample pot might be broken. I will have to try that.

Other than that, has anyone built it? I know Rudeez has and it worked perfectly fine right away for him.

[cylens]

Hey,

I have not built it, but there's another verified layout at sabrotone.com

http://www.sabrotone.com/?attachment_id=123

might help to spot differences or to try something else :)

good luck and please keep us updated!

[Vince]

Miro built I think but he said it wasn't working the way it should (I think). There is a comment at the bottom of the thread

''the 3K3 resistor from pin 6 of IC2 should be 22K in the original.
It should sound less muddy''

I built it twice and couldn't get a decent sound from it

[peavey_xxl]

I tried it and got the same Oscillation issue.  Did you have an issue with the oscillation bleeding through to the clean signal when the effect is in the off position?

[Vince]

I got the bleed through in bypass too, Peavey xxl.

[Freppo]

I built it (Haralds layout) and I also got the oscillation issue.
Harald suggested shielded cables as short as possible.
But it didn't help... :/

[Rolf Poti]

I think you could "eliminate" the problem by grounding the output (instead of the input as usual). Then you wont hear it unless you turn the pedal on.

I haven't tried it but you could give it a try. I have also build Marks layout and the bitcrushing works : )

[johnk]

I built it and hated it  (even with the correct resistor) so it'll never get boxed. I couldn't find a single usable  sound with it.