Hi
Finally got around to doing some circuit bending. I'm hooked. I tried a kids phone, which was going really well. However, each time I put the case back together, something would go wrong - a connection would break and need repairing, pressure from the vase would disable some of the new controls, etc. I guess it takes practice. However, I have some specific questions and would love some advice -
1. My cheapo soldering iron won't heat properly at the tip. I found I had to melt the solder along the shaft., then drip it down to the tip. I assume if I get a decent one, the tip itself will be hot enough? I did buy a battery-powered one too, but got tired of keeping my finger on the button.
2. The biggest challenge was holding the wire onto the contact point, considering both hands were needed for iron + solder. I resorted to using a small piece of tape to hold it in place, with varying degrees of success. Is there a proper technique? My searches haven't revealed much.
3. I tried to put a 1/4" jack plug into one device. I read somewhere that I could simply run it from one of the leads going to the internal speaker, but this didn't seem to work - I just got bit of interference at the output. I was using one of these -
http://info.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=1263&criteria=mono%20socket&doy=5m5And ideas what the issue could have been? Something rather obvious to those with electrical knowledge, I'm sure...
4. I had an idea to build a kind of bending 'control centre' or patchbay. If I had a box with various pots, switches and connections, I guess I could experiment with different instruments and leave trailing wires from each, to be plumbed in as needed. And tips, in terms of connection types, etc? What would go on the end of the leads?
5. One final question. I found some great contact points with the old 'licking the finger and prodding the board' trick. However, the points were so close together, I found it impossible to determine which ones to use. I did try soldering wires to each point, but couldn't recreate the effect. Just bad soldering?
Apologies - I use audio engineering forums all the time and I'm sure this post is the equivalent of 'which interface should I get?' or 'what is compression?'. I'm hoping someone will bear with me...
Thanks
Ben