DREAM MACHINE (2x Moonn DBA)

Fuzzonaut

Fuzzonaut

Well-known member
I had these 2 DBA boards from Moonn for a while now and finally tackled my (rather silly) idea to put them into one box, with an order switch.

It's a reverb and a delay, supposed to recreate the Echo DREAM 2 and the Reverberation MACHINE --> DREAM MACHINE.

I've built this DBA/Moonn reverb before and don't get why some people don't like it. Tone switch on dark is great on bass, mix knob works fine and with the added Feedback control you can get cool sounds.
Anyway, of the mods Nils offers, I made feedback always on and use the feedback knob to kick it up a notch ... or two.
The "dry kill" is on a momentary footswitch.

On the delay, Echo Dream side, there are also extras offered. I opted for "maximum feedback" on a momentary and left out the "put fuzz on zero by footswitch" option, because, come on, "fuzz on zero"? That thought does simply not make any sense (to me).

I got reminded why there are normally open and normally closed momentary footswitches the hard way and had to replace one of them. I also somehow managed to f*ck up the order switching and had to redo that bit too. But now it does what it's supposed to and I really dig it. The delay has some great, spaced out, warbly, pitch shifting sounds ... and more.

Together it's a shoegazers dream (machine). Or nightmare?

DMa.jpeg
DMa-g.jpeg
 
Nice! Looks great. I haven't populated my Echo Dream board, but the Reverberation machine left me a bit cold with how muddy and noisy it can be, but maybe I'll explore it a little more before tossing it in the pile of un-boxed circuits

My goal with buying them was to do a combo build like this, so this is inspiring
 
Very cool combo build!

I asked about why the reverb circuit is considered “bad” in my build report, and this is the answer I got. Which now makes more sense since I understand more. The concept could be executed better:

J

Post in thread 'Moonn Space Is Fun - Deluxe Edition'

If you look at the schematic, the fuzz control is merely a gain control for the last op amp stage before the output. It relies merely on clipping that op amp which means it'll boost the volume like crazy before going into an ugly distortion.
Also the dry path for some reason is crazy dark sounding.
  • Like
 
p_wats said:
Nice! Looks great. I haven't populated my Echo Dream board, but the Reverberation machine left me a bit cold with how muddy and noisy it can be, but maybe I'll explore it a little more before tossing it in the pile of un-boxed circuits

My goal with buying them was to do a combo build like this, so this is inspiring
Click to expand...

jcpst said:
Very cool combo build!

I asked about why the reverb circuit is considered “bad” in my build report, and this is the answer I got. Which now makes more sense since I understand more. The concept could be executed better:

J

Post in thread 'Moonn Space Is Fun - Deluxe Edition'

If you look at the schematic, the fuzz control is merely a gain control for the last op amp stage before the output. It relies merely on clipping that op amp which means it'll boost the volume like crazy before going into an ugly distortion.
Also the dry path for some reason is crazy dark sounding.
  • Like
Click to expand...

Thanks and sure, the reverb is somehow primitive so to speak, but I'm a caveman and to me, it sounds like home.
I've been using the other one I've built with my Taishōgoto as an always on tone enhancer.
 
Fuzzonaut said:
Thanks and sure, the reverb is somehow primitive so to speak, but I'm a caveman and to me, it sounds like home.
I've been using the other one I've built with my Taishōgoto as an always on tone enhancer.
Click to expand...
Totally fair! There are times when I get it into a sweet spot and love what it does, but Belton Bricks are too expensive to get up here, so I'm precious about what gets to use one. Ha
 
Indeed, a Very inspiring build!

I have both PCBs and would be using it with bass; refreshing to see the Reverb side being commended after reading so many reviews slagging it.

Funny how I've thought of several other circuits to make delay/reverb combos, but never thought to put this pair "twogether".

I might monkey with an AMZ Warp control that introduces some clipping diodes into the reverb...?


My guitarist friend HATES spring reverb, so by default is pretty much against most any Belton-Brick type 'verb.
I think it's because springers are so often OTT-abused, especially in modern surf music (which I love).
He likes other verb such as plate or fancy-schmancy algorithm-based stuff. 🤷‍♂️
 
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