Tell Me About Buffers

BuddytheReow

BuddytheReow

Breadboard Baker
Would like to know the purpose of a buffer within an effect itself. I know that if your cable is too long or if you have too many pedals (wait, what?) it will kill the high end and a buffer would fix that. I am referring to specifically a buffer right before an effect. For example I recently built a heavy distortion pedal (Krank SK - Krankenstein - link below) and it squealed like crazy. In the comments it was suggested to build a buffer right before it (Klon Buffer) and would clear it right up and, lo and behold, it did! How/why does a buffer fix this problem? I know its a bit more technical in nature, but if anyone can chime in that would be great. Thanks

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Krank SK - Krankenstein Amp Emulator

A J-FET / MOSFET amp emulator of Krank Krankenstein. Very interesing transistor setup with MOSFET and silicon diodes in some of the gain st...
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The way I understand it, the buffer stage restores unity gain from previous stages.

(sorry, that wasn't too technical)...hang on someone will be with you shortly)
 
Buffers have a high input impedance and low output impedance. They don't change the amplitude of a signal on their own. Think about them like punctuation in a circuit:

My hobbies include playing guitar, cooking dogs, and hating the band Rush.
or
My hobbies include playing guitar, cooking, dogs and hating the band Rush.

Let's eat grandma.
or
Let's eat, grandma.

It's about how what comes before and after the buffer interact with each other.
 
Buffers do not amplify the signal voltage, but they do amplify the signal current. They come in handy when you need to drive a long cable. I see lots of pedal circuits with buffers that would work the same without them. Often the buffers are leftovers from the original design that had FET switching, like so many of the Boss & Ibanez pedals.
 
So buffers bump up the current to allow the circuit to work as intended? Why does squealing happen without them in certain circuits? Current is too low? Can't you tell I'm trying to learn?:p
 
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BuddytheReow said:
So buffers bump up the current to allow the circuit to work as intended? Why does squealing happen without them in certain circuits? Current is too low? Can't you tell I'm trying to learn?:p
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If a buffer cures squealing then it is most likely covering up a problem with the design or build.
 
In voice dubbing, puntuation is used to mark out pauses in the script.
A full stop is a full beat, a comma is like half a beat. Elipses is like a fermata:

"All this. talk, about squealing, reminds me of Deliverance, scenes, in the woods..."
 
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