Hoffman Amplifiers Tube Amplifier Forum

Amp Stuff => Tube Amp Building - Tweaks - Repairs => Topic started by: paintballnsk on July 07, 2021, 01:28:41 pm

Title: Looking for decent spice program without breaking the bank
Post by: paintballnsk on July 07, 2021, 01:28:41 pm

Hey guys,

I'm shopping for a spice program to help me in my amp design. I've found a couple free ones but they would like limit the number of parts or whatever so it wouldn't get me far.

What options are out there that aren't in the thousands? It needs to have everything you'd expect in a guitar amp, including tube simulations, or the ability to import one.

Thanks!

Title: Re: Looking for decent spice program without breaking the bank
Post by: EL34 on July 07, 2021, 01:42:19 pm

Free amp layouts and schematic designs
https://el34world.com/Forum/index.php?board=26.0

Title: Re: Looking for decent spice program without breaking the bank
Post by: jjasilli on July 07, 2021, 03:08:39 pm

Checkout: LTspice


https://el34world.com/Forum/index.php?topic=25214.msg274528#msg274528


Way too steep a learning curve for me. 

Title: Re: Looking for decent spice program without breaking the bank
Post by: CascoSieg on July 07, 2021, 05:45:27 pm

I use this one, but not for complete circuits (it's tricky to find and import the tube models), mainly just pre-amp and PI sections.
https://www.ti.com/tool/TINA-TI#downloads
Let me know if you end up trying it and I'll dig up the tube model resource I found. There's a significant learning curve with any of the modelers. I suspect.

Title: Re: Looking for decent spice program without breaking the bank
Post by: faraday on July 07, 2021, 06:49:25 pm

LTSpice allows for the importation of component models from 3rd party libraries, if you find the default "inventory" to be deficient.

+1 on the learning curve. Find a Youtuber that you click with.

Title: Re: Looking for decent spice program without breaking the bank
Post by: dwinstonwood on July 07, 2021, 06:49:42 pm

There's also this Richard Kuehnel book for circuit simulation in LTSpice:
https://www.ampbooks.com/mobile/books/simulation/

I bought a copy, but I haven't sat down to do any of the exercises yet. He goes into creating tube models, etc.

Title: Re: Looking for decent spice program without breaking the bank
Post by: PRR on July 07, 2021, 08:47:03 pm

I've been running a student version over a decade. It has said "nya, nya!!" at me about 3 times. You do NOT have to, even want to, sim a WHOLE amp, unless you are on salary. It takes too long to build and run. You *should* be able to figure 90% of the amp to 10% (1 digit) precision with only a pencil. SPICE helps the tricky bits.

LTspice is unarguable today, because so many people use it.
https://www.diyaudio.com/forums/software-tools/260627-installing-using-ltspice-iv-including-ltxvii-beginner-advanced.html

Title: Re: Looking for decent spice program without breaking the bank
Post by: acheld on July 08, 2021, 09:46:20 am

+1 on Kuehnel's book on LT Spice as it applies to guitar amps.

LOL, takes you right back to your college days!  Well written, though LT Spice has quite the learning curve.

Title: Re: Looking for decent spice program without breaking the bank
Post by: T Wilcox on July 08, 2021, 05:10:00 pm

This used to cost $thousands but its free now
http://www.spectrum-soft.com/index.shtm

Title: Re: Looking for decent spice program without breaking the bank
Post by: Rp3703 on July 18, 2021, 06:58:56 pm

I've always used Kicad. Free open source.