PedalKernel Components Reference

This is the complete reference for all component types available in PedalKernel DSL. Use these in your .pedal files to build circuits from real electronic components.

Passives

Component	Syntax	What it does
Resistor	`resistor(4.7k)`	Sets impedance, biasing, gain structure
Capacitor	`cap(220n)`	Frequency-dependent – shapes the EQ curve
Inductor	`inductor(100m)`	Wah-style resonant peaks
Potentiometer	`pot(500k)`	Variable resistance, bound to knobs
Zener diode	`zener(4.7)`	Voltage clamp at a specific breakdown voltage

Diodes and clipping

Component	Syntax	What it does
Diode pair	`diode_pair(silicon\|germanium\|led)`	Symmetric clipping – the core of overdrive
Single diode	`diode(silicon\|germanium\|led)`	Asymmetric clipping – fuzz character

Transistors

Component	Syntax	Variants
NPN BJT	`npn(2n3904)`	`2n3904`, `2n2222`, `bc108`, `bc109`, `2n5088`, `2n5089`
PNP BJT	`pnp(ac128)`	`2n3906`, `ac128`, `oc44`, `nkt275` (germanium)
N-JFET	`njfet(j201)`	`j201`, `2n5457`, `2n5952`, `2sk30a` (+ GR/Y/BL grades)
P-JFET	`pjfet(2n5460)`	`2n5460`
N-MOSFET	`nmos(2n7000)`	`2n7000`, `irf520`
P-MOSFET	`pmos(bs250)`	`bs250`, `irf9520`
Matched NPN	`matched_npn(ssm2210)`	`ssm2210`, `ca3046`, `lm394`, `that340`
Matched PNP	`matched_pnp(ssm2210)`	Same as matched NPN

Op-amps

Component	Syntax	Character
Op-amp	`opamp(tl072)`	`tl072` (clean, fast), `jrc4558` (warm, compressed), `lm308` (slow slew – the RAT sound), `lm741`, `ne5532` (low noise), `rc4558`, `tl082`, `op07`
OTA	`opamp(ca3080)`	CA3080 operational transconductance amplifier

Vacuum tubes

Component	Syntax	Character
Triode	`triode(12ax7)`	`12ax7` (high gain), `12at7` (medium), `12au7` (low), `12ay7` (Fender tweed), `12bh7` (high current), `6386` (variable-mu)
Pentode	`pentode(el34)`	`ef86` (Vox preamp), `el84` (Vox output), `6l6gc`/`5881`/`kt66` (Fender Twin, Dumble), `el34`/`6ca7`/`kt77` (Marshall), `6550`/`kt88`/`kt90` (Ampeg SVT), `6aq5a`, `6973`

The pentode Koren models capture the real differences between tube types – 6L6GC’s gradual Fender compression vs EL34’s sharp Marshall breakup vs 6550’s extended clean headroom.

Delay and modulation

Component	Syntax	What it does
BBD	`bbd(mn3207)`	Bucket-brigade delay: `mn3207` (1024-stage, Boss CE-2 chorus), `mn3007` (low-noise, Boss DM-2), `mn3005` (4096-stage, Memory Man)
Delay line	`delay_line(1ms, 500ms, allpass, tape_oxide)`	Composable WDF delay with configurable range, interpolation (`linear`, `allpass`, `cubic`), and medium simulation
Tap	`tap(DL1, 0.75)`	Tap point on a delay line at a fractional position – build multi-tap delays, ping-pong, rhythmic patterns
LFO	`lfo(sine, 10k, 100n)`	Modulation from physical RC timing. Waveforms: `sine`, `triangle`, `square`, `saw_up`, `saw_down`, `sample_and_hold`
Envelope follower	`envelope_follower(10k, 100n, 100k, 1u, 47k)`	Dynamics-reactive modulation from RC attack/release networks

The delay line system models physical medium degradation – magnetic tape oxide causes frequency-dependent high-frequency loss (like a real Roland RE-201), BBD charge leakage causes amplitude decay, and digital quantization models PT2399-style bit reduction. Medium presets: re201, echoplex, lo_fi.

Opto and neon

Component	Syntax	What it does
Vactrol	`photocoupler(vtl5c3)`	Optical compression: `vtl5c3`, `vtl5c1`, `nsl32`, `t4b` (LA-2A)
Neon bulb	`neon(ne2)`	Vintage tremolo oscillator: `ne2`, `ne51`, `ne83`

Transformers and switching

Component	Syntax	What it does
Transformer	`transformer(15:1, 10H, ct_primary)`	Audio/output transformer with configurable turns ratio, inductance, and winding types (standard, center-tap, push-pull)
Switched cap	`cap_switched([100n, 220n, 470n])`	Capacitor with switchable values
Switched inductor	`inductor_switched([100m, 200m])`	Inductor with switchable values
Switched resistor	`resistor_switched([1k, 2.2k, 4.7k])`	Resistor with switchable values
Rotary switch	`rotary_switch([C_bright, C_normal, C_dark])`	Controls which switched component value is active
Switch	`switch(2)`	Simple SPST/SPDT mechanical switch

Synth ICs

Component	Syntax	What it does
VCO	`vco(cem3340)`	Voltage-controlled oscillator: `cem3340`, `as3340`, `v3340`
VCF	`vcf(cem3320)`	Voltage-controlled filter: `cem3320`, `as3320`
VCA	`vca(ssm2164)`	Voltage-controlled amplifier: `ssm2164`, `v2164`
Comparator	`comparator(lm311)`	`lm311`, `lm393`
Analog switch	`analog_switch(cd4066)`	`cd4066`, `dg411`
Tempco resistor	`tempco(1k, 3300)`	Temperature-compensating resistor for exponential converters

Engineering notation

100p = 100 pF, 220n = 220 nF, 2.2u = 2.2 uF, 100m = 100 mH, 4.7k = 4.7 kOhm, 1M = 1 MOhm

Wiring

Signal flow uses ->. Comma-separated pins at a junction are electrically connected:

in -> C1.a              # Signal enters the coupling cap
C1.b -> R1.a, D1.a      # Cap output goes to both the resistor and diode
D1.b -> gnd              # Diode clips to ground

Reserved nodes: in, out, gnd, vcc

Controls

Map physical pot positions to named knobs:

Gain.position -> "Drive" [0.0, 1.0] = 0.5