What does 'FET' mean?

general questions, comments and ideas about recording, audio, music, etc.
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Cedar
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What does 'FET' mean?

Post by Cedar » Mon Aug 25, 2003 6:22 pm

I see it written all the time with compressor or mic models; like "FET 47". What does it stand for & mean?

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Re: What does 'FET' mean?

Post by meblumen » Mon Aug 25, 2003 6:58 pm

FET stands for field effect transistor. I believe they were the first transistors made to work like tubes. Hopefully someone who knows a bit more can add some more insight or correct me if need be.

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Re: What does 'FET' mean?

Post by meblumen » Mon Aug 25, 2003 7:00 pm

FET stands for field effect transistor. I believe they were the first transistors made to work like tubes. Hopefully someone who knows a bit more can add some more insight or correct me if need be.

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Re: What does 'FET' mean?

Post by ciminosound » Mon Aug 25, 2003 7:03 pm

FET=Field effect transistor

http://spigot.anu.edu.au/courses/engn22 ... node1.html

The FET transistor has some of the operating characteristics of a tube,
like a high input impedence. This matches up to the capsule in a condenser
better than a bipolar transistor would, and eliminates some of the problems
that might be encountered with a tube mic.

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Re: What does 'FET' mean?

Post by ciminosound » Mon Aug 25, 2003 7:15 pm

Here's some transistor history

http://users.arczip.com/rmcgarra1/xstrhist.html

The earliest use in musical equipment may have been in
the mid sixties VOX solid state amps like the Super Beatle. I'm not
sure though. The Urei 1176 limiter uses a FET for gain reduction.
You can even get FET IC's like the Burr Brown OPA2604.

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Re: What does 'FET' mean?

Post by Placko » Mon Aug 25, 2003 11:48 pm

There are also JFET(junction field effect transistors) and MOSFET (metal oxide semiconductor ....) I think the UK calls 'em "valves" hence the Marshall "valvestate". They look like transistors but act like tubes.

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bobbydj
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Re: What does 'FET' mean?

Post by bobbydj » Tue Aug 26, 2003 2:58 am

By 'valves' we mean 'tubes'.
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wayne kerr
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Re: What does 'FET' mean?

Post by wayne kerr » Tue Aug 26, 2003 7:47 am

You guys are ALL wrong!

FET = Fat Epileptic Transvestite
The Edge... there is no honest way to explain it because the only people who really know where it is are the ones who have gone over.
-Hunter S. Thompson

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Re: What does 'FET' mean?

Post by dgochenour » Tue Aug 26, 2003 8:34 am

Placko wrote:They look like transistors but act like tubes.
Not only do they "look" like transistors, they are transistors. Functionally, transistors and tubes do the same thing. Most commonly, they use a small voltage to control a larger voltage-- voila! An amplifier.

Using a FET (or any transistor) to get a "tube" sound has a lot to do with the design of the circuit in which the FET is used, not just the device itself.

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Re: What does 'FET' mean?

Post by E-cue » Thu Aug 28, 2003 2:59 am

chocolatechickenpotpie wrote:You guys are ALL wrong!

FET = Fat Epileptic Transvestite
47 Fat Epileptic Transvestites are great on kick drums.

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wayne kerr
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Re: What does 'FET' mean?

Post by wayne kerr » Thu Aug 28, 2003 7:14 am

47 Fat Epileptic Transvestites
Actually, they're one of my favorite SKA bands...
The Edge... there is no honest way to explain it because the only people who really know where it is are the ones who have gone over.
-Hunter S. Thompson

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justinf
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Re: What does 'FET' mean?

Post by justinf » Thu Aug 28, 2003 9:48 am

I wear them on my face when I want to look respectable.

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Re: What does 'FET' mean?

Post by BobG » Thu Aug 28, 2003 8:10 pm

F.E.T.
A hot drink made by Effie using tea leaves........

FET....
Where Arnold Swarzzenager takes hees seek cat.........

Field Effect Transformer
The scientific term for the impact that can occur by smoking POT outside...
or by meditating outside for 6 hours every day...
or by reading Tapeop on the porch.....

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