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An inexpensive audio transformer with DIY projects
- Thread starter boomertech
- Start date
- Feb 16, 2008
- 21,240
- 23,636
- Disclosures
- John K Custom Basses
Just for info, the farnell.com part number is 2280535. There are 6,534 in stock in the USA. I might try the TY-145 which is a 600 ohm 15mW version. I might even try one of the 10k/10k in my effect loop just by itself.
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The TY-145 has a different pin-out than the TY-250P, so they won't work if you are using John's PCB's. Also the TY-145 has max current of 15mA, where the TY-250P has a max current of 4mA. You will have to make several changes to the Trans-Boost circuit to drive 15mA on the primary of the TY-145, we are running the OPA2604 fairly hard to just get the 4mA with a 1K primary load for the TY-250. The freq response for the TY-145 is only 200-15KHz. So if you use the TY-145, you may want to use a negative impedance driver circuit to get a better low frequency response.
-Frank
So I'm thinkin'...
I'm thinkin' to get a BYOC multi-comp that incorporates all the FrankA and JohnK mods with the built in Boost from this thread, add a built-in GK-Rails from that other fine collaborative thread and finally run it all through the iBuff — all within one box, one box to rule them all...
FrankA & Johnk (to the tune of Frankie & Johnny, traditional Leighton Brothers & Ren Shields)
FrankA and JohnK were brothers,
Albeit from other mothers.
To the benefit of others,
Had they a grand idea one day:
JohnK would build a circuit of FrankA's,
So Johnk started solderin' away.
He etched on the box, their names were signed.
More ideas bounced back & forth between like minds;
JohnK cranked 'em out as FrankA tweaked and refined.
Hollars "Go JohnK Go!" FrankA says,
"My brother I'll have another circuit for you in a few days";
A gleam like hot silver came to JohnK's eyes
And to the Boost and Rails, FrankA added the iBuff DI.
Well, the lyrics are a little clunky, okay durned clunky. At least the FrankA and JohnK collaborations are not (clunky).
I'm thinkin' to get a BYOC multi-comp that incorporates all the FrankA and JohnK mods with the built in Boost from this thread, add a built-in GK-Rails from that other fine collaborative thread and finally run it all through the iBuff — all within one box, one box to rule them all...
FrankA & Johnk (to the tune of Frankie & Johnny, traditional Leighton Brothers & Ren Shields)
FrankA and JohnK were brothers,
Albeit from other mothers.
To the benefit of others,
Had they a grand idea one day:
JohnK would build a circuit of FrankA's,
So Johnk started solderin' away.
He etched on the box, their names were signed.
More ideas bounced back & forth between like minds;
JohnK cranked 'em out as FrankA tweaked and refined.
Hollars "Go JohnK Go!" FrankA says,
"My brother I'll have another circuit for you in a few days";
A gleam like hot silver came to JohnK's eyes
And to the Boost and Rails, FrankA added the iBuff DI.
Well, the lyrics are a little clunky, okay durned clunky. At least the FrankA and JohnK collaborations are not (clunky).
@johnk_10 , @boomertech , I have a question. I have seen schematics where people use transformers to simulate the signal you'd get from a guitar/bass pickup to basically unbuffer a signal chain. This could be helpful for pedals that do not like a buffered signal. Would some of the TY transformers work for such an application?
- Feb 16, 2008
- 21,240
- 23,636
- Disclosures
- John K Custom Basses
yeah, I think that the TY250P would work for that. altrhough you might want one with a higher input impedance
Cool. I have the Spaceman pedals in mind of this. I may just try and build something in a small enclosure I can fit under my board. Maybe have a buffer right after the fuzz opedal to make sure I bring the signal back to reasonable levels right after.
If you can post a link to the circuit that you are thinking of using, we should be able to figure it out for you.
-Frank
Well, I just begun the researcha nd I am not even sure that it is the best thing for my needs. But, this is what I found online:
Guitar Pickups Simulation
Now, the holy grail would be a device that has an effects loop.
It would look like this:
In > ["debuffering" circuit effects send> whatever pedals you want > effects return > rebuffering circuit] > Out
I guess such a device would not even need a footswitch to engage, it would just be something to encapsulate the pedals that don't like a buffered circuit.
Guitar Pickups Simulation
Now, the holy grail would be a device that has an effects loop.
It would look like this:
In > ["debuffering" circuit effects send> whatever pedals you want > effects return > rebuffering circuit] > Out
I guess such a device would not even need a footswitch to engage, it would just be something to encapsulate the pedals that don't like a buffered circuit.
- Feb 16, 2008
- 21,240
- 23,636
- Disclosures
- John K Custom Basses
The transformer that he is using in that link has a 10K primary impedance, so the TY-250 won't work the same way. That tranny is even cheaper than the TY-250, so I would go with the circuit at the bottom of the page with the 42TL019 for the most flexibility.
-Frank
I will take a look at it. I also have a Cornish buffer kit I never finished, I could chain it after a send and receive if this works out first.
That Jensen transformer is a 12:1 and cost about $70. But it looks like a nice circuit if you want to stay passive.
When in REAMP mode he uses the secondary coil as the primary and uses the transformer backwards. Is there a link that describes how this circuit functions?
-Frank
Here is a DIY kit that uses two TY-250P transformers and a few other parts to emulate a 3M M79 tape and tranny saturation:
TM79 Multi-Stage Saturation Colour Kit – DIYRE
This is a really interesting design... you can read about the intended goals under the 'design notes' tab.
-Frank
TM79 Multi-Stage Saturation Colour Kit – DIYRE
This is a really interesting design... you can read about the intended goals under the 'design notes' tab.
-Frank
- Feb 16, 2008
- 21,240
- 23,636
- Disclosures
- John K Custom Basses
that's cool! I think that i'll have to get one of those since all of the 2", 1" and 1/2" recorders in our studio were M79's and they still are my favorite sounding analog machines.
It looks like you would need to buy the $125 Palette Kit that these color modules plug into. But here is the schematic link if you are interested:
http://wiki.diyrecordingequipment.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/tm79-schematic.pdf
-Frank
Here is a DIY kit that uses two TY-250P transformers and a few other parts to emulate a 3M M79 tape and tranny saturation:
TM79 Multi-Stage Saturation Colour Kit – DIYRE
This is a really interesting design... you can read about the intended goals under the 'design notes' tab.
-Frank
Those are really cool. What would be super fun would be if a company or builder, would make a stompbox interface for those colour modules. They have quite a few on there that sound cool. The Cinemag one looks fun for sure. It would be awesome to be able to just swap those modules.
Either that or somebody could come up with a 500 series stomp case like what Pittsburgh Modular came up with EuroRack modules:
Pittsburgh Modular Patch Box Puts Euro Synth Into A Stomp box » Synthtopia
Of course, the problem with those things is that between all the 500 and eurorack modules, I'll be bankrupt and living out of a cardboard box while my wife and kids enjoy our house and divorce settlement.
I mean, imagine that module, a couple of neve modules or golden age audio modules, maybe an empress series 500 compressor, etc, etc, etc...
Seriously though, the connection interface looks kind of simple. Maybe having a small standardized PCB that would have connections for the colour modules and all the stompbox components would make this an easy build to simply build any stomp using those colour kits.
Something like this, but with the pots, audio, and colour module connections as well:
Those are really cool. What would be super fun would be if a company or builder, would make a stompbox interface for those colour modules. They have quite a few on there that sound cool. The Cinemag one looks fun for sure. It would be awesome to be able to just swap those modules.
Either that or somebody could come up with a 500 series stomp case like what Pittsburgh Modular came up with EuroRack modules:
Pittsburgh Modular Patch Box Puts Euro Synth Into A Stomp box » Synthtopia
Of course, the problem with those things is that between all the 500 and eurorack modules, I'll be bankrupt and living out of a cardboard box while my wife and kids enjoy our house and divorce settlement.
I mean, imagine that module, a couple of neve modules or golden age audio modules, maybe an empress series 500 compressor, etc, etc, etc...
Seriously though, the connection interface looks kind of simple. Maybe having a small standardized PCB that would have connections for the colour modules and all the stompbox components would make this an easy build to simply build any stomp using those colour kits.
Something like this, but with the pots, audio, and colour module connections as well:
That's a great idea! You should contact the DIYRE guy and make that suggestion for an effect pedal interface. He may be into it and already has all of the PCB artwork for the module interface. All he would need to do is modify some of the artwork to fit into a Hammond enclosure and change up the power supply to use 9V with a charge-pump for the negative voltage.
This idea kinda sounds like that Devi Ever Atari console thing, where FX manufacturers could build cartridges for a standard interface.
-Frank
