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An inexpensive audio transformer with DIY projects
- Thread starter boomertech
- Start date
I sent them an emailIf they do it, it will cost me a LOT of money LOL
Those colour modules are pretty cool and I am interested in how the 1176 module performs. If they do make a pedal version, I may have to design a compressor module to try out.
What's cool about the RGB LED that each module has control over, is that you can design the LED circuit to provide different status modes with any color in the visible spectrum. So let's say a nice blue for "ON", white for "threshold" and ruby red for "overload". The possibilities are only limited by the module size.
The only drawback that I can see, is that you are limited to only an input and output control. But there are many simple two knob effects that could be designed for this concept.
-Frank
I sent them an email
Did he ever get back to you on the pedal idea?
-Frank
Yes, he seemed interested but with nothing imminent. Here is his response:
"
Hi Hugues,
Thanks a lot for getting in touch. That's great that about the interest in Colour on Talkbass.
I've had a couple of requests for a single-Colour stompbox Palette, and I really like the idea.
There are a couple of design challenges that have prevented it from being at the top of my list, though. Primarily, it's that the Colours are designed to run on 32V power (+/-16v), instead of the typical 9V for stompboxes. Most of the Colours will sound significantly different at 9V, while others simply won't work. Since I think it's probably not a good idea to release a Palette that doesn't work with every Colour, the Stompbox would need a dedicated 32V line wart, similar to a laptop computer's.
So I do hope to make this Palette happen, but for this and a couple other reasons I do not think it will be a quick project. In fact, if you know of anyone else who designs pedals they are more than welcome to design and release it themselves. Colour is an open format.
Best,
--
Peterson Goodwyn
DIY Recording Equipment, LLC
Philadelphia, PA
[email protected]
"
- Feb 16, 2008
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- 23,636
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- John K Custom Basses
well, if all it requires is a dedicated 36v power supply, that's not too bad. I've built a few charge pumps that supply + & - 15 volts (like on my pedal version of a Traynor TS50B (aka rusty box). the only thing that i'd need to know is how much current it'll require. if it requires more than 200ma, i'm pretty sure that I could just double up the amount of charge pumps and run them in parallel to get 400ma.
that way you could still run it off of a standard 9V power supply.
that way you could still run it off of a standard 9V power supply.
Here are the specs for the 500 series Palette Kit that can accept 3 modules:
Input Impedance 24kΩ
Output Impedance 50Ω
Max Gain (Saturation Control) 18dB
Max Input Level 27.5dBu
Power Supply Voltage +/-16VDC
Power Supply Current 140mA
Chassis Requirements Compatible with any 500-series rack
Nominal Level +4dBu
I can't find if the 140mA spec is with 3 modules installed or what the chassis needs without the modules. The opamps and balanced drivers only use a few mA each, so that 140mA spec seems high just for the chassis alone. The schematic and parts list don't specify the fuse sizes either, so you would need to know what the max current capacity is before sizing the power supply. If you used multiple charge pumps to generate the +/-16V from a 9V supply, you may want to use CP's that can have their oscillators synchronized.
A pedal version of the Palette Kit would also need to be level shifted for instrument levels and have a much higher input impedance (500K to 1M). You could also get rid of the balanced input and output drivers for the pedal version. For the instrument to line level shift, all that would be needed is more maximum input gain (greater than the 18dB it has now).
-Frank
- Feb 16, 2008
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So, I have had a lot more time to play with the Transboost since it came back with the latest mods applied to it. I am really liking it. I started with the settings @boomertech suggested in his post about the mods. I quickly realized that I liked it more toward the beginning of my chain, but it can definitely work later in the chain as well.
This could very well be almost an always on pedal where I have it set now. Considering the price of the transformer in there, it's pretty amazing.
This could very well be almost an always on pedal where I have it set now. Considering the price of the transformer in there, it's pretty amazing.
- Feb 16, 2008
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- John K Custom Basses
I agree. after the update, it's becoming one of my favorite pedals of all time.
Me too! I really like how the Transboost turned out and if I were still playing in bands it would be an always on pedal for me. If you really want to be impressed with the Transboost, try it with guitar with the clipping and gain maxed…. it has a fantastic blues tone.
I wanted to see how difficult it would be to achieve a flat freq response from this transformer. I found all that was needed is a little boost of approx 1.5-2dB at 20Hz on the primary signal to have a flat response on the secondary output. So despite its small size and lack of a bulky iron core, it can deliver the low end very well with minimal EQ assistance.
-Frank
I wanted to see how difficult it would be to achieve a flat freq response from this transformer. I found all that was needed is a little boost of approx 1.5-2dB at 20Hz on the primary signal to have a flat response on the secondary output. So despite its small size and lack of a bulky iron core, it can deliver the low end very well with minimal EQ assistance.
-Frank
It would be real cool if someone had boards to this printed at a place like oshpark. It would be a totally cool DIY project.
What dimensions of the PCB would everyone want? If there is a consensus on PCB size I will try to make the Gerber PCB files and a parts list when I have time.
-Frank
Well, really, depends on the components I guess. Anything that could fit in either a MXR sizer (1590b?), 125b?, or bigger 1590BB type of enclosure would make sense I guess.
Anything you would come up with would be greatly appreciated and above and beyond anything we deserve
Well, really, depends on the components I guess. Anything that could fit in either a MXR sizer (1590b?), 125b?, or bigger 1590BB type of enclosure would make sense I guess.
Anything you would come up with would be greatly appreciated and above and beyond anything we deserve
I will see how small I can make it with the pots and jacks mounted off-board.
-Frank
- Feb 16, 2008
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I drew a PCB for the newest V2 ibuff. i'll post it in a few minutes.
with two pots, a DC jack, two 1/4" jacks, a ground lift toggle and an XLR with it should be able to fit in a 1590B.
with two pots, a DC jack, two 1/4" jacks, a ground lift toggle and an XLR with it should be able to fit in a 1590B.
- Feb 16, 2008
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- John K Custom Basses
here they are.
layout:
etch for the PCBs (print at actual size @ 800dpi):
http://johnkvintageguitars.homestead.com/Effects/others/iBUFF/iBuff_PCBs.jpg
layout:
etch for the PCBs (print at actual size @ 800dpi):
http://johnkvintageguitars.homestead.com/Effects/others/iBUFF/iBuff_PCBs.jpg
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Hey John, what size drill do you use for the TY-250 pins?
Is the bottom wire on the lower left of the PCB input gnd?
-Frank
Is the bottom wire on the lower left of the PCB input gnd?
-Frank
- Feb 16, 2008
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- John K Custom Basses
I first just drill all of them on a mini drill press with a #70, then enlarge with wire and 250's holes with a #63.
yeah. I forgot to label the brown wire. it's ground
