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Lightning Boy Audio Thread
- Thread starter HoochfromP
- Start date
So, trying to keep things short. I recently asked Mike if a more compact TI Box was something doable, with an extra switchable transformer on the 1/4" output.I planned to use it on my pedalboard, which i often use in the effect loop of the practice room amp. Already got LBA 2020s, liking what they add to my tone, but sometimes their softening effect on top-end is not what i'm looking for. Having a switchable one at the end of my pedalboard sounded like a nice feature. Thought it was an easy one, one LBA 2020 in there and we're all set, but Mike had much nicer ideas, like combining these 2 transformers in the DI'd signal, adding an all-passive inductor to shape mids in the 500Hz region.
This is how it began and led to the TriCore. As you noticed, there are 3 transformers in there, one being an inductor, one being the MC-15 used in TI Box. The last one - labelled 6615 prototype - is a transformer Mike designed for this product. It imparts transformer tone in the 1/4" output if you switch it on in the circuit, but can be combined with the MC-15 in the DI'd signal, or used only for the 1/4" output. As for DI, the result is 2 pretty different tones as Mike explained to me. One is the TI Box, the other is a much cleaner / transparent one. On top of this you get the switchable and adjustable EQ cut. Not bad for an all-passive device !
That said, this is where the TriCore fall apart as a future LBA offering. Due to impedance issues, the EQ mid-cut is not able to deal with buffered signal unless you're ok with a massive volume dropout. As a recording device with a passive bass, every features will work but with an active bass or a pedal feeding the TriCore, you only can use the MC-15 and 6615 transformer abilities, which is what i was after first - plus some nice added features.
All of this is what i understood of what Mike explained to me at each step of this project. You can notice the circuit board is his Rev.F version. All of them in a few weeks, that's saying much. Thank you Mike for the effort you put in this device and very sorry it doesn't lead to a new offering due to this impedance issues. I understood this project could lead to some further DI offering from Mike, hope it will !
This is how it began and led to the TriCore. As you noticed, there are 3 transformers in there, one being an inductor, one being the MC-15 used in TI Box. The last one - labelled 6615 prototype - is a transformer Mike designed for this product. It imparts transformer tone in the 1/4" output if you switch it on in the circuit, but can be combined with the MC-15 in the DI'd signal, or used only for the 1/4" output. As for DI, the result is 2 pretty different tones as Mike explained to me. One is the TI Box, the other is a much cleaner / transparent one. On top of this you get the switchable and adjustable EQ cut. Not bad for an all-passive device !
That said, this is where the TriCore fall apart as a future LBA offering. Due to impedance issues, the EQ mid-cut is not able to deal with buffered signal unless you're ok with a massive volume dropout. As a recording device with a passive bass, every features will work but with an active bass or a pedal feeding the TriCore, you only can use the MC-15 and 6615 transformer abilities, which is what i was after first - plus some nice added features.
All of this is what i understood of what Mike explained to me at each step of this project. You can notice the circuit board is his Rev.F version. All of them in a few weeks, that's saying much. Thank you Mike for the effort you put in this device and very sorry it doesn't lead to a new offering due to this impedance issues. I understood this project could lead to some further DI offering from Mike, hope it will !
Lowendtech
Happily trending in my own peculiar direction.
Neat ideas in that. I hope it does see the light of day somehow.
As it is now, it's super nice with how i plan using it. Not being able to use the EQ mid cut on my pedalboard isn't a problem, got other EQing device in there, and every other features will work. If i'm recording at home, straight from a passive bass, having this adjustable mid-cut is an interesting extra-feature.
Btw, it's on its way to me, pretty excited to hear how this combined transformer DI will sound !
Btw, it's on its way to me, pretty excited to hear how this combined transformer DI will sound !
Alright. Who wants a more "colorful" 2020?
Ask and ye shall receive:
https://lightningboyaudio.com/2020s.html
Ask and ye shall receive:
https://lightningboyaudio.com/2020s.html
do you know (or @lightningboy if you want to weigh in), does this have the same effect of running two instead of just 1?
He had me at " more colorful" about 15 minutes ago.
Basically, but with more "effect." The 2020S is designed to be used exactly the same as the 2020. Some initial details are available on my site. More in depth stuff comes with the official release/video.
Lowendtech
Happily trending in my own peculiar direction.
Sorry, no Black hole. Reasons not to do that? Hmm... You don’t want to? Otherwise, no reason that I can think of.
Quick review on the original 2020:
I run two of these first thing in my signal chain. Typically, I play a p bass with flats, an L2000 with rounds, and a jazz bass with round wounds. At first, I thought the 2020 wasn't doing much at all, but I pulled it off the pedalboard and zeroed out my EQ. Sure enough, the difference became immediately obvious. The difference is especially clear using the pbass.
There's a definite rolloff in the highs, but it's subtle and sounds very natural. There is also some harmonic content that seems to be added to the lower mids, but it's very musical, not woofy. After playing into two 2020's, my tone sounds dry and dead when I remove them.
I'm thinking that I might need a third....
I run two of these first thing in my signal chain. Typically, I play a p bass with flats, an L2000 with rounds, and a jazz bass with round wounds. At first, I thought the 2020 wasn't doing much at all, but I pulled it off the pedalboard and zeroed out my EQ. Sure enough, the difference became immediately obvious. The difference is especially clear using the pbass.
There's a definite rolloff in the highs, but it's subtle and sounds very natural. There is also some harmonic content that seems to be added to the lower mids, but it's very musical, not woofy. After playing into two 2020's, my tone sounds dry and dead when I remove them.
I'm thinking that I might need a third....
Finally tidied up my recording chain for the past few months. Southampton Ictineo ( @johnk_10 rehoused in etched Submarine Designer case ) , TCE Spark mini, LBA 2020, Dietz Passive DI ( seventies era Jensen Transformer ) to an m- Audio interface currently using Harrison Mixbus for my DAW. I also send from the Zoom for effects as needed. I am trying a Zoom GCE-3 for viable replacement.
The LBA 2020 adds a very nice enhancement that was missed by my more discriminating clients when removed so it is a keeper.
Same! Super excited for mine. Mike’s also up to something with some tube DI as far as I can gather as well... https://lightningboyaudio.com/mikes-blog/sales-and-rd
I reread my original post, and it was a little confusing, so I should clarify a little.
I think that when I originally couldn't hear a difference, it was due to all of the other tone shaping going on in my pedalboard. the cumulative tonal changes from a handful of pedals, and then the EQ on the amp was enough to cover up the sound of the 2020. Once the signal chain was cleaned up, the sound of the 2020 was much more apparent.
As others have mentioned, putting it in different spots on the board also had a large effect due to buffers etc. I found that I like it most right after the instrument.
I was originally hoping that it would sound best in the FX loop, or after my gain pedals, but I didn't hear a big difference in either of these spots.
one other thing to note: I have these right before my compressor, and that seems to help bring out the harmonic content a little more.
overall, I'd buy them again, but don't expect a massive change in your tone.
I think that when I originally couldn't hear a difference, it was due to all of the other tone shaping going on in my pedalboard. the cumulative tonal changes from a handful of pedals, and then the EQ on the amp was enough to cover up the sound of the 2020. Once the signal chain was cleaned up, the sound of the 2020 was much more apparent.
As others have mentioned, putting it in different spots on the board also had a large effect due to buffers etc. I found that I like it most right after the instrument.
I was originally hoping that it would sound best in the FX loop, or after my gain pedals, but I didn't hear a big difference in either of these spots.
one other thing to note: I have these right before my compressor, and that seems to help bring out the harmonic content a little more.
overall, I'd buy them again, but don't expect a massive change in your tone.
