Building a Transformer/Color Box? School me on transformers
Building a Transformer/Color Box? School me on transformers
I have been thinking about building a box with some transformers in it to use for my EH12AY7 and to use as a color box for the mix bus or running individual tracks through at mix down.
While I have been kicking this around, it has been recently mentioned in two threads. In this one by Joel:
http://messageboard.tapeop.com/viewtopi ... ight=valve
And this one by Jim Williams:
http://messageboard.tapeop.com/viewtopi ... ansformers
So I find the idea of building some sort of transformer box intriguing, but I don't know much about transformers. What would this entail? Simply two transformers wired to inputs and outputs in a project box? I am sure I would want a nevish type sound (based on my love of the N72 I have) but what transformer ratio? I am going to start reseraching transformers on the net but any advice or starting points would be awesome.
thanks!
While I have been kicking this around, it has been recently mentioned in two threads. In this one by Joel:
http://messageboard.tapeop.com/viewtopi ... ight=valve
And this one by Jim Williams:
http://messageboard.tapeop.com/viewtopi ... ansformers
So I find the idea of building some sort of transformer box intriguing, but I don't know much about transformers. What would this entail? Simply two transformers wired to inputs and outputs in a project box? I am sure I would want a nevish type sound (based on my love of the N72 I have) but what transformer ratio? I am going to start reseraching transformers on the net but any advice or starting points would be awesome.
thanks!
[Asked whether his shades are prescription or just to look cool]
Guy: Well, I am the drummer.
Guy: Well, I am the drummer.
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Impedance and turns ratio: Those are the specs you need to consider.
Line level transformers are usually 1/1 ratio with 600 ohms typical impedance. 1/1 ratios are unity gain minus transformer insertion losses. You don't want to use a 10/1 mic input transformer for a line input or output unless you want an extra 20 db gain thrown in.
Line level transformers are usually 1/1 ratio with 600 ohms typical impedance. 1/1 ratios are unity gain minus transformer insertion losses. You don't want to use a 10/1 mic input transformer for a line input or output unless you want an extra 20 db gain thrown in.
Jim Williams
Audio Upgrades
Audio Upgrades
Sorry, sick minds don't belong in the diy section...or do they.nate wrote:1:1 (600ohm to 600ohm) would probably serve you well in this case.
If you want some color, get something with a steel core. Or check out some frequency response charts for the trannys and find something that's not necessarily ruler-flat. New Cinemag CMOB-2S trannys are about $30 each.
If you're looking for color there are probably cheaper ways to achieve that than to build a tranny box. You'd be better off finding something with more options than just a tranny since that's not always going to make a very big difference, especially if you're using gear that doesn't have a tranny. Why not build or buy something that has that in it and have the best of both worlds? Want something cheap and still DIY with a tranny? Check out a couple PM1000 modules. Those have great preamps built in, can be used as a line device or mic device, and have a nice transformer on the input and you can add a 1:1 transformer on the output very easily. Plus there's a ton of documentation on how to do that.
"A fanatic is one who can't change his mind and won't change the subject." - Winston Churchill
That's a good point and I love the SCA stuff I have built. But if we are talking about two trannys (I avoided typing it like that earlier cause I know how you DIY guys are all sick in the head ), four neutrik connectors and a box it seems like it would only run about $80 or so? Not sure how much a PM1000 channel is but I think it's a bit more and I would need two.
I was really thinking about building one of these just as an output for my EH12ay7, so if I could double that up and drive the sh$t out of it every once in a while, I would be down with that.
I was really thinking about building one of these just as an output for my EH12ay7, so if I could double that up and drive the sh$t out of it every once in a while, I would be down with that.
[Asked whether his shades are prescription or just to look cool]
Guy: Well, I am the drummer.
Guy: Well, I am the drummer.
It could be cool to add a passive trim pot to the output. That way, you could hit the transformer hard and then pull the level back before going into another device.
"Bounce it around, lose a little quality. I can't hear that stuff anyway." - Tchad Blake
www.14blue.com
www.14blue.com
So here is the pdf for the CMOB-2S.
http://www.cinemag.biz/output/CMOB-2.pdf
It has four wires, two on either side. How would I wire this for simplel input and output? What would be ground or would this be unbalanced? I no I am a total newb on this stuff, please bare with me!
http://www.cinemag.biz/output/CMOB-2.pdf
It has four wires, two on either side. How would I wire this for simplel input and output? What would be ground or would this be unbalanced? I no I am a total newb on this stuff, please bare with me!
[Asked whether his shades are prescription or just to look cool]
Guy: Well, I am the drummer.
Guy: Well, I am the drummer.
i have considered doing this from a very conceptual point of view, not being anywhere near knowledgable enough to actually undertake the project.
if you do this, you should wire in a whole bunch of different transformers with switches to select which ones are in/out of the chain.
and then you MUST have this laser-engraved on the box:
if you do this, you should wire in a whole bunch of different transformers with switches to select which ones are in/out of the chain.
and then you MUST have this laser-engraved on the box:
"I try to hate all my gear equally at all times to keep the balance of power in my favor." - Brad Sucks
Nope, I never built this. Since then I ditched my EH 12ay7 and bought a germanium pre, so while I would still like to do it - maybe to run my Ghost's two buss through - it is way down the line right now. New project is the mnats 1176. I have the board, but I have been too lazy to order the parts to start stuffing it.
[Asked whether his shades are prescription or just to look cool]
Guy: Well, I am the drummer.
Guy: Well, I am the drummer.
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