I am working on designing my own guitar amp, and one effect I would like to include is transformer saturation.
I've done as much googling as I can regarding how to achieve this, and there doesn't seem to be a whole lot out there in terms of schematics for my relatively unschooled self.
I came across Triad TY-250P transformers. It looks like they are used in some "transformer saturation color" modules. I am thinking I may use a pair of them, one on each leg of a balanced output (from opamps), then combine the signal afterwards using a differential amp.
My knowledge of transformers (outside of how to build a chipamp PSU) is limited. How would I determine the AC voltage needed to get some saturation as an effect? Also, I'm thinking I need to include a series resistor before the transformers to prevent them from drawing too much current once they reach saturation.
Instead of relying on the signal to saturate the transformer, I could also perhaps bias the signal with some DC?
Has anyone experimented with transformer saturation as an effect, and have any pointers or perhaps schematics?
Thoughts on the TY-250P?
Thanks to all!
I've done as much googling as I can regarding how to achieve this, and there doesn't seem to be a whole lot out there in terms of schematics for my relatively unschooled self.
I came across Triad TY-250P transformers. It looks like they are used in some "transformer saturation color" modules. I am thinking I may use a pair of them, one on each leg of a balanced output (from opamps), then combine the signal afterwards using a differential amp.
My knowledge of transformers (outside of how to build a chipamp PSU) is limited. How would I determine the AC voltage needed to get some saturation as an effect? Also, I'm thinking I need to include a series resistor before the transformers to prevent them from drawing too much current once they reach saturation.
Instead of relying on the signal to saturate the transformer, I could also perhaps bias the signal with some DC?
Has anyone experimented with transformer saturation as an effect, and have any pointers or perhaps schematics?
Thoughts on the TY-250P?
Thanks to all!
Effect is either minimal at 95% of Guitar frequencies or damaging at the very lowest ones.
You don´t find much (if at all) because of that.
You don´t find much (if at all) because of that.
I made a Triad transformer isolating interface to convert unbalanced to balanced/unbalanced. The output of the transformer is loaded with a variable resistor to provoke distortion. The transformer input should be fed from a low impedance.
The MagAmp or Magnetic Amplifier has many uses. You may review this for some basic ideas. "https://www.nutsvolts.com/magazine/article/the_magnetic_amplifier"
This is a very cool idea !!!
I had been thinking about this myself for quite awhile !! 😉
Playing with core saturation is very easy to do with any core type and a few turns of wire and a smaller power amplifier of a few watts or less will get you some results to work with.
Here is a thread on ESL Step Up Transformer Design, in this thread I show how to setup a jig for measuring core saturation, or in general find the saturation point for a mystery core of any given size.
It started with a question here,
Material for ESL
And, I ended up in this thread. 😉
Step-up transformer design
Enjoy the read there is a lot to learn, But, It all becomes clear once you do a few hands on tests like i did in that thread.
I also show scope pic's just as the core is reaching into and beyond saturation ! 🙂
You may get some different sounds from using the measure current at saturation as it is a bit different looking than the distorted voltage signal you get straight through the device.
You could add some capacitance to the secondary and resistance to the primary for added effect and such, then after all that you can use two secondary windings from your core fed in to a full wave rectifier for some more octave doubling effects, this by far is my favorite past time of things to do with my Guitar and DIY Boxes !! 😉 🙂
FWIW
Cheers !!
jer 🙂
I had been thinking about this myself for quite awhile !! 😉
Playing with core saturation is very easy to do with any core type and a few turns of wire and a smaller power amplifier of a few watts or less will get you some results to work with.
Here is a thread on ESL Step Up Transformer Design, in this thread I show how to setup a jig for measuring core saturation, or in general find the saturation point for a mystery core of any given size.
It started with a question here,
Material for ESL
And, I ended up in this thread. 😉
Step-up transformer design
Enjoy the read there is a lot to learn, But, It all becomes clear once you do a few hands on tests like i did in that thread.
I also show scope pic's just as the core is reaching into and beyond saturation ! 🙂
You may get some different sounds from using the measure current at saturation as it is a bit different looking than the distorted voltage signal you get straight through the device.
You could add some capacitance to the secondary and resistance to the primary for added effect and such, then after all that you can use two secondary windings from your core fed in to a full wave rectifier for some more octave doubling effects, this by far is my favorite past time of things to do with my Guitar and DIY Boxes !! 😉 🙂
FWIW
Cheers !!
jer 🙂
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