Transformers in a pedal

[Toto421]

Hi, sorry if this does’t belong here but i am new in this forum.

I saw some bogner pedals advertising that they have a transformer inside that colours the sound and use a 9V battery.

My question is: how is that done since from what i have read about transformers is that they only work with AC and the 9V baterry is DC.

In way can this be achieved?

 

[Newmarket]

Presumably transformer is in the (ac) audio path. Not the DC power circuitry.

 

[Whoops]

My question is: how is that done since from what i have read about transformers is that they only work with AC and the 9V baterry is DC.

In way can this be achieved?

the 9V DC it's the supply for the active circuitry inside the pedal (transistors, ICs) and that work before or after the transformer.

Like Newmarket explained Audio is an AC voltage, so Audio goes through that transformer at some point, the transformer is passive meaning it doesn't need any voltage supply to work, then before or after the transformer there's probably some active circuit, that can be a buffer circuit , an overdrive or distortion circuit, etc etc

 

[Toto421]

Great! Thanks for all the usefull information!

So can it be any type of transformer like the ones inside power adapters? Or does it have to be a specific type in order to add odd harmonic saturation to a signal?

Also can it be any ratio 1:1, 1:2 etc. or will a 1:2 increase the voltage even though it is pasive?

 

[ruffrecords]

There are many factors that contribute to the sound a transformer makes. There is another thread here that discusses it in detail. It is always worth trying a search.

Looking for feedback on Transformer Saturation Box schematic

Cheers

Ian

 

[Newmarket]

Great! Thanks for all the usefull information!

So can it be any type of transformer like the ones inside power adapters? Or does it have to be a specific type in order to add odd harmonic saturation to a signal?

No.

Also can it be any ratio 1:1, 1:2 etc. or will a 1:2 increase the voltage even though it is pasive?

Output voltage is increased / decreased according to the turns ratio (basically).
The trade off is that impedance is transformed by the square of the turns ratio.

 

[Jarno]

What frequency range are you aiming to pass, guitar (from mid range frequencies up) or bass (also low frequencies)?

 

[abbey road d enfer]

Here's an example of a guitar pedal that uses a xfmr in the signal path.
https://aionfx.com/project/isotope-amp-overdrive/The xfmr is a low level signal transformer https://www.mouser.fr/ProductDetail/Xicon/42TM018-RC?qs=plB1iWz%2BJMzT/lIWSnGXLA==
From the same manufacturer there rae other models adapted to different circuits.
However, their specified frequency response is restricted to the vocal range, 300Hz to 3.4kHz.

 

[Whoops]

Another one:

 

[Toto421]

Thanks for the useful information, just watched some videos about this stuff and got me thinking about something else I’ll post it in this section as well

 

[82Hz]

Check out what I do on my Series81 Pedals:

https://www.laa-custom.com/products/effects/series-81.html
And more tech here:
https://www.laa-custom.com/tech-blog.html