Audio transformer saturation It adds some gentle and pleasant saturation effects to the incoming audio. Saturation current is determined mostly by the geometry and material of the core. I put it between my API 512c and a PT converter, and recorded a bunch of different things to see how the transformer would behave at different levels. 5 How about transformer saturation effects? Can LTspice model those? A transformer at the power-amplifier output steps up the voltage to approximately 70 volts at full power. As with most Sowter transformers - the bottom end is a thing of beauty - even at low saturation set 274 302 303 303 303 303 306 306 306 307 Audio Transformers 275 11. In mixing, saturation is the process of adding harmonic distortion to an audio signal, which also produces subtle compression. These have a passive boost of 11db !!!! so are probably Sep 9, 2024 · Neve transformers are a Neve specification for Neve products, regardless of the manufacturer and can be reverse engineered and measured. The circuit generates around 1% of harmonics (distortion) in the low-end and a gentle amount of higher harmonics. Audio transformers use low-loss cores, but that's not the case for a mains transformer. Ryan West visits Flux Studios in New York City and reveals how to get some unique ‘analog color’ with transformer saturation along with his analog summing to Fundamentals of Saturation. It also adds a 2dB bump in the low-end Conversely, a transformer with a turns ratio of 1:2 would be called a step- up transformer since its secondary voltage would be twice that of the primary. While digital audio provides pristine clarity, it can sometimes lack the organic, full-bodied character that saturation brings. This can be done with a saturation plugin, or by using an external piece of hardware. For most transformers, core saturation is a very undesirable effect, and it is avoided through good design: engineering the windings and core so that magnetic flux densities remain well below the saturation levels. Warm Transformer Saturation. Sep 6, 2015 · According to my understanding of transformer theory, that will increase the possibility of saturation. It’s common for today’s musicians and engineers to degrade perfectly clean digital audio with saturation, adding harmonics and imperfections that many interpret as more pleasing by A Large pair of vintage Sowter audio transformers as used in the broadcast and recording industries. Saturation can be used on individual tracks, or on the master bus. Aug 5, 2014 · This is less than inspiring, and is largely due to the nature of the laminations used (copper wire doesn't cause distortion), and the expectation that there will always be a fairly significant amount of core saturation in use (as a mains transformer). Descriptions of this saturation's affect on audio will range from "a little hairy," to "three dimensional, super realistic mile-high magic audio dust mojo," depending on the individual. 3 I've created an ideal transformer so it should work at all frequencies, even including DC, right? 1. 1 Audio Transformer Basics Since the birth of audio electronics, the audio transformer has played an important role. In a real transformer the secondary is not fully coupled to the primary, and does not set up an equal but opposite EMF, so now the core will saturate due to both the magnitization current and the load current. com Mar 19, 2025 · It is the natural harmonic distortion that occurs when audio passes through analog equipment—tape machines, tube preamps, and transformers—all of which add subtle compression and harmonic richness. Classic recordings often had saturation baked into the music at varying stages before digital audio and modern equipment offered more ways to avoid saturation. Buy TK Audio The Transformer Stereo Harmonic Generator and Color Box featuring Add Harmonics and Color to Your Sound, Transformer Saturation Circuit, Passive Saturation Circuit, Vintage, Active Germanium Stage, Class-A Stage for British '70s Sound, M/S Processing, Illuminated Switches, Detented Potentiometers. The TK Audio Transformer Harmonic Color Box is a recording and mixing tool that transforms your sound by using several different harmonic stages. Mar 4, 2025 · Transformer saturation is a more subtle type of saturation, but don’t underestimate its impact, because it can pack a punch (if applied correctly). A key design driver in creating Silicon Steel Overdrive was that while much of the 'sound' Saturation current is not the same thing as DC current. In the YouTube video titled "What Does Audio Transformer Overload Sound Like?", the speaker demonstrates the effects and sounds of an audio transformer overl Jan 22, 2024 · Transformer-based mic splitters incorporate specialized transformers, with one primary and one, two, three, or more secondaries. Toroidal transformers are more susceptible to core saturation as a direct result of their more nearly perfect magnetic design. ) the core must be operated well below saturation at all possible voltages and frequencies to prevent serious distortion. The distortion is seldom from the tubes but from the transformer reaching, yes, saturation. For power transformers, a small amount of saturation at no load is common. Some manufacturers, such as Cascade, offer upgraded transformer options for many of their ribbon mics. The TK Audio Transformer Harmonic Color Box is divided into two sections, a harmonic generating section and a transformer-coupled class-A stage with a punchy, vintage tone. Interestingly, the initial need to design to such transformer was to enhance long distancevoice communication. CTX Transformer Colour: A transformer saturation module with a discrete opamp and a Cinemag audio transformer which has a 1:1 turns ratio. Silicon Steel Overdrive Pedal is a new, original design from Muir Audio Design with a transformer-based saturation gain stage - a 'Tube Amp Output Transformer' inspired design delivering harmonic-rich tones. I think you will also probably get less power output (if the amp was designed for a 4 ohm load). However, transformer saturation is only ever a problem at very low frequencies - so I'm not sure if the effect would be noticeable in practice. Dec 7, 2020 · If you’re new to the term, saturation came from driving a signal into or through a piece of analog gear too hot. Mar 3, 2018 · I built a box with an old UTC H-25 transformer from the early 60's and a trim pot. Next, an active germanium stage imparts a vintage-tinged character. The sound of Omega TWK comes from modeling the way Tweaker overdrives a pair of “supermatched transistors” feeding a long chain of dirty 70's op-amps, all of which have specs that, by modern standards, would be considered abysmal. Imagine the effect of 10 or more transformers all reaching voltage saturation in parallel and at the same time. Following this, a passive saturation stage infuses your signal with odd or selectable even harmonics. Aug 28, 2020 · This is not the case. 4 I want to model leakage inductance - how should I do that? 1. Model TWK is a vintage distortion pulled straight from the heart of Kush's own Tweaker hardware compressor. Apr 8, 2023 · Transistor saturation is another type of saturation that has distinct characteristics, setting it apart from transformer core saturation. This post dives into the technical foundations of saturation, how it shapes waveforms, different saturation types (tape, tube, transistor, transformer), and how to recreate these Jul 3, 2024 · Transformer saturation mimics the saturation that occurs when audio signals pass through transformers, adding color and depth to the sound. It would make the tube run hotter, it would Transformers are a big thing here, there’s a school of thought that tubes/tape sound ‘ok’ but that the major benefits of old tube/tape gear were actually in the quality and sound of the (often massive) transformers they used at that time. 1 Introduction; 1. Combines three distinct harmonic stages—transformer saturation, passive saturation, and active germanium—along with blend control for mixing dry and processed signals, M/S processing for separate mid and side channel manipulation, a TX Drive with adjustable low-end boost, gain control for driving stages harder, an output trim for fine level adjustment, and a selectable vintage transformer May 17, 2020 · 1 Transformers. The primaries of all the speaker transformers are paralleled across the transformer secondary on the power amplifier. So many people get this wrong! Check out the Audio Masterclass Music Production and So Analog audio transformers are never used because they somehow make the music sound better. Characteristics of Audio Transformers phones) to about the size of a pack of gum (and larger) for applications that have less limited size restrictions. TX Drive is the first harmonics stage which is a transformer saturation circuit. e. Loudspeaker Step-down Transformers and Saturation. Hammond Mfg. The tubes and the output transformer act as a coupled loop, feeding one another, building a 2nd Harmonic distortion -- which is considered the 'most musical' because it's the most pleasant. - "Classic" 600 Ohm - Speaker Matching Transformer - Hammond P/N 119DA And got this May 21, 2020 · All transformers, whether they are audio or electrical transformers, work via Faraday’s principles of electromagnetic induction where alternating current and voltage (both power and audio signals) flowing into one coil 1 winding (called the primary) induce a voltage into another, nearby coil (called the secondary). 2 How do I make a transformer in LTspice? 1. There are plenty of products and projects that claim to impart that certain something only transformers bring to table. Turns out, the cause is Feb 7, 2025 · TX Drive is the first harmonics stage which is a transformer saturation circuit. Non-inverting amp to drive the transformer past what it can handle. Transformers have been used to process sound since recording began waaaay back in the day - well over 100 years ago! As digital audio became a Thing - and re Jun 10, 2012 · As the transformers are loaded, the saturation effects are reduced - indeed, if the secondary is short-circuited, the transformer will never saturate (but the amplifier will probably blow up). How Can Saturation be Used in Audio Mixing? Saturation can be used in audio mixing to add Jan 17, 2024 · Beautiful pair of vintage Sowter 4527 audio transformers. Whether mains or audio, power transformer cores are normally made of Grain Oriented Silicon Steel (GOSS), which has the advantage of allowing a higher flux density in the direction of the grain. Apr 4, 2010 · Saturation can hapen when an amp is cliping badly at lower frequincies or oscilating . Resistor before the transformer that isolates the opamp from the transformer. The type of iron in the transformer also makes a differance , adding some nickel to the lamination will increase the flux caring abilty of the core . If you measure the resistance of the windings you can find the DC current with Ohm's law. Transformers in Audio Devices Key Applications Many microphone types utilize transformers, either for step-up (typically ribbon transformers) or step-down (typically tube microphones), or 1:1 for dynamic microphones. Jun 21, 2021 · But the current level, if one could stop at the saturation level at DC, is the same if very low frequency or very high frequency. The TK Audio Transformer Harmonic Generator is a high-end analog saturation processor designed to bring warmth, depth and harmonic complexity to your recordings. With some of the chatter going on about getting Apr 4, 2021 · 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. For any reasonably sized 70V line output transformer, the primary's winding resistance is so low that the difference between the loaded and unloaded TK Audio’s Transformer revolutionizes your mix with multi-stage harmonic processing. For example, with tape saturation, the magnetic particles in the tape have all been reoriented, but there’s still more signal being input. Transformers can be an important part of tracks’ sound with unique contributes from bass enhancement to harmonic distortion. Since a transformer does not create power, the power output from the secondary of an ideal transformer can only equal (and in a real transformer only be less than) the power input to the primary. I like to think of transformer saturation as low end and midrange “power chord” saturation that adds “weight” and “girth” to signals. Apr 3, 2025 · Audio saturation is one of the most powerful tools in music production. Transformer X. It also adds a 2dB bump in the low-end Jun 10, 2022 · Belclere Oxford Audio Transformers Saturating Audio Like Gods! Dec 18, 2022 · In this video I explain, and demonstrate, what saturation actually is. The transformers at the loudspeaker end are prone to saturation, just like their big cousins at the amplifier end. As a rule most of them exploit the BH curve shape but stay well away from true Transistor saturation is the most common form of hardware saturation, as transistors and transformers are more commonly used in electronics than tubes. While transformer core saturation is associated with the nonlinear behavior of magnetic cores found in transformers, transistor saturation refers to the nonlinear behavior of transistors, which are semiconductor devices commonly used in audio circuits. If you have something you can't identify, you can post a photo here and we could probably help you identify it. . A transformer-based saturator will be great for warming up your mix since it adds a strong second-order harmonic - which we can observe by running a sine wave through it. We mentioned transformers as a form of insurance policy earlier. However, most transformers are not designed to handle DC so you shouldn't use this figure in your calculations. Once a byproduct of analog hardware, it’s now used deliberately to add warmth, harmonic richness, and musical glue to digital recordings. Instead of relying on the signal to saturate the transformer, I could also perhaps bias the signal with some DC? Jun 30, 2020 · TesslaSE is a free Transformer saturation simulator plugin developed by Variety Of Sound. between 20Hz to 20 KHz. Each type of saturation has its own unique characteristics and can be used to achieve different sonic effects. Even though the two coil Sep 6, 2022 · A lovely pair of audio transformers taken from a BBC monitoring system. Transistor saturation occurs when the input current has increased enough to cause a voltage drop, which in turn prohibits any additional electrical signal. Hi, I am experimenting and wish to create an audio saturation device to run my instruments through and get that transformer saturation sound. 1. Saturation occurs when an electrical component, be it a tube, transformer, or magnetic tape can no longer hand the amount of electricity being fed into it. Works just like any other conventional transformer; audio transformers are designed to work at audio frequencies, i. NOTE: All other factors being equal, larger transformers can handle higher signal levels than smaller ones before core saturation occurs. Jun 24, 2020 · Hi, I am experimenting and wish to create an audio saturation device to run my instruments through and get that transformer saturation sound. I got 2 of these transformers 119DA rated at 12w. If the amp has too small a transformer or if to small an amp is used it is more likely to happen . For transformers used in audio (valve output transformers, microphone or 'line' transformers, etc. When compared to modern miniaturized electronics, a transformer seems large, heavy, and expensive but it continues to be the most effective solution in many audio Oct 6, 2023 · Muir Audio Design presents Silicon Steel Overdrive Pedal - a new, original design with a transformer-based saturation gain stage - a 'Tube Amp Output Transfo Jan 13, 2014 · Some RF and IF, transformers, and switch-mode power transformers are almost certainly ferrite-core (and not suitable for audio). Inspired by a custom 'color box' utilizing a vintage US transformer, Transformer X can easily add warmth, body, and low-end girth to your sound. DC in primary shifts the waveform peaks toward the upper saturation limit. Nothing equates to more “audio insurance equity” than a well designed and built transformer-based mic splitter. Other than electron tubes, the most tone-defining component in hardware circuits is the transformer—especially vintage transformers with their signature 'iron sound'. Some RF and IF transformers are air-core and unsuitable for audio. This premium studio harmonics unit features three distinct saturation stages and a British-inspired Class-A transformer circuit, making it an essential tool for mix engineers Nov 21, 2019 · Saturation and a specific type of distortion is the front-and-center thing they do that is preferred and appreciated by audio people, as you well know. Figure 1. The TX Drive stage enhances your low end with ear-grabbing transformer saturation. One great free option for this is MSaturator by Melda Audio, with which you can control harmonics easily. Each speaker has a step-down transformer that matches the 70V line to each speaker's impedance. See full list on diyrecordingequipment. Transformer Core Saturation. These are very sweet sounding and saturate audio beautifully. I wanted to talk about magnetic saturation of transformers, figuring this was the cause of old microwaves starting outa bit louder. They also add 3d-ness t Apr 18, 2022 · I agree transformer saturation as a'sound' is a myth but transformer distortion as a 'sound' is discussed endlessly on the pro audio forums. It adds low-end thickness and a bit of harmonic enhancement without drastically altering the sound, so it’s a solid balance. The company Sep 3, 2012 · A critical device that helps in creating this blend is an audio transformer. With a single control you can vary the amount of transformer saturation and still keep the level constant. In vacuum tube recording equipment transformers were used to match naturally low-impedance devices (microphones, loudspeakers) to tube amplifiers which are naturally high-impedance. It was not unusual for signals to go through multiple transformers. Mic preamps are another key application. Nov 13, 2019 · AnyTesla contains a parametric physical model of audio transformers and an optional power output stage (because the saturation of a core gives effects on both output and input coils). ldhksycnoflugttmjylpvsgrzpjbxkzdntwxjewrnsuhitefgok