I would choose a nicer transformer for mastering with a different Primary to Secondary ratio. For example, this one is higher ratio- approximately 1:10(200 ohms to 20,000 ohms), and mastering transformers are usually lower ratio- approximately 1:1 (10,000 ohms to 10,000 ohms) or 1:1.4(10k:20K). The actual values may not matter too much, for example 2k:2k, or 5k:5k, or 2k:3k. With transformers, it's always trial and error. You just have to listen to each one to see if it suits your needs. Of course, nothing is written in stone, so you can try anything you like. But, I usually keep this type of transformer box set up for instruments and mic preamplifers.
can you a make a video comparing your DIY to the acme motown? Personally, do you feel it sounds too different? I was looking for the Triad transformers and ouchhhhh so expensive, the price of the DI
Hey, I no longer have the ACME unit, I got rid of it after I started building my own with new transformers. The triad transformers have just gotten ridiculously overpriced. I'd never pay more than $100 for a vintage mic transformer- even $100 is too much in my opinion. There so are many others that will give great tone. Even new transformers are great sounding. Check out Cinemag Transformers, the CMMI-8B3, CMMI-10B, CM-75101A are all good options. Sowter also makes a "A-11J Replacement" called the 1585. All priced below $100, I believe. I'll say this about the Bogen transformer box I made- it's a warm, fuzzy tone that rolls off the high end, and a bit of the low. I don't use it as much as the new ones I make, but I do still use it sometimes. Usually, it just sounds "right." It does take more "makeup gain" than other transformers. Not a huge deal if you mic preamp sounds okay. If you can find the bogen T-200 for cheap(less than $20-$30) then it's worth putting together a little DI with it. Otherwise, I'd just buy a new transformer for $75 and the other parts(Less than $40 depending on the parts you use) and build one yourself. The guy who "invented" the wolf box, put up a schematic online, so you can easily find it. Even though the pad circuit looks cool, unless you play with active pickups, it's not really necessary. That cuts about $15 right there.... Good luck!
Hey, great video! Thinking of making one of these myself now :) Question though, is there a reason the enclosure has to be aluminum? Wouldn't a plastic box for instance negate the risk of the transformer and the metal case making contact?
Glad you liked the video! You could use a plastic case, but aluminum or steel will offer shielding around the open contacts in the underside of the transformer. Try a plastic case of you have one, it might not make a noticeable difference! If you're worried about grounding out against a metal chassis, you could get creative with the cable insulation.
Thanks for this video - it's super great! Quick question though: where did you find that little enclosure? I've been looking around eBay for a while for old enclosures I could grab but not finding anything interesting. Is there something I should search for keyword-wise? Thanks again!
Thanks! Hmm, I got this as part of an ebay auction for an amplifier. I think if you look for switch box enclosure that could help. BUT, you could put this in a little guitar pedal enclosure which can be had for less than $10.
@@FrankOlsonTwins Thanks so much! ... I actually stumbled upon a pretty cool old phono preamp that's being sold as non-functional. The enclosure looks perfect, but I'll also check out the switch box enclosures and push come to shove, I have a few pedal enclosures I could use. Thanks again!
yes, exactly. I rehoused that same bogen transformer along with a few others and made a comparison video: th-cam.com/users/shortsArkaBonIaG0 I played the same loop through all 3 DI boxes, and then volume matched them. They do sound quite similar when volume matched, but the bogen was about 4 db quieter then the Jensen. The UTC was about 2 db quieter than the Jensen.
Hmmm, that is a great question! I've never done so, but I think it would be a cool thing to try. I don't have an electric-acoustic, but I can't see why it wouldn't work? The impedance might be a bit higher if it's a transducer model(up to 100K) but the transformer should still work some magic. If you try it, please let me know!
Nice step by step build. And not to be too nitpicking, but, even though the sound seems overall tighter, I can't really tell for sure, because it appears that the channel gain was changed :/ but then again, we're compairing soun through youtube-compression...
The gain was raised a a few db to make up for the loss of the transformer, as an effort to give a similar volume and signal to noise ratio to the recorded signal. There isn't much tonal difference in the middle range of this preamp and in real world practice, I'd adjust the gain knob(as I did here) to make up the loss rather than boost the volume after recording. Had I not increased the gain, noise would likely become an issue as I would have had to digitally boost the recorded signal. For this comparison, the gain isn't really the issue as in some other comparo's....
Bogen TM-200 transformer. You can also use pretty much any "Mic Input" tranformer ever made. Just hook up the Secondaries to the input and the Primaries to the output...
I added some links in the description for parts to make your own box. Use your transformer of choice!🤘🤘
This is such an underappreciated channel, more people need to see this lol
Thanks!!
So true... wished i could press the subscribe button million times...
Wow this is a Good diy thanks for sharing
Thanks for checking it out!
Thank u sir
Hi there! Wonderful thanks! Is this suitable for ITB mastering finalizer? Or just for individual instruments?
I would choose a nicer transformer for mastering with a different Primary to Secondary ratio. For example, this one is higher ratio- approximately 1:10(200 ohms to 20,000 ohms), and mastering transformers are usually lower ratio- approximately 1:1 (10,000 ohms to 10,000 ohms) or 1:1.4(10k:20K). The actual values may not matter too much, for example 2k:2k, or 5k:5k, or 2k:3k. With transformers, it's always trial and error. You just have to listen to each one to see if it suits your needs.
Of course, nothing is written in stone, so you can try anything you like. But, I usually keep this type of transformer box set up for instruments and mic preamplifers.
can you a make a video comparing your DIY to the acme motown? Personally, do you feel it sounds too different? I was looking for the Triad transformers and ouchhhhh so expensive, the price of the DI
Hey, I no longer have the ACME unit, I got rid of it after I started building my own with new transformers. The triad transformers have just gotten ridiculously overpriced. I'd never pay more than $100 for a vintage mic transformer- even $100 is too much in my opinion. There so are many others that will give great tone. Even new transformers are great sounding. Check out Cinemag Transformers, the CMMI-8B3, CMMI-10B, CM-75101A are all good options. Sowter also makes a "A-11J Replacement" called the 1585. All priced below $100, I believe.
I'll say this about the Bogen transformer box I made- it's a warm, fuzzy tone that rolls off the high end, and a bit of the low. I don't use it as much as the new ones I make, but I do still use it sometimes. Usually, it just sounds "right." It does take more "makeup gain" than other transformers. Not a huge deal if you mic preamp sounds okay. If you can find the bogen T-200 for cheap(less than $20-$30) then it's worth putting together a little DI with it. Otherwise, I'd just buy a new transformer for $75 and the other parts(Less than $40 depending on the parts you use) and build one yourself. The guy who "invented" the wolf box, put up a schematic online, so you can easily find it. Even though the pad circuit looks cool, unless you play with active pickups, it's not really necessary. That cuts about $15 right there....
Good luck!
Hey, great video! Thinking of making one of these myself now :) Question though, is there a reason the enclosure has to be aluminum? Wouldn't a plastic box for instance negate the risk of the transformer and the metal case making contact?
Glad you liked the video! You could use a plastic case, but aluminum or steel will offer shielding around the open contacts in the underside of the transformer. Try a plastic case of you have one, it might not make a noticeable difference!
If you're worried about grounding out against a metal chassis, you could get creative with the cable insulation.
Thanks for this video - it's super great! Quick question though: where did you find that little enclosure? I've been looking around eBay for a while for old enclosures I could grab but not finding anything interesting. Is there something I should search for keyword-wise? Thanks again!
Thanks! Hmm, I got this as part of an ebay auction for an amplifier. I think if you look for switch box enclosure that could help. BUT, you could put this in a little guitar pedal enclosure which can be had for less than $10.
@@FrankOlsonTwins Thanks so much! ... I actually stumbled upon a pretty cool old phono preamp that's being sold as non-functional. The enclosure looks perfect, but I'll also check out the switch box enclosures and push come to shove, I have a few pedal enclosures I could use. Thanks again!
you bet!!
Nice! So, if I'm recording bass, can I connect the XLR out of the DI to the mic in of my interface as well?
Yes, exactly!
How sound compared to j48?
J48 is probably louder and a little cleaner than this bogen transformer
@@FrankOlsonTwins ok, I take it, j48 use better jensen transformer is the reason right?
yes, exactly.
I rehoused that same bogen transformer along with a few others and made a comparison video: th-cam.com/users/shortsArkaBonIaG0
I played the same loop through all 3 DI boxes, and then volume matched them. They do sound quite similar when volume matched, but the bogen was about 4 db quieter then the Jensen. The UTC was about 2 db quieter than the Jensen.
Can we use it for acoustic guitar?
Hmmm, that is a great question! I've never done so, but I think it would be a cool thing to try. I don't have an electric-acoustic, but I can't see why it wouldn't work? The impedance might be a bit higher if it's a transducer model(up to 100K) but the transformer should still work some magic. If you try it, please let me know!
Eso es lo quiero hacer
The performance of this equipment depends on the quality of the transformer, you should have indicated a transformer with good characteristics.
Indeed, caveat emptor.
Nice step by step build. And not to be too nitpicking, but, even though the sound seems overall tighter, I can't really tell for sure, because it appears that the channel gain was changed :/ but then again, we're compairing soun through youtube-compression...
The gain was raised a a few db to make up for the loss of the transformer, as an effort to give a similar volume and signal to noise ratio to the recorded signal. There isn't much tonal difference in the middle range of this preamp and in real world practice, I'd adjust the gain knob(as I did here) to make up the loss rather than boost the volume after recording.
Had I not increased the gain, noise would likely become an issue as I would have had to digitally boost the recorded signal. For this comparison, the gain isn't really the issue as in some other comparo's....
@@FrankOlsonTwins Ah, I see! Thanks for clarifying!
Tm-200 what???
Bogen TM-200 transformer. You can also use pretty much any "Mic Input" tranformer ever made. Just hook up the Secondaries to the input and the Primaries to the output...