I made a stupid mistake in this video. Pin 3 on the transformer should be connected to pin 3 on the xlr connector. The build instruction PDF is updated with the correct info.
I just ordered parts today to create a six channel reamp breakout box from a 13 pin Roland GK pickup. It will also support 5 simultaneous guitar synths such as the GR1, GR33, and VG88 that I currently own. All the plans I came across does not reamp the signal through any transformer as they claim the GK pickup is line level, but I am currently getting way too much ground noise from my 2nd gen focusrite 18i20 from the simple breakout cable I made last year to reamp on my vg88. The GR1 and GR33 produce no ground noise since they are not remodeling each string. I want to reamp from a daw to the VG88 primarily for its virtual guitar and pickup modeling to be additionally amped again by other various distortion pedals and primarily through two Mooer Radars impulse responses but may also use amp, cab and mic. Even though that the GK pickup does not have the highest quality pickups, I will be using various techniques utilizing this method in the final production of my songs before final compressions so that all guitar tracks perfectly mix with each songs own vibes. I like the 10k logrithmic pot and 50k linear pot and hope these will work with the VG88. I am going to construct with your suggested 600:600 transformer, resistor and capacitor. Since the GK pickup already suffers from not having high fidelity, I anticipate this transformer will be perfect, especially since I am putting six channels of reamping into the same box, but only one ground lift. I will also be using entirely 3 pin female xlr's, 6 in and 6 out. My box design will also be capable of bypassing the 13 pin cable for a standard 6 channel reamp box. I usually fade mix up to six distinct guitar tones on each guitar track as my songs use extreme dynamics of my distinct various heavily distorted guitar tones alongside symphony orchestra, rock guitars, acoustic guitars, choir, growl/scream vocals, clean vocals, electronic music, etc. which is mixed accordingly to each songs own signature vibe. I anticipate that lower pot levels, 12 in all, on reamping the VG88 and higher pot levels for standard amp, cab and mic reamping. Any advice?
In your video everything sounded fine without the reamp box. Why would you need one? Only cause of ground loops? And why would you need a volume pot? If it's too loud, turn it down in your DAW or your interface output, right? I don't get it.
Good question! It’s mostly to get the signal to enter a guitar amp in a correct way. The impedance difference between line signals and instrument signals can be wildly different. Sometimes it doesn’t affect the sound in a bad way, and it’s enough to bring the level down. Some times with certain amps and/or pedals it can sound really fucked up. In this case I guess I were lucky. And yes, as you say you can adjust the level elsewhere. I built this from an article I found. If I would make a new one now it would be without any unnecessary stuff to keep the signal as direct as possible.
soy de mexico, he buscado informacion de como hacer una, pero no habia encontrado nada "easy" pero este video se ve facil, tratare de hacerla / im from mexico, i search information of make DI, but no found anything easy, but your video see easy, i´ll try to make it
hey, great video! i think im going to build one of these but i dont really understand what the ohm output knob is for in practice. how do you know its at the right setting?
@@hoborec hi lol. Ok I will keep an eye out for your update.. I have a Sowter 3603 transformer to want to use. Just want to make sure about the wiring. If you know please let me know. Thx
I’m missing some points for sure. XLR balanced pinouts are: 1 ground or sleeve 2 signal 3 signal with inverted phase. If you connect 1 and 2 you’re actually talking about an unbalanced signal on input. Usually a daw is equipped with a sound card with balanced outputs. I think that you should connect pin 2 and 3 to the transformer and the pin 1 to a switch in order to cut away noise if necessary, usually marked as “Ground lift” on D.I. Boxes. I’ve made one with your instructions and sounds actually worse than straight line output into the amp. As said, I’m missing some points for sure.....
Hey, thanks. I made this out of an article in Classic Guitar magazine. I didn't think much of it since it worked for me and at least in my case it worked better than just going line directly to amp. I will make a revision on this and update the information.
If you check the updated PDF I guess you could just put a double pole on/on switch between the cables going in to the transformer. Or you can just flip the phase in your daw?
@@hoborec You are not connecting anything to pin 3 of the XLR which is the cold/negative pin of the balanced cable so you are only taking an unbalanced signal from the XLR. So yes you can use an unbalanced 1/4" jack instead of the xlr input, just connect the tip of the jack where pin 2 (hot) of the xlr connects and the sleeve of the jack where pin 1 (ground) of the XLR connects.
Sorry for the dumb question but would you be able to use a transformer with 4 pins instead of 6? E.g. connect pins 1, 2 ,3 and 4 instead of pins 1, 3 ,4 and 6?
That’s not a dumb question. If it’s a 600:600 transformer I guess it’s all good. I think the one I use is so that you can tap out at 300ohms if you want a step up or step down transformer.
thanks a lot for video bro, please can you help me? i cant find exactly which one is 600:600 audio transformer . can you give some link where can i find it ? because this item has lots of type.
I bought mine in a local shop here in sweden. It's a no brand transformer. Here's the link. www.electrokit.com/produkt/transformator-600-600-ohm/ Just google 600:600 isolation transformer. The one I used had six legs, but there are plenty with just four legs too.
@@hoborec bro i found two diferent kinds of this which one i need ? www.ebay.com/itm/10-Audio-Signal-Transformer-600-600-Ohm-Europe-1-1-EI14-Isolation-Transformer/402275709560?hash=item5da9803278:g:54AAAOSwdztezeOW www.ebay.com/itm/5pcs-600-600Ohm-1-1-Audio-Transfomer-Ferrite-Isolation-Trasformatori-Transformer/252429737989?hash=item3ac5fc2005:g:OxEAAOSwMNxXZVc4
Hey Ulf! Just curious what exactly would happen if I swapped the 680 resistor for another value, I only have a 360 and a 1k that are close to that value
I'm really curious would it matter if I use a 10k:10k transformer since its still a 1 to 1 ratio? I can't find any store that sells anything with 600:600 here in the Netherlands! Thanks in advance!
BoboButYouCanCallMeTom - I don’t think you want a 1:1 ratio, that’s a matching transformer I believe, you get out what you put in. You want (I think) a line to high impedance transformer, because the amp wants to see a guitar level Signal (high impedance) whereas your interface is putting out a low impedance (line level) Signal. I think you can can run a passive di back wards to do the same. The ratio is something like 1:12 or 12:1, I’m no expert but I’m pretty sure it’s not 1:1.
puedo usar un transformador como los que vienen dentro de los cargadores de telefonos o debe ser de un voltaje en especifico, quiero intentar hacer una re amp box para bajo electrico, que opinas?
HoboRec Recording Studios he’s asking “can you use a transformer like the ones inside a phone charger or should I use a specific voltage? I want to try and make a re amp box for electric bass, what do you think?”
Yeah was wondering that myself. The little transformer is 12 bucks at Digikey, most of the other stuff is cheap cheap, cept maybe the box. Probably $35 total in the US.
I made a stupid mistake in this video. Pin 3 on the transformer should be connected to pin 3 on the xlr connector. The build instruction PDF is updated with the correct info.
I've just built this thingamajig in a salsa jar and it worked perfectly! Thanks a ton!
I just ordered parts today to create a six channel reamp breakout box from a 13 pin Roland GK pickup. It will also support 5 simultaneous guitar synths such as the GR1, GR33, and VG88 that I currently own. All the plans I came across does not reamp the signal through any transformer as they claim the GK pickup is line level, but I am currently getting way too much ground noise from my 2nd gen focusrite 18i20 from the simple breakout cable I made last year to reamp on my vg88. The GR1 and GR33 produce no ground noise since they are not remodeling each string. I want to reamp from a daw to the VG88 primarily for its virtual guitar and pickup modeling to be additionally amped again by other various distortion pedals and primarily through two Mooer Radars impulse responses but may also use amp, cab and mic. Even though that the GK pickup does not have the highest quality pickups, I will be using various techniques utilizing this method in the final production of my songs before final compressions so that all guitar tracks perfectly mix with each songs own vibes.
I like the 10k logrithmic pot and 50k linear pot and hope these will work with the VG88. I am going to construct with your suggested 600:600 transformer, resistor and capacitor. Since the GK pickup already suffers from not having high fidelity, I anticipate this transformer will be perfect, especially since I am putting six channels of reamping into the same box, but only one ground lift. I will also be using entirely 3 pin female xlr's, 6 in and 6 out. My box design will also be capable of bypassing the 13 pin cable for a standard 6 channel reamp box. I usually fade mix up to six distinct guitar tones on each guitar track as my songs use extreme dynamics of my distinct various heavily distorted guitar tones alongside symphony orchestra, rock guitars, acoustic guitars, choir, growl/scream vocals, clean vocals, electronic music, etc. which is mixed accordingly to each songs own signature vibe.
I anticipate that lower pot levels, 12 in all, on reamping the VG88 and higher pot levels for standard amp, cab and mic reamping. Any advice?
In your video everything sounded fine without the reamp box. Why would you need one? Only cause of ground loops? And why would you need a volume pot? If it's too loud, turn it down in your DAW or your interface output, right? I don't get it.
Good question! It’s mostly to get the signal to enter a guitar amp in a correct way. The impedance difference between line signals and instrument signals can be wildly different. Sometimes it doesn’t affect the sound in a bad way, and it’s enough to bring the level down. Some times with certain amps and/or pedals it can sound really fucked up. In this case I guess I were lucky. And yes, as you say you can adjust the level elsewhere. I built this from an article I found. If I would make a new one now it would be without any unnecessary stuff to keep the signal as direct as possible.
Hi! Great video! Does it have to be an xlr? Can I use two mono jacks instead?
You can use what ever you want that fits your setup. But it should be a balanced trs in that case.
soy de mexico, he buscado informacion de como hacer una, pero no habia encontrado nada "easy" pero este video se ve facil, tratare de hacerla / im from mexico, i search information of make DI, but no found anything easy, but your video see easy, i´ll try to make it
For the audio transformer, i juat found the isolated audio transformer i don't if it will work or not, is this is the same thing??
hey, great video! i think im going to build one of these but i dont really understand what the ohm output knob is for in practice. how do you know its at the right setting?
Hi for the balanced xlr input how come it’s not pin 2(hot), pin 3(cold) connected to transformer ? Thx
Because I’m stupid. I’m working on an update for both the video and the pdf.
@@hoborec hi lol. Ok I will keep an eye out for your update.. I have a Sowter 3603 transformer to want to use. Just want to make sure about the wiring. If you know please let me know. Thx
PDF link seems to be dead. Can you update? Thank you
he is back, love it friend
I’m missing some points for sure.
XLR balanced pinouts are:
1 ground or sleeve
2 signal
3 signal with inverted phase.
If you connect 1 and 2 you’re actually talking about an unbalanced signal on input.
Usually a daw is equipped with a sound card with balanced outputs.
I think that you should connect pin 2 and 3 to the transformer and the pin 1 to a switch in order to cut away noise if necessary, usually marked as “Ground lift” on D.I. Boxes.
I’ve made one with your instructions and sounds actually worse than straight line output into the amp.
As said, I’m missing some points for sure.....
Hey, thanks. I made this out of an article in Classic Guitar magazine. I didn't think much of it since it worked for me and at least in my case it worked better than just going line directly to amp. I will make a revision on this and update the information.
should it be FEMALE XLR????
How to implement flip phase switch to that scheme please? Thanks
If you check the updated PDF I guess you could just put a double pole on/on switch between the cables going in to the transformer. Or you can just flip the phase in your daw?
Can’t say exactly what switch you need, but something that switch places between pin 2 and 3 on the xlr
this is the stuff I love....great video!
Great build! Can I swap the xlr for a 1/4" mono jack as well?
Hi, short answer is no. In that case a stereo jack, TSR. The purpose is to take a balanced line signal and turn it in to unbalanced instrument signal.
@@hoborec with one more transformer you might be able to add an unbalanced out as an extra component. Not sure how that would help tho.
@@hoborec You are not connecting anything to pin 3 of the XLR which is the cold/negative pin of the balanced cable so you are only taking an unbalanced signal from the XLR. So yes you can use an unbalanced 1/4" jack instead of the xlr input, just connect the tip of the jack where pin 2 (hot) of the xlr connects and the sleeve of the jack where pin 1 (ground) of the XLR connects.
Will a 620 Ohm resistor still work?
Sorry for the dumb question but would you be able to use a transformer with 4 pins instead of 6? E.g. connect pins 1, 2 ,3 and 4 instead of pins 1, 3 ,4 and 6?
That’s not a dumb question. If it’s a 600:600 transformer I guess it’s all good. I think the one I use is so that you can tap out at 300ohms if you want a step up or step down transformer.
@@hoborec Alright, thank you for the help :)
thanks a lot for video bro, please can you help me? i cant find exactly which one is 600:600 audio transformer
. can you give some link where can i find it ? because this item has lots of type.
I bought mine in a local shop here in sweden. It's a no brand transformer. Here's the link. www.electrokit.com/produkt/transformator-600-600-ohm/
Just google 600:600 isolation transformer. The one I used had six legs, but there are plenty with just four legs too.
@@hoborec thanks mate ❤️❤️ i saw them on google with 4 and 6 legs and because i asked,is there any difference between them ?
@@hoborec bro i found two diferent kinds of this which one i need ?
www.ebay.com/itm/10-Audio-Signal-Transformer-600-600-Ohm-Europe-1-1-EI14-Isolation-Transformer/402275709560?hash=item5da9803278:g:54AAAOSwdztezeOW
www.ebay.com/itm/5pcs-600-600Ohm-1-1-Audio-Transfomer-Ferrite-Isolation-Trasformatori-Transformer/252429737989?hash=item3ac5fc2005:g:OxEAAOSwMNxXZVc4
How necessarily is the 50k pot? I ordered all of the parts and accidentally got 2 10k pots. One linear and one logarithmic.
Hi, thanks very much for the video. I have already downloaded the PDF. Do you think a cheap modem transformer would work?
Hey Ulf! Just curious what exactly would happen if I swapped the 680 resistor for another value, I only have a 360 and a 1k that are close to that value
To be honest I’m not that gifted when it comes to these things. I would just try! Maybe try with both and see what difference it makes.
@@hoborec thanks buddy!
Well done...
Philip
NYC Area
Could i change the 50k to 100k?
Thnx for the video
Thanks sir for pdf 😊
I'm really curious would it matter if I use a 10k:10k transformer since its still a 1 to 1 ratio? I can't find any store that sells anything with 600:600 here in the Netherlands! Thanks in advance!
To be honest I don’t know. I’m not that electrically gifted 😅. Maybe someone else can answer that? Or try any of the diy Facebook groups
BoboButYouCanCallMeTom - I don’t think you want a 1:1 ratio, that’s a matching transformer I believe, you get out what you put in. You want (I think) a line to high impedance transformer, because the amp wants to see a guitar level Signal (high impedance) whereas your interface is putting out a low impedance (line level) Signal. I think you can can run a passive di back wards to do the same. The ratio is something like 1:12 or 12:1, I’m no expert but I’m pretty sure it’s not 1:1.
Kommer definitivt göra detta! Vart köpte du dina delar ifrån?
edit: electrokit?
Precis rätt!
puedo usar un transformador como los que vienen dentro de los cargadores de telefonos o debe ser de un voltaje en especifico, quiero intentar hacer una re amp box para bajo electrico, que opinas?
Can’t read Spanish, sorry.
HoboRec Recording Studios he’s asking “can you use a transformer like the ones inside a phone charger or should I use a specific voltage? I want to try and make a re amp box for electric bass, what do you think?”
Mine doesn't work
Omg! Definitely gonna make one!
Hello friend, you forgot to say that the box acts as a ground.
lots of things I forgot to say here haha. Probably time for a new video
Yes.
Thank you!!
About $200? More like $20 I think :P
fuuuck, messed up the conversion. Haha thanks for clarifying. Can’t change that now 😓
HoboRec Recording Studios hahaha. I figured, just had to be a bit difficult ;)
Yeah was wondering that myself. The little transformer is 12 bucks at Digikey, most of the other stuff is cheap cheap, cept maybe the box. Probably $35 total in the US.
nice
your link .. is broke
Yes, I have some issues with the server right now. I’ll get an e-mail out when it’s up and running again.
E du svensk eller? :D
Haha jarå
@@hoborec Sjysst :) Jag e finne. Kan du skicka schematics på den där?
Christian Piat
1:38 "really cheap"
>$200
Mmmm yeah. I ment $20 🤷♂️
HoboRec Recording Studios you should correct that! It almost made me leave the video
Nosering is too distracting. Makes me think of snot.