PASSIVE TON E CONTROL

Defln'tlon: The passive tone control changes the tonal

quality ot an instrument by putting a ~ or dip in
response, at various places in the midrange area ot the
audio spectrum. It is cal led "passive" because it re-
quires no source ot power tor operation.
(b)
Figure 5-20
(a) Passive tone control mounted in a small box.
(b) The insides o[ this project.
Background:
This profect uses an electronic component called an in-
ductor. In most modem circuits, inductors have been
eliminated in favor of op amp circuits that simulate the
properties of an inductor. Nonetheless, for many years
inductor/capacitor combinations were the backbone of
audio ji'ltering circuits; and the same combination forms
the basis of this project, too.
Features
. No power required
. No semiconductor noise
. Choice of 10 different notch frequencies
. Adjustable notch depth
. Very low cost
. Easy to mount inside guitar or keyboard instrument
Construction Tips
I used a smalI, transistor radio transformer to implement
TI (available from Mouser Electronics; see parts list for
specs). Any other transformer with the same specs will
do. With this type oftransformer, one side will be called
the primary (usually indicated with a printed designation
like the letter "P"), and the other side the secondary. We
use the primary wires only and leave the secondary wires
unconnected.
If you can't find a suitable transformer, obtain twa
standard 2.5- to 3-henry (a henry, abbreviated H, is the
unit of inductance). Connect one of these inductors be-
tween pads F and H on the circuit board (inductors have
only twa connections, so you can't go wrong), and con-
nect the other one between pads H and J.
Keep Tl out of the war of strong AC field s, like those
generated by power transformers, as inductors can pick
up hum.
Shield the wires going from pad I and O to the twa
jacks.
Level oC DiCficuty: Beginner.
~.
Using the Passive Tone Control
Plug your instrument into Jl, and patch J2 to an amp.
Tum the depth control fun clockwise, S2 to [uli coil,
play your instrument, and rotate the [requency switch
throughout its lange. Each position should give a dif-
ferent sound. Experiment with the depth control as you
listen. Now, repeat the same serie s of experiments willi
SI in the half coil position.
This circuit gives a lot mOle flexibiity than the stan-
dard treble-cut tone fIlter found on most guitars, ret it
does not add noise or require batteries that could fai at
embarrassing moments.
Modifications
. Bass players may "tune" this circuit one octave
laweT by doubling the values of C l - C5.
. One of SI 's positions is unconnected, which cuts
the inductor/capacitor combination out of the audio
palli and eliminates the need for a bypass switch. If de-
sired, this unconnected switch position could also con-
nect to another tuning capacitor (say, O.OO5.uF) instead.
. You may elminate the depth control by shorting
pad J to ground.
In Case of Difficulty
. Volume lass through the circuit: There is nothing
you can do about this, since a little bit of lass is the
tradeoff for not including any active circuits or rower
supply. Feeding the passive tone control output to a
device willi a high-impedance input minimizes this lass.
. Changing SI has little effect: Make SUTe Tl is
hooked up correctly. Check all ground connections.
. Hum: Change the orientation of the transformer
or inductor away from AC fields. Check all ground con-
nections.
How it Works
Inductor Tl and the capacitor selected by SI make up what is known as a
resonant circuit, which will pass same frequencies but not pthers. For ex-
ample. if the inductor/capacitor combination bas a re sonant frequency of
1000Hz, then it will pass 1000Hz signals; however, signals that ale laweT
or higher in frequency will not pass through the inductor/capacitor combi-
nation.
Looking at the schematic, we can simplify it and see that basically what
we have is the inductor/capacitor: combination draped across the signalline
to ground. If, for example, this combination bas a 1000Hz re sonant fre-
quency, then a 1000Hz signal passed through the tone control will go
directly to ground (since the inductor/capacitor combination can easily
pass this signal), so it will not make its war to the output and we won't
beaT it. 'Other signals above and below 1000Hz will be rejected by the
tuned circuit and not go to ground, so they are free to continue on to the
output.
Changing the resonant frequency (by changing either SI or S2) alters
the ton al effect by shunting other frequency bands to ground. In practice,
a filter like ibis is not ideally selective; gO, willi a resonant frequency of
1000Hz, although it willlet through 1000Hz signals the most easily, it will
also let through signals close to that frequency by lesser amounts. This is
considered a broad notch in frequency response, as opposed to a steep
notch in the response. Steep notches are difficult to create, but luckily for
us, broad notches ale mOle musically useful when modifying instruments
than steep notches in virtually all applications.
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Specifications
Current consumption: OmA
Resonant frequency chart (alI frequencies in Hz):
Switch position (SI) S2 half coil S2 fulI coil
I 1015 540
2 755 380
3 560 240
4 430 170
5 260 107
Headroom tl5V
Figure 5-21
Artwark for the fa il side of the board, shown 1 to 1.
o o
e
o o
-
8m
o o
Figure 5-22
ComjJonent layout for the passive tone control.
8m
.-
oc
e
..J H F E D C B A o
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I
NC = no connection
Project No. 3 PARTS LIST
Resistors
Rl
R2
47k, 1/4W, lO%tolerance
SOk linear taper pot-controls depth
Capacitors (rated IOV or more; mylar preferred, disc acceptable)
CI O.OIIJF
C2 O.O21JF-
C3 O.OSIJF
C4 O.11JF
CS O.221JF
Inductor
Tl 5- to 6-H center-tapped inductor (see text).
Mechanical Parts
Jl,J2
SI
S2
Misc.
Open circuit 1/4" phone jack
SP6T rotary switch
SPDT toggle switch
Knobs, case, circuit board, wire, solder, etc
*Tl is available flam Mouser Electronics (see Chapter 2), stock number 42TM.
019. Its specs ale: primary impedance, lOk at 1Hz; seccondary impedance,
600n at 1kHz. Prim ary OC resistance, 600n; secondary OC resistance, lODU
Calectro also makes an equivalent audio driver transformer; the part number is
Dl-?ll.
76