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TK Audio Transformer – Harmonic Generator & Colour Box

The ultimate harmonic generator and colour box, designed to infuse your recordings and mixes with rich analog warmth, punch, and depth. The TK Audio Transformer features three unique harmonic stages – Transformer Saturation, Passive Saturation, and an active Germanium Circuit – this versatile tool allows you to shape your sound with precision. The Class-A transformer-coupled stage delivers a bold, vintage tone inspired by classic British consoles of the ‘70s, while the M/S function enables separate processing of mid and side channels for a fully immersive mix. Whether you’re adding subtle warmth or heavy saturation, the TK Audio Transformer is a must-have for producers and mix engineers seeking true analog character.

Categories: Effects Processing, Harmonizers & Vocal Processors, OUTBOARD Brand: TK Audio

Brands: TK Audio

Description

TK Audio Transformer – Harmonic Generator & Colour Box

OVERVIEW

The Transformer is a recording and mixing tool that transforms your sound by using several different harmonic stages. The unit is divided into two sections, a harmonic generating section and a transformer coupled Class-A stage with a punchy, vintage tone. If you’re working mostly in the box this is the perfect tool to add some analog warmth, punch and colour to your sound/mix.

The first section contains three different harmonic stages; a transformer saturation stage, a passive saturation/clipping stage and an active germanium circuit. These three stages does not only generate different kinds of harmonics, they also shape the tone curve in different ways. With a blend function you can blend in the desired amount of harmonics. You can also choose to process the mid and side channels separately by activating the M/S function. The second section is a selectable vintage transformer coupled class-A stage.

KEY HIGHLIGHTS

Transformer saturation circuit that adds low-end harmonics and a low-end bump.

Passive saturation circuit that adds a lot of odd and even harmonics.

Active germanium stage with a vintage sound and a mix of harmonics.

Class-A stage with a pleasant British 70’s sound.

M/S function for separate processing of the mid and side channels.

Illuminated switches and detented potentiometers for easy recall.

IN DEPTH LOOK

TX Drive is the first harmonics stage, which is a transformer saturation circuit. With a single control you can vary the amount of transformer saturation and still keep the level constant.

The circuit generates around 1% of harmonics (distortion) in the low-end and a gentle amount of higher harmonics. It also adds a 2dB bump in the low-end around 30Hz. By turning the drive control the bump level and higher harmonics decreases, the low-end harmonics stays around 1%.

(The first picture below shows the Harmonic Distortion curve, the second picture shows the Frequency curve.)

Gain

The TX drive is followed by a gain control so you can drive the following Sat and Ge stages harder for more harmonics.

Sat

The second stage is a passive saturation circuit which adds a lot of odd harmonics and by engaging the Even switch it also adds even harmonics. The harmonic amount depends on how hard the stage is driven.

(The first picture below shows the Saturation active and mostly odd harmonics added, the second picture shows that when Even is engaged it adds even harmonics.)

The third stage is an active Germanium stage that adds more even than odd harmonics. It has a pleasant vintage sound with it’s mix of harmonics and a soft high-end. Like the previous stage the amount of harmonics depend on how hard it’s driven.

(The first picture below shows the Germanium stage frequency curve, the second picture shows the Germanium stage harmonics.)

Output Trim

The Sat and Ge stages are followed by an output trim to fine adjust the level before it enters the blend control.

Blend

With the Blend control you can blend the harmonics stages signal with the dry signal.

M/S

An M/S function is provided so you can process the Mid and Side channels separately with different harmonic circuits. As an example you can use the TX drive on the mid channel for more low-end harmonics and the Sat and Ge stages for more harmonics on the side channel.

The class-A stage can’t be used in M/S as it’s placed after the M/S encoder/decoder!

Class-A

The Blend control and M/S function are followed by a selectable transformer coupled Class-A stage that adds a fat and punchy sound with mid-character and a silky top end associated with the British class-A from the early ’70s.

This stage also has a HF boost function that adds a small amount of air to the sound when activated.

(The picture below shows the Class-A stage frequency curve with and without the HF function activated.)