Tone Control

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This simple tone control can be used in may audio applications. It can be added to amplifers, used as a stand alone control module, or even built into new and exciting instruments. It's one IC construction makes it a very compact circuit, as only a few support components are required. Plus, it does not use a dual power supply. This means that the circuit will run from 9V to 15V (although the bass will be a little weak at 9V). The circuit is by Robert Barg and originally appeared in the Think Tank column of the May 1998 issue of Popular Electronics.

Schematic

Parts

Part	Total Qty.	Description	Substitutions
C1, C3, C5, C7, C15, C16	6	2.2uf Electrolytic Capacitor
C2, C6	2	0.05uF Ceramic Disc Capacitor
C4	1	0.22uF Disc Capacitor
C8, C10	2	0.015uF Ceramic Disc Capacitor
C9	1	100uF Electrolytic Capacitor
C11, C12, C13, C14	4	0.1uF Ceramic Disc Capacitor
R1, R4	2	10K 1/4W Resistor
R2, R5	2	33K 1/4W Resistor
R3, R6	2	4.7K 1/4W Resistor
R7	1	2.2K 1/4W Resistor
R8, R9, R10, R11	4	50K Linear Pot
U1	1	TDA1524A Tone Control IC
S1	1	SPST Switch
J1, J2, J3, J4	4	RCA Jacks	Other connectors of your choice
MISC	1	Board, Wire, Knobs, 18 Pin Socket

Notes

S1 is a contour control. Volume is controlled by R11. Balance is controlled by R10. R9 and R8 control bass and treble, respectivly.

J1 is the left input, J4 is the right input. J2 is the left output, J3 is the right output.

The circuit is designed to accept line level or mic level inputs. if you are going to be using a stronger signal, a voltage divider will be necessary to cut it down to proper levels.

You can, of course, skip J1-J4 if you plan to integrate this circuit into another.

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Comments

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anonymous Tone Control Monday, July 19, 2010 2:13:38 AM

this input captain trnsformer is most likely applicable to andy collinson's baxandall tone control cicuit.just parallel the input captain transformer to the 2nd stage transistors emitter,and the other terminal of the input captain to the ground.remember the input captain transformer has five terminals.one side has 2terminals and the other side has 3terminals.just chose 2terminals per side.and the other side is of no use.also parallel your input captain transformer with .01uf -.1uf mylar capacitor for brilliant treble effect.....the effect of this input captain transformer is a rubberlike and extremely deep bass effect.

julius c.horfilla Tone Control Tuesday, July 13, 2010 5:56:48 AM

my advice,when incorporating an input captain transformer to your tone control circuit , try puting a switch in series with it.it really works, a very deep and a rubberlike bass effect.and for a brilliant tweeter effect .also parallel your input captain transformer with a mylar capacitor rated at .05uf-.2uf/50v.try different combinations,experiment.

julius c.horfilla Tone Control Monday, June 07, 2010 6:48:02 AM

for perfect tweeter series filter capacitor use .5uf-2.2uf /50v non polar or mylar 630v capacitor for horn/dome tweeter. .22uf-.5uf /50v non polar or 630v mylar capacitor for piezo electric tweeter specially motorolla.and parallel your tweeter an inductor/coil directly.the data for the coil is 50-130 turns#24 magnetwire on a 5/16"diameter 4.5"long ferrite bar or your old junk A.M.radio ferrite bar.

julius c.horfilla Tone Control Wednesday, November 25, 2009 2:12:03 AM

the perfect filter capacitor for any tweeter is .5uf-2.2uf/50v non-polar capacitor and parallel your tweeter directly with an inductor or coil.the data of the coil is approximately 50-120 turns #24 magnet wire on 5/16"diameter 5"-7"long ferrite bar, available at any electronic stores.

julius c. horfilla Tone Control Sunday, November 01, 2009 11:13:53 PM

this input captain transformer colored blue enhances bass effect to any tone control circuit,transistorized or I.C.type tone control ciruit provided it matches the design. for best results parallel it with .1uf - .2uf mylar capacitor for sharp tweeter effect.

julius c.horfilla Tone Control Tuesday, October 13, 2009 4:23:47 AM

one thing that i can advice when using this input captain transformer to improve the performance of any tone control circuit,transistorized or ic design.is to keep it away to a radiating electromagnetic attractio n coming from the power transformer.anywhere you put inside on your audio system or amplifier chassis as long as it will not attract the radiating force of the power transformer.better you connect a long wire to put your input captain in a distance where you could hear a zero presence of humming in audio.but not very far.if you get the perfect location then you excellent results.

julius c.horfilla Tone Control Sunday, October 11, 2009 10:00:08 PM

this input captain transformer not only applicable to enhance the bass effect of any transistorized tone control circuit but also to i.c. circuit provided it matches the design of the circuit.

julius c.horfilla Tone Control Sunday, October 11, 2009 6:32:34 AM

to trimmed up the sharp effect of your tweeter. use 1-2uf/50v non polar series filter capacitor...and parallel your tweeter directly with an inductor or a coil.the data of a coil is around more or less 120 turns #24 magnetwire on a ferrite antenna bar approximately 3/8'' diameter 5''-7''long.you can experiment it by adding or reducing the number of turns of coil.depending on your taste.

anonymous Tone Control Friday, September 18, 2009 1:29:48 PM

This Tone Control looks very cool. Thanks for sharing!

julius c.horfilla Tone Control Wednesday, August 26, 2009 2:17:57 AM

to boost bass effect to any transistorized tone control circuit,you can use input captain transformer connected to the emitter of the npn transistor and the other terminal of input captain transformer to the ground.you can also parallel a .1uf-.2uf mylar capacitor for sharp treble effect.......to double the effect of the input captain transformer you can parallel two input captain transformer for full bass rubberlike effect....this input captain transfomer is available here in cebu city,philippines.this is what our local audio fanatics are doing here in cebu.

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anonymous	Tone Control	Monday, July 19, 2010 2:13:38 AM
this input captain trnsformer is most likely applicable to andy collinson's baxandall tone control cicuit.just parallel the input captain transformer to the 2nd stage transistors emitter,and the other terminal of the input captain to the ground.remember the input captain transformer has five terminals.one side has 2terminals and the other side has 3terminals.just chose 2terminals per side.and the other side is of no use.also parallel your input captain transformer with .01uf -.1uf mylar capacitor for brilliant treble effect.....the effect of this input captain transformer is a rubberlike and extremely deep bass effect.
julius c.horfilla	Tone Control	Tuesday, July 13, 2010 5:56:48 AM
my advice,when incorporating an input captain transformer to your tone control circuit , try puting a switch in series with it.it really works, a very deep and a rubberlike bass effect.and for a brilliant tweeter effect .also parallel your input captain transformer with a mylar capacitor rated at .05uf-.2uf/50v.try different combinations,experiment.
julius c.horfilla	Tone Control	Monday, June 07, 2010 6:48:02 AM
for perfect tweeter series filter capacitor use .5uf-2.2uf /50v non polar or mylar 630v capacitor for horn/dome tweeter. .22uf-.5uf /50v non polar or 630v mylar capacitor for piezo electric tweeter specially motorolla.and parallel your tweeter an inductor/coil directly.the data for the coil is 50-130 turns#24 magnetwire on a 5/16"diameter 4.5"long ferrite bar or your old junk A.M.radio ferrite bar.
julius c.horfilla	Tone Control	Wednesday, November 25, 2009 2:12:03 AM
the perfect filter capacitor for any tweeter is .5uf-2.2uf/50v non-polar capacitor and parallel your tweeter directly with an inductor or coil.the data of the coil is approximately 50-120 turns #24 magnet wire on 5/16"diameter 5"-7"long ferrite bar, available at any electronic stores.
julius c. horfilla	Tone Control	Sunday, November 01, 2009 11:13:53 PM
this input captain transformer colored blue enhances bass effect to any tone control circuit,transistorized or I.C.type tone control ciruit provided it matches the design. for best results parallel it with .1uf - .2uf mylar capacitor for sharp tweeter effect.
julius c.horfilla	Tone Control	Tuesday, October 13, 2009 4:23:47 AM
one thing that i can advice when using this input captain transformer to improve the performance of any tone control circuit,transistorized or ic design.is to keep it away to a radiating electromagnetic attractio n coming from the power transformer.anywhere you put inside on your audio system or amplifier chassis as long as it will not attract the radiating force of the power transformer.better you connect a long wire to put your input captain in a distance where you could hear a zero presence of humming in audio.but not very far.if you get the perfect location then you excellent results.
julius c.horfilla	Tone Control	Sunday, October 11, 2009 10:00:08 PM
this input captain transformer not only applicable to enhance the bass effect of any transistorized tone control circuit but also to i.c. circuit provided it matches the design of the circuit.
julius c.horfilla	Tone Control	Sunday, October 11, 2009 6:32:34 AM
to trimmed up the sharp effect of your tweeter. use 1-2uf/50v non polar series filter capacitor...and parallel your tweeter directly with an inductor or a coil.the data of a coil is around more or less 120 turns #24 magnetwire on a ferrite antenna bar approximately 3/8'' diameter 5''-7''long.you can experiment it by adding or reducing the number of turns of coil.depending on your taste.
anonymous	Tone Control	Friday, September 18, 2009 1:29:48 PM
This Tone Control looks very cool. Thanks for sharing!
julius c.horfilla	Tone Control	Wednesday, August 26, 2009 2:17:57 AM
to boost bass effect to any transistorized tone control circuit,you can use input captain transformer connected to the emitter of the npn transistor and the other terminal of input captain transformer to the ground.you can also parallel a .1uf-.2uf mylar capacitor for sharp treble effect.......to double the effect of the input captain transformer you can parallel two input captain transformer for full bass rubberlike effect....this input captain transfomer is available here in cebu city,philippines.this is what our local audio fanatics are doing here in cebu.