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- AUDIO TONE CONTROL CALCULATOR BY ROD ORMSTON ,4/91.
- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
-
-
- TONECTRL:
- ~~~~~~~~~
- This program quickly works out the component values for the standard
- Baxandall tone control circuit. By eliminating a lot of very tedious
- calculator work, it is possible to experiment with many different
- combinations and examine the effect that changes in the value of one
- component has on others, etc. Component values are selected from the E24
- series for resistors (10,11,12,13,15,16, etc) and from the E12 series for
- capacitors (10,12,15,18,22,27,...). A print option is included and a
- circuit diagram can be displayed on screen. Program does not work in low
- resolution.
-
-
- GENERAL INFO.:
- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- The Baxandall configuration dates back to the 1950's, and is almost
- universally used in tone control circuits in one form or another.
-
- The program requires values for the following:
-
- * Resistance values for RV1 (Bass pot.) and R3 (see later).
- Both are entered in kilohms.
-
- * The frequencies at which the Bass and Treble pots. have
- greatest effect (boost/cut) - in Hz for Bass and kHz for Treble.
-
- * The gain (i.e., maximum boost or cut). This may also be
- specified in decibels (dB) if 'dB' is typed in (not case
- sensitive) following the figure.
-
- The first figure to be entered is for RV1. If instead, 'q' (QUIT) is
- entered, the program terminates. If 'd' (DIAGRAM) is entered, the tone
- control circuit is shown on screen (Use ALT-HELP to print it) - press any
- other key to continue.
-
- Each set of results will be printed if a positive response is given to
- the prompt at the beginning of the program. Note that condensed print is
- selected, and horizontal tab stops are set at every ninth column.
-
-
- IN PRACTICE...
- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- A typical starting value for RV1 (Bass) is 100K, and R3 could be upto
- 12K. Note carefully that the program calculates a minimum value for the
- treble pot., RV2. The minimum is directly affected by the value of R3
- and to some extent by RV1. Try varying the value of R3 so that the
- minimum value specified for RV2 is CLOSE to a standard value, bearing in
- mind that most pots. have +/- 20% tolerance. So if your pot. is going to
- be 220K, you could adjust R3 so that the minimum specified for RV2 is
- about 175K.
-
- It is suggested that 220K is probably the MAXIMUM value you would want to
- employ for RV2 as 470K pots. may get a bit 'scratchy' after a few years
- use. Note that if the pot. value used is way above the minimum specified
- by the program, there will be greatest effect (boost/cut) near to the
- ends of the pot's. rotation rather than an even spread.
-
-
- FREQUENCY RESPONSE:
- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- The frequency values entered are the points at which the response of the
- controls peak (in either boost or cut). The actual effect extends to
- the 'corner' or 3dB points where the graph of the gain response has just
- broken away from the flat, rising to +3db in boost or falling to -3dB in
- cut. The 3dB points are at frequencies about a factor of ten above and
- below the peak point.
-
-
- BUILDING THE CIRCUIT:
- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- The circuit drawn by the program includes an Op-Amp.-buffered input to
- provide a low driver impedance for the tone controls - a driver with high
- output impedance would alter the tone control characteristics.
-
- Use a low noise, low distortion op-amp. like TL071/72. Alternatively,
- LF351/53. DON'T use a 741 or 1458, etc!!!
-
- It is advisable, particularly if a stereo version is being built, to make
- a PCB and use PCB-mounting pots rather than stripboard and separate pots.
- as the latter arrangement will be very susceptible to noise and hum
- pickup.
-
- Written with GFA Basic V2.
-
- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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