Bogner Burnely - Rupert Neve transformer???

[bsas]

Hi,

I just saw this pedal:
https://www.andertons.co.uk/bogner-burnely-distortion-pedal-burnley

And I am honestly confused. If the power input of the pedal is a 9V DC, why the hell the pedal needs a transformer? Not just that, but this pedal whole claim is to have a very complex and custom designed Rupert Neve "transformer" on it. But, if the pedal runs on DC power, why???

Please explain me, I am probably missing something very dumb here... :(

Thanks!

[Ciaran Haslett]

Without a schematic its hard to tell.  But this transformer has nothing to do with the power supply.

I assume there's a small signal transformer after a gain (amplifier) stage that's being driven to saturation. The classic example of this is probably the tycobrahe octavia circuit.  More recently here we saw the same thing with the Hudson Broadcast on this forum.

Basically, push a large enough AC signal through a transformer and it will distort/add/remove harmonics.  I use passive DI's on keys on sound gigs to take advantage of this saturation.  Makes a digital piano sound a bit more interesting

[traktop]

Ciaran Haslett wrote

 I use passive DI's on keys on sound gigs to take advantage of this saturation.  Makes a digital piano sound a bit more interesting

I was thinking on something to put right after synthesizers, so I´m interested on this.
You mean you get that saturation from the DI itself? From the mixer?
Any DI recommendation?
Cheers, Gilberto.

[Ciaran Haslett]

Saturation/filtering right from the DI yes.  I get the keys player to hit it with plenty of volume then pad the desk preamp.  Any saturation comes solely from the transformer when used like this.  

If you can get your hands on them check out the old Whirlwind Imp di boxes.  I'll take one apart when I'm out again and try to get the trafo model/measurements

[traktop]

That would be great, thanks!