noob with a couple questions

Hello

I just joined this forum here after being directed to it from a fellow recording.org member.

I have not built any of my own equipment but became interested in checking this out when reading about Bill Putnam's life and how those guys, when not satisfied with equipment they had at the time, would basically create these classis's we now have.

that being said i had no IDEA there was such a DIY community for Recording Studio Gear, especially based on some of the classic gear.

I just purchased an Avalon M5 Pre amp, and an Avalon 747sp which set me back a good 3700 bucks and i was bummin cause i wanted an 1176 UA also. that began my reading on Bill Putnam and thus led to my discovery of DIY places.

So what i am looking at doing is trying my hand at one of the DIY projects i have found on the web. i was looking at a DIY Neve 1272 that one of my forum friends showed me.

I am NOT the engineer here though, i am the one with the home recording studio, basically the musician. the nice thing is i am going to try this with my Dad and a friend. My Friend is an electrical engineer, and my dad is an old solid state physicist retired from 30+ years at westinghouse and they are both really into trying something with me. So it will be a fun and bonding time too.

sorry for the rambling so here are a couple of questions

1) can someone recommend PC based data aquisition tools? maybe from this site or wherever??

http://www.instrument.com/pci/index.asp

2) My dad was saying that in the old days they used oscilloscopes and signal generators, is this the best way to go over the PC stuff?? if so what is a good brand/price for an oscilloscope and signal generator today?? is eBay a viable place to get this??

3) i have found alot of stuff on the classic gear (LA-2A, 1176, Fairchild 670 etc) has anyone ever done something based on the Avalon 2055 or any avalon product?

4) I would like to do an EQ, has anyone done this? do you have a link or pics i could check out?

thanks for the great site and all the info

Hi Trock,

Welcome to "The Lab"

If you put your location in your profile, more people will be able to help you with geographically-specific questions.

1) can someone recommend PC based data aquisition tools? maybe from this site or wherever??

Click to expand...

Take a look at AudioTester: http://www.sumuller.de/audiotester/maine.htm

2) My dad was saying that in the old days they used oscilloscopes and signal generators, is this the best way to go over the PC stuff?? if so what is a good brand/price for an oscilloscope and signal generator today?? is eBay a viable place to get this??

Click to expand...

Yes, an oscilloscope is an extremely valuable tool for these types of projects. Brands are not that important. You'd need specs like 5MHz and 5mV/div - not much more. A second-hand one shouldn't set you back more than maybe 100-150usd. An audio signal generator is also a very handy tool, but you may come a long way with using your computer as a sound source with e.g. a program like above-mentioned AudioTester.

3) i have found alot of stuff on the classic gear (LA-2A, 1176, Fairchild 670 etc) has anyone ever done something based on the Avalon 2055 or any avalon product?

Click to expand...

If you find a schematic for one of these, we'll surely look into it..

4) I would like to do an EQ, has anyone done this? do you have a link or pics i could check out?

Click to expand...

Yes - several types. Pultec, Sontec, Calrec to name a few..

Be sure to check the links in the first post on the main page - named Meta-meta ( http://www.groupdiy.com/index.php?topic=1277 ). This contains sorted links to the important stuff around here.

Jakob E

Hi Trock
Welcome to the DIY colony

Pultec and Calrec EQ DIY projects can be found at Gyrafs Site: www.gyraf.dk
If you check the black market in our forum you will find some people selling PCBs for those projects. If there are parts that you can´t find just ask there. Mostly you get help, advice or even the parts.
There are Metas especially for noobs with loads of information:
http://www.groupdiy.com/index.php?topic=349
Have fun and share your Avalon with us. Got some pics from inside?


:grin:
cheers
Jens :thumb:

For a DIY option on the Avalon Mastering EQ do have a look at the Sontec EQ - do a search on Sontec within the forum

Hi everyone

first i updated my profile.

second i will be checking much more on this page and especially where you all just directed me, i find this fascinating. I never thought about trying to build something myself. that really blows me away that you guys (or gals) really do this and get the results you do. I could never do this without my Dad and my friend, they understand the schematics, the math, all the stuff you are talking about etc. i am finding it neat to read this though and learn.

If anyone is interested in the Avalon 747sp inside shots or M5, i just took some and had sent them to my dad so he could see them.

i was trying to get the M5 out of my rack for the same thing but i stripped a screw and have to drill that out to get it out, however when it is out i will take pics

that leads to these questions, and i am really asking cause i do not know

1) how would i post pics? is there a big interest in avalon stuff?

2) Is there anything wrong with posting pics of the insides?? i don't want to break any laws but am very willing to share anything i have if it is all legit.

3) can someone recommend a good place to buy an oscilliscope then??

[quote author="trock"]1) how would i post pics?[/quote]

Read the stickies at the top of the lab

[quote author="trock"]is there a big interest in avalon stuff?[/quote]

Sure! I'm interested!

[quote author="trock"]Is there anything wrong with posting pics of the insides?? i don't want to break any laws but am very willing to share anything i have if it is all legit.[/quote]

Post away! There's no legal issues.

[quote author="trock"]can someone recommend a good place to buy an oscilliscope then??[/quote]

Ebay. People have discussed O-scopes here before... do a search.

Welcome aboard! :thumb:

Peace,
Al.

damn

my first mistake, i just looked over the link you sent my on audiotester and see it is an oscilliscope also.

thanks!

1) how would i post pics? is there a big interest in avalon stuff?

Click to expand...

http://groupdiy.twin-x.com/index.php - get an account, and use it for stuff that is related to this forum. And yes, it would be nice to see some pics. But a schematic would be the best, if possible :grin:

2) Is there anything wrong with posting pics of the insides?? i don't want to break any laws but am very willing to share anything i have if it is all legit.

Click to expand...

You can post photographs of almost anything vithout violating any laws. Excluding humans and military secrets, methinks. You can even post the schematic if you redraw it yourself...

Jakob E.

ok

at work now, but will read on posting pics and all the stuff you want a noob to read before posting redundant questions

tonight when i get home i will post the 3 inside shots i have of the 747sp

please let me know if they are not what is needed and i will take more based on what i am instructed.

that also being said, that sucker is HEAVY and a pain to unrack and re rack so when i take more please tell me ALL the shots you need so i don't have to keep redoing

also will post the M5 shots once i get that out of the Rack

i also have a TC electronix M3000, is reverb a DIY option?? if so that one is easy to take out

thanks again and will be back later tonight with pics

..is reverb a DIY option?

Click to expand...

Nope...

The M3000 as far as I remember is a digital reverb that has a number of specialised algorithms on a chip
That will be pretty difficult to even attempt at DIYing
Spring and plate reverbs however are a different thing - Definately DIYable - and various sites out there on doing it

hey

thanks for all the fast and great responses. Before i head off and read all this stuff on the forum i did want to ask all of your opinions on what i chose for my first project?? in terms of a "doable" first go is this considered an easy, mid level, or advanced?

http://www.fivefish.net/diy/neve1272/default.htm


and should i do something else if so??

I am looking at a stereo pre amp, a comp, and Eq, and even maybe combining into a "all in one" like the 737sp, or the Pendulum Quartet. those are my long term goals basing some of the projects on an LA-2A, Fairchild 670, UA1176. might as well shoot for the stars.

thanks

[quote author="trock"] in terms of a "doable" first go is this considered an easy, mid level, or advanced?

http://www.fivefish.net/diy/neve1272/default.htm[/quote]
That looks like someone (owel?) who bought the PCBs (printed circuit boards) from Seventh Circle Audio. Click on N72, it's a 1272 clone that a ton of people have built with little to no soldering or DIY experience. Tim provides detailed instructions, photos, and a complete kit with all the parts so it's hard to mess up. This has often been recommended as a first project - that or his A12 preamp (API 312 clone) which is even simpler. At first glance you may think the prices are a bit high but beware that there's very little money (but a whole lot of time and headaches!!!) to be saved by sourcing all the parts yourself. As I've spent most of my free time in the past 1.5 months doing R&D (research and design) for my own DIY 1272 from scratch (I'll post plans soon) I can tell you there's not much to be gained from this route. The nearest commercially available units would be the Vintech 1272 or the Dan Alexander Class A for $1239 and #1279 USD respectively.

The Neve 1272 and API 312 are preamps that have been DIY'd so many times the work is already done for you so it's definately a good place to start.

Trock, I have some compressor and eq stuff up at my site and complete instructions if your interested in building a T4 module for an LA2a compressor.

Here:

www.vacuumbrain.com

:guinness:

Welcome to the lab!

Firstly... Welcome!

Secondly...

is reverb a DIY option?

Click to expand...

Digital reverb may be out (although I've seen some interesting chip makers lately that may make it worth trying) but I've seen articles on DIY plate reverbs. Not much electronics involved really but could be fun if you have a spare closet

cheers,
kent

Does anyone know of any equivilant testing software for mac? (audioTester is pc only).
Is a software osilloscope a good idea, or should i get hardware?

[quote author="Brian"]Does anyone know of any equivilant testing software for mac? (audioTester is pc only).[/quote]

Mac the scope.

[quote author="Brian"]Is a software osilloscope a good idea[/quote]

Short answer: no.

Peace,
Al.

as promised

back and just figured out how to post the Avalon 747sp Inside pics

they are up now on

http://groupdiy.twin-x.com/index.php

please let me know what else might be needed.

thanks again for all the help

am looking at the Neve 1272 now to start my DIY from owel's site

i am however hoping to utilize idea's etc from friend and Dad in terms of possible part swaps etc and play with sound once i get the faithful renditions done, might be able to save money or discover the next classic

HAHA

[quote author="trock"]am looking at the Neve 1272 now to start my DIY from owel's site[/quote]
In case you missed my post or still haven't realized, owel's 1272 page is simply a report about his experience building the Seventh Circle Audio N72 kit (which is Tim Ryan's DIY 1272). Last time I checked you can only buy these PCBs and parts kits from Seventh Circle (or suffer the task of obtaining identical parts yourself). The differences are that he substituted output transformers, made his own case, and added VU meters. I'm not sure where he lifted the schematic from, but that quote in beige at the top and the transformer chart are from Dan Alexander's site. If you're going to do this circuit from scratch without a kit, I think you'll find the most useful info at the JLM Audio and robgrow websites. Check the Neve Meta thread.

Hi Trock,

Thanks for the pictures - they look good!

There's a hell of a lot of stuff in there - and only three tubes..?

Jakob E.