About a month ago, I had a call from my friend from Russia,
his work is FOH for filarmony (big orchestra).
He asked me for 48 digitally controlled pre-amps, with output
splited to 2 consoles.
At his home studio, he using my Studio Box which includes
controll room module, 2 discrete transistor class A
transformer-based preamps, 24-input summing and phone amps.
It using >100 relays to implement digital controll over everything
even switching pre's to mix mode...
so the mind was to build same pre's with other interface.
Then, came up idea about RF or infrared controll, then, like normal
freaks, we calculated whole project's cost and said:
"Heheheh....Beavis....NO WAY!!!!!!!!!"
I heard PGA2500 evaluation board, can't say it is best sounding pre'
for my bad taste..
A way OT, but I like 5-80k bandwidth high-level trunny's,
cascode single-ended fet-bipolar topology which gives
at least 22 dB relation beetween 2nd and 3rd harmonic,
when loaded heavy with high level, and allmost
distortionless at low signals, +/-24v power supply's...etc...
Anyway, PGA2500 is clean pre-amp and worth each penny soundwise.
Last week, I stared on this tread, then called guy who programmed
chips for my projects.
Everything seems possible, and came up an architecture
of 16-channel system, which can control 1-16 of PGA's, with
single or splitted control, TX/RX interface, etc.
I going to use poly's on input of PGA, but place for 'lythic's
will be reserved on PCB as well.
To achieve good headroom, PGA will be followed by fast 10dB amp,
running on +/-18V, and 20 dB PAD will be automatically
inserted on input when running at gain range 0-20dB.
This way, we have 0-75 dB gain range, phantom/phase/insert
(for HPF or EQ), "smart gain" button which puts down gain when
-3 or -1 dB reached, gain encoder...2x7-digit display...etc.
Don't think I will ever do more than these 48 digitally controlled pre's...
(the reason to run your own business is to do things you like)
(but who knows?)
Anyway, it can come up as great DIY project.
Have some days to think on this, to take this project or no.
Is there some interest for making this as DIY project?
Thoughts? Ideas?
Huh. Too much english typing for today. Lafroaig.