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Post by sean on Nov 26, 2020 10:34:56 GMT -6
About finished the mouse turd, mud, and mud dauber nest removal and starting to put this console I got from Jim Dickinson’s son Luther (of North Mississippi Allstars) back together. I sent an input channel, the center section, and for shits and giggles an output card to Jim Williams. This is an early 70’s chip based console, and while the input and output transformers and inductor EQs are great for vibe, I’ve had Jim upgrade several chip based consoles and it’s always for the better. Especially the center section. So, I’m waiting for those to arrive and because it’s not practical to send the whole console to Jim, I’m going to do the rest of the channels myself. Matt @ IAA offered to make some new output cards, because I’m missing a few. I think it be a great thing for him to sell because whenever people rack these channel strips, they need those and they’ve gotten pretty pricey on eBay. I had a friend make some new birch side panels because the originals were water damaged and the laminate was peeling off. Not a great picture because it’s in my storage room but I’m happy with how they turned out!  |
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Post by ragan on Nov 26, 2020 10:46:44 GMT -6
Awesome!
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Post by keymod on Nov 26, 2020 10:55:59 GMT -6
Great project 👍
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Post by Quint on Nov 27, 2020 20:36:47 GMT -6
Awesome. I always thought one of those Auditronics consoles would be cool to own.
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Post by sean on Dec 5, 2020 7:27:56 GMT -6
  I got the legs back from the welder, and they are pretty much an exact match to the originals. I’ve tracked down almost every component that was missing, so for shits and giggles I loaded it up to see how it’ll look. Still a lot left to be done (recapping, wiring, repairing some modules) and I want to build a little keyboard / mouse shelf that will sit above the faders |
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Post by sean on Dec 6, 2020 9:15:26 GMT -6
Pretty much every Auditronics console that's still in service today has been heavily modified. A popular mod is it change the output buss cards to use 2520 op-amps, essentially making them API 325. Some try to use 2520's in the channels themselves.
I decided to go a different route and send a channel to Jim Williams to make it direct couple, no capacitors in the signal path, but still utilize the Jensen transformers. Like a GML with Jensen transformers and inductor EQs. Since the console didn't come with a power supply, I have a modern Power One that's 6 amps, so it'll be able to handle the current draw of the high speed op-amps. It's not practical to send 16 channels and 10 output cards to Jim so I'm going to modify the rest of the channels myself. Nothing like spending $700 on capacitors, resistors, op-amps and adapters!
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Post by matt@IAA on Dec 6, 2020 22:44:01 GMT -6
Wow. That’s a lot of money for op amps, resistors, and caps.
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Post by sean on Dec 7, 2020 7:19:17 GMT -6
Wow. That’s a lot of money for op amps, resistors, and caps. ADA4898-1, ADA4625-1, and OPA1611...50 op-amps plus the $2 SOIC to DIP8 adapters adds up to most of the cost. And honestly I think I forgot a couple. |
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Post by matt@IAA on Dec 7, 2020 10:06:59 GMT -6
Cool stuff.
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Post by sean on Dec 7, 2020 12:27:32 GMT -6
I think, since I have two of these, I’m going to keep the other one stock (just recap it) and see what, if any, the difference is.
I have a few different output buss transformer options (Jensen, Cinemag, Triad) so it’ll be fun to compare
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Post by sean on Dec 16, 2020 8:37:48 GMT -6
Refurbishing this Auditronics console is no joke. So far I've replaced about 400 parts and soldered about 1500 joints. And I haven't even started on the patch bay...
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Post by Michael O. on Dec 16, 2020 12:33:11 GMT -6
Refurbishing this Auditronics console is no joke. So far I've replaced about 400 parts and soldered about 1500 joints. And I haven't even started on the patch bay... Oof, hopefully it won’t be much worse than the old edge-connector-laden Trident TSM patchbay over here. This is a seriously cool project in general, I love the 110b modules, especially the eq. Different sound and feel than most other inductor eq’s; it’s what made me first realize that the 5534 is downright euphonic in the right circuit. Good luck with the rest of the restoration! |
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Post by mhbunch on Dec 16, 2020 22:24:54 GMT -6
Dang dude this is rad. I'm in the midddle of an Electrodyne 1204 build myself - aproaching 2 years now. Can't tell you how many "ok this is the last mouser order" I've done. Finally a light at the end of the tunnel. Congrats on the board, it looks great.
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Post by sean on Dec 17, 2020 6:48:16 GMT -6
Mouser and DigiKey are like the hardware store...it takes at least 3 trips for every project.
I’ve been incredibly fortunate finding parts and spare modules. I actually have a second console, and I almost have enough modules to fully load up both.
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Post by sean on Dec 22, 2020 12:44:58 GMT -6
Well, all the output cards and channels have been modified/recapped...so now its time to work on some molex connecters and hopefully fire it up soon.
For the other console I have I'm going to keep it stock, and leave if up to it's future owner if they want to tweak it.
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ericn
Temp
Balance Engineer
Posts: 16,083 
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Post by ericn on Dec 25, 2020 19:58:08 GMT -6
Well, all the output cards and channels have been modified/recapped...so now its time to work on some molex connecters and hopefully fire it up soon. For the other console I have I'm going to keep it stock, and leave if up to it's future owner if they want to tweak it. Famous last words, till you decide “ hey I could have a sidecar with more inputs” |
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Post by sean on Dec 26, 2020 16:56:05 GMT -6
Order 1000 molex pins in an ammo pack instead of bulk...so ONE MORE DigiKey order 😂
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Post by robertloud on Jan 9, 2021 3:02:12 GMT -6
This project is awesome! I’m jealous, I want one of these grandsons!
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Post by sean on Jan 10, 2021 9:50:40 GMT -6
Funny enough the guy I bought it from found the original power supply, so hopefully I'll get to fire one of these consoles up soon. One just sold for $12,500 on Reverb which is definitely motivating me to finish the other one!
Molex connections are the devil.
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Post by sean on Jan 11, 2021 11:35:18 GMT -6
 Power! I still have a few modules to finish recapping before I fully load it up. |
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Post by matt@IAA on Jan 11, 2021 12:30:00 GMT -6
sexy
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Post by sean on Jan 18, 2021 7:48:01 GMT -6
Testing mics on each channels I have one that’s doesn’t pass signal, and two that only work in solo mode (pre-fader), so something in the fader path is out. Now the fun really starts!
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Post by svart on Jan 18, 2021 12:36:55 GMT -6
So how many opamps are in this thing? Having designed in the ADA4898-2, they are thermal nightmares. The exposed paddle underneath MUST be heatsunk so no SOIC to DIP adapter I know of can handle these and you need to use a small heatsink otherwise or you get much too close to the Tj limits of the die.
They are also much more power hungry than older opamps and tend to cause issues with inrush currents tripping current protections on power supplies and making older power connectors very warm.
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Post by sean on Jan 18, 2021 13:55:43 GMT -6
Right now I’m working on one that’s still stock using 5534’s. The modified one is next. The ADA4898-1 is only in the control room monitor section
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Post by sean on Feb 2, 2021 11:14:48 GMT -6
 95% of the way there on the “stock” console. Recapped, lots of replaced parts that were missing/failed. I have two fader that aren’t working, need to track down two more, and one channel is still wonky and has a short somewhere (with the input gain at -40 it’s more like 0) Also, there’s a reason they replaced one of the original VU’s because it’s dead. So I’m going to try and take the logo out and pop it into the replacement meter so it matches. |
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