Latest DIY kit builds & impressions
Mar 20, 2022 13:51:08 GMT -6
svart, keymod, and 2 more like this
Post by zonkola on Mar 20, 2022 13:51:08 GMT -6
I've knocked out a few kit builds this year so far—here's my take on the results:
CAPI 511-VPR XLR Filtered Rack
This is the third one I've built, so I guess you could say I'm a stan of the CAPI 11-space 500-series racks. They're cost-effective, have no power or noise issues, provide the max number of spaces possible in a 3RU 500 chassis, and they're an easy build. I've already filled all three of my 511 racks, so I might build a fourth (and final?) rack because I was dropped on my head as a child. I can stop with the 500 modules at any time, I swear.
CAPI HPA500 Headphone Amplifier Module
This 500-series headphone amp sounds nice and clear and provides substantially more volume than the built-in headphone output on my Apogee interface. This helps while tracking drums in my one-room studio, which was the goal. That said, if I had the opportunity to test drive the unit in advance I would have installed 453 ohm 1% resistors in R13 & R17 (called out in the BOM but not included in the kit) to maximize the HPA500's gain potential. Not a big deal, though—in true DIY fashion I plan to swap out the resistors after the fact.
AML ezPDI-500 DI
I like this 500-series passive DI enough that I'm ready to sell my REDDI. My bass tracking chain has at least four transformers in-between the DI and the interface, which I suspect minimizes anything extra the tube-based REDDI brings to the party. Well, that and I think Colin at AML knows a thing or two about juicy Neve-style DI transformers.
Anyway, I'd recommend any of these kits if they'd fill a need in your studio.
CAPI 511-VPR XLR Filtered Rack
This is the third one I've built, so I guess you could say I'm a stan of the CAPI 11-space 500-series racks. They're cost-effective, have no power or noise issues, provide the max number of spaces possible in a 3RU 500 chassis, and they're an easy build. I've already filled all three of my 511 racks, so I might build a fourth (and final?) rack because I was dropped on my head as a child. I can stop with the 500 modules at any time, I swear.
CAPI HPA500 Headphone Amplifier Module
This 500-series headphone amp sounds nice and clear and provides substantially more volume than the built-in headphone output on my Apogee interface. This helps while tracking drums in my one-room studio, which was the goal. That said, if I had the opportunity to test drive the unit in advance I would have installed 453 ohm 1% resistors in R13 & R17 (called out in the BOM but not included in the kit) to maximize the HPA500's gain potential. Not a big deal, though—in true DIY fashion I plan to swap out the resistors after the fact.
AML ezPDI-500 DI
I like this 500-series passive DI enough that I'm ready to sell my REDDI. My bass tracking chain has at least four transformers in-between the DI and the interface, which I suspect minimizes anything extra the tube-based REDDI brings to the party. Well, that and I think Colin at AML knows a thing or two about juicy Neve-style DI transformers.
Anyway, I'd recommend any of these kits if they'd fill a need in your studio.
