Turtlerock Forum

Hi all...

Just wondering if anyone could point me in the right direction. Im a musician that wants to find out about electronics with a view to building ...er...something! I read a thread on here somewhere about someone building an La2a type compressor. Can anyone recommend any books or web resources with a particular emphasis on audio. Not much in Jaycar yesterday that appealed, but maybe building a kit for a guitar amp or something may be a good start?
Assume I know absolutely nothing!
I did do a short electrical course recently so I do know that Power=AmpsxVolts...or is it the other way around...I can never remember.... :-)
Cheers
Phil

check out *the lab* at http://www.prodigy-pro.com/forum/index.php .

i'm building a pair of 1176's at present - got the boards from an aussie who has a meta-thread at prodigy. http://www.prodigy-pro.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=646

with basic knowledge, you can pretty much join-the-dots.

there - that'll keep you wide-eyed for a few hours.

chris.

I built myself a ssl clone that I just finished this week and it sounds great. Ive never done anything like this before and was very intimidated at first. Just scanning through The Lab forum set my head in a spin at first. Even made a coupple of mod's and selected better caps.Cost me around $350-400 all up.
Now if anybody can help with advice for building a Neve Mic Pre ????

SSL clone? Is that a mic pre or a compressor?

It's a clone of the SSL mixbus compressor. How close it sounds compared to the original or the Al Smart I'm not sure, but Rick has heard at least one, maybe he could give us his opinion?

Or an sslK series console clone that turns on you whilst youre setting up a microphone :P a la Star wars revenge of the sith

I think he means the compressor. I just built one myself actually. Very satisfiying if you get it going but you can loose years off your life if not. I wouldnt recomend jumping in at the deep end like that though. Reading through the threads (ssl or la2a) should be enough to make you realise what could go wrong.

If you do go for one of the above compressors though, check every component value a billion times before soldering, and make every solder perfect.

I would recomend either a guitar pedal or a 15W amp to start off with,

and get; [b]Teach yourself electricity and electronics by Stan Gibilisco[/b], its a great easy read that goes from electrons to Tropospheric EM propagation.

Thanks for taking the time to respond chaps...

Yeah, I think I'll get a little guitar amp kit for $89 first.

Have just read about a US company called Seventh Circle Audio that sell kits for Neve and API copies (www.seventhcircleaudio.com)

Anyone have any experience of these?

Cheers again.

Phil

This one !!! based on compressor from G4000 series console.

http://www.gyraf.dk/gy_pd/ssl/ssl.htm

It took 2 weeks mainly from hunting down a couple of parts. My first ever DIY. Beginners luck maybe.

What'd it cost you David?

seventh circle stuff has a pretty good reputation.

i did a diy version of the 1272 with an active hiZ section,
2 chans with sowter transformers in a rack for about
800aud. (half of that is the transformers)

you need to be keen, though. someone who hasn't
soldered wires and boards and drilled holes would
probably have a hard time.

the great thing with seventh circle is you get all the
parts! but it costs more and you can't really mod
it to 'add on extras'

go to 'the lab' and read up using the search function.

Heck - goto J-L-M audio and look at his kits.

I warn you, you may get 'hooked' on diy to the
detriment of the time you spend actually playing music!

Refer to Rick's article regarding n-e-v-e-itis :>)

Get your hands on a book called Electronic Projects for Musicians. You'll be building everything from guitar pedals to preamps in no time.

Thanks for all your advice. Have ordered Craig Andertons book thru Amazon. Have also spent a couple of days testing resistors with a meter and soldering them to a board! I also sent an email to Joe Malone (thanks Alex) and will order a kit from him tomorrow. Seems like a good guy. Will bore you with all the details when I get going!

Cheers again

Phil

i've just about finished my pair of 1176 clones.

for my first kit (as opposed to re-wiring the old 68 valiant) it's gone great.

i can enthusiastically recommend these projects. but they ain't *kits* - you gotta source your own parts.

chris.