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Whistle Rock Audio API312 Preamp - Finished
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Whistle Rock Audio API312 Preamp - Finished
Thought I'd share my latest DIY exploit...
Just finished up this 4-channel API style mic pre set using PCB's from Whistle Rock Audio. Transformers are the Ed Anderson vintage recreations from Classic API. Op-amps are the GAR2520 kit from the same place. Knobs from CAPI also. Used an Altronics case and had the front panel laser marked.
Altronics toroidal coupled with a JLM Audio (thanks Joe!) powerstation is taking care of the juice.
They sound really good, as you would expect with all that iron and discrete op-amps. Some friends at work and I did a thorough comparison to the preamps in our SSL Duality and to be honest it's really splitting hairs on most sound sources. I don't know if I buy in to preamps making that much difference once you get to a certain level of quality. Needless to say I won't hesitate to use them on anything! Very happy.
Enjoy.
Just finished up this 4-channel API style mic pre set using PCB's from Whistle Rock Audio. Transformers are the Ed Anderson vintage recreations from Classic API. Op-amps are the GAR2520 kit from the same place. Knobs from CAPI also. Used an Altronics case and had the front panel laser marked.
Altronics toroidal coupled with a JLM Audio (thanks Joe!) powerstation is taking care of the juice.
They sound really good, as you would expect with all that iron and discrete op-amps. Some friends at work and I did a thorough comparison to the preamps in our SSL Duality and to be honest it's really splitting hairs on most sound sources. I don't know if I buy in to preamps making that much difference once you get to a certain level of quality. Needless to say I won't hesitate to use them on anything! Very happy.
Enjoy.
Nick Franklin
Record Producer: http://www.nickfranklin.net
Custom Built Audio Electronics: http://www.nfaudio.com
Record Producer: http://www.nickfranklin.net
Custom Built Audio Electronics: http://www.nfaudio.com
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waitup - Frequent Contributor
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Re: Whistle Rock Audio API312 Preamp - Finished
Nick
They are beautiful mate... Just beautiful.
They are beautiful mate... Just beautiful.
Peter Knight
Cant ego loquemur Latine
http://www.peterknightmusician.com
Cant ego loquemur Latine
http://www.peterknightmusician.com
- Wiz
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Re: Whistle Rock Audio API312 Preamp - Finished
Thanks so much!
Wiz wrote:Nick
They are beautiful mate... Just beautiful.
Nick Franklin
Record Producer: http://www.nickfranklin.net
Custom Built Audio Electronics: http://www.nfaudio.com
Record Producer: http://www.nickfranklin.net
Custom Built Audio Electronics: http://www.nfaudio.com
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waitup - Frequent Contributor
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Re: Whistle Rock Audio API312 Preamp - Finished
Just noticed... Channels 3 and 4 are missing something
Peter Knight
Cant ego loquemur Latine
http://www.peterknightmusician.com
Cant ego loquemur Latine
http://www.peterknightmusician.com
- Wiz
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Re: Whistle Rock Audio API312 Preamp - Finished
Wiz wrote:Just noticed... Channels 3 and 4 are missing something
Haha yeah I snapped the pics before I put the op-amps in those!
Nick Franklin
Record Producer: http://www.nickfranklin.net
Custom Built Audio Electronics: http://www.nfaudio.com
Record Producer: http://www.nickfranklin.net
Custom Built Audio Electronics: http://www.nfaudio.com
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waitup - Frequent Contributor
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Re: Whistle Rock Audio API312 Preamp - Finished
Tag strip is a great idea.
Myles Mumford
Producer/Composer/Engineer/Sound Artist
Making records in sunny Melbourne
www.mylesmumford.com
Producer/Composer/Engineer/Sound Artist
Making records in sunny Melbourne
www.mylesmumford.com
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mylesgm - Valued Contributor
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Re: Whistle Rock Audio API312 Preamp - Finished
Gorgeous stuff Nick.
If only I had the time... oh yeah, and the skill.
If only I had the time... oh yeah, and the skill.
Last edited by Manning on Wed Jul 24, 2013 8:55 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Manning Bartlett, Studio Laughing Duck, Glenorie NSW
http://www.studiolaughingduck.com
http://www.studiolaughingduck.com
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Manning - Valued Contributor
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Re: Whistle Rock Audio API312 Preamp - Finished
taking out your time and the time it took to learn how to take your time which i am not discounting or underestimating...
whats the ballpark.. parts cost of that project delivered in the mail box
whats the ballpark.. parts cost of that project delivered in the mail box
Rick O'Neil
I think we went to different schools together
turtlerockmastering.com
we listen
I think we went to different schools together
turtlerockmastering.com
we listen
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rick - Moderator
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Re: Whistle Rock Audio API312 Preamp - Finished
Hey Rick,
I reckon it was about $900-$1000 all said and done.
I reckon it was about $900-$1000 all said and done.
rick wrote:taking out your time and the time it took to learn how to take your time which i am not discounting or underestimating...
whats the ballpark.. parts cost of that project delivered in the mail box
Nick Franklin
Record Producer: http://www.nickfranklin.net
Custom Built Audio Electronics: http://www.nfaudio.com
Record Producer: http://www.nickfranklin.net
Custom Built Audio Electronics: http://www.nfaudio.com
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waitup - Frequent Contributor
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Re: Whistle Rock Audio API312 Preamp - Finished
They look kick ass Nick.
I almost went there recently with some groupdiy boards...but alas not much time for diy lately.
Well done mate!
I almost went there recently with some groupdiy boards...but alas not much time for diy lately.
Well done mate!
Ben Moore
Harvest Recordings
Website: http://www.harvestrecordings.com.au
Facebook: http://www.faceback.com/harvestrecordings
Harvest Recordings
Website: http://www.harvestrecordings.com.au
Facebook: http://www.faceback.com/harvestrecordings
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Ben M - Valued Contributor
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Re: Whistle Rock Audio API312 Preamp - Finished
Ben M wrote:but alas not much time for diy lately
Tell me about it... these took me months in the end!
Nick Franklin
Record Producer: http://www.nickfranklin.net
Custom Built Audio Electronics: http://www.nfaudio.com
Record Producer: http://www.nickfranklin.net
Custom Built Audio Electronics: http://www.nfaudio.com
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waitup - Frequent Contributor
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Re: Whistle Rock Audio API312 Preamp - Finished
Nice build. I have similar box using cinemags and jlm ba boards that is in the pic on the vox chain thread.
Mine have surprised me in their versatility. From all the usual sources to live stereo one mic recording.
Mine have surprised me in their versatility. From all the usual sources to live stereo one mic recording.
Barney Loveland
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Re: Whistle Rock Audio API312 Preamp - Finished
Nice one Barney! got a pic?
Barney Loveland wrote:Nice build. I have similar box using cinemags and jlm ba boards that is in the pic on the vox chain thread.
Mine have surprised me in their versatility. From all the usual sources to live stereo one mic recording.
Nick Franklin
Record Producer: http://www.nickfranklin.net
Custom Built Audio Electronics: http://www.nfaudio.com
Record Producer: http://www.nickfranklin.net
Custom Built Audio Electronics: http://www.nfaudio.com
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waitup - Frequent Contributor
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Re: Whistle Rock Audio API312 Preamp - Finished
Well done Nick.
I'll bet they sound awesome.
Those 4 ch API single rack pre's that they make are amazingly average sounding - dont know what they put in them, but the only time I ever used one - was a huge disappointment.
Made me very wary of any modern API preamps.
I'll bet they sound awesome.
Those 4 ch API single rack pre's that they make are amazingly average sounding - dont know what they put in them, but the only time I ever used one - was a huge disappointment.
Made me very wary of any modern API preamps.
C h r i z t o w n o
- The Tasmanian
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Re: Whistle Rock Audio API312 Preamp - Finished
I've only ever used those modern API 4-channel rack things on one session and didn't have time to pay too much attention... The transformers and op-amps in this one I've built are supposedly reasonably close to the vintage spec's. Dunno what that means in real life terms but what they hell they sound good to me
The Tasmanian wrote:Well done Nick.
I'll bet they sound awesome.
Those 4 ch API single rack pre's that they make are amazingly average sounding - dont know what they put in them, but the only time I ever used one - was a huge disappointment.
Made me very wary of any modern API preamps.
Nick Franklin
Record Producer: http://www.nickfranklin.net
Custom Built Audio Electronics: http://www.nfaudio.com
Record Producer: http://www.nickfranklin.net
Custom Built Audio Electronics: http://www.nfaudio.com
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waitup - Frequent Contributor
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Re: Whistle Rock Audio API312 Preamp - Finished
In the vox chain thread on page 3 I think. Its about in the middle of the rack, diyracked case.
Barney Loveland
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Re: Whistle Rock Audio API312 Preamp - Finished
Looks nice Nick
Andy Griffiths- onthebeatstudios & Andy's custom cables
http://www.onthebeatstudios.com
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http://www.onthebeatstudios.com
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- andygriffiths
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