frederic said:
The idea was to build an expandable, warm analog console, with the ability to "save" every knob, fader, and switch setting via digital "stuff". This way, after spending 4 hours getting the settings correct for a particular flutist with a particular silver flute, I could recall those settings on any input channel as a starting point for the next time I'd record that flutist. Kinda like a library of console settings, to drag and drop from. I figured out how to digitally control everything, and make those settings controllable with knobs, switches and faders, and available for "something" to download, save, upload and restore. I just haven't had the time in the last two years to figure out the "something" part.
You know how we did it when I used to work in a studio?
We had a freaking stepladder and a Polaroid Camera!
Frderic, I've got to hand it to you - You rock, man! This thread is killer. I've been wanting to build 16 channels of preamps to use for my recorders (DA38's) and you have inspired me to attempt this.
I'm going to build one channel, and see how it works - and if it works out right, I'm going to do 16 channels and have a friend who is a machinist do me up a rackmount case.
I just need some good quality mic pre's, that's all....and maybe compressors on each one. I generally record everything flat, with each mic going to it's own track - although I might be tempted to make a 4 to 8 channel basic pre-amp mixer so I can knock the toms down to just two tracks.
So, I have no problem with them being completely separate from my mixer... especially considering my current mixer is a Mackie 1604Vlz Pro. ugh.
I was even considering behringer pre-amps, and I thought - why waste the money?!?! I'm kind of after my own sound - you know how certain studios had their own sound back in the 50's through the 70's?
One of these days I'll actually get a real mixer...or maybe, even get the nerve to build one based on your schematics.
I have literally no EE theory, but I did completely rebuild a 24x4 Kelsey mixer. I cut it into 2 12x4 mixers inside the same case (pulled the 4 buss output, and simply doubled it - but lost the master faders and replaced them with pots.)
It was a so-so board, but it was great to learn on I paid just a few hundred bucks for it, and it was completely modular. years later I learned that Kelsy was the company that became CRESt Audio (Dallas musical)....so I didn't feel so bad about owning it then.
I actually, I wish I still had that mixer - all 5' of it - the thing got a great drum sound.
Tim