Building a tube console

[Good Friend]

I was thinking about building an all tube 10 channel mixing console. You know, tube mic preamps, tube eq. I want it to be somewhat modular due to the fact that i am not a genius of electronics and it would be easier by far just to piece it together by function. Some of the modules (like the mic preamps) i will probably just take old vintage tube preamps and convert them into what i would need for a mixer. Now please understand that this is not going to be "professional top of the line" design. It would be for fun and for character. I was thinking about putting some DIY optical compressors and stuff in it. Basically as simple as possible. Id like to get only one sound out of it, but for it to have its own sound.

I am a little afraid of trying to work out the panning functions though. Any advice into home building mixers would help me decide how to go about building this thing. Im trying to make it like an old radio console with giant knobs and VUs.

 

[mshilarious]

I was thinking about building an all tube 10 channel mixing console. You know, tube mic preamps, tube eq. I want it to be somewhat modular due to the fact that i am not a genius of electronics and it would be easier by far just to piece it together by function. Some of the modules (like the mic preamps) i will probably just take old vintage tube preamps and convert them into what i would need for a mixer. Now please understand that this is not going to be "professional top of the line" design. It would be for fun and for character. I was thinking about putting some DIY optical compressors and stuff in it. Basically as simple as possible. Id like to get only one sound out of it, but for it to have its own sound.

I am a little afraid of trying to work out the panning functions though. Any advice into home building mixers would help me decide how to go about building this thing. Im trying to make it like an old radio console with giant knobs and VUs.

There is a thread on the Lab about tube mixers.

http://www.prodigy-pro.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1298

also:

http://www.prodigy-pro.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4539

and:

http://www.prodigy-pro.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=10096

Also frederic is publishing a schematic for a modular DIY console, and has already posted a schematic for an optocompressor.

http://www.homerecording.com/bbs/showthread.php?t=180912

Or you could use PRR's 12AU7 tube compressor, several links here:

http://www.prodigy-pro.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=249


My gut reaction is that a tube mixer is going to need a bigass power supply and thus generate lots of heat. Those are going to be important design issues.

 

[northsiderap]

Tube Mixer

While you're over at prodigy-pro, check out NYDave's one-bottle mic preamps.

Maybe then a LC EQ with a 12AU7 or 12AX7 makeup gain?

The PSU thing probably will be an intense undertaking. I'm guessing you'll need a big ol' rack of PSUs

That's quite a project! Post your progress!