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Post by unit7 on Oct 22, 2013 12:44:34 GMT -6
While waiting forever for the LC53As to be in stock again I decided to go for onlymeeee's NV73 kit. I've got an empty 51X rack here, so I'm doing the 24V version. Unfortunately a few parts are on hold so I've got everything ready except for perhaps two components. Got the new ELMA british retro style knobs from Jeff yesterday (along with the new 51X test jig) and those knobs are the sh*t! Really super quality, almost bakelite heavy. Highly recommended. With the really nice looking NV73 faceplate this is going to look great. And I'm pretty sure it'll sound just as good. Have the AMS/Neve reissues here so it'll be interesting to A/B.
BTW, onlymeeee helped me adding a HPF to the build, so I had to drill an extra hole in the faceplate and add a few components. Will do a documentation of that little mod when I've got everything together.
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Post by tonycamphd on Oct 22, 2013 13:00:12 GMT -6
While waiting forever for the LC53As to be in stock again I decided to go for onlymeeee's NV73 kit. I've got an empty 51X rack here, so I'm doing the 24V version. Unfortunately a few parts are on hold so I've got everything ready except for perhaps two components. Got the new ELMA british retro style knobs from Jeff yesterday (along with the new 51X test jig) and those knobs are the sh*t! Really super quality, almost bakelite heavy. Highly recommended. With the really nice looking NV73 faceplate this is going to look great. And I'm pretty sure it'll sound just as good. Have the AMS/Neve reissues here so it'll be interesting to A/B. BTW, onlymeeee helped me adding a HPF to the build, so I had to drill an extra hole in the faceplate and add a few components. Will do a documentation of that little mod when I've got everything together. Wow! thanx, this will be great! I've heard nothing but great things about the NV73, can't wait to see the knobs and here your impressions on the A/B's! |
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Post by unit7 on Oct 22, 2013 14:51:59 GMT -6
tonycamphd Ok, I thought you had done them all!  I'll be glad to share my impressions. I started building kits this year and have done like 10 units from TB and cAPI now and this was a bit different. Not a complete kit, a little sourcing of parts, not the detailed manuals I've been spoiled with, no Chunger guide at GDIY, and also the HPF mod I decided to do. Build time for me, including sorting components, perhaps 6-7hrs. Will be much faster next time, should be doable in like 4hrs. Not that I want to hurry. Never thought I'd like soldering, but this has become my meditation and therapy, giving a calm and focused state of mind. Speaking of therapy, a friend of mine visited my studio recently and halted by the rack and said 'WOW, are you aware of how much money you must have saved by buying this instead of going to therapy!' 
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Post by tonycamphd on Oct 22, 2013 15:23:22 GMT -6
Awesome man, yeah that feeling of calm, soothing therapeutic peace, is because you saved $10-20,000!!! lol! The Vp kits and Chung threads definitely pave the way toward the confidence to take on tougher projects, i've only been at this for about 1 1/2 years also, started with SCA kits, then heard a Capi, found groupdiy, that was it, HOOKED! I've managed to build clone C12, U47, ribbon mics, 1176's, la3a, capi lc53's, vp28's, and my Soundcraft delta 200 w/jim williams mods as well as my own, and many more pieces.
The thing that's so inspiring to me is that most of these pieces were complete unobtanium, now i'm almost living the dream lol!
let us know when you A/B the NV against your other clones, bet the NV wins...thats the thing about DIY designers, they don't compromise the design. BTW, good decision on building it at 24V, probably saved about $50 or so?
T
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Post by unit7 on Oct 22, 2013 17:32:33 GMT -6
Yep, hooked we are... Don't know how much more the NV73 16V version is. Other than the DC to DC converter there's only a few other components. But one reason for me to do one 16V rack and one 24V (cAPI kit w double floorbox PSU) was to possibly add Neve style pre's w/o having to deal w voltage conversion.
Wow man, you've even built mics... Impressing for 18 months of DIY.
Speak soon
Cheers!
Paul
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Post by tonycamphd on Oct 22, 2013 18:17:53 GMT -6
Yep, hooked we are... Don't know how much more the NV73 16V version is. Other than the DC to DC converter there's only a few other components. But one reason for me to do one 16V rack and one 24V (cAPI kit w double floorbox PSU) was to possibly add Neve style pre's w/o having to deal w voltage conversion. Wow man, you've even built mics... Impressing for 18 months of DIY. Speak soon Cheers! Paul addiction CAN be a good thing he he...I also have the double floor box, and 2 51x racks, i picked up the pcbs for the 51x G9 500 tube pre from gemini86 at group diy, that is 24v rails only. The 24v modules are going to be created at the same rate as 51x popularity grows(which is a little slower than i expected??) Btw, building mics is cake compared to a pre's and compressors, you're only seconds away from getting sucked into that blackhole Totally worth it, especially the MK47, Matachung C12, and i highly recommend the apex 205 1.8 micron ribbon mods w/samar RT36 trannies(they are seriously killer, and a lot easier than you think to diy). Also, i'm sure you've seen poctop's stuff, i'm building his FET47 right now, i'm putting a hot rodded M7 from mic rehab in it. good times  |
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Post by tonycamphd on Oct 23, 2013 17:46:23 GMT -6
BTW, onlymeeee helped me adding a HPF to the build, so I had to drill an extra hole in the faceplate and add a few components. Will do a documentation of that little mod when I've got everything together. unit7, in case i didn't mention it, I am very definitely interested to see the HPF details!! |
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Post by unit7 on Oct 23, 2013 23:18:22 GMT -6
tonycamphd onlymeeee recommended a 12dB/octave filter to keep it simple and use only two capacitors and one resistor, and an extra switch of course. He also showed me this page were you can enter a capacitor value and get the filter frequency: sim.okawa-denshi.jp/en/CRhikeisan.htmI was instructed to enter 10k in the R box and then a capacitor value in C. onlymeeee suggested Wima filmcaps so I checked available values and went for 220n, giving a 72Hz filter. Just want to point out that I'm a total electronics noob. I'm getting the big picture more and more but have no idea on how all the components work and interact. I did a sketch of the schematic of the super simple circuit above and of course got it wrong so onlymeeee had to make a new proper one. Then he asked me to draw a sketch on how to actually put the components together and where to connect in the NV73 circuit, just to make sure I got everything right before soldering. Got that wrong too, even with the help of onlymeeee's schematic. Remember, this is two capacitors and one resistor... I'm hopeless  Anyway, if the build is successful and I like the pre I could be looking to mod it to something steeper, 18db/octave, and more towards 80Hz, but I believe that would be more components and with no pcb space it could be a bit messy. We'll see. Anyway I'll return with a little mini diary of the mod when I get everything together, hopefully...
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Post by tonycamphd on Oct 23, 2013 23:45:42 GMT -6
tonycamphd onlymeeee recommended a 12dB/octave filter to keep it simple and use only two capacitors and one resistor, and an extra switch of course. He also showed me this page were you can enter a capacitor value and get the filter frequency: sim.okawa-denshi.jp/en/CRhikeisan.htmI was instructed to enter 10k in the R box and then a capacitor value in C. onlymeeee suggested Wima filmcaps so I checked available values and went for 220n, giving a 72Hz filter. Just want to point out that I'm a total electronics noob. I'm getting the big picture more and more but have no idea on how all the components work and interact. I did a sketch of the schematic of the super simple circuit above and of course got it wrong so onlymeeee had to make a new proper one. Then he asked me to draw a sketch on how to actually put the components together and where to connect in the NV73 circuit, just to make sure I got everything right before soldering. Got that wrong too, even with the help of onlymeeee's schematic. Remember, this is two capacitors and one resistor... I'm hopeless Anyway, if the build is successful and I like the pre I could be looking to mod it to something steeper, 18db/octave, and more towards 80Hz, but I believe that would be more components and with no pcb space it could be a bit messy. We'll see. Anyway I'll return with a little mini diary of the mod when I get everything together, hopefully... cool, i appreciate your "i want this, and i'll get this" attitude, It's very cool of Dave to be so helpful. I think you and I are close to the same in "know how" right now, I approach this diy thing with no fear, I haven't failed too badly yet, but i'll keep trying 8) I think your decision to implement the HPF on nv73 will make it a lot better piece. Have you seen this? groupdiy.com/index.php?topic=46390.0 this is something i've really wanted to build. Based off the Harrison 32, might be able to use this with pre amps? |
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Post by unit7 on Oct 24, 2013 0:01:58 GMT -6
Thx Tony! Yes, I'm sure a HPF will be very useful. I often track with compressor so want to get rid of plosives from vocals and thumps from acoustic.
I've seen that Harrison filter, looks great and should do the job.
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Post by unit7 on Oct 25, 2013 17:58:52 GMT -6
Quick note... It turned out that the gorgeous looking knobs couldn't be fastened on the NV73 Bourns pot and Greyhill switch beacuase the shafts are too short. Believe I've read somewhere about that. Perhaps there's a solution, but I just wanted to alert NV73 owners.
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Post by tonycamphd on Oct 25, 2013 20:07:32 GMT -6
Quick note... It turned out that the gorgeous looking knobs couldn't be fastened on the NV73 Bourns pot and Greyhill switch beacuase the shafts are too short. Believe I've read somewhere about that. Perhaps there's a solution, but I just wanted to alert NV73 owners. are the set hex screw on the knobs? if they are aluminum, you can get the same sized thread tap cheap, and move the hex closer to the base of the knob? It's easy to drill and tap aluminum. |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 27, 2013 11:51:43 GMT -6
Wow man, you've even built mics... Impressing for 18 months of DIY. Speak soon Cheers! Paul Hi Paul, i can only advise you to start building your own microphones soon. One of my first projects after modding some gear and building a GSSL was a G7 mic. The result really hooked me for the whole DIY thing for many years - besides not mimicing a special mic it sounded simply great. It is a very rewarding type of DIY. It's all about staying surgically clean while handling the components/parts, beeing focused and careful, and the biggest part of the job is sourcing the right parts, esp. a good capsule, the transformer and high quality caps and high resistances. And to decide, how far you want to go regarding the mechanical side of things. I.e. if you just use a donor mic body and psu from e.g. a Thomann t.bone (SCT700 for audiox mic is truely great, the older SCT800 may be in the ballpark for C12 clone) or get advanced 'clone' bodies or even build everything by yourself...or do your completely own thing with 100% frankensteining mics, which can be great fun and teaches you more about microphones than you ever thought your mind would be capable of... Gyraf G7 and audiox microphones (that come as full kits in the meantime!) sound great if done right, so should the "official" C12 clone, that Tony did. Also, rebuilding/upgrading a ribbon mike with a thin 'handcut and -folded' ribbon and a quality transformer, or built one from ground up with a pre-made motor is not half as complicated as it might sound and very, very rewarding. And yes, if done with care and not concentrating on 100% re-make body and psu stuff, that can easily be very expensive, they are an incredible bang for the buck. Yes, i mean it without exaggeration. Incredible value... Best regards, Martin |
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Post by unit7 on Oct 27, 2013 17:01:23 GMT -6
@smallbutfine Hey Martin, thanks for the push! Hanging around GDIY a lot so I have seen different kits etc. Tempting and perhaps it will happen later, but for now, with a collection of perhaps 50 mics and a recording booth on 9 square meters, it will have to wait. |
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Post by unit7 on Nov 13, 2013 11:01:10 GMT -6
BTW, onlymeeee helped me adding a HPF to the build, so I had to drill an extra hole in the faceplate and add a few components. Will do a documentation of that little mod when I've got everything together. unit7, in case i didn't mention it, I am very definitely interested to see the HPF details!! Here's the HPF mod for the NV73: groupdiy.com/index.php?topic=54228.0And I also managed to use the cool ELMA knobs by not using the nut for the Greyhill switch (compensated by adding two screws on the faceplate) and by getting a new attenuator pot with longer shaft. I know it's not looking stellar, but good enough for me! Attachments:
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Post by tonycamphd on Nov 13, 2013 11:52:44 GMT -6
unit7, in case i didn't mention it, I am very definitely interested to see the HPF details!! Here's the HPF mod for the NV73: groupdiy.com/index.php?topic=54228.0And I also managed to use the cool ELMA knobs by not using the nut for the Greyhill switch (compensated by adding two screws on the faceplate) and by getting a new attenuator pot with longer shaft. I know it's not looking stellar, but good enough for me! looks great paul, can you show us a side shot? maybe with the filtering components you added? howz the sound compare to other shelve bought unit...s7 8) |
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Post by unit7 on Nov 13, 2013 12:58:16 GMT -6
Here's a pic of the inside. I did describe more in the GDIY thread. I'll return with impressions after some more testing! Attachments:
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I'll be glad to share my impressions. I started building kits this year and have done like 10 units from TB and cAPI now and this was a bit different. Not a complete kit, a little sourcing of parts, not the detailed manuals I've been spoiled with, no Chunger guide at GDIY, and also the HPF mod I decided to do. Build time for me, including sorting components, perhaps 6-7hrs. Will be much faster next time, should be doable in like 4hrs. Not that I want to hurry. Never thought I'd like soldering, but this has become my meditation and therapy, giving a calm and focused state of mind. Speaking of therapy, a friend of mine visited my studio recently and halted by the rack and said 'WOW, are you aware of how much money you must have saved by buying this instead of going to therapy!' 
