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Post by Johnkenn on Feb 15, 2017 22:34:19 GMT -6
spock So Henry Hirsch is moving the Helios to Fairfax?
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Post by Ward on Feb 15, 2017 22:38:29 GMT -6
Mark's #1 problem was the dirty EQ pots, scratchy enough to throw your woofer cones across the room. I wonder how they dealt with it. I investigated ultrasonic bath a little bit, but never got a clear answer on methodology regarding re-lube of the pots afterwards. Three 4-deck dual concentric custom value mod pots per EQ, in a time when you couldn't get replacements. Couple things OT. First, is there any cure for scratchy sealed pots beside replacing them? Second, the board has been really interesting the last week+ or so. Thanks everybody. Great crew here. Are the pots hermetically sealed or just 'sealed in' where you can ply back the 3 or 4 sealing tabs on the top of the pot and lift the shaft and carbon ring out? Cos, if you can do that... well, you can use pressurized air and contact cleaner to do a lot of the work. Just saying I've done this before with great results.
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Post by donr on Feb 15, 2017 22:41:24 GMT -6
Couple things OT. First, is there any cure for scratchy sealed pots beside replacing them? Second, the board has been really interesting the last week+ or so. Thanks everybody. Great crew here. Are the pots hermetically sealed or just 'sealed in' where you can ply back the 3 or 4 sealing tabs on the top of the pot and lift the shaft and carbon ring out? Cos, if you can do that... well, you can use pressurized air and contact cleaner to do a lot of the work. Just saying I've done this before we great results. Ward, don't want to get too far into the weeds off topic, but they're sealed rectangular pots mounted to a circuit board on the active electronics of some of my Steinbergers. I figured there's no way to access them with solvent or cleaner.
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Post by Ward on Feb 15, 2017 23:28:19 GMT -6
You're probably right... Mr. donr! Anyone else have any ideas?
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Post by roundbadge on Feb 16, 2017 1:04:42 GMT -6
Yes Sold the Trident A Ranges. Quirky and interesting things they are. Those eq faders are a pain in the ass. Overall cool units but in retrospect,NOT worth all the money I paid for them. Again in my opinion OVERHYPED by people and more "marketing". Danny White set me straight regarding all those supposed "A Range" classic records.. they were in reality,Sound Techniques "A Range"!! My vintage Neve 1084's are still pretty much the most "sounds like a record straight out the gate" of the bunch. That said the Chandler Redds are to my ears equally as cool but even more dimensional "3-D" The neves,capis and Redds all get equal use. Starting to throw the Flickingers into the mix too. Good shit. I had an A-Range reissue and agree that the eq faders are a pain. Definitely looks over function there. Happy to have moved on from it. the vintage faders are even worse.and pretty much impossible to find replacements. Save
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Post by spock on Feb 16, 2017 1:07:29 GMT -6
spock So Henry Hirsch is moving the Helios to Fairfax? It moved there around/during NAMM; Henry lives in France now and will visit to work when sessions call.
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Post by roundbadge on Feb 16, 2017 1:10:29 GMT -6
After you've been in this biz of making records for a while, you realize, none of this shit matters, really. Com'on. Get a few pieces that work for you, (no matter what brand they are) and make some music. I mean think about it. There have been AMAZING records made, sonically and emotionally using every different brand of Console, Pre-Amp, EQ, Compressor, or whatever thru the years Think about it... Altec, Universal Audio, MCI, EMI, Sound Techniques, Trident, Helios, SSL, Neve, API, Flickenger, Sphere, Electrodyne, Quad Eight, Spectra-sonics... And many, many, more... (even stuff like Mackie!) I'm sure you can find a sonically superior record using just about every piece of gear ever made. In the right hands, just about anything will work. Yes even a Mackie! I know this site is all about gear, which is cool. I love gear, but at some point you wake up, and come to the understanding, at a certain level, it just doesn't matter any more it's just a different flavor and nothing more then that. Like I said, pick what sounds good to you, and use it. Cause in reality, none of this shit matters, all you need to is know is your gear, and what it's capable of. It's really what's at the other end that is important...No pre-amp, console, Eq, or compressor is gonna change that! Now, back to your regularly scheduled broadcast. I need a beer! What Paul says.times 100! still fun to yap about this crazy stuff sometimes. Save
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Post by Guitar on Feb 16, 2017 9:37:01 GMT -6
To answer one of the above questions the Sparklehorse Flickinger is at last time i heard : www.montroserecording.comI can confirm that. It is owned by a friend of a friend (I used to live in Richmond). I'm told the owners had to do an extensive restoration, but they had the chops to do it and it sounds great (although I'm also told small things often go south on it...) I have a friend in Richmond that recorded at Montrose. I should ask him about it, never really got the low-down.
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Post by sean on Feb 16, 2017 9:58:32 GMT -6
You can order them from a few places in the UK for about $1000 new if you'd consider that route
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Post by nobtwiddler on Feb 16, 2017 18:30:08 GMT -6
John, Henry's Helios is at Fairfax, installed in studio A. A second line in only Helios is being installed in Studio B. They will have assorted, Helios & other preamps in front of this console.
In Studio C there will be a vintage Sound Techniques console. (this may, or may, not be within the same building?)
I've been told that Kevin Agunuas has left the premises, and sold off his gear. (quite unexpectedly I've been told???) (He quite possibly might be out of the music business as we know it, or just out of being a studio owner....only time will tell?)
Now, as far as your reply... "Totally agree. But this is also my hobby. Some guys have cars. Some have prostitues. Some have boats. Some have cocaine. I have pro audio gear."
As it's a hobby, find something that works, and keep it. STOP Wasting money. Write your damn songs, that's what you excel at. No gear is gonna make a hit tune.
As for me, I have more gear, (half stored in cases all over the damn house) owned 2 Ferrari's, sold the boat, the 2 Hovercrafts, 2 Motorcycles, and never tried coke, but I do have approx. 200 assorted beers in my pub...
Prostitutes (well let's not get crazy!)
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Post by Johnkenn on Feb 16, 2017 19:56:49 GMT -6
I'm about ready to follow him.
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Post by nobtwiddler on Feb 16, 2017 21:35:34 GMT -6
What I meant was... After owning all this material stuff, none of it really matters.
Trust me, I spent years doing my own personal shoot outs, with mic preamps, EQ's, Compressors, etc, etc, even as recently as just last year again. Always thinking there must be a piece that is life changing. Gonna be the Holy Grail. What you finally figure out, is that sure there are differences, but once you are at a certain level with gear, the differences are so small as to not matter at all.
Now today, from years of experience I use what I know, and go with the flow. Never wondering what this might sound like with this pre, or that comp, or whatever.
Life is way too short. I'm a lot happier...
But if I only had a........
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ericn
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Post by ericn on Feb 16, 2017 21:51:48 GMT -6
What I meant was... After owning all this material stuff, none of it really matters. Trust me, I spent years doing my own personal shoot outs, with mic preamps, EQ's, Compressors, etc, etc, even as recently as just last year again. Always thinking there must be a piece that is life changing. Gonna be the Holy Grail. What you finally figure out, is that sure there are differences, but once you are at a certain level with gear, the differences are so small as to not matter at all. Now today, from years of experience I use what I know, and go with the flow. Never wondering what this might sound like with this pre, or that comp, or whatever. Life is way too short. I'm a lot happier... But if I only had a........ Paul, as much as I agree with you, I have to point out we know your journey to this insight did include owing or useing a ton of gear!😎
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Post by nobtwiddler on Feb 17, 2017 8:02:56 GMT -6
Eric, Yep, that's what I'm saying. Save money, learn from me~!
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ericn
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Post by ericn on Feb 17, 2017 8:46:19 GMT -6
Eric, Yep, that's what I'm saying. Save money, learn from me~! But I did ! That's why I live 2 blocks away from one of the top beer gardens in the Country !😁
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Post by stratboy on Feb 17, 2017 8:55:11 GMT -6
Mark's #1 problem was the dirty EQ pots, scratchy enough to throw your woofer cones across the room. I wonder how they dealt with it. I investigated ultrasonic bath a little bit, but never got a clear answer on methodology regarding re-lube of the pots afterwards. Three 4-deck dual concentric custom value mod pots per EQ, in a time when you couldn't get replacements. Couple things OT. First, is there any cure for scratchy sealed pots beside replacing them? Second, the board has been really interesting the last week+ or so. Thanks everybody. Great crew here. Hi, Donr Your Steinbergers likely have Bourns pots in them. I would call Bourns America and introduce yourself. 951-781-5500 Check out their website bourns.com/products/proaudio.They are very proud of their heritage and long association with guitar makers and players. I'll bet they can help you out.
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Post by stratboy on Feb 17, 2017 8:59:44 GMT -6
To answer one of the above questions the Sparklehorse Flickinger is at last time i heard : www.montroserecording.comI can confirm that. It is owned by a friend of a friend (I used to live in Richmond). I'm told the owners had to do an extensive restoration, but they had the chops to do it and it sounds great (although I'm also told small things often go south on it...) I have a friend in Richmond that recorded at Montrose. I should ask him about it, never really got the low-down. Please do! My friend and the owner of Montrose used to own a club in Richmond called The Flood Zone. Long gone, but a great place. I used to mix monitors there on occasion. I'd be interested in hearing about your friend's experience at Montrose.
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Post by EmRR on Feb 17, 2017 9:01:12 GMT -6
Are the pots hermetically sealed or just 'sealed in' where you can ply back the 3 or 4 sealing tabs on the top of the pot and lift the shaft and carbon ring out? Cos, if you can do that... well, you can use pressurized air and contact cleaner to do a lot of the work. Just saying I've done this before with great results.
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Post by stratboy on Feb 17, 2017 9:52:52 GMT -6
Are the pots hermetically sealed or just 'sealed in' where you can ply back the 3 or 4 sealing tabs on the top of the pot and lift the shaft and carbon ring out? Cos, if you can do that... well, you can use pressurized air and contact cleaner to do a lot of the work. Just saying I've done this before with great results. View AttachmentLooking at that photo, it seems to me that Dan Flickinger was ahead of his time.
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Post by EmRR on Feb 17, 2017 10:08:27 GMT -6
I'm not counting again, but I remember something kinda crazy like 46 transistors on that one board. Traces lift very easily when heated too. I would call him 'ambitious', not necessarily concerned with product reliability or serviceability, but then who thought any of these would get used past 1978 anyway? No one, probably.
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ericn
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Post by ericn on Feb 17, 2017 10:27:50 GMT -6
I'm not counting again, but I remember something kinda crazy like 46 transistors on that one board. Traces lift very easily when heated too. I would call him 'ambitious', not necessarily concerned with product reliability or serviceability, but then who thought any of these would get used past 1978 anyway? No one, probably. I think that could be said for a lot of the early console manufacturers and why many faded into the sunset! As much as some of these are priced in the stratosphere today they were built to a price point and the client was the beta tester.
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Post by nobtwiddler on Feb 17, 2017 12:35:42 GMT -6
"and the client was the beta tester"
Exactly, Which I was for Daking console #1 (the prototype!)
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Post by EmRR on Feb 17, 2017 13:03:34 GMT -6
Something as specialized as a recording console sorta means the client is always the beta tester, agreeability of such hinges on nimbleness and responsiveness of the manufacturer. At one time it would be more agreeable an arrangement than now, based on having a full time tech in house who can pull a bunch of 16 hours shifts, or not.....
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Post by channelcat on Feb 17, 2017 13:50:33 GMT -6
I'm honestly really happy with the Redds,Neves,capis and now the Skibbe Flickingers. RB - Did you have a change of heart on the Skibbe Flickingers? I thought you panned them on the purple site. If so, what changed your opinion of them? Stu A Proud Member of the Flickinger Clan
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ericn
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Post by ericn on Feb 17, 2017 14:07:25 GMT -6
"and the client was the beta tester" Exactly, Which I was for Daking console #1 (the prototype!) And yet you avoided Coke! I remember someone telling me how bad of shape a console maker was in the 90's all these lawsuits etc. My reply "what console manufacturer wasn't getting sued by buyers?"
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