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Post by Quint on Jul 8, 2018 12:45:19 GMT -6
With all of the cloning going on these days of various classic pieces of gear AND their associated model numbers, how did some of these original model numbers (1073, 1176, U47/67/87, FC 660/670, La2a, etc) come to exist in the first place?
Were they maybe specific to some particular transformer or other part used in the build? This is purely a curiosity, but I wondered if any of you long time studio vets might have any insight or stories into how some of these units came to be given the model number that everyone is so familiar with today?
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Post by m03 on Jul 8, 2018 14:09:46 GMT -6
This is greatly simplified and missing some phases, but for these:
LA2A: LA == Leveling Amplifier, 2A == the original was the LA-1, then the LA-2 came out later, which was then later iterated on to change the internal layout and reduce noise to become the LA-2A.
1176: IIRC, the early Universal tube gear had 1xx model numbers, so their Limiting Amplifier was model number 175, then that was revised and the Attack/Release controls moved to the front panel to become the model 175-B, which later had a transformer change (adding selectable ratios) and became the 176, which was revised into a FET circuit to become the 1176.
The other probably have similar stories.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 8, 2018 14:12:16 GMT -6
I seem to remember the Alesis 3630 (yes, hardly a classic I know!) was something to do with their street address in the US.
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Post by Quint on Jul 8, 2018 14:47:51 GMT -6
This is greatly simplified and missing some phases, but for these: LA2A: LA == Leveling Amplifier, 2A == the original was the LA-1, then the LA-2 came out later, which was then later iterated on to change the internal layout and reduce noise to become the LA-2A. 1176: IIRC, the early Universal tube gear had 1xx model numbers, so their Limiting Amplifier was model number 175, then that was revised and the Attack/Release controls moved to the front panel to become the model 175-B, which later had a transformer change (adding selectable ratios) and became the 176, which was revised into a FET circuit to become the 1176. The other probably have similar stories. Your explanation of the evolution from 175 to 1176 makes sense. But then where did 175 originate from? Maybe it was the 75th item after the 74 pieces of gear/revisions to pieces of gear that preceded it? The history of this stuff is really interesting. |
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Post by Quint on Jul 8, 2018 14:49:42 GMT -6
I seem to remember the Alesis 3630 (yes, hardly a classic I know!) was something to do with their street address in the US. I figured there are probably some pretty random explanations behind some of these model numbers. I'm sure some are probably pretty boring and simple explanations, but others may have a pretty interesting story behind the number. |
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Post by timcampbell on Jul 8, 2018 16:00:30 GMT -6
I've always assumed that the Scheops M 221b was named after Sherlock Holmes address 221b Baker Street.
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Post by Johnkenn on Jul 8, 2018 16:37:51 GMT -6
U69?
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Post by notneeson on Jul 8, 2018 17:47:56 GMT -6
Several Daking products were named for his kid’s birth dates.
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Post by johneppstein on Jul 8, 2018 20:20:37 GMT -6
A lot of the letter prefixes on Neumann mics make better sense if you read German, which unfortunately I do not. An example would be "KM84" in which "K" stands for "Keine", meaking small (diaphragm) and "M " oddly designates "Microphon". The last digit designates pattern, the first designates powering scheme - external supply (tube), T-power, or phantom. I do not know what "U": means, exactly.
There are other conventions in Neumann nomenclature that make sense but don't entirely fit in the older scheme of things - Notably "TLM" fo "Transformerless".
A numeral "1" in front of an earlier designation usually denotes a redesign that is supposed to resemble (maybe with an "upgrade": <cough> the characteristics of an original (e.g. "M147" replacing "U47"), which it may or may not successfully do.
There's a lot more but I'm letting it go till later unless somebody else wants to pick it up.
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Post by johneppstein on Jul 8, 2018 20:21:57 GMT -6
You're not supposed to ask that in polite company. |
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Post by bram on Jul 8, 2018 20:26:26 GMT -6
A lot of the letter prefixes on Neumann mics make better sense if you read German, which unfortunately I do not. An example would be "KM84" in which "K" stands for "Keine", meaking small (diaphragm) and "M " oddly designates "Microphon". The last digit designates pattern, the first designates powering scheme - external supply (tube), T-power, or phantom. I do not know what "U": means, exactly.
I just read today (I don't remember where) that prior to Neumann using the 'U' prefix, their mics were mostly used for broadcast purposes. When the U series came out they were marketed internationally and for a wider application, hence the 'U'niversal. I have no idea if this info is accurate. |
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Post by iamasound on Jul 9, 2018 2:04:15 GMT -6
A lot of the letter prefixes on Neumann mics make better sense if you read German, which unfortunately I do not. An example would be "KM84" in which "K" stands for "Keine", meaking small (diaphragm) and "M " oddly designates "Microphon". The last digit designates pattern, the first designates powering scheme - external supply (tube), T-power, or phantom. I do not know what "U": means, exactly.
There are other conventions in Neumann nomenclature that make sense but don't entirely fit in the older scheme of things - Notably "TLM" fo "Transformerless".
A numeral "1" in front of an earlier designation usually denotes a redesign that is supposed to resemble (maybe with an "upgrade": <cough> the characteristics of an original (e.g. "M147" replacing "U47"), which it may or may not successfully do.
There's a lot more but I'm letting it go till later unless somebody else wants to pick it up.
Not "keine" which means "no", but kleine which means small. I think you had a few typos in your post. |
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Post by johneppstein on Jul 9, 2018 13:59:12 GMT -6
A lot of the letter prefixes on Neumann mics make better sense if you read German, which unfortunately I do not. An example would be "KM84" in which "K" stands for "Keine", meaking small (diaphragm) and "M " oddly designates "Microphon". The last digit designates pattern, the first designates powering scheme - external supply (tube), T-power, or phantom. I do not know what "U": means, exactly.
There are other conventions in Neumann nomenclature that make sense but don't entirely fit in the older scheme of things - Notably "TLM" fo "Transformerless".
A numeral "1" in front of an earlier designation usually denotes a redesign that is supposed to resemble (maybe with an "upgrade": <cough> the characteristics of an original (e.g. "M147" replacing "U47"), which it may or may not successfully do.
There's a lot more but I'm letting it go till later unless somebody else wants to pick it up.
Not "keine" which means "no", but kleine which means small. I think you had a few typos in your post. Not surprised at all. I spend nearly as much time editing typos as I do actual timing typing and I still don't catch all the little buggers!
Foreign languages just add another layer of complication and inaccuracy.
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Post by Quint on Jul 9, 2018 15:35:27 GMT -6
So what about 1073/1084/1272/etc? Anyone have any insight on those?
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Post by Quint on Jul 9, 2018 15:36:09 GMT -6
A lot of the letter prefixes on Neumann mics make better sense if you read German, which unfortunately I do not. An example would be "KM84" in which "K" stands for "Keine", meaking small (diaphragm) and "M " oddly designates "Microphon". The last digit designates pattern, the first designates powering scheme - external supply (tube), T-power, or phantom. I do not know what "U": means, exactly.
There are other conventions in Neumann nomenclature that make sense but don't entirely fit in the older scheme of things - Notably "TLM" fo "Transformerless".
A numeral "1" in front of an earlier designation usually denotes a redesign that is supposed to resemble (maybe with an "upgrade": <cough> the characteristics of an original (e.g. "M147" replacing "U47"), which it may or may not successfully do.
There's a lot more but I'm letting it go till later unless somebody else wants to pick it up.
Typos or not, that's still some good info. |
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