|
|
Post by tonycamphd on Nov 14, 2014 11:23:37 GMT -6
this things been cooking for about 12 hours, no smoke or fire so far 8) I'll give it a good parameter/listening test later tonight and if alls a go, I'll send it out...probably monday. Kidvibes VP28 in the House!! BTW, you're on your own for the next 3 you will certainly NEED to have 8) |
|
|
|
Post by kidvybes on Nov 14, 2014 19:17:45 GMT -6
this things been cooking for about 12 hours, no smoke or fire so far 8) I'll give it a good parameter/listening test later tonight and if alls a go, I'll send it out...probably monday. Kidvibes VP28 in the House!! BTW, you're on your own for the next 3 you will certainly NEED to have 8) ...luckily I only track vocals in my home studio (no drums!) so one will do me fine!...looking good! (mine is the "newly built" on the left...one of Tony's own "veteran VP28" on the right)... PS...tube cache (2-NOS RCA gold-pin 408As, 2-NOS Sylvania 408As, 2-GE triple-mica/black-plate 6072s, 1-NOS Amperex gold-pin 6084/E80F plus a pack of tube-dampers) travels monday as well!...we DIY guys look out for each other!  Attachments:
|
|
|
|
Post by tonycamphd on Nov 14, 2014 21:07:15 GMT -6
i wanted to add... I noticed that Jeff somehow upped his game on a few things in this kit as well, it made it even easier to build, jsteiger let me know if i missed something? here's what seemed improved... 1. The gain knobs didn't need to be pin set! Nice, that was a total pita, those little pins seemed to jump into oblivion... 2. The indicator led's are set in the sub frame 3. The blue silk screening on the front panel is a lighter, brighter and easier to read. 4. I cant remember, i think there is one more thing?... these additions made this already fun kit that much easier and even more fun to build IMO. thanx Jeff, you da bomb bromee!(now where's my hybrid 525/1176 compressor?! 8) |
|
|
|
Post by bluenoise on Nov 14, 2014 21:45:10 GMT -6
After building a couple of those puppies, all i can say is that the only thing more fun than the actual build is using them!!
Enjoy them!
|
|
|
|
Post by tonycamphd on Nov 15, 2014 0:03:04 GMT -6
this things been cooking for about 12 hours, no smoke or fire so far 8) I'll give it a good parameter/listening test later tonight and if alls a go, I'll send it out...probably monday. Kidvibes VP28 in the House!! BTW, you're on your own for the next 3 you will certainly NEED to have 8) ...luckily I only track vocals in my home studio (no drums!) so one will do me fine!...looking good! (mine is the "newly built" on the left...one of Tony's own "veteran VP28" on the right)... PS...tube cache (2-NOS RCA gold-pin 408As, 2-NOS Sylvania 408As, 2-GE triple-mica/black-plate 6072s, 1-NOS Amperex gold-pin 6084/E80F plus a pack of tube-dampers) travels monday as well!...we DIY guys look out for each other! no no vibes, yours is on the right, it's relic'd by fender guitars bro, it's worth more now 8) |
|
|
|
Post by mdmitch2 on Nov 16, 2014 19:03:15 GMT -6
Just finished my vp28 pair and put them over the mix of a song I'm working on which wasn't really 'gelling' for me yet.....
I've heard samples before, but it's a whole other thing when you hear them on your own mixes.... wow. I'm a believer -- bass is tighter, snare is punchier, vocal sounds a little more polished, and everything is more glued.
2520 on input and 1731 on output btw.
|
|
|
|
Post by mdmitch2 on Nov 16, 2014 19:13:04 GMT -6
|
|
|
|
Post by bluenoise on Nov 16, 2014 20:56:43 GMT -6
Just finished my vp28 pair and put them over the mix of a song I'm working on which wasn't really 'gelling' for me yet..... I've heard samples before, but it's a whole other thing when you hear them on your own mixes.... wow. I'm a believer -- bass is tighter, snare is punchier, vocal sounds a little more polished, and everything is more glued. 2520 on input and 1731 on output btw. Same here!! I had just mixed an album when they got here. The producer had already approved most of the mixes. There were a few notes on a couple. Excited as I was to give hem a try, I strapped them before my (hw) buss comp. I couldn't believe what i was hearing. I had to double check everything. It took all the digital edge out of everything (sides mostly) and tightened the mid. It was as if those little bastards could mix better than me!! Needless to say, i ended up printing and adjusting the rest of the record! |
|
|
|
Post by wiz on Nov 16, 2014 20:57:27 GMT -6
mine got here this morning.
8)
I am building the opamps first...
halfway through the 1731.
I am gonna just take my time..
cheers
Wiz
|
|
|
|
Post by wiz on Nov 17, 2014 15:58:07 GMT -6
I was following the build dock... and I put the mill max pins in near to last...
won't be doing that again 8)
put em in early is my new motto... lucky I got a steady hand 8)
1731 done, that was quite Zen like and relaxing.
cheers
Wiz
|
|
|
|
Post by jsteiger on Nov 17, 2014 16:02:26 GMT -6
I always put them in last. You can set them in the sockets of a module to help hold them while you solder. I hate working around those pins when I am trying to solder the bottom of the opamp.
|
|
|
|
Post by tonycamphd on Nov 17, 2014 16:06:28 GMT -6
I was following the build dock... and I put the mill max pins in near to last... won't be doing that again 8) put em in early is my new motto... lucky I got a steady hand 8) 1731 done, that was quite Zen like and relaxing. cheers Wiz a trick is to put the mill pins in the female mill pins, and set them in the main pcb. You're right though, it's a pain to reach down through the jungle and touch those. edit; jeff beat me to it! I usually pop mine in after i set the resistors in centre. |
|
|
|
Post by wiz on Nov 17, 2014 16:26:46 GMT -6
I always put them in last. You can set them in the sockets of a module to help hold them while you solder. I hate working around those pins when I am trying to solder the bottom of the opamp. yeah good point.. in the end I did just that, soldered the female connections in the PCB, it was the only way I could figure that things would be straight. Actually as I think about it, it would have been a pain in the butt, to solder around them... there was really only one pin was tough to get too at the end... cheers Wiz |
|
|
|
Post by Johnkenn on Nov 17, 2014 17:42:38 GMT -6
this things been cooking for about 12 hours, no smoke or fire so far 8) I'll give it a good parameter/listening test later tonight and if alls a go, I'll send it out...probably monday. Kidvibes VP28 in the House!! BTW, you're on your own for the next 3 you will certainly NEED to have 8) ...luckily I only track vocals in my home studio (no drums!) so one will do me fine!...looking good! (mine is the "newly built" on the left...one of Tony's own "veteran VP28" on the right)... PS...tube cache (2-NOS RCA gold-pin 408As, 2-NOS Sylvania 408As, 2-GE triple-mica/black-plate 6072s, 1-NOS Amperex gold-pin 6084/E80F plus a pack of tube-dampers) travels monday as well!...we DIY guys look out for each other! Tony, is yours a "Road Worn" Edition? |
|
|
|
Post by wiz on Nov 17, 2014 20:20:30 GMT -6
I screwed the pooch on the 2520...
8(
thought I would try mill max pins in first... not a good idea...
main board is going well...
now I gots to order another 2520.. dammit
cheers
Wiz
|
|
|
|
Post by mdmitch2 on Nov 17, 2014 20:55:10 GMT -6
I screwed the pooch on the 2520... 8( thought I would try mill max pins in first... not a good idea... main board is going well... now I gots to order another 2520.. dammit cheers Wiz That's how I've done the last few since I saw Chunger doing it that way in his guides.... it probably is a little more annoying/difficult that way. I need to build a couple more so I'll probably switch back to installing mill max last. With these opamps, I think the most important thing is finding a soldering tip that works for you.... I've tried a bunch, and have settled on the T18-D08 (0.8mm chisel tip) for my Hakko iron. For pretty much everything else I use a 1.6mm chisel tip. |
|
|
|
Post by jeromemason on Nov 17, 2014 22:17:28 GMT -6
The beauty about this kit, all you really need is a good soldering Iron and patience and you can build it. I mean, anyone that can place "A" where its marked "A" can do this. Now, I will say, don't attempt at building anything like this with a roped soldering Iron, you need a station with a reliable heat adjustment. A good one right now is at Radio Shack, they have them going on sale for around $70. It's digital, I use this one, and I've used the Hako and I actually the the Rat Shack one better. It moves between temps very fast, and not only does it tell you the temp you're going for, but it tells you the temp you're at, no guessing. When you start getting into the more complex circuits that have sensitive components like Polystyrene Caps tonycamphd  you have to be able to move quick, and the heat sink clamps are a life saver as well, Rat Shack has those for like $2 a piece and they really are invaluable. Think about it this way, you paid probably $670 for 2 yea, 2 VP28's and all that beautiful sound that comes out only costed you $670 and 4 hours of your life. It's a flipping no brainer and why I hope more and more folks get into DIY, there is a feeling of reward when you stick those babies in there and they power up and work perfectly, and while you're mixing looking at them knowing you put your own love into them, not a 14 year old boy in a China sweat shop.  |
|
|
|
Post by wiz on Nov 18, 2014 20:36:17 GMT -6
sooooo
its built...
well, except the 2520 gotta wait for it to arrive...
then..
smoke test!!!
8)
cheers
Wiz
|
|
|
|
Post by wiz on Nov 18, 2014 22:53:17 GMT -6
jsteigerI fixed my 2520 its all up and running if you catch this, prior to shipping, can you cancel my order for 1 1731 and 2 2520's please if its too late, its too late... 8) I have thunderstorms coming so I gots to shut down,.. will test it all later.. but its all functional... cheers Wiz
|
|
|
|
Post by tonycamphd on Nov 18, 2014 23:46:01 GMT -6
Don't worry wiz , when you hear that thing you're gonna get another one anyway lol, report back with your astonishment when you get a chance 8) I sent kidvibes his Vp28 today, he should be in love by the weekend as well..... |
|
|
|
Post by kidvybes on Nov 20, 2014 19:12:35 GMT -6
I sent kidvibes his Vp28 today, he should be in love by the weekend as well..... ...got it already!...in the rack and baking as I type...gave it a quick test with the DIY MK-47 and it rocks!...great sounding piece of gear!...big thanks to Tony, first for leaning on me to try one of these, and second, for offering to build it...build looks bulletproof!... ...can't wait to track some vocals with this coupled to the JML LA500 I just purchased from mdmitch2... Attachments:
|
|
|
|
Post by wiz on Nov 20, 2014 20:54:25 GMT -6
Bit of a weird issue here... Plug U87 or KM84 into VP28 , direct to Fireface UCX , all sounds good. Insert (via patchbay) JLM LA500 sounds good. Insert WA76, LA2A (drip) STA level (drip) .. distortion city. (No I am not overdriving, levels are very conservative, -16dBFS as an absolute peak) VP 28 channel fader at 0 and preamp gain at 9am) So, I then insert a Rupert Neve 551 EQ in-between the VP28 and the compressors that were causing distortion (1176, LA2A, STA) and with the EQ bypassed, distortion vanishes. Also If I insert my STA etc , via the I/O plug in in logic, running in and out of the UCX , distortion vanishes. Its not a level thing. Its like the VP28 is having problems when connected to the input of my WA76, STA and LA2A. It doesn't have problems when connected to my 551 EQ or my LA500, both of which are in the same 500 API6B rack as the VP28. So, why is the VP28 having problems driving those three compressors and not the LA500... All I can think of is impedance, which is why I used the 551 as a buffer to test. I have other preamps, none have ever exhibited this behaviour. Anyone got a VP28 and STA? cheers Wiz jsteiger if you want I am happy to give you a call to explain this better. |
|
|
|
Post by wiz on Nov 20, 2014 21:35:12 GMT -6
Heres a quick recording (give me some slack, I was at the dentist yesterday and I am still really sore.. best part is, I have to go back monday... yay 8( ) anyways enough whinging. Acoustic. Taylor Mini Mahogany KM 84 VP28 -6dB 160HPF Preamp gain 11am Channel fader 12pm Vocal U87 VP28 -6dB 160HPF Preamp Gain 11 am Channel fader 12pm No EQ No Comp only verb. its a great sounding preamp for sure. Just want to figure out the weirdness with some of my outboard comps dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/13120658/vp28coldshot.mp3Cheers Wiz |
|
|
|
Post by tonycamphd on Nov 20, 2014 23:20:57 GMT -6
sounds killer, total brown vibe, i love those damn things!
|
|
|
|
Post by jsteiger on Nov 21, 2014 10:09:42 GMT -6
Wiz, something must not be right somewhere. The VP28 has a low output Z, less than 100 ohms. It sounds like the devices in question all have a 600 ohm input Z. All of my modules can drive a 600 ohm load no problem. The level will droop about 1.5dB into 600 ohms but freq response and THD will not change much at all. In fact, the exact circuit from my console that the VP28 is modeled after, would drive the 600 ohm faders in the desk. If it is not an outside issue (cabling, patchbay, etc) I would look at the final opamp A3. Maybe there is something up with that build? You could try swapping the discrete opamps on the VP28 and see if the problem remains or not. The load on the first opamp is closer to 1k so the problem would either go away or be there all of the time. At least it will help us narrow down the cause. This is a first for an issue like this.  Also, did you seat the opamps fully? classicapi.com/catalog/DOA_Install.php |
|
