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Post by tonycamphd on Oct 5, 2013 21:58:03 GMT -6
I am really excited about the LC53A right now! Trying to earn/save my pennies for at least a pair. It's crazy that these tiny things cost what a guitar does, but, that's how it is. I can't say that they're less useful! Pro audio is pretty rock n roll anyway. I've got 4 of the lc53's monkey, get your excitement way up! you will not be disappointed  I also recommend building your pair side by side, at exactly the same time, i did all 4 of my units like that, and knocked a significant amount of time off the builds. good luck T |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 5, 2013 23:42:30 GMT -6
Tony had me compare the EQ on the ez1073-500 to the LC53. I ran some stereo mixes through them and also made some sweeps. Neve EQ is much more drastic. the LC53 is very smooth, and almost unnoticeable.
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Post by craig32768 on Oct 7, 2013 20:59:10 GMT -6
Anyone build a pair of VP28's with minimal DIY experience? How much time did it take? Any problems with the build? Any advice? I've built 3 and and about to build my 4th VP28. Hadn't soldered in years and only know the basics of electronics but they are great straightforward builds. Just take your time and you'll be all good. I made silly mistake on my first one by placing the switch on the wrong side of the PCB and also made a silly mistake on an opamp by putting the power transistors in the wrong places and frying a couple of resistors. I would recommend getting a couple of extra opamps with your first kit as they are the most difficult part of the build. I really love my VP28s. After doing a couple I had my confidence up enough to build a SoundSkulptor MP573 and a JLM Audio LA500. A couple of Hairball Audio Lolas are next on the DIY list... Oh and a 10 space rack as this DIY stuff is addictive and I've almost filled up my lunchbox ! Hope that helps. Cheers Craig |
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Post by craig32768 on Oct 7, 2013 21:11:46 GMT -6
Now you can try out different op amps Hey John, Just had a listen to your tracks on www.reverbnation.com/johnkennedyDid you use much Classic API stuff on those tracks? Cheers Craig |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 7, 2013 22:45:33 GMT -6
Anyone build a pair of VP28's with minimal DIY experience? How much time did it take? Any problems with the build? Any advice? I've built 3 and and about to build my 4th VP28. Hadn't soldered in years and only know the basics of electronics but they are great straightforward builds. Just take your time and you'll be all good. I made silly mistake on my first one by placing the switch on the wrong side of the PCB and also made a silly mistake on an opamp by putting the power transistors in the wrong places and frying a couple of resistors. I would recommend getting a couple of extra opamps with your first kit as they are the most difficult part of the build. I really love my VP28s. After doing a couple I had my confidence up enough to build a SoundSkulptor MP573 and a JLM Audio LA500. A couple of Hairball Audio Lolas are next on the DIY list... Oh and a 10 space rack as this DIY stuff is addictive and I've almost filled up my lunchbox ! Hope that helps. Cheers Craig you should snag an 11-space GDIY rack from Jeff @ ClassicAPI.com instead of the 10-slot. |
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Post by craig32768 on Oct 8, 2013 0:39:09 GMT -6
I've built 3 and and about to build my 4th VP28. Hadn't soldered in years and only know the basics of electronics but they are great straightforward builds. Just take your time and you'll be all good. I made silly mistake on my first one by placing the switch on the wrong side of the PCB and also made a silly mistake on an opamp by putting the power transistors in the wrong places and frying a couple of resistors. I would recommend getting a couple of extra opamps with your first kit as they are the most difficult part of the build. I really love my VP28s. After doing a couple I had my confidence up enough to build a SoundSkulptor MP573 and a JLM Audio LA500. A couple of Hairball Audio Lolas are next on the DIY list... Oh and a 10 space rack as this DIY stuff is addictive and I've almost filled up my lunchbox ! Hope that helps. Cheers Craig you should snag an 11-space GDIY rack from Jeff @ ClassicAPI.com instead of the 10-slot. Difficult here in New Zealand as I think I have to order that through the UK and the shipping is crazy - as is the import duty. Might go for a 10 space Lindell Audio one when they become available. |
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Post by wreck on Oct 8, 2013 8:43:13 GMT -6
So I tracked drums for the first time with the new vp312s last night. I had always heard the api 312 was a hot pre and turns out the same applies to these. I used two of them, one on inside kick (d112) and one over the top of the kick near the front rim beater side (at2020). I always had to pad the 2020, but never had to attenuate the 112. With the vp312, gain was off and attenuation was about 3 0'clock. Sounded great, but it's a hot pre. I have used the VP 26 on kick before, exact same set up, with no attenuation and a bit of gain. So, they are hot pres. Definitely more low end than the VP26/28 and maybe that's why the signal is reading so hot. That tranny is a LOT bigger in the 312. Next time, I am going to try them on overheads. Just didn't have the balls to make that change last night. Love the current sounds too much. On the down side - I guess I blew up my 5 month old GAP 573. Pre section is pretty much dead. DI still works. That didn't last too long. Kinda pissed about that. It certainly wan't abused. But the VP312 is much more different from the VP26/28 than I expected. I like it.
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Post by littlesicily on Oct 10, 2013 12:41:18 GMT -6
I got a VP28 kit with the intension of having someone assemble it for me, like I've done with my others. I'm semi-handy with a soldering iron (made cables, snakes, etc for years) so I figured I'd give it a shot. I got most of the resistors in the PCB and my eyes were about crossed and I had a head-ache! Must have been bad lighting and the fear that, although I double checked my work, I'd screw something up and have to trash the kit. I know my tech can build one of the kits in 2-3hrs hours, and I was almost 2 hrs in with just the resistors! (It wasn't until today that I discovered how to know which side of the resistor is the left side...doh!) The good news is that I was able to solder all the points very cleanly, thanks to my new Hakko.
First time, woes, I know. I determined yesterday that DIY was not for me... but then today feel a little better about it. I think doing a little at a time would have been better than trying to do it all in one sitting.
I'm letting my tech finish the job, but may give it another go in the future.
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Post by Guitar on Oct 10, 2013 15:46:35 GMT -6
DIY is hard to swallow the first few times, like staring a new job or something. But if you stick with it, and finally have some success, it will get a lot more comfortable. And eventually, you won't be devastated if stuff doesn't work, you'll just keep at it till it does, hone your important troubleshooting skills. I have a very tiny number of actually failed or abandoned projects at this point, out of dozens or hundreds. You've just got to keep learning, and gain confidence. Every new job you might pick up some new bits of knowledge. Learning along the way is the way to do it. Keep your feet wet!
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Post by Johnkenn on Oct 10, 2013 16:49:44 GMT -6
Hey Guitar are you a real, live wo-man? I see the "female" sign at the bottom...didn't know if that was a mistake or not. |
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Post by littlesicily on Oct 10, 2013 19:09:08 GMT -6
My tech looked at my soldering work on the resistors and said most looked good, but there were a few cold joints he fixed. When I pickup the completed vp28, he said he'd give me a few pointers.
Slow and steady...
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Post by tonycamphd on Oct 10, 2013 19:58:48 GMT -6
My tech looked at my soldering work on the resistors and said most looked good, but there were a few cold joints he fixed. When I pickup the completed vp28, he said he'd give me a few pointers. Slow and steady... Hey Sic, you should build a Bo Hansen DI, they are awesome sounding, easy to build, cheap investment, and will likely end up being your fav DI go over to the diy sub forum, pcbgrinder is the location, let me know if you have any Q's on it. here's mine, i used a ht 11 psu case for mine, you can just get a cheapy case, or use a broken guitar pedal?    |
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Post by littlesicily on Oct 10, 2013 20:23:56 GMT -6
Thanks, Tony. I'm kinda set on DI's, but this is a great idea to start small.
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Post by Guitar on Oct 11, 2013 11:46:17 GMT -6
well I identify a lot with women, but no, I just thought it was funny :-D  |
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Post by littlesicily on Oct 11, 2013 12:30:29 GMT -6
well I identify a lot with women So does that mean that after you buy some gear you give yourself a guilt trip? |
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Post by littlesicily on Oct 11, 2013 20:10:52 GMT -6
OK, my VP28 is up and running! Turns out I mixed up two resistors, but tech who finished it was able to correct. I love these preamps.
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Post by Johnkenn on Oct 11, 2013 20:12:43 GMT -6
well I identify a lot with women So does that mean that after you buy some gear you give yourself a guilt trip? Try the veal...tip your waiters... |
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Post by Guitar on Oct 11, 2013 21:03:50 GMT -6
go over to the diy sub forum, pcbgrinder is the location, let me know if you have any Q's on it. here's mine, i used a ht 11 psu case for mine, you can just get a cheapy case, or use a broken guitar pedal? that's a great looking DI, I might have to copy that! I'm not too picky about DIs as long as they're good, but the Bo Hansen compliments have me intrigued. I like the dual thing, too. |
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Post by tonycamphd on Oct 11, 2013 21:55:40 GMT -6
go over to the diy sub forum, pcbgrinder is the location, let me know if you have any Q's on it. here's mine, i used a ht 11 psu case for mine, you can just get a cheapy case, or use a broken guitar pedal? that's a great looking DI, I might have to copy that! I'm not too picky about DIs as long as they're good, but the Bo Hansen compliments have me intrigued. I like the dual thing, too. It's got a thing for sure, a nice little push and bottom focus with a bit of transformer fuzz(all very subtle but there) it's the most "right" sounding DI i've used, besides that, you can NOT go wrong for the price! good luck |
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Post by joey808 on Oct 11, 2013 22:20:39 GMT -6
I ran the AML ez1073 into the VP28 & PWM501, Wow! What an amazing vocal sound. kudos!
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Post by littlesicily on Oct 12, 2013 12:11:41 GMT -6
VP28 is one of the best all around pre's out there. Period.
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Post by tonycamphd on Oct 12, 2013 12:36:24 GMT -6
VP28 is one of the best all around pre's out there. Period. +1 |
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Post by Guitar on Oct 12, 2013 16:06:47 GMT -6
Lately I'm all about darkened dirt, I think it's time for some VP28 this year. Muddled gritty stuff just sounds more real to me, natural. The opposite of high bandwidth super clean digital presence peaks. From what I can tell, the VP28 has got some of that going on with so many "color" components in it, and Jeff's demo video on drums.
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Post by tonycamphd on Oct 12, 2013 18:49:11 GMT -6
Lately I'm all about darkened dirt, I think it's time for some VP28 this year. Muddled gritty stuff just sounds more real to me, natural. The opposite of high bandwidth super clean digital presence peaks. From what I can tell, the VP28 has got some of that going on with so many "color" components in it, and Jeff's demo video on drums. whats surprising about the vp28 to me, is how versatile it is, you can achieve a seriously hifi sound from it, or you can pound the front, and squeeze the back to push the fuzzy love! The classic use of api pre's is to hit em hard, and then pad the output as to not overload your tape input, the Vp28 with it's 2 stages (2 opamps/3 transformers, 1 in 2 out-channel fader) takes that tried a true technique to a whole new level. it's a brilliant design, my favorite pre ever, bar none. |
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Post by lolo on Oct 23, 2013 9:28:20 GMT -6
Just started a new mix, mixing with my VP28's on the master buss.
Normally just run them at unity, but I decided to try something else. Cranked the output fader to 3'clock and backed the preamp gain down. Just sounded fantastic.
How do you guys that mix through them normally set them up?
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I also recommend building your pair side by side, at exactly the same time, i did all 4 of my units like that, and knocked a significant amount of time off the builds.
