ericn
Temp
Balance Engineer
Posts: 16,086 
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Post by ericn on Apr 16, 2019 20:20:17 GMT -6
If I had the work right now and the Tax man hadn’t done his yearly damage on my bank account I would have an order in for one of these channel strips. Right now Matt , Brad from Louder Than Liftoff and Chris of the SVARTbox are my favorite designers to talk to theses days. It takes guts to do your own thing and on do it on your own, cookie cutter Xeroxed clones are easy, new tools and tones are not.
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Post by sirthought on Apr 18, 2019 15:24:30 GMT -6
This box looks really nice.
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Post by matt@IAA on Apr 25, 2019 14:36:16 GMT -6
Hi y'all, I wanted to share our third product that is available for ordering now. This one is pretty darn straightforward - a quad mic pre. www.ironageaudioworks.com/micpreqppEach channel features a very simple transformer balanced, 990/2520 footprint mic pre circuit. This is what you'd find in an API or Quad Eight or any number of designs. There's a gain knob, as well as a continuously variable 600 ohm trim. 48V, pad, mute, and phase switches round out the feature set, along with an internal power supply. The fun in this is the ability to customize. I really enjoyed the design process on this one because there is just so much variability in the three components of this circuit - input transformer, discrete op amp, output transformer. This one ships with the same setup as our CS1 - a Jensen input transformer, our M2 discrete op amp, and a Cinemag low impedance steel core output transformer. I really love this setup, especially when paired with tube mics. So, you want to try something inspired by Quad Eight? We've made one using our QDOA, +/-28V and all. Sounds great, really sweet transformer tone with Cinemag transformers from the original QE docs. How about some 312 vibe? Sure, throw in a CAPI or Ed Anderson 2622 an ADOA. I also really enjoyed the RE0887 input transformer from Cinemag with a Neumann style op amp (our NDOA) paired with a Jensen nickel output transformer. Or whatever you like. Here's Fernando taking one for a spin in the lab. Attachments:
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Post by matt@IAA on May 4, 2019 13:34:40 GMT -6
Thought I'd share a custom job we're doing for a client. Two channel box, each using a Cinemag quadrifilar steel core transformer Adjustable input impedance Adjustable load termination Four way switch selecting from 2:2, 2:1, 1:2, 1:1 transformer ratios True bypass switch Ground lift between each pin 1  Super useful little box. |
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Post by matt@IAA on Aug 6, 2019 22:54:10 GMT -6
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Post by Mister Chase on Aug 7, 2019 0:23:37 GMT -6
That's a killer price for 4 channels of great pre. Maybe this will be how I get my quad 8 desires satisfied.
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Post by jcoutu1 on Aug 7, 2019 8:12:47 GMT -6
Hey Guys, I've been demoing the upcoming Iron Age Audio V2 EQ and so far, think it's fantastic. I'll give a little info, some thoughts, and at the bottom is a link with some samples.  First off, the wooden faceplate...as cool as it is, this is just for the proto, not production. Anyway, this unit is a 3 band eq, with a proportional-Q, bridged-T design (a la some American company who is a pioneer of 500 series and likes to sue), with custom op-amps, Cinemag trannys, and a discrete signal path. The top 2 bands both can be set to bell or shelf while the mid band is bell only. There is also a switch for a bandpass filter (simultaneous low cut and high cut). All frequencies and gains are on rotary switches, so you never have to worry about recall. As you would expect, there are 2, 4, 6, 8, and 12dB steps for cut and boost. The first thing I noted about the unit was how great the rotary switches felt. As soon as I got the unit in, I messaged matt@IAA to ask who makes them and tell him how great they felt. I've had $5000+ units with terrible feeling switches, and these feel perfect. Last weekend I had a pop punk band in and used the eq for tracking. During basics, I had both bands of the eq parked on my top snare mics, 57 and 012. I pushed a bell 2dB at 100, cut 8dB at 400, and pushed 4dB top shelf at 11.5k. The big mid cut helped pull out some junky overtones, the bell at 100 gave me a little push in the bottom (to help beef up what was being dug out, and the top shelf brought some life to the tone. Then, when overdubbing the second guitar (left ear), I swapped it over to guitars. The top shelf seems to work great to brighten up without sounding harsh. I pushed 100 6dB, I was using the mid band to push some upper mid bite 2dB at 3k, and pushed the top 4dB at 11.5k for the sparkle. Then when tracking vocals, I boosted a shelf 6dB at 300, cut 4dB at 400, and boosted 2dB at 11.5k. (apparently that 11.5k setting is my favorite spot). Anyway, where the rubber meets the road is in the tracks right? Here's a quick sample. I posted vocals only tracks, raw and IAA EQ'd, as well as "in context" tracks fit in with a rough mix of the music. The raw vocal without eq is from the first take before I set up the eq, and the IAA come from the final comp'd takes. Vocal chain is Flea-47 > Weight Tank by Locomotive Audio WT-72 > WT-Comp (banging hard, 20+dB because I'm a savage) > IAA EQ. No eq, compression, or automation in the box. Just a bit of verb on the "in context" track. Have a listen... drive.google.com/open?id=1E2zFNmMZp4wD3p_DgLsONGEpn5MD1LEX |
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Post by matt@IAA on Oct 31, 2019 16:19:14 GMT -6
That transformer box I made for a client was so freakin' fun to use we decided the world needed them. So, happy to introduce y'all to the Portia Street Stomp. The Portia Street Stomp is a swiss army knife for tone shaping born out of a late night session with Dylan Ely, owner of the Portia Street Studio in Los Angeles. Dylan does a lot of work at home and at other studios and wanted a portable solution to give some weight to a signal. The Stomp was our solution. Distortion in transformers can produce complex, rich tones and is a product of the inductance of the transformer and the source impedance presented transformer. Larger source impedance or lower inductance windings produce more distortion at a given signal level. The load on the transformer also contributes to the response of the iron. Changing the load impedance also has an effect on the driving amplifier. The Portia Street Stomp uses a wonderfully low inductance Cinemag steel core transformer with quadrifilar windings (four identical windings). This allows for a variety of configurations to get a wide range of tones out of the both the transformer itself and the driving circuit. The Portia Street Stomp allows you to vary the tone in three ways: - The transformer “Ratio” switch selects between four configurations. Two configurations are effectively 1:1 but use 1 or 2 windings to increase or decrease the total inductance (which will enhance the behavior of the “Primary” knob). In 1:2 and 2:1 mode there will be a 6 dB step up or step down respectively, and the load being presented to the source amplifier will also change.
- The “Primary” knob allows the source impedance presented to the transformer to be changed continuously, which increases the harmonic distortion of the passive circuit and slightly changes the frequency response.
- The “Secondary” pot allows the load across the transformer secondary to be varied. This will change the current drive of the source amplifier. A lower load will increase the current demand at a given signal level, which will cause more distortion from the source amplifier. The load pot will also interact with the transformer windings to change the overall tone.
Each channel also has a true bypass in/out switch and a ground lift circuit between the input and output XLR connectors. We have a limited run in stock now, at $550! Put it on your signals for flavor!  |
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Post by kcatthedog on Oct 31, 2019 16:38:49 GMT -6
How much $$$ or are the free to your RGO grouppies !!  |
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Post by matt@IAA on Oct 31, 2019 16:43:39 GMT -6
How much $$$ or are the free to your RGO grouppies !! Added to the original. I could possibly be talked into an RGO discount.  |
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Post by kcatthedog on Oct 31, 2019 17:03:15 GMT -6
Was just pulilng your leg but that is kind of you to consider it !
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Post by tasteliketape on Jan 25, 2020 1:12:19 GMT -6
I’d be in on. Group buy for the porta street stomp! I’m going to buy one anyway.
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Post by matt@IAA on Jan 31, 2020 8:35:58 GMT -6
Been waiting on this one to come out for a while. This song and a handful of others were tracked entirely with the CS1 channel strip at Little Russia Recordings in Sacramento.
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Post by jcoutu1 on Jan 31, 2020 8:50:30 GMT -6
Been waiting on this one to come out for a while. This song and a handful of others were tracked entirely with the CS1 channel strip at Little Russia Recordings in Sacramento. Sounds awesome. |
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Post by matt@IAA on Mar 7, 2020 19:58:38 GMT -6
Hey guys, happy to semi-formally introduce the V2. The V2 is a stereo / dual mono equalizer, fully switched. It uses a bridged T topology which allows for proportional Q behavior - the more you boost, the narrower it gets, ensuring the EQ is always musical. The input is balanced using our discrete op amp and two more are used for gain. Discrete buffers separate the filter banks, and a custom wound Cinemag output transformer balances the output. After the V2 prototype went on its demo voyage from coast to coast we collected feedback and put that into the production version. The biggest update we made was adding the mix / master mode. In mix mode the EQ has 12 dB range of boost or cut. In master mode the gain range is reduced to a maximum of 3 dB, while retaining the proportional Q behavior. I would love to be taking orders on these from inventory as planned, but supply chain interruptions have been killer - especially on switches. However we DO have material to make a handful of units, and these ARE available on a first come first serve basis. We’re offering the first batch at a discounted price of $1650. Regular price will be $1800, and unfortunately due to the state of things with our suppliers (particularly Grayhill) I don’t know when more units will be available. Give me a shout if you’re interested! You can see a top off photo of the first unit below. http://instagram.com/p/B9cjFQMBlQi |
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Post by Blackdawg on Mar 7, 2020 20:42:14 GMT -6
Awesome! What are the exact gain steps in both modes?
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Post by matt@IAA on Mar 7, 2020 21:00:47 GMT -6
Awesome! What are the exact gain steps in both modes? 2, 4, 6, 9, 12 and roughly 1/4 of that - 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2.25 and 3. |
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Post by matt@IAA on Apr 10, 2020 9:58:51 GMT -6
Hope everyone is staying safe and trying to make the best of their stay at home time. We finished up a custom project for a client of ours. 10 of our mic pres in a 500 series enclosure, powered by a +/-24V PSU. Each pre also has a 50 Hz rumble filter, a selectable 1:2 or 1:3 output transformer ratio, an interstage fader, and a +12 dB high gain output mode for ribbons or dynamics.   We also have a single V2 stereo equalizer remaining from the first batch. After this its ?? when we'll be able to get more switches. If you're interested, let me know. |
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Post by kcatthedog on Apr 11, 2020 6:00:47 GMT -6
Sweet build!
Price on EQ: Intro or regular?
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Post by matt@IAA on Apr 11, 2020 7:14:45 GMT -6
Intro price for this one!
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Post by sam on Apr 11, 2020 10:49:07 GMT -6
Wait a tick... Those 500 series have a full fader path a la VP28s? Ouuu...
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Post by matt@IAA on Apr 11, 2020 12:17:19 GMT -6
sam There are two stages - two op amps - but there is only one output transformer. The first op amp is the mic preamp, variable gain. The second op amp is a fixed gain stage (with two gain levels, HI and LO). The high pass filter is in between.
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Post by sam on Apr 11, 2020 15:58:22 GMT -6
sam There are two stages - two op amps - but there is only one output transformer. The first op amp is the mic preamp, variable gain. The second op amp is a fixed gain stage (with two gain levels, HI and LO). The high pass filter is in between. Either way I'm in. Lemme know when you're making them regularly  |
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Post by matt@IAA on Apr 11, 2020 17:06:26 GMT -6
They’re available now for $550... as long as I have transformers left. As far as I know Jensen and Cinemag are both closed down, and only available to ship what they have in stock.
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ericn
Temp
Balance Engineer
Posts: 16,086
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Post by ericn on Apr 11, 2020 17:15:07 GMT -6
They’re available now for $550... as long as I have transformers left. As far as I know Jensen and Cinemag are both closed down, and only available to ship what they have in stock. Man I’m surprised about Jensen, I sold a bunch of their Video transformers to GE & Siemens Medical for MRI and other applications. |
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