crisotop's finished projects

GroupDIY Audio Forum

Help Support GroupDIY Audio Forum:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.

crisotop

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 22, 2007
Messages
720
Location
Linz / Austria
My thread of successful builds in chronological order - enjoy!

G-SSL

SSL02.jpg


The beginners favorite - what else can I say? Built with the additional Steffen Super Sidechain Board


Two Dual 1176 Compressors

1176frontSmall.jpg

1176insideSmall.jpg


Both are built with mnats Boards and have Lundahls on the output, the blue unit has IC input, the black one has switchable IC + OEP trafo input (many thanks to Stephen for the help on that!). I haven't made pictures of the finished insides yet, also the knobs on the blue unit are just temporarily and will be replace by the new owner. FETs are matched and stereo linking works like a charm, only the wiring on the non Rev-D boards is quite a pain, I can't see myself building an 1081!


Dual Analog Opto

d-aocFrontSmall.jpg

d-aocOpenSmall.jpg


The first build i felt the "analoge" right away - this unit just sounds like I would imagine a tapemachin to sound. Smoothed out highs and soft saturation - just beatiful! Have to try the Kubi "double vactrol" mod and maybe a 600:10k on the input for more gain. At the moment this compressor behaves like a nice old marshall amp - everything on 10 and your good to go. I used a 3pdt switch for modding the slopes, "soft" is a blue led, "hard" a red and middle position is original analog mode. Only the VUs are a bit off, need to have a look at that at some point.

Edit: Now with Kubi 'double vactrol + sidechain cap mod', doesn't really need the 600:10k input trafo anymore, but there's a pair on it's way already ;)


Two LA-2a's

La2a_FrontSmall.jpg

La2a_InsideSmall.jpg


These two were originally finished last spring. One unit was built for a friend again, I just purchased Volkers dual board since I miss the second one already ;) Sowter Iron, other than that nothing fancy in there. Sounds absoutely fantastic on vocals!


Neve 33609

neve33609_calibrationSmall.jpg

neve33609_openSmall.jpg

neve33609_openBackSmall.jpg


My first piece of "Neve" gear, sits on my low-end (i.e. drums + bass) buss since it was finished. Carnhills trafos, Elma for the compression threshold - easy build, but again VU tracking is not quite right, after 6-8 dB it starts to drift. (btw - thae rhode&schwarz analyser belongs to the university where I work - no need to panic :D)


Two G-Pultecs EQP1s

pultec_OpenFrontSmall.jpg

pultec_OpenBackTiltSmall.jpg


Edcor XS1100 on in and output using Tat's adapter boards, Max (ioaudio) inductor. All filter caps are wimas (sometimes in parallel to get the needed values), fairly easy to fit them in smaller/bigger holes if you're having a hard time sourcing the needed spacings. Beautiful low-end, especially the boost is huge, same counts for the top.


Neumann V475 Summing Amp

V475_frontSmall.jpg

V475_backSmall.jpg


Of course inspired by volkers (thanks for the card & help!) great looking box I decided to build on by myself. 24 channels in the smallest 1U box I had flying around :) 18 stereo inputs + 6 Mono suit my mixing setup perfectly, I also switched to a bantam patchbay and redid all my cabling just for this box. Very clean sounding, absolutely no noise, slight bass roll off...


ReAmp Box

reAmpSmall.jpg

reAmp_openSmall.jpg


Andreas Hau (i think I've seen him somewhere here in this forum ;)) wrote an article about a cheap (~ €30) reamping box using a tiny neutrik transformer in the german 'sound and recording magazine' a couple of months ago. Since I used a passive DI in reverse for that purpose and wanted to have more control I built one. The impedance control is awesome, my singlecoil Tele sounds like a Paula with lots of balls when I crank up the control!


Sontec Stereo EQ

sontec1small.jpg

sontec2small.jpg


Surgical stereo 'mastering' eq - very easy build. Configured mine for +/-12dB as printed on the front panel.


API 312 Stereo Micpre

312frontSmall.jpg

312backSmall.jpg


A thousand thanks to br, jensenman and hansherman for finally getting those 312 boards + 2520 opamps out ;) Another cheers to Gil for his demo rack-case, which made building a breeze. Very straightforward to build and tons (!!) of gain from this classic piece of gear.

Ibanez FL-301 Stompbox Flanger

ibanezFL301small.jpg


Got the pcb from tonepad, built two effectpedals, one as a gift for a friend and one for myself. Not as Swooshy as an Electric Mistress, but very versatile, from chorus, to rotary cabinet, to deep jet sounds a wide variety of sounds is possible.


G7 Stereo Pair

g7_boxSmall.jpg

g7_1Small.jpg

g7_2Small.jpg

g7_3Small.jpg


A pair of G7 mics with dale capsule + thiersch capsule mount. Very sweet sounding, compared to an C414 it is much clearer in the bottom (less boomy and rumbly) and the high end isn't as hyped, but still present and detailed. Also very quiet for a tube mic.


Trident S80 Racking

Trident_FrontSmall.jpg

Trident_BackSmall.jpg


Finally my two good ol' british channels are working! I repaired the completely ripped-apart modules about a year ago, but it took ages to finalise the enclosure (many thanks to wood-Michael and aluminium-Frank!). Added a nice PSU with switchable Phantom, Gain-Pot instead of the channel fader (the "lunchbox" is already big enough ;). Mic/Line IP + Transformer balanced OP + a nice broad and musical EQ in the middle is all one could wish for.


V1170 + 1176LN Channelstrip

V1170_1176_1frontSmall.jpg

V1170_1176_open3TopSmall.jpg


Channelstrip with two similarly named untis: BFE V1170 Mic/Line Preamp (huge Haufe/Pikatron trafos, although filled with a lot of ICs) + a trusty 1176 (mnats Rev J) form a perfect pair for tracking purposes. Relais-bypass for the compressor and igor DI/Phantom/Phase/Pad board.


Turbo SSL

ssl_1frontSmall.jpg

ssl_open2backSmall.jpg


My second SSL, this on a straightforward "original" clone, Sifam PPM VU with led illumination, dbx vcas, permanently in turbo mode, hardware bypass + non-onboard PSU. Haven't had time to compare the sound to my first ssl build, but it works perfectly.


Stereo W295b Racking

w295b_frontSmall.jpg

w295b_topSmall.jpg


Rack job of a Siemens W295b EQ Pair. Added relay bypass + active leds, very simple but sweet sounding three band eq.


D-La2a

d-la2a_frontSmall.jpg

d-la2a_topSmall.jpg


Volkers infamous d-la2a design (building was a breeze + works perfectly after 1st power up). Used "original" Sowter clones (1009 + 1010) and stepped Elma switches for easier recall. (25k pot + 75k resistor is a must on these things and brings the gain in a useful range). Matched tubes, matched T4 cells = close to perfect stereo tracking. This unit is also quieter and has less hum than my mono 3RU La2a build (what a waste of rackspace). It's tough to fit the tubes in a 2U case, but it can be done.


2-1176revD

1176RevD_FrontSmall.jpg

1176RevD_OpenSmall.jpg


UTC P12 input (octal o12) / ed anderson output. 20dB (1dB Steps) switched Elma T-Pad, switched Elma output, attack/release are pots, but will be replaced by switches once I find a cheaper alternative to the elmas :)


GDIY511x Rack

gdiy51x_01frontSmall.jpg

gdiy51x_02backSmall.jpg

gdiy51xPSU_01frontSmall.jpg

gdiy51xPSU_open01topSmall.jpg



Sifam VU Meters

sifamVU_1frontSmall.jpg

sifamVU_open1topSmall.jpg


nice VU Meters, JLM Buffer Kit, that's it


AST (Neumann) W1390 Stereo Fader Racking

fader_01frontSmall.jpg

fader_open02frontSmall.jpg


Excellent active faders, for my non-meter bridge Studer B67 taperecorder


TG12413 Zener Limiter

tg12413_1frontSmall.jpg

tg12413_open2closeSmall.jpg


Festers boards, diodes very closely matched (excellent stereo tracking, even with the original hold control). Switchable IC / Trafo balancing with Edcor 10k:10k on the input for a very mellow "tapey" sound. Absolutely in love with this thing - so versatile!


Telefunken V672 Stereo Racking

telefunkenV672_01topSmall.jpg

telefunkenV672_open02psuSmall.jpg


Volker PSU, JLM GoBetween, two switchable input impedances, stepped gain control, sweet and still affordable preamps with character, especially with low-impedance inputs.


Siemens V72 Stereo Racking

siemensV72_01frontSmall.jpg

siemensV72_open01topSmall.jpg


Olaf/Volker "Esoteric" Phantom PSU + SlowStart boards. switched T-Pad attenuator, JLM GoBetween - 34dB of tube heaven :)


EQN 51X Module

EQN_01Small.jpg

EQN_02topSmall.jpg


A pair of Peter's beautiful Neve 1084 EQ modules was my first 51X (500-) series build, no metalwork, no psu, no hassle :D -- GO 51X Audio!


NV73 51X Module

nv73_01Small.jpg

nv73_02topSmall.jpg

nv73EQNrackSmall.jpg


And a pair of David's pres to go with my eq's - make sure to have at least one, the in- or output linked to 0V/GND (not Case/Earth) on your 511 rack to prevent nasty oscillation.


Ribbon Booster & Impedance Converter

ribBoo_impCon_01Small.jpg


Two channel microphone toolboxes for my cheapo ribbons. Another build from Dr. Hau (with circuit ideas by PRR) out of the sound&recording magazine.


Ribbon Booster & Impedance Converter

jensamp_01Small.jpg

jensamp_02topSmall.jpg


A pair of Jensamps to fill up my 51X rack. Super-easy build (perfect for a rainy sunday afternoon) and very thick sounding pres, love them!

greytoneMixplace.jpg


and a picture of my mixplace (only the diy micpres are missing ;)


Many many thanks the big contributors of this place for all the incredible work to make such great projects like those available for everyone!

happy DIY,
christoph
 
If that was a whole summer's work i'm going to kill myself right now
Very Productive , nice looking work

whatever your dayjob is you must be good at it ! Bravo on the nice peices
 
:shock: wooooow. Very nice builds - all of them. Think I'll have to start buying the Purusha cases. Metal work is killing me, and slows my projects down alot.
 
Very nice ! :thumb:

Spotting both a Technics and a re-amp... please confirm you use them for loud rock & don't tell us you use all those nice boxes to process dance-orientated stuff, right ? :twisted: :cool:

Just kidding...

Have a good weekend,

Peter
 
thanks for all the kind words!

If that was a whole summer's work i'm going to kill myself right now

A lot of it was done in my two week holiday - I felt weird when I switched the soldering iron off and started to breath clean air again :D

by the time spring hits though, I'll have a pile like that i think.

Oh god this is so addictive - especially with so many great projects offered nearly every week!

Think I'll have to start buying the Purusha cases. Metal work is killing me, and slows my projects down alot.

I know that it's not as DIY as one could get, but if I would be drilling the frontpanels by myself it would look awful and take three times longer to finish a unit. The D-AOC case is from purusha as well, so kudos to him ;)
I will try frontpanel express for the pm670, but it's a lot of work and more expensive than a complete box from tat...

potting both a Technics and a re-amp... please confirm you use them for loud rock & don't tell us you use all those nice boxes to process dance-orientated stuff, right ?

Hehe, I used to DJ ages ago, but still buy most records (95% rock :razz:) on vinyl, which is the reason for still owning two 1210s. And yes, all those boxes have to deal with smashed drums, overdriven guitars and roaring vocals :grin:

take care
christoph
 
Excellent work! Happy to see these baby's!
Will take a shot of Lafroaig with pipe for them!
:guinness: :sam: :thumb: :thumb: :thumb:
 
[quote author="crisotop"]I. (btw - thae rhode&schwarz analyser belongs to the university where I work - no need to panic :D)
[/quote]

Well, I did panic for a moment there :shock:

All is fine now. Very nice and clean builds BTW :thumb:
 
Great work!! very clean!
thanx for beautiful pics
I´m jaleous!! :)

can we hear some audio samples? :razz: That would be great
 
Yeah , yeah ptown , whenever i finish my 15 half done projects
my studio will be bigger than your studio ......................
but not crisotop's , Ha! and yeah the finishing always slows me down

you'll have to send that to the D.I.Y. done thread where it will be in the
good company of a few other of our proud members [what was it called ?]
 
Thanks for sharing your builds, what a inspiration.

can you tell us a little about the use of the audio analyzer with the Neve 33609 ? looks interesting....
 
Back
Top