Another Mystery "Mastering" Console (probably GDR)

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janczmok

Well-known member
Joined
May 2, 2006
Messages
236
Location
Mainz, Germany
Hello there,
recently i acquired (and haven't look deeper in the rabbit hole) this "mastering console DDR germany" -> https://spheremusic.com/Bargaindtl.asp?Item=27653
to maybe either reuse the case or revive the unit.
As many of you like curious consoles, here are more photos of the unit. Maybe somebody can shed some light on it. Especially about the connector on Photo #5. The other connectors for in/out are coax, definitely not my choice. Will do exchange with XLR then.


1.jpeg2.jpeg3.jpegIMG_1609.jpegIMG_1612.jpegIMG_1611.jpegIMG_1610.jpegIMG_1613.jpegIMG_1614.jpeg
 
Hi Jan,

I think the knobs were made on the left side of the iron curtain, the GDR stuff looks different. The compressor is definitely labeled too English for a device from the GDR. Maybe this unit was built during the transition period or by a DIYer with access to western components. To me it looks like a western device, the partly international labeling could also indicate a different (non-german) country of origin or this parts were meant for the international market.
 
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I concur with Rock - are those knobs Elma collets? That dynamics section is giving very ADR Compex vibes, too - they did OEM for various console manufacturers, I wonder how similar it is under the hood.

Anyway, it looks great! Lot of functionality there. Will make a very fun stereo toolbox, I'm sure.
 
wow what a great purchase....I like that kind of device
It would be cool to know how the limiter section is made...

have fun
 
It’s hard to tell by looking at it how many channels it is. If it is two channel it is not a disc mastering console. If it is four channel it is. Disc mastering consoles have four channels to accommodate a preview feed to the lathe automation.
 
It says 'soldeerzijde' on the tuchel drawing, so there could be a Dutch or Flemish connection. Early D&R or EELA? Also, GDR export was sometimes labeled in English, although they were also keen on pictogrammes.
DSU Electronic... If German, it would have been Elektronik, isn't it?
The faders and their knobs make me think a bit of what Artec, a very small Belgian company, used. According to the myths, they made one great large-format one-off studio console (haven't seen pictures of it), alongside a small number of valve (untill the first half of the seventies!) and later transistorised small to medium-sized (for the time) PA mixers.

I spot 6 stereo meters, so that seems plenty if a preview were included. But how that works with the EQ's and comp/limiter... I'm scratching my head as well.
 

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