Any Av@l0n 737 compressor mods exist?

[juniorhifikit]

Avalon 737 - I routinely run into these units in small studios everywhere...  Small studio meaning artist's home or office and they don't have anything else to use.  The mic pre and EQ are nice but the compressor is... unusable in my experience.  Does anyone know of any simple mods to change the knee of these things?  I don't mind swapping a few resistors & capacitors in someone else's gear if I'm going to be stuck working with it for a week, but I don't want to waste too much time.  I'd just like it to be... more like other optical compressors I know and love (La2a, CL1B, Elop...)

Thanks

p.s. I heard of a "Baby Face" mod.  He makes nice records, anyone know what his mod is?

 

[creal]

i don't like the avalon products, maybe you can resell this shit and build a good pre amp, Eq, and compressor projects. i'm sure it's better and more usefull to have a nice DLA2A, an API or SSL pre and passive or neve eq.
What did you think about that???

 

[Siegfried Meier]

Hahah harsh words!

I like their U5 DI alot.  Some of the EQ's are nice too.  Their comps I have found pretty well useless, and their pres left me feeling like something was lacking.

However, to each their own.  I don't like every single product each manufacturer makes, and this case is no different.

 

[juniorhifikit]

i don't like the avalon products, maybe you can resell this Sh*t and build a good pre amp, Eq, and compressor projects. i'm sure it's better and more usefull to have a nice DLA2A, an API or SSL pre and passive or neve eq.
What did you think about that???

What I think is, you didn't answer my question nor did you read my post very well.  I don't own any Avalon product.  I travel a lot and can't always bring gear on the plane.  These 737's are in practically every artist studio; they kind of suck as compressors go; and I'm looking for a cheap mod to make the knee more usable.  

edit: the U5 is pretty good

 

[pucho812]

Avalon Vt -737sp 'Fast Attack' (aka: Babyface) Modification
Please Note: It is recommended that a qualified technician perform this modification. If you choose to perform this modification yourself, I can NOT be held responsible for damage to your unit.
Required Tools: Soldering Iron - Solder - Solder Wick - Allen Key -Phillips Screwdriver Parts Required: 1 - 1μf 100V Electrolytic Radial Capacitor (which looks like this

READ ALL INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE BEGINNING MODIFICATION

1: Disconnect all cables from unit and remove from rack.

2: Place in a secure area and remove 12 Phillips screws from top cover - Remove cover.

3: Locate the Optical Compressor Board. It is in the front middle of unit, directly behind the VU and marked ASSY 5600 7374.

4: Be sure to touch a metal part of the case to discharge any static you might have before touching any part of the circuit board.

5: Remove the two Allen Screws securing the board to the main circuitry.
Make note of the orientation of the board. Also note there are 2 washers, keep track of these for later replacement. The board is attached by two multi-pin connectors, simply pull upward in a straight direction to unseat and remove.

6: Make note of the orientation of the Capacitor on the board. The Gray stripe indicates the negative (-) polarity and the replacement MUST BE INSTALLED WITH THE SAME POLARITY.

7: Turn the over and remove the solder holding the capacitor to the board. I recommend using solder wick with a soldering iron as it quickely and cleanly removes solder from boards.

8: When the capacitor is removed use iron and wick to clean any excess solder from the points on the board for easy installation of the new capacitor. - Check the rating of the removed capacitor. If it is 2.2μf 50V, replace with the 1μf 100V.
NOTE: Some older models have a 2.2μf 63V Capacitor. In these units a 1μf 63V Capacitor is recommended.

9: Install new Capacitor BEING SURE TO CHECK POLARITY. Solder in place (this takes very little solder, be sure not to use too much) and trim excess wire from board.

10: Reseat board, reinstall allen screw and washers. Replace top and screws. Your Avalon 737 compression section is now ready for ‘faster’ fast attack.


Any avalon 737sp already comes modded

 

[canidoit]

I have tried that mod before. To be honest, I didn't really notice a drastic or usable difference to the unit.

Theres a tutorial online somewhere that actually has pictures with instructions as well. I will see if I have the link somewhere, but that was a long time ago, so I am unsure as to whether it is still active. 

The latest 737sp has the mod built in. It was not in, during and a few years after the purple knobs came out and then went silver.

 

[juniorhifikit]

Thanks pucho812!  I'm going to try a few things when I have some time, including changing the "knee" as well as the attack speed (research time).  I'll repost back with results...

 

[canidoit]

It's discussed here
http://www.gearslutz.com/board/so-much-gear-so-little-time/28829-avalon-vt-737-baby-face-mod.html

But the link to the actual instructions is dead.

 

[Rossi]

I don't own an Avalon, but the description reads as if those 1 u or 2.2 u caps are lytics. If you've ever measured small lytics, you know that most of them (unlike larger lytics) are way above their rating. It is not rare for a 1uF electrolytic to acutally be 2 uF. And if that's the case, you won't hear a difference after the mod.

If I had to perform this mod I'd use a Wima MKS-2 or MKS-02 polyester cap with 5% rating. Not only are they more precise, they also keep their capacitance forever.

 

[juniorhifikit]

Yes, I have a few Wima's laying around.  I think they're 1uF 63v...  Next time I run into an Avalon 737 (next month?) I'll see if they'll fit.  Hopefully the 63v rating isn't too close to the voltage at that point in the circuit.

 

[strangeandbouncy]

HI,


    I personally think that the best mod for a 737 is to take it out of the rack, and substitute with any of a number other pres. comps and eqs. I just have never got on with them. They are *alright*, and *alright* doesnt cut the mustard here. The words thin and bland spring to mind.


    they do look quite nice . . . . . . .


    747 is great tho(love the top eq band), and I liked their mastering eq over the mix.


      ANdyP


     

 

[Govinda Doyle]

haha!
this is funny...
if any of you have not heard or used the avalon ad2022 preamp then you might wanna reserve your opinions.. i think the avalon solid state gear sounds better than the valve...
funny thing is someone came into my studio with a vocal recorded with an akg 414 (personally think the mic is a piece of junk) and it was recorded through the avalon 737 and all the things i hated about that mic were gone and the vocal sounds to my ear really nice... its like the avalon dulled out the brittle 414... all about combinations and applications i guess!
G

 

[mitsos]

i think the avalon solid state gear sounds better than the valve...

Walter Sear hated avalon so much he built a console out of their preamps  :

http://www.searsound.com/studio_c.html

 

[pucho812]

i think the avalon solid state gear sounds better than the valve...

Walter Sear hated avalon so much he built a console out of their preamps   :

http://www.searsound.com/studio_c.html

I've done sessions on that board.... It's an old Sony MXP 3000. The original mic pre and eq were removed and the avalon drop in replacements were put in. It has flying faders. The eq has a 30 K shelf on the high end that really opens up the sonic landscape when you kick it in. The rest of the console was tinkered with as well, including altran output transformers  on the busses and such. It's really a sear console VS a sony console. Really done up right. By far  the best console I ever heard.


oh and yes the avalon portion of the board is solid state. As much as walter loved the vacuum tube, he couldn't get away from having a solid state board.

The Avalon modules are e3 and m3 and no longer made but I am sure with the right amount of $$ they would make them.


http://www.avalondesign.com/M3E3.html

 

[strangeandbouncy]

Govinda,



  my opinion is formed about the 737 whilst using the 737, I did not slate anything else did I . . . . . .

 

[Govinda Doyle]

I pretty much agree Andy!
Just sharing a fact about the only one time I thought the 737 sounded good!
Govinda

 

[r2d2]

..... about this "layout" , any info ?

peace
r.

 

[pucho812]

Mercenary  when they had their website and were a company listed the differences between their version and the regular avalon 737 production model. Obviously there are cosmetic differences. But I forget if any what else

 

[MiamiBoy]

Avalon Vt -737sp 'Fast Attack' (aka: Babyface) Modification
Please Note: It is recommended that a qualified technician perform this modification. If you choose to perform this modification yourself, I can NOT be held responsible for damage to your unit.
Required Tools: Soldering Iron - Solder - Solder Wick - Allen Key -Phillips Screwdriver Parts Required: 1 - 1μf 100V Electrolytic Radial Capacitor (which looks like this

READ ALL INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE BEGINNING MODIFICATION

8: When the capacitor is removed use iron and wick to clean any excess solder from the points on the board for easy installation of the new capacitor. - Check the rating of the removed capacitor. If it is 2.2μf 50V, replace with the 1μf 100V.
NOTE: Some older models have a 2.2μf 63V Capacitor. In these units a 1μf 63V Capacitor is recommended.
Any avalon 737sp already comes modded

Nicely done, great information.
I just checked mine and it says 1pF and not 1uF.
What does this means?
Do I have the mod or not?

Thanks.

 

[moamps]

It is 1uF.