..there is no standard way of measuring compressor timings - this is probably your answer..
Build Thread:MS76
- Thread starter Gustav
- Start date
Help Support GroupDIY Audio Forum:
Ok, well I think I'm going to try a switchable slow attack mod. Think I'll add two (one for each channel) DPDT (on-on-on) switches to switch in either a 33k or 68k resistor to be in series with the 22k attack pot (probably just cut the middle wire from the header and put it there (so between the side chain rectifier diodes and the attack pot). Switch down (shorting wire mode) will be stock 1176 (RC value ranges from 100 us - 4.9 ms), switch middle position will be slower attack (RC value ranges from 7.4ms - 12.2 ms) and switch top position will be slowest attack (RC value ranges from 15.1 ms - 19.9 ms). I'll report back if that explodes or sounds awesome or whatever.
TwentyTrees
Well-known member
I did a similar thing on my MS76 - swapped the 22k pot for 250k to give way more range. Gives around 9 or 10ms max attack, going by how the original 1176 speeds were calculated. I also used a pot with a switch at the slow end of the pot rotation, which switches in an additional 500k or so resistor for a "slow" mode of about 30ms for situations where you want the transients left intact. Sounds great!
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Sweet!
ho-fi
Member
Yes, sorry Gustav, I was very busy...Not much to follow up on, until you report back/try the suggestions!
Gustav
But finally I found time to measure the voltages and some were quite off.
CH1:
1.5V measured: 4.4V (next to wire going to ratio-board)
1.5V measured:4.2V (left from BC107)
CH2:
1.5V measured: 4.3V (next to wire going to ratio-board)
1.5V measured:4.2V (left from BC107)
Let me know where to look for an error.
Im sorry, but it is unclear to me what your problem is, and what you are measuring!?
The last post from me you quoted was in July...
Also, did you read the thread covering ground from then to now?
Gustav
Gearing up for some overkill here....putting a 10 position rotary switch with 9 22k switchable resistors in series with the 22k pot.
https://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/706-71B36-01A10N
https://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/706-71B36-01A10N
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Tip - You can wire the layers of a double deck switch in series for fine/coarse controls on the respective decks without taking up extra space.
Gustav
James Meder
Member
Hello all, just checking back here. I quoted c1184701 above to give a refresher because I know it's been a long while. My unit does something very similar to this as I wrote about previously. Has anyone else experienced this?
I've tried calibrating numerous times, have checked resistor values and have correct voltages everywhere on the board. I'm at a loss of what to do, but here are some interesting findings related to the quote above.
With an oscilloscope I have oscillation reading at 50k on transistors T17 and T7. T7 is the one c1184701 was referring to - see photo for reference to where these are on the board. When I touch one of the transistors the oscillation goes away. This will effect both of them - like if I touch T7 the oscillation will also go away in T17. This oscillation is on all of the transistor leads with the largest reading being on the collector. The transistors measure ok, but could they still be faulty?
Another thing I noticed is that there are a few electrolytic capacitors on the +30v rail going to ground that are rated for 25v. Such as cap15, cap11, cap5 and there might be more. I think this could be suspect after having to replace the undervalued tantalums already.
I noticed that the psu schematic has a +24v rail located in the +30v spot so maybe the 25v caps were sufficient in one iteration of the design? I imagine it could have been confusing for someone putting together the parts for the kit
If anyone has any ideas to pursue, I'd appreciate any help. Thanks!
Attachments
Unfortuantely, no
The tants were a mistake on my part - grabbing a replacement, because the usual was out of stock, and "unfortunately" verifying it as working in a build, while it was obviously on the fringe, and off for some.
The caps you are refering to have been the same part for at least 100 kits, and specs are good for their placements. They are not seeing 30V. 24 t
Are you coming into expected range, when you hold T7?
Gustav
unexpectedbrunch
New member
Just wanted to chime in and say I'm in a similar boat... I haven't gotten back to it in a while and had been meaning to troubleshoot further before posting, but thought it might be helpful to know there are others i.e. me. Somehow one of the trimmer resistors broke when I tried calibrating it again so I have to add another and get back to things. Here's where I left off:
Things seem to work as they should except on ratio 2:1 and 4:1(I believe- I have to double check it on 4:1 again, but my best recollection is that both lower ratios were experiencing issue). I went through and thoroughly checked component values on main board and switch boards, including resistors. Everything's right, with the tantalum capacitors replaced with higher voltages as instructed. I checked surrounding voltages, although quite every one(was next on my list). All checked were accurate. Touching that same transistor yielded the same result- where suddenly it was functioning as expected on the lower ratios as long as my finger was on the transistor. Without it there it was doing something erratic like swelling/intense volume drops/rises. Apologies for the lack of clear information and I'll post again once I troubleshoot again. Hopefully there will be some kind of clarity I'll be able to bring to the table too...
It *feels* like something simple is happening like a ground connection not being made somehow. Everything else does seem to be working properly apart from the lower ratio(s).
Things seem to work as they should except on ratio 2:1 and 4:1(I believe- I have to double check it on 4:1 again, but my best recollection is that both lower ratios were experiencing issue). I went through and thoroughly checked component values on main board and switch boards, including resistors. Everything's right, with the tantalum capacitors replaced with higher voltages as instructed. I checked surrounding voltages, although quite every one(was next on my list). All checked were accurate. Touching that same transistor yielded the same result- where suddenly it was functioning as expected on the lower ratios as long as my finger was on the transistor. Without it there it was doing something erratic like swelling/intense volume drops/rises. Apologies for the lack of clear information and I'll post again once I troubleshoot again. Hopefully there will be some kind of clarity I'll be able to bring to the table too...
It *feels* like something simple is happening like a ground connection not being made somehow. Everything else does seem to be working properly apart from the lower ratio(s).
Ok, so after a very long break I am going back in to finish this thing. Seems a lot has happened.
First question: when replacing the 6.8/16V tants with 35V, do they have to be tants or could they be film caps as long as they are 35V?
First question: when replacing the 6.8/16V tants with 35V, do they have to be tants or could they be film caps as long as they are 35V?
film caps are just fine
Thank you!
Ok, so turns out I actuaIIy have 35V tants in their aIready. I aIso do have a 7912 as opposed to a 7910 on the psu. Is that worth repIacing with a 7910? Power seems to work though, Iights up, passes audio, but does not compress.
-12 instead of -10 is fine, and also reconformied in the thread a few times.
Your voltages on the transistors are good?
You say it doesnt compress, which is not much to go by.
First off, please let us know if you are getting some sort of reaction/GR wtih compression in, but the meter just isnt showing it.
Gustav
No, no reaction/GR, this is what I mean by 'it doesn't compress' as in I do not hear compression.
Great, just wanted to make sure you had check the outcoming signal as well, since no meter reaction does not equal no processing.
1.How are the voltages around the transistors? (approximate, expected values printed on the PCB around them).
2.Are you able to adjust gain on the in- and output pots?
3. Does the relay go on/off with the compression toggle?
3. Did you double check the 6 pin cable wiring? (1 to 1, 2 to 2, etc).
Ok, finaIIy have some time for this.
1. Don't know how to measure, I assume the meter one side to the reIevant transistor Ieg and the other to ground, but which Ieg?
2. Yes
3. Yes, reIays Ioud and cIear.
4. Yes.
The meters sink to the bottom when no signaI is present, and the Ieft one stays there even in GR mode, whereas the right one pins fuII whack in GR mode. Maybe that's to do with my previous tech having 'done the caIibration' weirdIy.
1. Don't know how to measure, I assume the meter one side to the reIevant transistor Ieg and the other to ground, but which Ieg?
2. Yes
3. Yes, reIays Ioud and cIear.
4. Yes.
The meters sink to the bottom when no signaI is present, and the Ieft one stays there even in GR mode, whereas the right one pins fuII whack in GR mode. Maybe that's to do with my previous tech having 'done the caIibration' weirdIy.
If you look around the transistor networks (the small 3 legged cans", youll see some voltages printed on the PCB here and there. You can measure those point to see if the voltage corresponds roughly to what is printed.
One probe on the measuring point, one on 0 (you can find 0 in the center of the 3 pins on the PSU, or on the 6 pin DC attachment).
Maybe the calibration attempt was done in MS mode, so you could dial out bias, then try to calibrate in L/R mode.
Gustav
