Skitch Patterson
New member
- Joined
- Dec 11, 2018
- Messages
- 2
INTRODUCTION
Hi guys, long time first time, and I've got a question I finally figured was worthy to get me to register here. I have a console that is a one off, only built kind of thing. It has no manual, no schematics available and nothing labeled anywhere on the PCB or elsewhere.
BACKGROUND
In about 1971/1972, the chief engineer of the Marantz Audio company, Arthur Manke, wanted to make a move into the Professional Audio market for recording. I only know of two products that he designed and built for his company 'Manke Instruments'; a 'Wow and Flutter Meter' and a 20 channel 4 buss recording console. The W/F Meter I've read about online, the console is in my possession. As it turns out, Manke's hometown is about 40-50 miles away from me and I have a friend who makes his living up and down the state of California off of Craigslist, OfferUp, flea market and other second hand purchases. Long story short, I've ended up with this console and it's actually pretty clean considering it sat for so long. All channels pass audio, EQ pots aren't too scratchy, things work as they shouldish, I can't get anything out of the group outputs but I can get material to pass through the Foldback OUTs 1 & 2 which I think are intended as stereo or main mix outs, and the meter bridge even works for them! Every channel has a transformer on it and I really like the sound this thing imparts. It has a little bit of mojo just running audio through it with nothing engaged. The EQs are really interesting to me and they don't seem to have a 'too much' point, other than the 150k, I can dime them all out more or less and it never sounds like somebody turned a knob way too much.
WHAT I WANT
The Reason I'm bringing this here is because I have very little knowledge about PCB's and channel strips overall. I wouldn't classify myself as an idiot, I've soldered basic and obvious things like a variety of cables, patchbays, etc, simple studio things and can usually figure things out with some guidance & borrowed knowledge. With this console being a 26 space frame, it just takes up too much room for what I would use it for. The routing and monitor capablities are just not what I am wanting in a primary console and I already have a console that I like. I'm not looking to cut the PCB board up and put this into a 19" rackmounted configuration.
Ultimately I want to end up with 6 or so of these guys in their own little wooden house off to the side so I can use as mic pres or channel strips to taste on a mix.
If I could get rid of everything past the main PCB/ECHO-FB-PAN switches(pictured) and end up with a line level signal somewhere that would be ideal. If I had to keep the Fader because of volume it would be great to be able to hook a POT up to it instead of having the entire fader, just in the interest of saving room.
WHAT I THINK
I'm guessing that I'll have to find out what each of the edge connectors on the PCB board are carrying and go from there. I'd be looking for something that is post EQ as that is kind of the point of utilizing these things. I was figuring at the least I can go from the Foldback 2 OUT Jack on the Master section, see where that goes, then trace from there which tab on the PCB that corresponds with. Then I would be able to set my gain level and pads, and still have an output knob for final control, if I didn't have an output control no big deal. Unfortunately no channel has a direct out on it otherwise my situation would be far easier. The way I've been using it currently is by running only a couple of sources through it at a time, like a drum buss for example, and using foldback 1&2 as my L&R/1&2 outputs. Would it be possible to see what is used for the foldback outputs and just duplicate that for each strip?
WHAT I WONDER
My real problem is the power supply. I know nothing about power, power supplies and whatever is going on in that world. The power supply that came with it works, but is sketchy and I can't imagine I would need all it has going on for just 6 or so channels. Is there anyway to go through a strip, find out all the different parts and capacitors and things that are on it, add together the max draw of each component and find out the max draw for each channel that way? And in doing that, would it be wise to over-shoot whatever number the math suggests to make sure I have ample head room available? After sorting all that info out, where could I get a power supply built to these specs? JLM? Would I have to get 6 individual P.S. or can I get one unit made that could power the 6?
WHAT I HAVE
I stitched together this picture(below) that is in pretty high detail, you should be able to zoom in really damn close and still see real well. If you know about this kind of thing and would benefit from some other information or more pictures of anything, please let me know. I'm not exactly sure of everything a guy would need to get this whole thing sorted but I've got a soldering iron and solder sucker, a dual trace Oscilloscope, a Fluke 87IV Multimeter, an understanding wife and a coffee and marijuana addiction. Any help or ideas?
Here is a link to the picture. I uploaded it to Google Photo so I could retain as much definition as possible.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/uhX5t6M8z4FhHPGx9
Thanks,
Skitch Patterson
Edited:
Things I should add -
At the very top of the pictured PCB are the two different inputs. A 1/4" Balanced connection and XLR Balanced connection. The two middle pins out of the six are the grounds.
In the picture I've sat each board so that they correspond with what's on the channel strip next to it. I mean, it's pretty obvious but I figured I'd mention it in case someone was wondering definitively.
Hi guys, long time first time, and I've got a question I finally figured was worthy to get me to register here. I have a console that is a one off, only built kind of thing. It has no manual, no schematics available and nothing labeled anywhere on the PCB or elsewhere.
BACKGROUND
In about 1971/1972, the chief engineer of the Marantz Audio company, Arthur Manke, wanted to make a move into the Professional Audio market for recording. I only know of two products that he designed and built for his company 'Manke Instruments'; a 'Wow and Flutter Meter' and a 20 channel 4 buss recording console. The W/F Meter I've read about online, the console is in my possession. As it turns out, Manke's hometown is about 40-50 miles away from me and I have a friend who makes his living up and down the state of California off of Craigslist, OfferUp, flea market and other second hand purchases. Long story short, I've ended up with this console and it's actually pretty clean considering it sat for so long. All channels pass audio, EQ pots aren't too scratchy, things work as they shouldish, I can't get anything out of the group outputs but I can get material to pass through the Foldback OUTs 1 & 2 which I think are intended as stereo or main mix outs, and the meter bridge even works for them! Every channel has a transformer on it and I really like the sound this thing imparts. It has a little bit of mojo just running audio through it with nothing engaged. The EQs are really interesting to me and they don't seem to have a 'too much' point, other than the 150k, I can dime them all out more or less and it never sounds like somebody turned a knob way too much.
WHAT I WANT
The Reason I'm bringing this here is because I have very little knowledge about PCB's and channel strips overall. I wouldn't classify myself as an idiot, I've soldered basic and obvious things like a variety of cables, patchbays, etc, simple studio things and can usually figure things out with some guidance & borrowed knowledge. With this console being a 26 space frame, it just takes up too much room for what I would use it for. The routing and monitor capablities are just not what I am wanting in a primary console and I already have a console that I like. I'm not looking to cut the PCB board up and put this into a 19" rackmounted configuration.
Ultimately I want to end up with 6 or so of these guys in their own little wooden house off to the side so I can use as mic pres or channel strips to taste on a mix.
If I could get rid of everything past the main PCB/ECHO-FB-PAN switches(pictured) and end up with a line level signal somewhere that would be ideal. If I had to keep the Fader because of volume it would be great to be able to hook a POT up to it instead of having the entire fader, just in the interest of saving room.
WHAT I THINK
I'm guessing that I'll have to find out what each of the edge connectors on the PCB board are carrying and go from there. I'd be looking for something that is post EQ as that is kind of the point of utilizing these things. I was figuring at the least I can go from the Foldback 2 OUT Jack on the Master section, see where that goes, then trace from there which tab on the PCB that corresponds with. Then I would be able to set my gain level and pads, and still have an output knob for final control, if I didn't have an output control no big deal. Unfortunately no channel has a direct out on it otherwise my situation would be far easier. The way I've been using it currently is by running only a couple of sources through it at a time, like a drum buss for example, and using foldback 1&2 as my L&R/1&2 outputs. Would it be possible to see what is used for the foldback outputs and just duplicate that for each strip?
WHAT I WONDER
My real problem is the power supply. I know nothing about power, power supplies and whatever is going on in that world. The power supply that came with it works, but is sketchy and I can't imagine I would need all it has going on for just 6 or so channels. Is there anyway to go through a strip, find out all the different parts and capacitors and things that are on it, add together the max draw of each component and find out the max draw for each channel that way? And in doing that, would it be wise to over-shoot whatever number the math suggests to make sure I have ample head room available? After sorting all that info out, where could I get a power supply built to these specs? JLM? Would I have to get 6 individual P.S. or can I get one unit made that could power the 6?
WHAT I HAVE
I stitched together this picture(below) that is in pretty high detail, you should be able to zoom in really damn close and still see real well. If you know about this kind of thing and would benefit from some other information or more pictures of anything, please let me know. I'm not exactly sure of everything a guy would need to get this whole thing sorted but I've got a soldering iron and solder sucker, a dual trace Oscilloscope, a Fluke 87IV Multimeter, an understanding wife and a coffee and marijuana addiction. Any help or ideas?
Here is a link to the picture. I uploaded it to Google Photo so I could retain as much definition as possible.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/uhX5t6M8z4FhHPGx9
Thanks,
Skitch Patterson
Edited:
Things I should add -
At the very top of the pictured PCB are the two different inputs. A 1/4" Balanced connection and XLR Balanced connection. The two middle pins out of the six are the grounds.
In the picture I've sat each board so that they correspond with what's on the channel strip next to it. I mean, it's pretty obvious but I figured I'd mention it in case someone was wondering definitively.