Helios thread

[Guest]

rather than hijacking another thread I thought I would put some Helios stuff here..

Good quote on the resissues:
"With a c.1973 desk built for Eric Clapton as his reference, Arnold set about replicating Helios modules carefully including all the faults of the original to begin with. In the course of his research he found that the original desks' 20dB pad used a centre-tap from the Lustraphone input transformer. These sounded better than later Helios desks, which used Beyer transformers with resistors rather than a centre- tap for the pad. Arnold approached Sowter to copy the Lustraphone transformers. "

Reissues again..
"As Helios equalisers use some exotic bits from Switzerland and France, the lead time on some components can vary between six and ten weeks."


I am sorry but this (from Dan Alexanders site) wins hands down on looks

 

[sismofyt]

I have like 50 Helios pics, do you want 'em here?

Helios are my pets. I L_O_V_E the looks of that gear!

Btw, it's hard to talk about a specific Helios 'sound' or trannietype, ect, because nearly every desk was a one of a kind job. They're all different.

 

[sismofyt]

Helios galore can be seen at www.sismofyt.net/lab_helios.htm

Heavy drooling is to be expected :green:

 

[sismofyt]

GET IT!

Or at least book a day or two. Bring camera

 

[Guest]

mmmhhh - Helios....

Schematics all here...

http://www.vintageking.com/Library-Schematics.cfm

original
http://www.vintageking.com/images/schem_V69-1973-1-Var-1.jpg
http://www.vintageking.com/images/schem_V69-1973-2-Var-1.jpg

reissue
http://www.vintageking.com/images/schem_V69-2003-A3-Var-1.jpg
http://www.vintageking.com/images/schem_V69-2003-2-Var-1.jpg
http://www.vintageking.com/images/schem_V69-2003-1-Var-1.jpg

This is what they look like racked...
http://www.vintageking.com/data/4_space_helios_rack_loaded_front.jpg


self oscillating at high gain (+60db) with the eq on
weird phase reverse circuit, line in and line out NOT balanced
NOT +4 actually . 775
Discret electronics with transformer balanced input & output.
Mic/Line Input Transformer Preamplifier with stepped gain.
Stepped frequency/gain HF EQ,
Stepped frequency MID EQ.
Stepped frequency LOW EQ.
HighPass Filter.
Phase-switch.
Phantom Power.
Metering on rack version.

i am going to print all this of...

 

[sismofyt]

Sorry bad link, works now!

Helios today: www.helios-electronics.com/index.htm

Another Helios company: www.helios-audio.com/index.htm

 

[Guest]

[quote author="sismofyt"]Helios galore can be seen at www.sismofyt.net/lab_helios.htm

Heavy drooling is to be expected :green:[/quote]
OMFG!!!!

 

[sismofyt]

I doubt they're using that Helios today, but why don't you try to track it down? Does the TV company still exist today?

Helios is just beyond cool. May Swettenham R.I.P

 

[Guest]

More schms (from Dans site again)
Pinout
http://www.danalexanderaudio.com/OutboardPic/HeliosPinout.jpg

Input module schematic
http://www.danalexanderaudio.com/OutboardPic/HeliosInputSchematic.jpg

EQ pinout
http://www.danalexanderaudio.com/OutboardPic/HeliosEQ.jpg


Channel Schematic
http://www.danalexanderaudio.com/OutboardPic/HeliosChannelSchem.jpg

 

[sismofyt]

Paul Weller (The Jam, Style Council - godfather of britpop) made a REALLY cool album called 'Heliocentric', recorded at Heliocentric on a custom/modernized Helios (the last pic on my site). Check it out, some smashing songs on that album :grin:

www.paulweller.com/newSite.html

www.heliocentric.co.uk is not working though :roll:

 

[Guest]

the current issue of SoS has an interview with Keanes producer - they layed some tracks down there....
Heliocentric has the hybrid Island/Alvin Lee console and is now owned by Chris Difford (from Squeeze) and Elvis Costello
there is a piccie here of the outside of the studio
http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/aug04/images/keane8.l.jpg?session=87aaf722d7c9a28b94f35626529e6c27
But if you are not an SoS subscriber you won;t be able to see it!

 

[sismofyt]

What's your subscribtion # ?.. hehe.. :green:

 

[sismofyt]

Oh, I can see the pic.. that's just a fukkin' house. Could be anything really. I'm no fan of SOS, so I'll just wait 4 years until it's online :roll:

 

[Guest]

News just in from Sowter

> I notice that you make the reissue Helios transformer based ont he
> lustraphone
>
> Which model number is it?
>
> regards
> Simon
>
The type number is 8666 but this is not listed on our site.

You can view the size on our Pro Packages button. The
transformer is size E and is available in styles f and e.

The price is UKP 33.20 each ex-works.

Carriage and VAT (if applicable) is charged extra.

 

[sismofyt]

OHHHHHHHHHHH!

So who's gonna pony up a GroupDIY Helios clone? :green:

Me, I'd never clone anything.. never... ever... eh... oh... mm'kay :razz:

 

[sismofyt]

Some random thoughts/observations:

Okay, looking at the reissue schematic; I wonder if it's correct. I mean why would they put that online? I don't understand why there's a 36V zener diode parrallel with a cap in the ampcards when the they running +24V?

It's really hard to read I'd think that making amp cards and hardwire the eq caps would be the way to go. Original Helios style. And there's that inductor...

Not a smart way to do phase reverse. I'd leave that part/amp out.

Rafafredd, you got that fancy sim app. Could you run the amp through it?

The schematic at Dan's site is -24V stuff.

 

[sismofyt]

The preamp alone sans EQ would not be that hard to make with that new Sowter trannie. And not very expensive either.

 

[sismofyt]

Is there any ninja tricks to make the schematic more readable :?

 

[Consul]

Does this help?

http://studioconsul.net/techtalk/misc/HeliosInputSchematic.gif

I played around with it for a bit. I'm sure it could be better, though.

 

[sismofyt]

No, that's for another Helios at Dan alexander's site. I think the complete schematic at Dan's site is too full of mods and errors. One inductor do have it's value written though. It's running -24V and may use germaniums (allthough I don't think so)

I think the schematic at Vintage King is where we should put our money..