Official 33609 builder's tread. See 1st page for updates.

[keithcamilleri]

hi guys,

Igor u were right there was somthing wrong with one of my relays now it's fixed.

Having some weird things happening. I inject 1khz at 0db I test the input trans between pri+ and pri- and there I get 0.775 which is cool but when I measure the outpu trans I get no more than 0.445 with rv1 full. Volts are looking good when compared to the schematic. And when I tried to switch the compessor in the meter went to fsd and stayed there.

Btw I am using carnhills

Any ideas?
Thanks loads guys

 

[Igor]

Hi, just look over this tread, there were same questions. Check all points with "db" shown....

 

[promixe]

Hi, just look over this tread

Look for my questions couple of pages ago. Igor's answers describe how to check the entire audio path. He also addresses the issue of floated transformers and shows how to measure this correctly with a regular sound card.

Check all points with "db" shown....

I guess that means in the schematic on the 1st page here

 

[W DeMarco]

Im gonna get in on the second set of pcb's for this project and Im wondering, from the guys who have completed the build,  What are you using your new toy for and how is it workin out.  Im pretty happy with my GSSL on the mix with turbo but think it might not be the best option if the 33609 is better.  So : 
What are you tracking with the 33609?
What are you mixing with the 33609?
Anyone familiar with the Ne ve version and how does this clone compare?

Im gonna build one way or another but this might getme psyched up to bang her out!

Will

 

[Igor]

Im gonna get in on the second set of pcb's for this project and Im wondering,
from the guys who have completed the build, 
What are you using your new toy for and how is it workin out.

Ahemmmm...

ANYONE?????

My $.02.....

It is possible to use it as an excellent ergonomically designed
stand for breakfast  ;D ;D ;D

In other words, perfect compressor for drum buss. Snare, kick-just outstanding.
Guitars, vocals, everything. Up to taste...
Depends on music you doing. Reggae, rock, electronic-it rulezzz.
Sometimes works excellent on bass
with 3:1 and a1 setting on compressor, lim off.
Can be really nice on tavla's.
Folks, can you take some tracks of Zakir Hussain with 33609?
))))

So : 
What are you tracking with the 33609?
What are you mixing with the 33609?
Anyone familiar with the Ne ve version and how does this clone compare?

Clone compare vc. original: build clone with same trunny's and re-cap original with same
caps, then callibrate them same-it is absolutely similar soundwise.

I compared clone to old version of 33609 with green trunny's, St Ives IIRC.
Original was not in best condition, bit out of calibration, BUT both were a way similar soundwise.

$0.02 about "substitutes" like 1448, OEP and other ****.
Better, take Beclairs 10015/10016 or Carenhills for in/interstage, Carenhill for out.
Not same for 100%, but for good 98% yes and sounds excellent.

My friend using 33609 I built for him with original trunnys about year ago
on allmost every mix. He have a modest choice of about 15 compressors in total.
He told me the trick is to get 2-4dB of compression, no more, with 2:1 or 3:1
ratio. I aggree, this is the region where 33609 adds really nice color.

Sometimes it works perfect on vocal tracking.

Again, if you have a choice of compressors,
it depends on how many beers etc ))
If I'd have LA-2, 1176, old good Collins A-26 and 33609, Guinness and Laphroaig, at same time,
33609 was winner in 25% of tracking and sure preferred to GSSL on mix.

I used 33609's limiter on drums buss only. For aggressive mix limiter can be excellent on mixbuzz.
Prob is last year I allmost out of mixing/recording. Best case it happens once-twice a month.

Promixe gave very good rewiew on clone compared to original, but we still have prob
with lim section to fix.

Im pretty happy with my GSSL on the mix with turbo but think it might
not be the best option if the 33609 is better. 

I know, there's no much choice if you want to DIY, but - me personally not fan of GSSL.
I don't like neither way it built nor PCB layout. My $0.02 again )))
To make it work as normal sounding compressor, you have to follow
Keith's SuperSSL, http://www.groupdiy.com/index.php?topic=18017.0

Im gonna build one way or another but this might getme psyched up to bang her out!

Little by little, can't understand this slang, besides me is well recognized psych )))))

 

[keithcamilleri]

Hello So Mr Robb Flinn kindly Offered to help me since he lives very near   i m very happy for that, but stil i am trying to fix as much as i can on my own. below are the voltages of one of the boards.

the problem i am encountering is that i cannot get the dbs to match. I can get tr2 Secondary to -6.9dbs but then when i measure tb_a and tp_b ( i am not sure if these have to be measured to gnd or to the sec - ) i am getting -22dbs (instead of-31dbs) (tp_a/tp_b measued to gnd). I measured Tp_d (to t2 Sec-) and i get -9.7dbs which is a bit much and i cannot get 0dbs out of rv1. (infact output is -24dbs)   

TP_A 3,64 V (4V)
TP_B 4.12V
TR4 17,57V (17,4)
TR3 17,56V (17,4)
R55/56 18.21V (18V)
TR2 3,36V (4,1), 0,61V (0,64), 3.96V (4,7)
TP_E 0,6V  (0)
R52 0,6V (0,6)
TR6 7,24V (7,0), 20,4 V (20,4)
R22 2.35V (2,5V)
TR7 24V (23,7), 0V (0V)

Do u guys have any ideas? I checked if i am using the right transisors bc 214s and j109s and i am but thats all i checked. any help is appreciated..

Whish u all a happy xmas  ;D

 

[Igor]

I can get tr2 Secondary to -6.9dbs

When measuring on sec of T2, connect  sec- T2 to gnd and measure on sec+ T2 with scope.

Other way is to measure on 400Hz with regular AC voltmeter voltage on pri, ref this to 0db,
then measure voltage on secondary. T2 sec is floated.
You can find here some info, roll some pages back and see Promixie posts.

but then when i measure tb_a and tp_b ( i am not sure if these have to be measured to gnd or to the sec - ) i am getting -22dbs (instead of-31dbs) (tp_a/tp_b measued to gnd). I measured Tp_d (to t2 Sec-) and i get -9.7dbs which is a bit much and i cannot get 0dbs out of rv1. (infact output is -24dbs) 

 

Just do same with AC voltmeter on 400 Hz, tp_a and tp_b referred to gnd.
Check transformer's connection. T2 is 2:1. T1 is 1:2.
Which trafo are you using BTW?

TP_A 3,64 V (4V)
TP_B 4.12V
TR4 17,57V (17,4)
TR3 17,56V (17,4)
R55/56 18.21V (18V)
TR2 3,36V (4,1), 0,61V (0,64), 3.96V (4,7)
TP_E 0,6V  (0)
R52 0,6V (0,6)
TR6 7,24V (7,0), 20,4 V (20,4)
R22 2.35V (2,5V)
TR7 24V (23,7), 0V (0V)

Voltages are in range.

Do u guys have any ideas?
I checked if i am using the right transisors bc 214s and j109s
and i am but thats all i checked. any help is appreciated..

Just measure db's with ac voltmeter first...
Easier way is to apply 1v AC on 400 Hz to input, pass with AC voltmeter
on TP A, B, C, D, and check waveform with scope.

This way it is possible to know more or less what happens in audio path.

Whish u all a happy xmas   

MERRY CHRISMASS MERRY CHRISMASS TO ALL PEOPLE HERE!!!!!!

 

[keithcamilleri]

hello guys,

igor:

I am using carnhills ( 9046,9045, 9056) t2 gives me -6.7db on secondary.

The board that i described before has these measurements when a 400hz 0db (output is loaded with 600ohm) signal is applied,

TP_A is .100v ac (-18db)
TP_B is .100v ac (-18db)
TP_C is 0.034v ac
TP_D is 0.448v ac

I don't know what to check next.  ???

edit : I noticed that when the bypass is out tp_a and tp_b goes to -30.2db both of them.... it must be something stupid i did . :| any ideas?
keith

 

[keithcamilleri]

hey guys board is working and its all calibrated.... soooooooo happppyyy this things sound great

1 of my boards is limiting but not compressing what should i check.....

cheers

keith

edit for future diyers : Compression fixed changed bc441 and bc214 (next to rv5) and now i have two boards working cheers for everything igor ...

 

[Igor]

Cool. You were so fast, that I had no time to reply and mess you out
Enjoy the comp! Really great thing!

 

[RedNoise]

I ordered Igor's bom v3 , but I noticed http://fr.farnell.com/c-k/7103p3yzqe/switch-spdt-ctr-off/dp/9575049?_requestid=745606 are "off" in the center position...on/off/on (is it normal??)
I admit 33609 is a huge complicated project for me , but I want to finish it ....
Toooooooooh!!!
Thanks for the COM_IN link !!!

Ahemmm.....I know, it is reeal headache to read thru all this thread, but this issue was described before. IMHO Farnell changed part Nr's.

Thanks Igor , sorry for lazyness...BTW I don't wanna blame anybody for this "error" (which's Farnell's error!!)This is DIY , I love it , and I learn everyday a little thing  thanks to these "errors".(Thanks , thanks , thanks , and happy end of year to everyone in here!!!)

 

[Igor]

Happy New Year to you and all people in DIY Community!

 

[keithcamilleri]

hey igor ...i have a hum and a buzz when i put the gain up to +12 (-55db) is there something on board i need to check or is there something that i need to check?

cheers

happy new year guys

keith

 

[maxheadroom]

hi keith,

i think i have a similar problem. have you done a SNR mesasurement with RMAA ?

 

[keithcamilleri]

hi keith,

i think i have a similar problem. have you done a SNR mesasurement with RMAA ?

hi headroom sorry for the dumb question ,

whats SNR measurment and whats an RMAA?

cheers keith

 

[maxheadroom]

SNR is the signal-to-noise ratio
can done with your audio interface and with this software http://audio.rightmark.org/index_new.shtml

 

[Igor]

hey igor ...i have a hum and a buzz when i put the gain up to +12 (-55db) is there something on board i need to check or is there something that i need to check?

Hi, just check wiring from power supply etc, maybe ground loop...
I assume you used toroidal PS trunny, right?
As well, check voltage on 10r resistor (see quick test proc), should be 250-270 mv.
If unit assembled right and test proc 100% OK, no reason for hum.
S/N should be at least 78-82 db @0dbv input.

 

[maxheadroom]

igor, are these measured dB values A weighted ?

 

[Igor]

are these measured dB values A weighted ?

Nope, the measurement is next:

If unit set at unity gain, input signal 0dBv, when input signal removed
and input terminated with 600 Ohm, noise level is -78...82 dBv.

 

[maxheadroom]

then i have little problem..

i did a RMAA measurement which was A weighted, see here http://gasman.lima-city.de/diy/33609/N33609_RMAA_01.htm
the noise level is -94,6dBFS (A) = -76,6dBu (A) = -78,8dBv (A)

now i measured the SN with a Fluke89: -72dBV = -69.7dBu

both measurements with Bypass IN and COMP and LIM OFF


with BYPASS, COM and LIN, and +20dB GAIN i measured -52dBV = -49.7dBu with the FLUKE