OSCAR - Open Source Console for Analogue Recording

[JohnRoberts]

That sounds (too) easy.... I probably shared this before, back in the 70s/80s I briefly considered selling kit modules that could be configured together to assemble a custom console.

I abandoned that idea and in hindsight I think that was the correct decision.

JR

 

[ruffrecords]

An issue with Eurorack is that, although it's possible to find reasonably priced basic kits, accessories and fittings are outrageously expensive.
E.G. the kits including two brackets for affixing PCB to front panel, handle and necessary screws cost between 21 and 27€. I couldn't figure out the difference between those kits.
I used my 3D printer to make these accessories.

There are certainly some outrageously priced module kits out there but it is relatively easy to circumvent them. Ettinger make some simple cube-like fixings that can attach the PCB to the front panel. Card guides are 50p each. I don't use handles, instead I use captive screws (similar to ones we use at Neve). Just undo them, grab the screw and pull.

Cheers

Ian

 

[ruffrecords]

A 64-way DIN41612 socket costs less than £2. I don't know if there's much savings to do in reducing the number of ways.
I made a backplane with them, doubling the contacts, so designing the PCB was very simple.
For a mixer, it is good enough for 8-bus and 8-aux, plus the necessary rails and some. Just leave an area on one side for I/O's.

One issue with DIN 41612 connectors I have not seen mentioned is insertion and withdrawal force. The first tube mixer I built used a 96 way DIN connector for a 6U module - overkill but as you say they were cheap. Trouble is it was extremely hard to remove the module. In later versions I moved to a 0.2 inch pitch 32 way connector which is much easier to insert and remove.

Cheers

Ian

 

[DB_]

A 64-way DIN41612 socket costs less than £2.

That's good to know! I was looking at £4-6.

Gets even more spendy if you start looking at the modular variants with signal/power/RF connectors.

I don't know if there's much savings to do in reducing the number of ways.

I haven't found any decent alternatives, and had concluded the same as you - doubling up pins is the way to go.

 

[zamproject]

One issue with DIN 41612 connectors I have not seen mentioned is insertion and withdrawal force. The first tube mixer I built used a 96 way DIN connector for a 6U module

In other hand it mean great mechanical structure, which can be a good thing.

I designed most of my audio electronic in euro format, but use the two row version, 64 pin, and I stole the Studer way of using them, remove half pins (zig-zag, 1 on each row) for a 32pin connector. The connection is firm but easy to plug/unplug.

Of course this is fine and fast for DIY and very low production, if you need hundreds connectors like this, better to as mfg if they can customise the connector assembly...

There is also the 41613 for eurocard.

 

[abbey road d enfer]

One issue with DIN 41612 connectors I have not seen mentioned is insertion and withdrawal force.

I guess it's the reason for the rather complex and expensive handle/extractor.

 

[ruffrecords]

In other hand it mean great mechanical structure, which can be a good thing.

I designed most of my audio electronic in euro format, but use the two row version, 64 pin, and I stole the Studer way of using them, remove half pins (zig-zag, 1 on each row) for a 32pin connector. The connection is firm but easy to plug/unplug.

I use the three row connector with only A and C rows filled every other hole:

https://uk.farnell.com/harting/09-03-232-6824/receptacle-din41612-c-32way/dp/2289392

Cheers

Ian

 

[ruffrecords]

I guess it's the reason for the rather complex and expensive handle/extractor.

Exactly but with 32 contacts this is not an issue.

Cheers

Ian

 

[zamproject]

I use the three row connector with only A and C rows

Then you can try to depopulate inner row (B) pins on the male mating connector,
it may (or not) make little easier to dis/connect ?

Cheers

 

[abbey road d enfer]

Curiously, at RS, the 32-way version costs more than the 64-way.

 

[ruffrecords]

wCuriously, at RS, the 32-way version costs more than the 64-way.

There are several versions on the 32 way connector. One has a 96 way shell with only 16 pins each of the a and c rows populated and nothing in the b row. Another type has a shell with only 32 pin positions in he same places (which I think is the more expensive version). I initially used the more expensive one until Holger Classen pointed out the other cheaper type.

Edit: One problem with distributor search engines is that they often do not pick out the 96 way populated with just 32 pins when you search for a 32 way DIN connector.
Edit; Another reason for price differences is the number of rated insertions. The cheaper types tend to be rated for a lot fewer insertions than the more expensive ones.

Cheers

Ian

 

[abbey road d enfer]

Edit: One problem with distributor search engines is that they often do not pick out the 96 way populated with just 32 pins when you search for a 32 way DIN connector.

+1. RS'search engine is particularly bad at it.

Edit; Another reason for price differences is the number of rated insertions. The cheaper types tend to be rated for a lot fewer insertions than the more expensive ones.

That's an interesting remark. I would have chalked up the price difference to the sheer difference in numbers ordered.

 

[inkster]

Having built a fully operational 2" 16 track machine back in the daze when I had the time and motivation(luckily I had an unwanted neve broadcast frame to use for mxing etc), I am of the "it ain't worth the effort" camp...at least for myself.
I would suggest getting an old neve frame as they pop up without modules from time to time, get a complete manual with both class a and class ab circuitry and build around the frame, possibly designing 4 channel faceplates with all controls attached to the faceplates instead of costly sub panel design used on the originals.
There tons of resources for those consoles out there and even some useful info.
I got a call about 2 neve broadcast frames(no modules) in the SF bay area a couple of months ago but I passed...they may still be available.

 

[SIXTYNINER]

That sounds (too) easy.... I probably shared this before, back in the 70s/80s I briefly considered selling kit modules that could be configured together to assemble a custom console.

I abandoned that idea and in hindsight I think that was the correct decision.

JR

Hmmm ,
coming from someone with some eperience,
it should be kept in mind and with some consideration.

 

[abbey road d enfer]

Having built a fully operational 2" 16 track machine back in the daze when I had the time and motivation(luckily I had an unwanted neve broadcast frame to use for mxing etc), I am of the "it ain't worth the effort" camp...at least for myself.

Building a mixer is much simpler than a tape recorder.
I built the chassis of my first mixer out of aluminium L corners, with just a handsaw, a hand drill and a screwdriver.
For a tape recorder, one needs a lathe and a mill, and it requires much more precision.

 

[JohnRoberts]

I have joked that consoles (and power amps) are the hardest "simple circuits" to design. The individual circuit blocks are relatively simple to visualize and understand, but...... the hard part is executing tens of these simple circuits that play nice together.

I never built a mixer for my own use, but I had two different friends who built their own consoles for use in their working recording studios. After building one, they had no interest in ever doing that again.

Another factor is how manufacturing efficiencies have made it so inexpensive to buy new commercial products, not to mention the ever increasing amout of good used consoles around.

JR

 

[pvision]

Slight off-topic meander: Sandy Munro has been tearing down vehicles for years to assess how they're made and what they cost. One of the take-homes from the latest Tesla vehicles is how Gigacastings make assembly easier

With traditional sheet-metal cars, panels are stamped with slip joints so they can be moved into alignment before spot-welding. A jig or fixture is needed to align parts, and each additional part requires its own fixture

By casting complete front or rear assemblies, assembling sheet-metal parts like sides with door openings becomes a lot easier, as the gigacasting becomes the fixture. It's sufficiently dimensionally repeatable to be suitable to align all the other panels to

Makes you think: all that tedious alignment of an assembly in an attempt to make it straight & square could be negated with a suitably-cast basic structure. So a 500-series module could have a casting which acted as a frame for the front panel, side panel, PCB mount, heatsink and mounting holes all in one.

Perhaps not the best example of how to use the technology, but it will do as an example

As a footnote, Ricardo, down the road from me in Sussex, does similar tear-downs, costings & benchmarking for all the European manufacturers. They also designed & now build engines for McLaren road cars in a small assembly line. Interesting place to visit and take a tour

 

[inkster]

Building a mixer is much simpler than a tape recorder.
I built the chassis of my first mixer out of aluminium L corners, with just a handsaw, a hand drill and a screwdriver.
For a tape recorder, one needs a lathe and a mill, and it requires much more precision.

I built the machine when TV and production studios were literally giving away old 2" video machines, I would show up with a truck, pull off any usable parts(it was in an Ampex video frame) and sell the remainder to a scrap yard.
I had no lathe or mill and hand milled the working(and reliable) lifter assembly(and anything else that required it) that was driven by one of those cylindrical solenoids ampex used in the video machines. All the motors and guides came from old video machines.
Unfortunately there is only one pic of it and it's sort of off to side in a pic of me during a session...it was massive!
That machine sounded great!

I retired it when Herbie Hancock sold me his MM1200.

I have also built console sections, designed pcbs for existing consoles either to improve or modify some functions, I've built such things for Neve and API consoles.
There's a long list of crazy stuff I've built during sessions to meet immediate needs of artists, engineers and producers.

I have to talk myself out of building my dream console everyday...it doesn't pay and the clients do so.......but I still wanna do it even though I own vintage Neve, API and tube consoles...

If anyone REALLY is so motivated I either have enough Neve broadcast frame parts or know where to get more than enough to build a large frame console.

 

[inkster]

I built the machine when TV and production studios were literally giving away old 2" video machines, I would show up with a truck, pull off any usable parts(it was in an Ampex video frame) and sell the remainder to a scrap yard.
I had no lathe or mill and hand milled the working(and reliable) lifter assembly(and anything else that required it) that was driven by one of those cylindrical solenoids ampex used in the video machines. All the motors and guides came from old video machines.
Unfortunately there is only one pic of it and it's sort of off to side in a pic of me during a session...it was massive!
That machine sounded great!

I retired it when Herbie Hancock sold me his MM1200.

I have also built console sections, designed pcbs for existing consoles either to improve or modify some functions, I've built such things for Neve and API consoles.
There's a long list of crazy stuff I've built during sessions to meet immediate needs of artists, engineers and producers.

I have to talk myself out of building my dream console everyday...it doesn't pay and the clients do so.......but I still wanna do it even though I own vintage Neve, API and tube consoles...

If anyone REALLY is so motivated I either have enough Neve broadcast frame parts or know where to get more than enough to build a large frame console.

In the pic is the machine utilizing a variety of 440 amps(they had lots of different brands on them but were all ampex), me making a face, the Neve frame containing a number of sections I built including buss master section, an 8 channel eq section(the channels had no eq), Calrec limiters for the stereo buss(patchable of course), off frame is a tube tape delay I made and a reverb I built.
I built the machine logic circuit on a perf board with loads of diodes and relays etc. Handmade PS etc etc.
Can't believe I did all that!

 

[Brian Roth]

Ampex sold a multitrack based around an existing video tape transport in their inventory and AG-440 audio electronics. The pics in the attachment below show the 8 track version, and for 16 track they added 8 more 440 electronics below the transport (and made the required changes to the transport top for 2" tape). I recall this was rushed to market because Scully began selling 1" and 2" multitracks and Ampex had to compete. The MM-1000 was soon replaced by the MM-1100 that had a form factor like a washing machine.

Bri