Sphere/Api 10 channel Sidecar .. New 900 EQs... New AUX Penthouse

[gar381]

Hi All

This is the 8 bus update.

This is the before and after conversion of the auditronics 900 8 button bus selector cards.
The original card is on the left.  I discarded the cmos card and designed a 24v relay
card to replace it on the right.  The LEDs on the selector button card have been
changed from 20ma full brightness guys to 10ma guys and the dropping resistors
are changed from the original 5v to allow for 24v for full brightness.

This is what they look like sitting on their recycled Wheatstone ribbon.
I am using lots of old recycled console parts.  No city dump for any of this "junk" ;D ;D

Here is the FPE metal work for the 8 bus section of the meter bridge.
Uses all recycled auditronics AL39 meters
I still have to design the master section which will include a pair of Dorroughs

Here is the latest frame shot.. its growing !!
(Note the Love child!!)  Thanks Jeff.. more to come

I needed to find a way to bypass the 500 eq section of the mixer so
here is my solution.  Sphere uses 2 reed spst relays and a 2 transistor
flip-flop circuit to form a spdt relay for all logic.  My 22193 cards have an unstuffed
section on the card for another logic section.  I ran across a bag of 30 NOS relays
that are normally made out of unobtainium.  (Ebay is a great thing!!!)
So I stuffed the unstuffed section.

Every thing inside a Sphere is unbalanced so This new section switches
between the input and output of the EQ section.

All for now... Maybe another update by summers end.

GARY

 

[jsteiger]

Wow Gary. 

Respect is just not a strong enough word for how I feel. Wow.  8)

 

[stitch-o]

my eyes melted out of my face

 

[chunger]

Wow. . . I don't understand anything that's happening, but it appears a really kick-@ss mixer is magically appearing out of the dump.

 

[rafafredd]

WOW. Big project, man! Really nice.

But I have looked up and down for these sphere schematics and can't find anything. Would be nice to know what is going on inside these things. looks promising. Specially the opamps with light bulbs. Did you ever posted the schems?

 

[gar381]

rafafredd..

Take the SPA-62 ver3  schemo.  Remove D9,10
replace D11,12 with #313 light bulbs
and you got the light bulb DOA.

GARY

 

[rafafredd]

found it:

http://www.groupdiy.com/index.php?topic=45864.msg574654#msg574654

 

[rafafredd]

By the way. Is there much sound difference by changing the diodes into light bulbs?

 

[gar381]

No change in sound rafafredd

In either case its just PSU protection.

GARY

 

[rafafredd]

i see. Nice lightbulbs though.

 

[Autophase]

I just dont know what to say, possibly the best thing I have ever seen.

 

[TapeOpAl]

Any updates gar381?

 

[gar381]

Any updates gar381?

Thanks for asking.  I have been very busy doing lots of outside yard work
on days off this summer but I have done some Sphere work on rainy days

I'll have an update in a week or two and with a bit of luck I'll be back full steam ahead
after the weather turns.

GARY

 

[Pliplo]

Amazing! Congratulations, hope she sees action soon!

 

[gar381]

Hi guys and gals.. time for my10/20/12 update!

It was a busy summer doing everything BUT working
on this project.  I did manage to get a few things done
on rainy days off work however.

I now have the 8 bus FPE metalwork done and the 8 bus backplane
in place..

I designed the PCB for the 3 switch micpre section..

got them installed to the Sphere 22224 micpre PCB

Here is what it looks like from the front..

Note.. Sphere switched phase on the 900 EQ and not
the micpre.  I am doing it the old fashion way at the micpre
as I don't own any Sphere EQs.

The BP switch will be used for EQ bypass.

More to come....

 

[gar381]

Sphere line ins are unbalanced so I designed a Balanced Receiver PCB.

This PCB hangs off a NC3FD-H-B XLR connector and is designed
To use a 5534 or a DOA depending on how I  stuff it.
The trimmer is for CMRR adjment

5534 version..

The gar2520-gar1731 ,990 or just about any DOA..

The gar6220  DOA.. (SPA-62 clone in a 2520 format)..

I got to play with these guys to see which version I will use.

Here is a picture of the current Sidecar frame at this time..

Still growing and GROWING and GROWING

On the drawing board at this time are:

FPE Metalwork for the bus and master faders
FPE Metalwork for the master VU meters
CR monitor PCB
Echo return PCB

The final flow chart for the whole Sidecar ( its 95% done
but I am still working on the solo section)

PSU.. at this time its looking like an old Wheatstone console
supply for +16/-16  and 48v phantom
and 3 old power-one 24v supplies (1 for 24v logic and 2 for +24/-24 for the SPA-62s
Note..these are all recycled goodies !

I still have to design the case and patch bays for this guy.
I got some old ADC 1/4" bays laying around that I am thinking of using.

Thats all for now.  With winter coming I should have more time to
work on this project.  I'll try to have another update around Christmas.
Lots to do yet.....

GARY

 

[gar381]

Hi Guys and Gals

I've been kind of busy on this project the last few months !!
Still lots to do... But here's the latest update for the New Year.

The Balanced Receiver PCBs for the line/tape ins are stuffed.
I went with gar6220 DOAs as I figured out how to get good CMRR out of these DOAs.


I was going to scratch build the PSU but this is working out a lot better .

The Wheatstone supply will handle the +/- 16v and +48v duties
for the mic pres and API 500 series stuff.

The rails use 338k 5 amp regulators and will handle any future expansion
to the side car.


The 4U black supply has 3  24volt rails..

I am using 3 ebay purchased ($38 each..WOW) Power One  13amp 24volt supplies

One supply will power the logic relays and Leds and the other 2 supplies will
be used for +/- 24 volt rails for the SPA62 and gar6220 DOAs.  This is
big time over kill for this project but the price is right.

More pics...

Note that the Power to the side car will be fed by a chunk of 13/8 cable
using Speakon connectors.


Things are getting to the point that if I'm ever going to wire this guy up
the frame needs to be cased up..  Time to hit the wood shop !

I started with the Meter Bridge.

The Meter Bridge contains 11 AL39s out of an old Auditronics 900 Desk.
8 are for the buses, 2 for left/Right and a switchable Aux meter for
Solo, Mono, Echo send Left, Echo send Right and Cue.
An Electrodyne Osc is on the far right.  The left /right AL39s
are mirrored by a pair of dorrough Model 10 meters.

Now for the main console case..

The outside is made of solid oak.  The legs are From a  Wheatstone
Spa5 desk and have been modified to fit their new duties.

The arm rest is from the same Spa5.  It has been cut to the proper length
and needs to go to my buddies car interior shop for a new Leather cover.

The right side (19" rack width) will contain 96 points of ADC 1/4" patch bay,
a possible group 51 rack, and a producer/keyboard desk.

All to report for now.

Every one have a  Very Happy New Year.

GARY

 

[drask]

Really impressive ! I like it  ;D
Great work !

 

[Joechris]

Happy new year Gary!! This is just soooo nice DIY. I can feel the smell in that wood workshop..
Im reading " Shop class as soulcraft" at the moment, and this project is realy in that spirit..
j

 

[gar381]

It’s been over 7 months since my last update so over the next week or so
I’ll try to get this thread caught up.  I guess will call this the Summer 2013 update.

I’ll start with the New Modules.

Master module is first and is all PTP wiring..

Here is the front view. 

Controls for:

Control Room Monitor Level

Control Room Monitor Select:
3 2 track returns
        Cue mix
        Program mix (follows solo system)
        Studio mute

Studio Foldback Level

Console osc switch

Monitor speaker select.

The rest is pure Sphere Control Logic:
      Talkback buttons for slate, cue, and Studio feeds.
      5 toggle switches for signal routing

Here is the back view..  still more to wire

Control Relays for the Master Module:

Next is the Echo return module:

It is 2 mono Echo returns each with:
      Level and pan to program
      Level and pan to Echo send
      Level to Cue mix
      Level to an 8 bus select panel

Here is the front view of the newly modified 22190 Sphere module:

This will add an Echo Master Control and talkback mike/Level to the 22190.
The Talkback Mic will be under the Hole below the level control.

Here is the backside of the 22190 Module:

The Talkback PCB is at the board house being made and will be in place
Of the Vero board.

Here is a shot of the New Modules installed in the frame:

More to come later in the week.

GARY