Walt Jung biasing opamps in class A

[paulcheeba]

Calrec Neve and Audix mixers had a common 'theme' for a time because all 3 companies were making desks for the BBC who 'published' a design (mechanical layout really) for various modules that would form channel strips and other random stuff like telephone interface units so that a SOUND Engineer could walk into any studio and work immediately without having to learn wgere all the controls were. the 3 companies could implement the electronics as they felt fit with Audix and NEVE plumping for 24 Volt DC rail and Calrec plus and minus 24 Volts. These were the 'GP' desks and the facilities offered suited live radio, TV (I think) and production desks for recorded programming. The frequencies used for EQ and filtering , cut boost etc were defined by the BBC and as inductors were the standard way to get bell response all were pretty similar. I worked on (test and commissioning) GP desks at Audix and then Calrec.

I don’t know why the Calrec’s sounded the best to me but the older Sowters sounded better to me and they seem to have been built with more love in that era. The EQ’s were called RSA’s frequency response amplier but yes broadcast layout all very similar but Calrec sounded better than Neve to me.
One of my first jobs when I wasn’t working in the studio was going to auction’s and collecting Kelso’s, Melbourne’s and other broadcast Neve stuff that would be stripped and sold to American resellers at a massive mark up. Pretty depressing looking back. Lovely little console’s left with only headphone amps and echo sends etc.

 

[Dylan W]

I have BBC Calrec J series PQ10-42 Schematics that Calrec kindly gave me when ! had 16 channels. I'd post them up if anyone wants to see them. They sound amazing. I personally prefer them to the Neve 1073. They have a lighter mid range and you can turn the eq any direction and it still sounds cool, as does the crunch of the saturation.
Matt did a great IAA 500 version that were all SMT but sounded 99% there. They just had a couple of layout problems with switching but he nailed the sound to my ears. He was too busy to continue and I had studio projects to finish but it would be an excellent DIY or AML project if it was more hands on.

Yes please!

 

[ricardo]

I don’t know why the Calrec’s sounded the best to me ..

That's cos they were hand carved from Unobtainium and solid BS by Yorkshire virgins.

The AMS buyout was a disaster cos they moved to the wrong side of the Pennines into Lancashire.

Fortunately, some of the original team bought it back from AMS and returned it to Hebden Bridge in God's own county

 

[Newmarket]

I don’t know why the Calrec’s sounded the best to me but the older Sowters sounded better to me and they seem to have been built with more love in that era. The EQ’s were called RSA’s frequency response amplier but yes broadcast layout all very similar but Calrec sounded better than Neve to me.
One of my first jobs when I wasn’t working in the studio was going to auction’s and collecting Kelso’s, Melbourne’s and other broadcast Neve stuff that would be stripped and sold to American resellers at a massive mark up. Pretty depressing looking back. Lovely little console’s left with only headphone amps and echo sends etc.

Was that listening with the same signal chain - amplifiers / headphones / studio / monitors ?

 

[paulcheeba]

Yes it was Universal. Neve are the designer name of Transistor BBC mixers. Calrec are the original cool sleeper. Audix/Tweed not so bad, Glensound not so sexy.
It raises the question were 70's Sowters sweeter than Marinair?