What are some of the cheapest to make (but great sounding) DIY projects?

[DaveP]

You might try this site,

http://www.diyrecordingequipment.com/

This has a wide collection of projects including my $25 Auratones

best
DaveP

 

[JAB]

NYD preamps (one bottle, MILA)

They're well-documented here, and the one-bottle can be done for under $200 / channel.
They sound quite good, either with a mic or the DI jack, and its a good circuit to learn about tubes, p2p, and good wiring practices. Really a very satisfying project. 

That said, like any tube gear, it can be very dangerous to poke around with these, and they should probably be left alone until you're comfortable with safe working procedure for high voltages.

 

[pstamler]

The trouble with the double-DI for the bass with two pickups is that the piezo one really wants to see a higher load impedance than a passive DI can provide -- say 1-5 megs or so. That really means active. Which you can cobble together from a 12AU7, a 150-200V plate supply (plus filament supply of course), and a Jensen DI transformer.

Peace,
Paul

 

[living sounds]

PRR Vari Mu.

 

[Neily]

Anyone got any good cheap DIY eq suggestions?

 

[detonator]

• Mixbuzz1
• W492 EQ
• Nite 3D EQ
• S800 EQ

 

[hobiesound]

Anyone got any good cheap DIY eq suggestions?

if you can source some cheap inductors and etch a board, than i've got a slightly modded version of peter c's 553 eq up on my blog here:

http://sureshotstudio.blogspot.com/2011/02/api-533.html

mine would have been finished if work didn't get in the way.

greetings,

Thomas

 

[Neily]

• Mixbuzz1
• W492 EQ
• Nite 3D EQ
• S800 EQ

I totally want to do a W492 EQ. The only thing kinda stopping me is those pricey 10k dual pots with the proper spacing. Supossedly alot of people are using OMEGS instead and bending the leads. I just wish I could find a pot that fits

 

[Neily]

Looks like the Nite EQ is a good option. The parts look a little easier to find than the neumann... Just messaged peterc to see if he's still making them...

 

[Neily]

bump

 

[3nity]

The Neumann W492 are the most easier to build than anything else.
Pots from TAW electronics.

Thanks.

 

[canidoit]

I think it would be great if people could post prices next to the builds they are mentioning so people can get a better scope of how cheap they really are or what cheap means.

 

[Neily]

Ya I think that's a good idea.

 

[MicDaddy]

Hey Neily,

I was working on my g-pultec layout late last night and this lightbulb goes off in my head...

Super cheap DLA-4 chassis and the VUs are already present.

 

[s2udio]

I think it would be great if people could post prices next to the builds they are mentioning so people can get a better scope of how cheap they really are or what cheap means.

Buy the cheapest bits, stick it in a biscuit box ,and call it vintage


DIY is not cheap...if you want results do it well,otherwise buy a Behringer
...Most of  which actually does what it sez on the tin !!

Pride is under the lid and in the intended result....you dont endeavor to build a ford Ka If you want a Porsche ?

 

[dandeurloo]

Most of the DIY I have done is cheaper in the long run but still not "Cheap".  I do DIY for many reasons and one is I can put higher quality parts in them since I am only doing a few not hundreds or thousands of these projects.  That said some things are not cheaper but just much better like my 51x rack!  It was the same cost to DIY as buying a API rack but its much better because of the flexibility of PSU and build quality is excellent.

Other things like Jeff's Pres those are much cheaper to DIY then API 512's and sound better.  So that is a clear win win.  I honestly can't think of a DIY project that I have "FINISHED" that doesn't sound great.  Its just getting them all the way to the end.

I currently l have 2 Stereo 1176's  (Rev D's and Rev A's) on the bench. Dual LA 2A, Mix Buzz 500 (so close to done) and a few eq's.  Plus a pile of mods of other gear I need to finish.

I will say every time I finish one of the DIY projects my Productions benefit!  So, the time is well worth the investment.  Thankfully the money investment is usually a little cheaper then an off the shelf product.

Another question that might be nice to ask is what DIY project do you feel you have benefited from the most?  That could be interesting to hear what you guys say.  I know it would be hard for me to nail down but I would say my LA 2A gets a lot of love and has taken me to many happy places. 

 

[sonicwarrior]

I think it would be great if people could post prices next to the builds they are mentioning so people can get a better scope of how cheap they really are or what cheap means.

People like me don't keep track of the price. That's partly because it doesn't interest me that much, partly because it's hard to say as I'm buying different parts for multiple projects at different shops at different times and I need several years to finish my projects.  :-[

 

[okgb]

Agreed , most of my d.i.y. is about 1/3 to 1/2 cost of commercial product
usually at a higher quality , both due to the use of high grade parts
you save on the labour & mark up , not parts

without mega advertising budgets, resale is way worse on d.i.y.  and often
you have to spend more on the panels & packaging to make it look nice so other
people feel o.k. about using it [ really .........it's as good as that 1,200 api preamp, just try it ]

sometimes it's the balance of time & money , which do you have more of ?
build it or buy it
or the chance to make exactly what you want, but careful of the romance
getting seduced by advertising and discover d.i.y. alternative , sink some money in
and realize it wasn't the first priority item you need