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8 Channel Tube Mic Pre and Console Tube Mixer
Do we actually need more gear in the marketplace? Maybe. Since I
couldn't find exactly what suited my needs best for the type of recording work I do, I've spent parts of the last year creating a couple of "new" products for my own use which might be of interest to some of you fellow RAPPER's. Having been a long-time lurker and sometime contributor to this forum as well as a contributor of a couple of tracks on the Fifth of RAP CD collection, I've come to know and love many of you (from a respectable distance) and have very much appreciated the continued stimulation this forum provides. The technical info is great as are the words and opinions regarding many of the off-topic subjects. At any rate........................... I like tubes and have all kinds of them at work for me - from those in the pair of U-47's I lucked onto several years ago to the array of EL 34's on my home built monitor amps to those in a couple of MXL's Dave Royer graciously helped me mod with parts of his kit and personal advice on how I could use them with an on-hand Groove Tube dual power supply (works great!). So it would follow that I also would want some tubes in my mic pre's and certainly if possible in the studio mixer. Don't like to spend money, though, and couldn't see my way clear to owning a Manley 16-2 or any of the more expensive but well designed and built tube preamps we all appreciate but may not be able to afford. Furthermore, most of my work is on-location live or at least quasi-live where we take the group to a performance hall vs. a recording studio. Therefore the gear has to be portable and rugged. And if I need more than a few tracks which happens with certain types of groups like big bands, etc. then hauling a bunch of two channel mic pre's and the required mixer for playback doesn't get it. So using info from many sources including where threads from this site have taken me, I've managed to design, build, and am now using a couple pieces of what are turning out to be excellent tools in all respects with fine reviews from the few clients so far. The first is an 8 channel full 250v B+ tube mic pre in a standard 19" wide by two high rack enclosure. The kicker here is that an op-amp driven-from-the-tube-output mixer system is also installed so that there are pan pots on each channel along with the mixing headphone amp. Further there are line inputs on each channel so that not only can you monitor with panning while you're recording (doesn't affect the direct outs to the recorder) you can listen to mixed and panned stereo playback on the spot when recording is stopped or finished for the night. The second is a 10 Channel (only because the parts price breaks usually start at 10) console type mixer with a tube output section a la the Manley 16-2 and the exact parametric EQ circuit on each channel used on the Calrec Polar board from days of yore. All the other standard features as well (100mm faders,etc.) Rather than go on any further taking up bandwidth here, take a look at this stuff on my band's Web site: www.wallysjazz.com/wallys_new_web_site_002.htm This address will take you directly to the Miller Analog Studios pages where many photos and info now reside. If you wind up just on the band site, click "Contact" on the Home page, and then "Miller Analog Studios" on the Contact page. Feedback of all types, negative and positive appreciated. Thanks for looking. Regards, Dave Miller Miller Analog Studios |