[HandCrafted Lab]

Originally Posted by retractablezing

60dBs is not enough for some of the work i have to do, quiet sources with ribbon mics. I would have to compress on the way in, which is something i'm not very fond of.

Originally Posted by worm

I really wish I had insisted on that +20db upgrade on my leveler

my only mic being a ribbon.

So... stop tutt which device we consider - Pre or Leveller?

If speech about Leveller, that destination of this device is a correct levelling only. All compressors and levellers has gain up ~8-15dB at all. Here other task, not a huge amplification. 60dB amplification+compression is another story/device - it is channel strip actually.

If speech about Pre,it real,this 60dB. But.... if we start to increase gain up further.....sorry, but how engineer I can not say that it has any sense.
Make difference between dynamical range, noice floor and gain up. These levels can not be alike never. If we have dynamical range 100dB(in theory), that all device worldwide will have noice floor not higher - 85db. Thus, we can have gain up 85dB? But it theory. We can not such gain up,if speech about qualitative amplifcation. And what for? Catch all studio noises,hums? In reality, the best studio has own noise higher. On measuring instruments this level, below -70-75dB has name "white field", no noise,which can be problem in reality, by other words.
If speech about ribbon mics,here 2 way how minimum - 60db gain up is enough for all good ribbon mics.It is enough for Pre,since any pre has own noises. If this gain up not enough,that may be try check other mic? What is sense in purchasing awesome Pre at 3-5K$ with huge gain up, and plugging weak mic into this Pre, if you can plug"correct" mic with good output level, into "correct" Pre from real world,with real indexes and reasonable at price?

Other way with ribbon mics - usage step up trafo with ratio 1:43 for example. Trafo has no own noise in difference from Pre,and 60dB of gain up will be enough.

Originally Posted by retractablezing

I meant if you ever had it breaking up a bit, and if so how did it sound..

My wild guess is that the HCL fella won't be able to bring the gain to 70 something dBs, cause that would mean major component swaps, especially on the transformer side of things.

Any manufacturer, HCL also, can bring 70db and higher without problem. But you cannot work with it . Such awesome pre will catch bad cables, light bulb in studio,digital parasitic noises from computers,radiostation,etc. Correct work with lowest signals achieve in other ways, not increasing gain up till infinity.

Originally Posted by retractablezing

It's a shame, because your products look real good - inside and outside!

Thanx 4 kind wordsthumbsup

Originally Posted by frans

I had my affinity preamp made with some additional gain - at the flip of a switch it is ready for my ribbons.

No comments.

No ... HI FRANS! thumbsup

Originally Posted by frans

Ask Albert/HCL, he will mod everything you want - besides the "bad drummer killswitch" he refused...sigh... so I have to do that myself.

Ha-ha, Frans, I see,that you have same problem still. We afraid,that we shall have a blame due to cruel relation to bad drummers and bass players. We can suggest to you built such special device based on ignition system of your car....I think that 25-50 Kilovoltstike stike will be enough for deaf musicians even,with count of 8 pistons in car, it will be enough for whole band of bad drummers and bass players

Originally Posted by The MPCist

Can you add pricing on the Handcraft website? It would help a bit to see how much they cost along with the other specs already on there.

Just an idea.

Thanx. thumbsup But we prefer communication and discuss with each customer individually. Many people request us and receive our comments each day,and we found best collaboration in such way,in each individual case.