Dynamix 3000 input modules

[Alexi]

hi guys,

i just bought an old dynamix 3000 console and i want to improve the sound
of the preamps and eq´s.

The desk is also a bit noisy.
I have attached some pictures of an input module.
Which parts would i have to replace first in order to improve the channels?

I am new to the whole DIY modding thing so i am really thankfull for your replies.


cheers


alex

[illacov]

Originally Posted by Alexi

hi guys,

i just bought an old dynamix 3000 console and i want to improve the sound
of the preamps and eq´s.

The desk is also a bit noisy.
I have attached some pictures of an input module.
Which parts would i have to replace first in order to improve the channels?

I am new to the whole DIY modding thing so i am really thankfull for your replies.


cheers


alex

Hey man I think you wrote me at my email.

I would definitely look into retaining as much as you can of the original board if you are going for a cool sound.

The PSU is the major shortcoming of these consoles IMHO.

Getting something like a nice PSU from Five Fish Audio, they have one that has a price of around $75 which is compatible with the 3000 modules.

I think recapping it would also be a good first step.

The Belclere trannies are definitely part of the sound.

Rumor has it that Eurythmics Sweet Dreams was tracked with a Teac 80-8 and a Dynamix 3000 console and mixed on the same board as well.

I have an 8 channel sidecar that I am anxiously awaiting once I can get it in my hands.

Peace
Illumination

[Alexi]

hey illacov,

thanks for your replie and for the power supply hint...i already checked out the fivefish audio site....

I am really new to recapping anything basically...in order to recap the channel
i would only have to replace all the blue caps right?



cheers


alex

[living sounds]

Replace the electrolytics with high quality ones (Panasonic FM/FC is OK), add bypass caps (100n metalized polypropylene for example), replace the polyester caps (green) with polystyrene, polypropylene, metallized polyproylene (in that order of quality, use what fits the board size). Replace TL082 with AD8512 (might require local decoupling, see below).

It's usually a good idea to use bigger electrolytics in the signal path and for the power supply rails, but at certain points this could lead to problems at well. Check with the schematics.

Other possible things to do: Add local decoupling caps (stability for the op amp), bias into class A via 3-6k resistors.

[Alexi]

hey living sounds,

thanks for your informative replie.

I will upload the schematics later.
I did some researching on all the components and believe that WIMA polypropylene caps would probably be the best right?
I also read that Roederstein resistors are really good, but it seems that they are harder to find.

Could you recommend a certain resistor company?
What exactly do you mean with 3-6 k?

Thanks so much for your replie.


cheers


alex

[living sounds]

Originally Posted by Alexi

hey living sounds,

thanks for your informative replie.

I will upload the schematics later.
I did some researching on all the components and believe that WIMA polypropylene caps would probably be the best right?
I also read that Roederstein resistors are really good, but it seems that they are harder to find.

Could you recommend a certain resistor company?
What exactly do you mean with 3-6 k?

Thanks so much for your replie.


cheers


alex

Just leave the resistors as they are, they're not the limiting factor here. For the EQ caps use the ones I listed above in that order. You can get polystyrene for cheap from Reichelt, same for good polypropylene (Wima FKP2), also a great source for these is Banzai in Berlin. Use metallized polypropylene for the bigger values, Wima MKP2, I think the best source for these is musikding.

Forget about the class A resistor thing for now, you can always do that later.

[Alexi]

here are the schematics for this desks...at least i hope that they are the right
ones for my desk, for there were 3 different versions of the Dynamix D3000 i believe.
I still have to figure out which values the different components should have in order to improve the channels...I am a little bit embarassed, for i believe this is a real simple circuit and i can´t even properly read the schematics...

cheers

[Alexi]

Originally Posted by living sounds

Replace the electrolytics with high quality ones (Panasonic FM/FC is OK), add bypass caps (100n metalized polypropylene for example), replace the polyester caps (green) with polystyrene, polypropylene, metallized polyproylene (in that order of quality, use what fits the board size). Replace TL082 with AD8512 (might require local decoupling, see below).

It's usually a good idea to use bigger electrolytics in the signal path and for the power supply rails, but at certain points this could lead to problems at well. Check with the schematics.

Other possible things to do: Add local decoupling caps (stability for the op amp), bias into class A via 3-6k resistors.

...is the AD8512 the only one that will fit or could i also build in a burr brown chip?

[living sounds]

Originally Posted by Alexi

...is the AD8512 the only one that will fit or could i also build in a burr brown chip?

There are lot's of chips that will fit, but the AD8512 is probably the best sounding FET IMO. Just make sure you get SMT to DIP adaptors.

[Alexi]

ok...so would i have to buy 4 AD8512 chips for 1 channel?

[living sounds]

Originally Posted by Alexi

ok...so would i have to buy 4 AD8512 chips for 1 channel?

If that channel had four TL082 - yes. But it's not guaranteed these chips actually work in the place. I found AD8512 to be a direct replacement in every place in my console (and other gear as well), but it doesn't necessarily have to be the case with your console.

[Alexi]

i start to understand

living sounds, do you happen to know somebody in germany who might be able to build a high quality power supply for my desk?

[living sounds]

Originally Posted by Alexi

i start to understand

living sounds, do you happen to know somebody in germany who might be able to build a high quality power supply for my desk?

There are several off the shelf as well as DIY solutions. If you're looking for someone to build it I would ask at the energyrecording.de board or the prodigy-pro board.

[Alexi]

Living sounds, could you post a link which leads me to the off the shelf
power supply solutions?


cheers



alex

[living sounds]

Look for Power One, also do a serach here, Jim Williams often mentions them.

[The Convicted]

Hey alexi did you get anywhere with your dynamix mods?
Just bought a 24x8x2

[The Convicted]

I have trouble reading scemos too.
It looks like
IC 1 and 3 are for the EQ circuit
IC 2 is Preamp / Line in ?
IC 4 is Fader and aux outs

IC 2 is a 5534 which is a single package opamp. You could try the AD8510, OPA1611.

For IC 4 you could try a LME49720, they have that in DIP so there is no need for an adapter.

I saw that Jim Williams used an LT1358 for the EQ
Or try the OPA1642.

[The Convicted]

Picking up the board on monday.

Im going to try out, (what I have on hand)

AD8510 on Ic 2
LME49720 on Ic 4
AD8512 on IC 3 & 4 I also have 2 OPA1612 to try as well.

[Alexi]

hi there,

i sold the board a while ago, i just couldnt find the time for the recapping.
I was in contact with a guy from LA who works on these boards a lot,
he recapps and mods them as well.
I´ll see if i find his contact in my emails somewhere.


cheers

[The Convicted]

Thanx Bro, That would be nice

[The Convicted]

Picked up the console....
Cosmetically OK, Only has one transformer based channel, the rest have cards in the place of the tranny with a 5534 IC.
Gonna be a nice Project.

The Good News.....the seller (GCP) had a custom power supply built for the desk
With LAMBDA LM-E24 e and d supplies

And a Power One to supply the +48.

The console is built very nice and robust. the Channels are have all the Jacks attached so chip swaping and testing will be easy for the bench.

Really happy about the PSU!!!!!

[Alexi]

hi there,

you´re lucky then.
The transformers that were in the Dynamix consoles werent too great anyways
and youi still have the option to add jensen transformers to each channel.
The most important thing is a sturdy power supply and since it was delivered with your desk you really seemed to have some luck with your buy.

[The Convicted]

I already started modding 2 channels, with wima caps on the eq, 1000uf/25v Panasonic FMs on the power supply rails
AD8510 in IC 2
OPA1612 in IC 1 and 3
LME49720 in IC 4

All local decoupling was done as well

Need to get some more El caps
Im also looking at the Cinemag 75101 as an input transformer, to purcahse.

Im gonna make a 10x4x2 tracking/summing mixer for now. I m gonna store the rest of the board and work on it as I go. I dont have need for that big of a board,but I might in the future.

I also contacted Dave Gallo. He's going to mod the master for me.

[The Convicted]

is it possible to wire the aux's to trs jacks?
I wont be using any of the bussing or master section for now, Just an eight channel tracking board. Id like to use the aux's as outs for other things like reverb, summing, etc and leave the line outs connected to my Digi oo3 all the time.

[illacov]

Where did the idea come from that the input transformers on these things aren't that good?

They were fine for tracking Eurhythmics Sweet Dreams LOL

There's a studio on the web called Kino that has a Dynamix 3000 board, some of the channels have no input transformers and some do. Listening to their demo reels was promising.

I'd say take a listen before you knock them. You might like what you hear.

Peace
Illumination

[The Convicted]

Originally Posted by illacov

Where did the idea come from that the input transformers on these things aren't that good?

They were fine for tracking Eurhythmics Sweet Dreams LOL

There's a studio on the web called Kino that has a Dynamix 3000 board, some of the channels have no input transformers and some do. Listening to their demo reels was promising.

I'd say take a listen before you knock them. You might like what you hear.

Peace
Illumination

Im Not knocking them, Mine are transformerless. I like the reichenbach 75101 tranny in my quantums......So Im going to put Cinemag 75101 in these. Plus the price is nice from cinemag! Also Ill be mounting some cinemag output trannys in a box to plug into when I want that sound.

[The Convicted]

Well I ended up just doing a 8 channel box, Didnt want to mess with the bussing. Cool thing is if I ever need to do a remote gig I can pull out 8 strips and put them in this box!

Heres some pics of the box build

[The Convicted]

more pics

[The Convicted]

And more

[illacov]

Originally Posted by The Convicted

And more

Nice!

I need something like this for my Wheatstone strips!

How much did it cost you to make that metal box? Are you going to have the PSU internal? Or are you going to have it external? How are you addressing grounding?

Peace
Illumination