Soundcraft 200b recapping (2101 channel strips)

[living sounds]

Take a look at the schematics and see which caps correspond to each other in the different channel revisions. For what it's worth I've taken out all caps in the signal path (except phantom blocking) in mine, and you can leave out (bridge) most without detrimental effects (just minor DC and clicking noises when using switches) apart from the one (or rather two orginally) at the transistor pair (input gain). Sonics will improve.

[vhbram]

So you would advise to just get rid of all the capacitors except the ones you mentioned? I assume you only talk about the electrolytic ones?

Are there some documentations where I could learn more of channel strip electronics?

[living sounds]

You can get away without most electrolytic ones in the signal path, see above.

You can search here and over at groupdiy.com - there are plenty of discussions regarding Soundcraft boards, including the 200b.

[vhbram]

Originally Posted by living sounds

You can get away without most electrolytic ones in the signal path, see above.

You can search here and over at groupdiy.com - there are plenty of discussions regarding Soundcraft boards, including the 200b.

Hi Living Sounds,

thanks for your answers. Which other mods or changes to the circuit did you make except of the removal or exchange of some of the electrolytic capacitors?
Did you change any opamps/transistors and did it improve the sound a lot?

Thanks again for your time.

[living sounds]

Originally Posted by vhbram

Hi Living Sounds,

thanks for your answers. Which other mods or changes to the circuit did you make except of the removal or exchange of some of the electrolytic capacitors?
Did you change any opamps/transistors and did it improve the sound a lot?

Thanks again for your time.

Do a search!

[Matt Syson]

Hi
As posted previously 'leaving out caps (bridging them) will just leave some minor clicks and scratching noises' so basically you want your desk to click, pop and scratch, hardly professional use. I doubt even the 'so called nasty' cheap desks that may start with a 'B' aren't that cheapskate. Whatever happened to standards?
Matt S

[living sounds]

Originally Posted by Matt Syson

Hi
As posted previously 'leaving out caps (bridging them) will just leave some minor clicks and scratching noises' so basically you want your desk to click, pop and scratch, hardly professional use. I doubt even the 'so called nasty' cheap desks that may start with a 'B' aren't that cheapskate. Whatever happened to standards?
Matt S

Sounds much better though, I've done plenty of comparisons.

[vhbram]

Regarding the caps (in the signal path) in the master section, can I do the same by bypassing them?

[living sounds]

Originally Posted by vhbram

Regarding the caps (in the signal path) in the master section, can I do the same by bypassing them?

Sure. But check for DC and distortion.

[hymenoptera]

is there any concensus about a 'best" or preferred re-cap job on these channel strips?

with little knowledge of electronics I planned to simple replace 1 for 1 all the electrolytics for the same specs, unless someone has some more hands-on experience. I've read so much conflicting opinions both here at GS and elsewhere that I'm a little lost, tbh

[living sounds]

Do a search here and at groupdiy.com, lot's of info availible.