Fader Automation for an Analog Mixing Desk

vlado@couchreco · 1st January 2009

hello,

i've been thinking since a long time that installing a fader automation on my audient desk would be a good improvement. i've checked some companies and after receiving the quote of 50k for 48 channels, i can not understand why the fader automation is more expensive then my audient 48 channel desk ...

i was wondering if anybody could know a good solution reg. automation ...

thanks

vlado

in the red · 1st January 2009

well you could look for a used system! gml and uptown systems are on sale regularly. check vintage king or funky junk in europe. should cost you around 10k. but be advised: there is no support anymore for those systems! at least not for the uptown, which is a shame! api bought uptown years ago and they refuse to give out any supportdocuments or answer any question! you´d be on your own! do you have a good tech?

Wiggy Neve Slut · 1st January 2009

Don't laugh to hard but the 'Mackie Ultramix' was pretty damn good for the money as far as VCA automation went.. Easy interface and im sure you could get a good one for next to nothing now..

Used it with a vintage Neve where I used to work and everyone loved it as it was relatively transparent as far as VCA's went and was pretty intuitive with its fader pack and GUI.

Wiggy

travisbrown · 1st January 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wiggy Neve Slut

Don't laugh to hard but the 'Mackie Ultramix' was pretty damn good for the money as far as VCA automation went.. Easy interface and im sure you could get a good one for next to nothing now..

Used it with a vintage Neve where I used to work and everyone loved it as it was relatively transparent as far as VCA's went and was pretty intuitive with its fader pack and GUI.

Wiggy

If I recall, the Mackie Ultramix had the same Jensen VCAs as an SSL G. Long time ago, so maybe I'm mistaken.

We used one for while with a Soundcraft 1212 and it worked great.

Musiclab · 3rd January 2009

I know someone with a few megamix systems, it's a real inboard you use your consoles faders, and it uses aphex vca's it sounds very good

VIGUIER · 28th November 2010

Hello everybody,

I saw that you where knowing the Uptown Automation/Faders.... I have some question about it, if you have some info ....

I just receive some "moving faders" from England ( some Uptown faders Model AF-102N for my beautiful Soundcraft 3200 ). But I haven't any Rack or dedicated PC or soft to work with... I ordered these faders cause I had some channels in my desk but no fader to go with...

My questions are : where find the rest of this system, AND, is it possible to use these "motorised faders" without the rack/PC, just as "normal" faders ?

I think it's possible but I have tried to replace the "normal" faders by the Uptown ones ( connecting them on the same connector on the channel ), but the signal passes throught the fader all the time ( even if they are in "down" position )....

If you have any idea...

Thanks,

Paul, from south of France

Matt Syson · 29th November 2010

Hi
I expect you can use the faders without the rest of the automation and the fact that it is not controlling the audio is that they are not wired correctly for this desk. There will be 3 or 4 wires form the 'audio' track, being 'top' 'wiper' and either 1 or 2 audio 'grounds'. There may also be a 'chassis (metalwork) ground and probably 3 more wires from the 'servo' track of the fader which would be a 'linear' track.
If they are P+G faders the 4 audio wires would be red, (top) yellow (wiper) and green and blue which are analogue ground. White pink and grey for the servo track. Black chassis ground, or possibly also servo track.
Finding remaining hardware and software to build up the system could be an intersting task.
Matt S

toolz · 29th November 2010

Looked at a few different options for the current console, Trident MTA 924 with Classic API summing and 2buss, including the type that fit on the insert return, but really wanted fader action!!

Went down the Optifile route here, scored the system off the Tape Op forum, very easy to fit also, uses the DBX 2150A vca (same as the SSL 4k console dynamics)

It works perfectly for the fader and mutes on all 40 channels, switch it off and it goes into true bypass handing the faders back to the audio path, I don't mind the sonic of the Vca's and it becomes part of the mix, as it does on an SSL

An elegant low budget solution

1st January 2009	#1
vlado@couchreco Gear maniac Joined: Jul 2005 Posts: 205 Thread Starter	Fader Automation for an Analog Mixing Desk hello, i've been thinking since a long time that installing a fader automation on my audient desk would be a good improvement. i've checked some companies and after receiving the quote of 50k for 48 channels, i can not understand why the fader automation is more expensive then my audient 48 channel desk ... i was wondering if anybody could know a good solution reg. automation ... thanks vlado

1st January 2009	#3
Wiggy Neve Slut Lives for gear Joined: Jun 2002 Location: London, UK Posts: 2,205	Don't laugh to hard but the 'Mackie Ultramix' was pretty damn good for the money as far as VCA automation went.. Easy interface and im sure you could get a good one for next to nothing now.. Used it with a vintage Neve where I used to work and everyone loved it as it was relatively transparent as far as VCA's went and was pretty intuitive with its fader pack and GUI. Wiggy __________________ If i see another 'Which neve clone is better thread... im seriously gona go postal!!!!!!!"

3rd January 2009	#5
Musiclab Lives for gear Joined: Sep 2002 Location: Elmont NY Posts: 6,275 3 Reviews written	I know someone with a few megamix systems, it's a real inboard you use your consoles faders, and it uses aphex vca's it sounds very good __________________ Lou Gimenez www.musiclabnyc.com

29th November 2010	#7
Matt Syson Lives for gear Joined: Sep 2004 Location: UK Posts: 4,822	Hi I expect you can use the faders without the rest of the automation and the fact that it is not controlling the audio is that they are not wired correctly for this desk. There will be 3 or 4 wires form the 'audio' track, being 'top' 'wiper' and either 1 or 2 audio 'grounds'. There may also be a 'chassis (metalwork) ground and probably 3 more wires from the 'servo' track of the fader which would be a 'linear' track. If they are P+G faders the 4 audio wires would be red, (top) yellow (wiper) and green and blue which are analogue ground. White pink and grey for the servo track. Black chassis ground, or possibly also servo track. Finding remaining hardware and software to build up the system could be an intersting task. Matt S __________________ Matt S www.mseaudio.co.uk

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1st January 2009	#2
in the red Gear addict Joined: May 2005 Location: austria Posts: 451	well you could look for a used system! gml and uptown systems are on sale regularly. check vintage king or funky junk in europe. should cost you around 10k. but be advised: there is no support anymore for those systems! at least not for the uptown, which is a shame! api bought uptown years ago and they refuse to give out any supportdocuments or answer any question! you´d be on your own! do you have a good tech?

28th November 2010	#6
VIGUIER Gear Head Joined: Feb 2007 Location: Montpellier, France Posts: 49	Hello everybody, I saw that you where knowing the Uptown Automation/Faders.... I have some question about it, if you have some info .... I just receive some "moving faders" from England ( some Uptown faders Model AF-102N for my beautiful Soundcraft 3200 ). But I haven't any Rack or dedicated PC or soft to work with... I ordered these faders cause I had some channels in my desk but no fader to go with... My questions are : where find the rest of this system, AND, is it possible to use these "motorised faders" without the rack/PC, just as "normal" faders ? I think it's possible but I have tried to replace the "normal" faders by the Uptown ones ( connecting them on the same connector on the channel ), but the signal passes throught the fader all the time ( even if they are in "down" position ).... If you have any idea... Thanks, Paul, from south of France

29th November 2010	#8
toolz Gear addict Joined: Mar 2004 Location: Bristol UK Posts: 321	Looked at a few different options for the current console, Trident MTA 924 with Classic API summing and 2buss, including the type that fit on the insert return, but really wanted fader action!! Went down the Optifile route here, scored the system off the Tape Op forum, very easy to fit also, uses the DBX 2150A vca (same as the SSL 4k console dynamics) It works perfectly for the fader and mutes on all 40 channels, switch it off and it goes into true bypass handing the faders back to the audio path, I don't mind the sonic of the Vca's and it becomes part of the mix, as it does on an SSL An elegant low budget solution

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