Chandler Little Devils - 500 series EQ & Comp

[dannycurtean@yah]

Originally Posted by wade goeke

Thanks Tony!

Wade, its always bothered me that I cant get my favorite pres in 500. Would Zeus come down with lightning and fire if you made a TG-2 for 500 series? Same question goes for a 500 series Curve Bender with like 3 bands....

[thenoiseflower]

these both look like winners!

I'm still holding out hope for some sort of Mini TG limiter for 500 series, but mini 2264 type will do for now, and something tells me this EQ is going to be killer.

GREAT work like always wade, always seem to know what the people buying your stuff will want next.

[wade goeke]

Originally Posted by dannycurtean@yah

Wade, its always bothered me that I cant get my favorite pres in 500. Would Zeus come down with lightning and fire if you made a TG-2 for 500 series? Same question goes for a 500 series Curve Bender with like 3 bands....

Great question...
Problem, for me, is with existing designs you are stuck in the framework of that unit.
Size of transformers, voltage, current, and board space etc.

You could, for example, use surface mount components to shrink the board space needed, but for me surface mount is a very big sacrifice. Surface mount was pretty much developed for cell phones and computers, are very cheap and fast to use, and can be done completely by machines. I have seen MUCH surface mount in 500 units, and I dont want to pay $2000 for a cell phone :-)

The biggest problem I see is voltage and current in the 500 format. It was designed to run API 500 modules. If you want to be creative or stretch the boundary you can very likely run into trouble in lots of ways.

Doing the TGs is probably the biggest stretch because it needs about twice the voltage of a standard 500 AND a good amount of current.

Im not saying no but it would take some time and thought...

Cheers
Wade

[wade goeke]

Originally Posted by thenoiseflower

these both look like winners!

I'm still holding out hope for some sort of Mini TG limiter for 500 series, but mini 2264 type will do for now, and something tells me this EQ is going to be killer.

GREAT work like always wade, always seem to know what the people buying your stuff will want next.

Thanks Man. The EQ is a smaller version of one I built for my NEVE 5316 console and does sound nice. I really like the hi/Lo shelf. It is much more colorful than 1081/33115 types and the mids are quite flexible.

W

[espen askelad]

These look awesome - that EQ was the final push for me, I am going back to 500 series. Much as I'd love to then also have the TG series available, I'm glad you aren't cutting corners to make it happen. There's rack space enough for both formats.

[A LaMere]

Great looking stuff Wade... I too am excited to see you persevere in the 500 series format. It travels so well.

I'm excited to hear the eq as I have one slot left in a lunchbox that is in need of an eq of some type.

[wade goeke]

Originally Posted by espen askelad

These look awesome - that EQ was the final push for me, I am going back to 500 series. Much as I'd love to then also have the TG series available, I'm glad you aren't cutting corners to make it happen. There's rack space enough for both formats.

Thanks man. Thats good to hear. Some things are work nice for the 500 but somethings I think just need to be what they are...

[wade goeke]

Originally Posted by A LaMere

Great looking stuff Wade... I too am excited to see you persevere in the 500 series format. It travels so well.

I'm excited to hear the eq as I have one slot left in a lunchbox that is in need of an eq of some type.

Thanks man!

[wade goeke]

BTW thanks to Mike Nehra from Vintage King who talked a lot with me about getting these going and convinced me to stay in the 500 game.

In the end it just came to doing something that came naturally instead of trying to push a unit into the 500.

John Lennon said "he wrote his best songs when he wasn't trying to write one"

Cheers
Wade

[gm5k]

Originally Posted by wade goeke

BTW thanks to Mike Nehra from Vintage King who talked a lot with me about getting these going and convinced me to stay in the 500 game.

In the end it just came to doing something that came naturally instead of trying to push a unit into the 500.

John Lennon said "he wrote his best songs when he wasn't trying to write one"

Cheers
Wade

congrats Wade. it's great to see your how much passion you have for your craft. very interested in the comp thumbsup

i think it's cool for the 500 series to have completely original units as opposed to ports. if you want this one, gotta jump on the 500 series freight train buddy

[dannycurtean@yah]

Originally Posted by wade goeke

BTW thanks to Mike Nehra from Vintage King who talked a lot with me about getting these going and convinced me to stay in the 500 game.

In the end it just came to doing something that came naturally instead of trying to push a unit into the 500.

John Lennon said "he wrote his best songs when he wasn't trying to write one"

Cheers
Wade

I think that really goes for everybody. Some of my best producing moments as well as mixing moments were when I accidentally tried something new, or did something wrong and It turned out that I really liked what happened.

So clarify these new Devil series for us. Are these 2264s and 1081's or you started with that design and then changed them drastically? I know they are not clones but I want to know where this is going. Reason for me asking was I prayed for the longest time for a 2264 in the 500 series format and it would be great to get a confirmation. And just for comparisons sake, how close is this design to a real 2264 1-10 with 10 being Neve?

I appreciate you answering these questions of mine and I think allot of people are wanting the answers to this also. Same question applys for the EQ.

Thanks, keep it up and thanks for all the great gear!

PS. Any Germ comps comeing for 500? shot in the dark.....

[wade goeke]

Originally Posted by dannycurtean@yah

I think that really goes for everybody. Some of my best producing moments as well as mixing moments were when I accidentally tried something new, or did something wrong and It turned out that I really liked what happened.

So clarify these new Devil series for us. Are these 2264s and 1081's or you started with that design and then changed them drastically? I know they are not clones but I want to know where this is going. Reason for me asking was I prayed for the longest time for a 2264 in the 500 series format and it would be great to get a confirmation. And just for comparisons sake, how close is this design to a real 2264 1-10 with 10 being Neve?

I appreciate you answering these questions of mine and I think allot of people are wanting the answers to this also. Same question applys for the EQ.

Thanks, keep it up and thanks for all the great gear!

PS. Any Germ comps comeing for 500? shot in the dark.....

This is a bit hard to explain but here goes...
Firstly even though it uses a lot of vintage circuits I never once compared it to an old module. The only thing I referenced was the EQ shape for the mid-range. I wanted it to sound like me even though I was doing some borrowing.
The eq uses the Class A input stage from the 1073 without mods. The eq section uses highly modified 1081/31105/33115 amps. All were about the same The Hi/Lo shelf and filter sections come from a Custom Portable Broadcast module. The mids are highly modified 1081/31105/33115 type, and the output stage is, again, 1081/31105/3115 type. Custom transformers. Take all that and run it on 8 extra volts for improved headroom and nicer character (IMO). Again it is based on a custom eq that I built for my 5316 Neve Broadcast desk and they sound WAY better than the 33114/33115s that it has....

The Comp
Same rules as above. 1073 input stage. 1081/31105/33115 output. The sidechain is literally half GERM Comp and half 2264. Here come the fun part. I dropped the diode bridge that the 2264 uses and replaced it with a FET setup like the GERM Comp uses so I could do some of my Curve and sidechain stuff. The Curves/Knee choices are Germ and Zener but are completely new. The Zener does not sound like the Germ Comp Zener setting or the Zener limiter. Its almost the opposite. The way its set up it has almost no knee and is the smoothest curve Ive seen on a compressor (that part was so fun!). Super smooth and full of harmonics. Love it :-)
8 extra volts again for more headroom and improved tone... How does it sound? Well a little like both of them :-) I have been pleasantly surprised by the result. I dont think its a secret that the GERM Comp is my favorite Chandler piece but this little s**t gives it a hardcore race down the track.

Make any sense at all?

[siddhu]

Hi Wade,

Are these units dripping with the sexy colouration of the Germ series or are they "cleaner"?

[wade goeke]

Originally Posted by siddhu

Hi Wade,

Are these units dripping with the sexy colouration of the Germ series or are they "cleaner"?

Well since they are using 1073 input stages and 1081 outputs they pretty much sound like that. I guess I would say thats a colored sound but dont sound like the GERM.
You need a GERM to do that :-)

[dannycurtean@yah]

Originally Posted by wade goeke

This is a bit hard to explain but here goes...
Firstly even though it uses a lot of vintage circuits I never once compared it to an old module. The only thing I referenced was the EQ shape for the mid-range. I wanted it to sound like me even though I was doing some borrowing.
The eq uses the Class A input stage from the 1073 without mods. The eq section uses highly modified 1081/31105/33115 amps. All were about the same The Hi/Lo shelf and filter sections come from a Custom Portable Broadcast module. The mids are highly modified 1081/31105/33115 type, and the output stage is, again, 1081/31105/3115 type. Custom transformers. Take all that and run it on 8 extra volts for improved headroom and nicer character (IMO). Again it is based on a custom eq that I built for my 5316 Neve Broadcast desk and they sound WAY better than the 33114/33115s that it has....

The Comp
Same rules as above. 1073 input stage. 1081/31105/33115 output. The sidechain is literally half GERM Comp and half 2264. Here come the fun part. I dropped the diode bridge that the 2264 uses and replaced it with a FET setup like the GERM Comp uses so I could do some of my Curve and sidechain stuff. The Curves/Knee choices are Germ and Zener but are completely new. The Zener does not sound like the Germ Comp Zener setting or the Zener limiter. Its almost the opposite. The way its set up it has almost no knee and is the smoothest curve Ive seen on a compressor (that part was so fun!). Super smooth and full of harmonics. Love it :-)
8 extra volts again for more headroom and improved tone... How does it sound? Well a little like both of them :-) I have been pleasantly surprised by the result. I dont think its a secret that the GERM Comp is my favorite Chandler piece but this little s**t gives it a hardcore race down the track.

Make any sense at all?

Dude, you have got to be the coolest audio designer around, that I have ever met. I mean just the though of you answering my question like.....wel.........LIKE THAT! is awesome. THANK YOU! That totally answers my question and I will be buying both, a pair of each. Il get rid of some A designs stuff and the Actions. Thanks!

[wade goeke]

Originally Posted by dannycurtean@yah

Dude, you have got to be the coolest audio designer around, that I have ever met. I mean just the though of you answering my question like.....wel.........LIKE THAT! is awesome. THANK YOU! That totally answers my question and I will be buying both, a pair of each. Il get rid of some A designs stuff and the Actions. Thanks!

Thanks Danny thats super cool of you to say thumbsup
Really appreciate it!

All right whos next :-)

[Perelandra05]

It figures!... As soon as I buy two tone controls you come out with some very cool 500 series stuff. My bank account is hating you right now, haha. I've definitely got to demo the comp though. I absolutely love the aesthetics of the design on these little devils. They just pop out of the screen. Very unique from the ubiquitous black and grey most manufactures are making. Can't wait to hear this stuff.

[wade goeke]

Originally Posted by Perelandra05

It figures!... As soon as I buy two tone controls you come out with some very cool 500 series stuff. My bank account is hating you right now, haha. I've definitely got to demo the comp though. I absolutely love the aesthetics of the design on these little devils. They just pop out of the screen. Very unique from the ubiquitous black and grey most manufactures are making. Can't wait to hear this stuff.

Dont worry they sound very different from each other. You'll like both

[Perelandra05]

Yeah, The Germ EQ's definitely have their own unique sound that they impart. I absolutely love them!

[nirvana720]

Chandler

[wade goeke]

Cheers guys!

[piotr]

Originally Posted by wade goeke

Cheers guys!

So Wade,

As i mentioned earlier, I am wondering how these two could function in the 2-buss context...

I am currently exploring my options for a good hardware (a compressor and EQ) to work with on the mix buss, and have been going back and forth on this regarding 500 series... I do have the Germ Comp (one unit) and have been also considering maybe getting another one to use them as 2-buss compressors... I wonder what your thoughts are on this: what of the Germ/Chandler/EMI catalogue are your favorites for the 2-buss duties? I know there are a lot of units to consider, doing various things, but I am interested in your personal favorites, and perhaps thoughts on why...

Thank you for your great work!

Sincerely,

p.

[StringMike]

Woohoo...!

Just got started on the 500 format.
I already feel the addiction kick in... I need the comp... and the EQ... and another pre... and another comp... and a new lunchbox... and...

[wade goeke]

For two buss I use the GERM Comp.

I like that you can really dial in the perfect amount of compression. Curve selection, sidechain filter, slower attack, and then a touch of dry. For me, it adds a lot of the right tone, harmonics, and glue but does not have the drawbacks I always disliked about the SSL/Alan Smart and 33609, like loss of transients, negative change in tone, and mostly making the mix mushy and muddy. I found I use much less eq on stereo buss and submixes with the GERM Comp.
I know thats a big statement but I never never been happy with stereo compression and have always ended up not using it. The Germ Comp changed that for me, but also keep in mind I designed it to sound exactly like I wanted it to sound

I have not been able to do much stereo buss work with the Devils yet but it does share some of the tone an selection of the GERM so we'll have to see!

[piotr]

Originally Posted by wade goeke

For two buss I use the GERM Comp.

I like that you can really dial in the perfect amount of compression. Curve selection, sidechain filter, slower attack, and then a touch of dry. For me, it adds a lot of the right tone, harmonics, and glue but does not have the drawbacks I always disliked about the SSL/Alan Smart and 33609, like loss of transients, negative change in tone, and mostly making the mix mushy and muddy. I found I use much less eq on stereo buss and submixes with the GERM Comp.
I know thats a big statement but I never never been happy with stereo compression and have always ended up not using it. The Germ Comp changed that for me, but also keep in mind I designed it to sound exactly like I wanted it to sound

I have not been able to do much stereo buss work with the Devils yet but it does share some of the tone an selection of the GERM so we'll have to see!

Hi Wade,
Thank you for your feedback!
Now you got me thinking... I really like the Germ Comp, but since I have only one I have been using it almost exclusively for tracking. I find the set of features, and seemingly endless "tweakability" of it very exciting and useful. I have been thinking about it as something that could potentially apply to the 2-buss use very well: especially the mix knob, but also the multiple modes etc... I tried running the mix through one channel at a time, but it's hard to experiment with adjustments that way...
Your comments are making me want to really audition a set of two...!
Since I am "half way there"... ;-)
p.

[Perelandra05]

Sorry to hijack the thread for a second but....

Hey Wade are we ever going to see the Germ Channel? I remember some old threads about it.

Appreciate your responses...

God Bless

[xj32]

I assume you will have these at NAMM???

Please say yes!

[wade goeke]

Originally Posted by piotr

Hi Wade,
Thank you for your feedback!
Now you got me thinking... I really like the Germ Comp, but since I have only one I have been using it almost exclusively for tracking. I find the set of features, and seemingly endless "tweakability" of it very exciting and useful. I have been thinking about it as something that could potentially apply to the 2-buss use very well: especially the mix knob, but also the multiple modes etc... I tried running the mix through one channel at a time, but it's hard to experiment with adjustments that way...
Your comments are making me want to really audition a set of two...!
Since I am "half way there"... ;-)
p.

Good luck!

[wade goeke]

Originally Posted by Perelandra05

Sorry to hijack the thread for a second but....

Hey Wade are we ever going to see the Germ Channel? I remember some old threads about it.

Appreciate your responses...

God Bless

Hmmmm. I have it finished but I wanted to work on something new. I have about six things finished and I have hired another designer who works on tubes so we are also starting on the EMI RS124/Altec and the REDD47.

I had been working and working on a multi-tap input transformer for it and it took forever to get it right. By the time it was I had the Devils done and other things...

I do have about 25 made that need a new faceplate layout. I was thinking of doing them as Limited Edition and seeing how it goes......?
???

[wade goeke]

Originally Posted by xj32

i assume you will have these at namm???

Please say yes!

ohhhhh yeah!!!