Analog console summing

[chaeridley]

I'm going to purchase a Toft ATB24. I plan on recording and mixing/summing with the board. Is there an advantage to summing using the line in's on the channels as opposed to the mix buses or vice versa?

If the channels are fine, then I plan on using the SSL Alpha Link for 24 ins and outs. 22 for the channels and 2 for the stereo out. Any suggestions here?

[Jim Williams]

The monitor input is clearer and measures better too. The line and tape inputs feed the mic preamp, a that 1510 chip. The signal is attenuated 20 db then jacked back up in the 1510. That's where the bottleneck happens.

I have a solution and replacement daughter pcb for the that 1510, ssm2017, ssm2019 and BB INA217. It's a discrete/hybrid mic preamp on a pcb, the PIP or plug in preamp. Plug it in and noise is lowered, THD drops to .0006%, slew rate goes up 300 times and low end depth is improved via the 100 ma output current. Just plug it in.

Jim Williams
Audio Upgrades

[chaeridley]

Ah ok. So running through the monitor inputs on the board keeps away from having to reboost the signal with a pre that would eventually introduce or raise the noise floor?

So monitor inputs over the line inputs. I hear people talking about using the group buses as well. Same thing?

[chaeridley]

I'd be very interested in hearing the new pre from the Toft ATB board Jim. Sounds very interesting. No sound clips are there? And how difficult is the changing of that pre for me?

[lionheart]

Same boat here, wondering if the Mon inputs are better to use than lineinputs and less noisy?!

[Jim Williams]

Originally Posted by chaeridley

I'd be very interested in hearing the new pre from the Toft ATB board Jim. Sounds very interesting. No sound clips are there? And how difficult is the changing of that pre for me?

I just finished 16 channels of a 24 model with the PIP boards installed. They do sound very good, very quiet, clear as water and a full deep low end. Chris here in SD will probably post some recorded samples when he picks it up tomorrow. The line in sounds as clear as the monitor input now.

As to changing the mic pre chip, the PIP's are easy to install, you remove the that 1510 chip, plug an extra Millimax 8 pin machined socket in to provide clearance over the meter connectors and plug it in. Sometimes you might need to bend over the 47 uf/63 volt phantom caps to clear them, I just use a drop of solder and heat the rear pins until it bends back a tiny bit.

I can provide additional tweaks for the mic/line stage if you want to change the caps and use film bypass caps for detail and air. There are 4 electrolytic caps and their bypass film caps to change/add if you want top performance and a deep tight low end.

Jim Williams
www.audioupgrades

[Bluzzi]

Jim, is your PIP available for replacement of any SSM2019 pre? My TAC Magnum's pre use the SSM2019. I like it but not on everything. I wouldn't mind retrofitting 8 channels for another flavor.

Jim