This post was first published in Feb 2014 at projectstudiohandbook.com/PSHforum
Building your own gear
Postby FairFax » Fri Mar 07, 2014 6:09 pm
There are no longer any barriers to building your own studio equipment and the web is awash with amateurs and experts eager to share knowledge and experiences.
There are 2 primary reasons for DIY ..
1) Cost - you can build gear for something like a third of the retail cost of an equivalent item, or less if you source and build your own components. We have built a superb and authentic 1176 Rev A clone for $600 / £350, and a Neve 1073 mic pre clone with Carnhill transformers for $457 / £275.
2) Knowledge and satisfaction - although challenging, there is nothing like the satisfaction of using a piece of gear you have built. We hi-fived when our 1073 worked beautifully first time (do dentists do this after a perfect extraction?!).
The easiest way to get into building is to "assemble" a kit, and this is how we started off. Essentially you buy a kit that contains everything you need for the build and solder and screw everything together. There is no need to source your own components.
Before suppliers cottoned on to the need for complete kits, they would often supply schematics and only the bespoke components. You were left to source and buy all the standard items such as diodes, resistors, capacitors and switches. Such kits are still available, but for the novice we would suggest complete kits.
You maybe wondering if you will be capable of the build. Well, you need a couple of things ..
1) Some skill with soldering. This just takes practice and there are plenty of YouTube videos to help you.
2) Basic skills with a digital multi-meter. Again nothing complex and YouTube can help you out.
3) Most important! - a diligent, patient, and careful approach to the build. The best kits come with comprehensive written guides with accompanying images, help tutorials and user forums for troubleshooting, and sometimes email support.
We had no experience before building our first 1073, but by taking great care (and possibly 5 x as much time as a confident builder!), we successfully built, tested, and deployed our first device with no problems whatsoever. And if we can do it, so can you.
We definitely recommend reading the build guides several times before the build, and even before buying.
For the record we have built these kits ..
http://www.soundskulptor.com/uk/mp573.html
http://www.hairballaudio.com/shop/index.php?cPath=22
By our reckoning (and not taking into account the build time) we have spent $ 1045 / £625 (plus delivery) and saved something like $3000 / £1800.
Audio cork sniffers maintain that there's nothing like the real thing, but in our comparisons our builds sound as close to the original devices as original devices sound to each other (there are always differences based on age, rev versions, and component variations). And even if they did sound a bit different, as long as they sound great who cares!
There has never been a better time to do this. (And no, we don't get commission from Hairball or Sound Skulptor!).
Thanks for reading.
Building your own gear
Postby FairFax » Fri Mar 07, 2014 6:09 pm
There are no longer any barriers to building your own studio equipment and the web is awash with amateurs and experts eager to share knowledge and experiences.
There are 2 primary reasons for DIY ..
1) Cost - you can build gear for something like a third of the retail cost of an equivalent item, or less if you source and build your own components. We have built a superb and authentic 1176 Rev A clone for $600 / £350, and a Neve 1073 mic pre clone with Carnhill transformers for $457 / £275.
2) Knowledge and satisfaction - although challenging, there is nothing like the satisfaction of using a piece of gear you have built. We hi-fived when our 1073 worked beautifully first time (do dentists do this after a perfect extraction?!).
The easiest way to get into building is to "assemble" a kit, and this is how we started off. Essentially you buy a kit that contains everything you need for the build and solder and screw everything together. There is no need to source your own components.
Before suppliers cottoned on to the need for complete kits, they would often supply schematics and only the bespoke components. You were left to source and buy all the standard items such as diodes, resistors, capacitors and switches. Such kits are still available, but for the novice we would suggest complete kits.
You maybe wondering if you will be capable of the build. Well, you need a couple of things ..
1) Some skill with soldering. This just takes practice and there are plenty of YouTube videos to help you.
2) Basic skills with a digital multi-meter. Again nothing complex and YouTube can help you out.
3) Most important! - a diligent, patient, and careful approach to the build. The best kits come with comprehensive written guides with accompanying images, help tutorials and user forums for troubleshooting, and sometimes email support.
We had no experience before building our first 1073, but by taking great care (and possibly 5 x as much time as a confident builder!), we successfully built, tested, and deployed our first device with no problems whatsoever. And if we can do it, so can you.
We definitely recommend reading the build guides several times before the build, and even before buying.
For the record we have built these kits ..
http://www.soundskulptor.com/uk/mp573.html
http://www.hairballaudio.com/shop/index.php?cPath=22
By our reckoning (and not taking into account the build time) we have spent $ 1045 / £625 (plus delivery) and saved something like $3000 / £1800.
Audio cork sniffers maintain that there's nothing like the real thing, but in our comparisons our builds sound as close to the original devices as original devices sound to each other (there are always differences based on age, rev versions, and component variations). And even if they did sound a bit different, as long as they sound great who cares!
There has never been a better time to do this. (And no, we don't get commission from Hairball or Sound Skulptor!).
Thanks for reading.
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