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Post subject: My tube mixer project NOW ACTUALLY MIXING TWO SIGNALS!!
Posted: Wed Jun 19, 2013 9:30 am
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This is something I've been planning and researching for a long time and it's finally getting off the notepad and onto the workbench.

For years I've used a lot of different preamps, synths, digital effects racks and struggled to get them all working through a single power amp without resorting to a solid state line mixer. I'm a tube guy when it comes to guitars and I didn't want to have the penultimate stage of my rig given over to OP amps and transistors so here's the beginning of my solution (drum roll please) ...

It's going to be a three- or four-input all tube mono to stereo mixer with a parallel stereo effects loop and independent AUX sends per channel. All unity gain, non-inverting, very low output impedance and designed from the outset for guitar amp use. Point to point wired throughout and handmade in Great Britain.

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Obviously this is the first week of building but I'll try to keep this thread updated as the build progresses. If it's a success then who knows, I might work this up into a commercial product. Early days yet!

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Last edited by GilgaFrank on Fri Jul 12, 2013 11:16 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Post subject: Re: My tube mixer project
Posted: Thu Jul 11, 2013 7:33 pm
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Well this project generated record levels of disinterest so here's an update. Power supply is all completed, heaters are wired up and it generates a rather unhealthy 340 Volts DC off load which is way too much to throw at a meagre 12AT7. Fortunately it allows me to add a lot of plate decoupling as there's a lot of ways this thing could turn into a self-oscillating eardrum wrecker.

Here it is, looking like an explosion in a capacitor factory. We'll get this thing running soon enough. Maybe. And I'll bore you all further with another update.


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Post subject: Re: My tube mixer project
Posted: Thu Jul 11, 2013 7:35 pm
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I won't pretend to understand electrical stuff, but I love a good build thread. :) looks awesome, man.

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Post subject: Re: My tube mixer project
Posted: Thu Jul 11, 2013 7:44 pm
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Well don't get your hopes up, this may turn into a good thread about a bad build. If it doesn't work as a mixer then I'll rip it all apart and make a tube distortion thing.

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Post subject: Re: My tube mixer project
Posted: Thu Jul 11, 2013 8:04 pm
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Squeeze the cheeks tight and pray that it passes the smoke test.

8)

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Post subject: Re: My tube mixer project
Posted: Thu Jul 11, 2013 8:29 pm
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Cheeks firmly clenched, smoke test passed. And it's waaaay past bedtime here so any more building can wait til tomorrow.


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Post subject: Re: My tube mixer project
Posted: Thu Jul 11, 2013 8:53 pm
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That looks interesting, keep up the good work!

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Post subject: Re: My tube mixer project
Posted: Fri Jul 12, 2013 4:59 am
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Nice work! Clean and looking forward to hearing it
when all is said and done. 8)

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Post subject: Re: My tube mixer project
Posted: Fri Jul 12, 2013 5:13 am
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Nice Got Like a Tube Mixer..Clean.


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Post subject: Re: My tube mixer project
Posted: Fri Jul 12, 2013 5:25 am
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Are you putting separate microphone preamps like that in for each channel?


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Post subject: Re: My tube mixer project
Posted: Fri Jul 12, 2013 6:09 am
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GilgaFrank wrote:
Well this project generated record levels of disinterest so here's an update...

Here it is, looking like an explosion in a capacitor factory. We'll get this thing running soon enough. Maybe. And I'll bore you all further with another update.


:lol: So Funny! :lol:

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Post subject: Re: My tube mixer project
Posted: Fri Jul 12, 2013 1:56 pm
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brotherdave wrote:
Are you putting separate microphone preamps like that in for each channel?


The inputs are buffered rather than preamped. And I've got to the point where I need to build it into a bigger case now, I seriously underestimated the number of tagstrips I needed. I also need to add a second heater transformer as I've decided it needs three more tubes to work properly in stereo.

It may have been cheaper and easier to find a ready-made line mixer ... but where's the fun in that?

Also, important point I should have mentioned earlier, please, don't operate any amplifier - especially tube/valve amplifiers - with the case open or with a mess of wiring unless you know exactly what you're doing. High voltage doesn't care what path it takes to ground, it'll pass through your body just as happily as it'll pass through any bleeder resistor. Switch off, Isolate, Discharge and Earth before doing any work inside electrical equipment.

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Post subject: Re: My tube mixer project
Posted: Fri Jul 12, 2013 3:12 pm
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GilgaFrank wrote:
Switch off, Isolate, Discharge and Earth before doing any work inside electrical equipment.


It's also wise to remove all jewelry prior to sticking one's dick-beaters into a chassis.

:wink:

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Post subject: Re: My tube mixer project
Posted: Fri Jul 12, 2013 4:08 pm
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Retroverbial wrote:
It's also wise to remove all jewelry prior to sticking one's dick-beaters into a chassis.


Unless one has custom made non-conductive dick-beaters then yes, good point well made.

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Post subject: My tube mixer project NOW ACTUALLY MIXING TWO SIGNALS!!
Posted: Fri Jul 12, 2013 11:15 pm
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IT

ACTUALLY

WORKS!


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