Category Archives: New Gear
Evaporust – Scribe Stand

Amazing remover of rust. Recyclable… It’s a tool in the shop now!
Arduino Project – Digitally Controlled Analog Surround Sound Panning – Open Source
For your enjoyment:
Digitally Controlled Analog Surround Sound Panning
Presentation:
Circuit Explination:
Presentation documents:
0 – TPJ – Technical Presentation
0 – TPJ556-FINAL report DCASSP-COMPLETE
0 – TPJ556-FINAL report DCASSP-SCHEMATICS V1
Project Source Code:
Ward-Beck – D/A-DA – (24) Ch AESDigital to (120) +4dB Analog
Antoinette before
Got to see a trafic control
Ward-Beck Systems ST series – bucket of 12
Custom Dangerous Master Panel
Anxiety, regret, and satisfaction at the 1/2 way point
sound guy Xmas idea: APx515 2-Channel Audio Analyzer
This would be a dream for the test bench. Â Simple, robust effective analysis tools! Â I would be happy with an old system one… but this would be on the shelf in a heartbeat.Â
The APx515 is a high performance audio analyzer optimized for production test. APx515 has a typical THD+N of –106 dB, a one million point FFT with 24-bit resolution, and 192K digital I/O. It is a best-in-class instrument for its combination of speed, performance, automation, and ease-of-use.
APx515 is a significant product because it delivers the performance and reliability of Audio Precision at a production-level price.
APx is the fastest audio analyzer in the world, returning 21 audio measurements in as fast as 1.2 seconds. It is also the easiest to use, with one-click measurements, custom reporting and sophisticated automation without any programming. A full API and LabVIEW driver is also provided.
This speed and ease-of-use means test will never be a bottleneck, and production line managers can achieve reliable, consistent results compared to the current low-cost alternatives like a distortion analyzer.
For companies outsourcing their production, requiring APx515 on the production line gives tighter control over production, ensuring manufacturers are meeting their contractual requirements.
McDSP ultimate Compressor and Eq
Today I had the good fortune of meeting with Derek Heimlich of McDSP. Derek introduced me to a solution to a grief I’ve always had with software plugins. After his introduction and chat about this product, I blurted out that “Software has sucked, until now”
McDSP has released the 3060 Ultimate Compressor and 6020 Ultimate Equalizer bundles.
Until now no software allowed users to switch the character of an equalizer and compressor without loosing their settings. Modeled after some of the industries most revered equipment, McDSP comes through with another must have studio essential tool. This functionality gives you a true A/B between different compressors and equalizers. A unique experience. “I know what I want to achieve when I compress and eq, all I ever want to do is change the character”. As far as I know this is the only piece of software that keeps the EQ and compression setting between plugins. A+ work in my opinion.
I would suggest you give them a shot today for your next project. McDSP offers a free demo that is a worthwhile experience and great investment, check it out.
Will it fit… Tannoy Speakers
Picked up a set of Tannoy System-12s for the lab
I was worried they wouldn’t fit… They are 140 Litres each! I’m excited to hear them in action!
one had to go in the front seat…
Dinner Box – M461
Joel Plaskett rocking some WBS pre-amps
I was reading http://professional-sound.com/Â (like I do every month plug plug) and saw Joels lovely new studio and Neve Console. Â Front an centre I was happy to see the set of WBS pre-amps I wired up for him a few years ago. Â Glad they’re making great records! And congrats to Thomas, who was apparently a regular at Revolution Recording… I just kept my head down and in the back
Herman Miller Chair repair
My Old Herman Miller wheels were really ruining my floor. Â This is something you don’t really think about until it’s too late…
I ordered hardwood floor safe wheels for my chair. Â I really recommend them for any surface… the soft rubber really keeps your floor looking new.
While I had the chair upside down I thought I’d share a mod I do to them. Â If you’ve spent a lot of time in these chairs you’ll know the KLANG the legs make… to keep that klang down to a minimum I Supper 77Â Â in some scrap acoustic foam to the legs. Â
Finished a project for school
I had to build a 1 watt Class AB – Amplifier for an Electronics devices course.  The school has an LPKF PCB prototyping machine to make these PCBs with.  I’m not going to turn down the chance to have the boards made up so any project that involves PCB layout, I will over do it! The machine does 2 sided boards and with a special baking process plates the holes.  I only learned this after I spent all the time making it single sided with a ground plane on top.  So many lessons learned on this one.
After two revisions and some trace cutting, she’s alive.  I used some Phoenix connectors on the board for connection.  I will never make a board without some simple way to connect or disconnect it. Also, the idea of a PCB copper heat-sink was a bad idea.  I imagine the copper has to be thin for the machine to router… so chunks of aluminium were added on the back.  Thing gets rather hot. Â
RLC calculator for components in series
I’ve been calculating a lot of components in series lately for an ECR255 class. I’ve also had to graph them on impedance diagrams and a power triangle.
In an effort to better understand the math I made a calculator for myself. Here is it for you to use and enjoy. If you see any problems please let me know. It was designed in excel 2011 for mac… there WILL be compatibility issues and I hope they’re minor.
How it works:
You can fill int the info you have in the orange boxes. Once the boxes are filled in the calculator should fill in the rest.
If you need to modify anything else, it’s all dependant on the orange boxes. I suggest a goal seek by modifying and orange cell.
Due to popular demand: Ward-Beck Systems RTO-214 Rack Mount Chassis
Due to popular demand:
Introducing: the Ward-Beck Systems RTO-214 Rack Mount Chassis
APKaudio and Ward-Beck Systems are excited to announce a new lineup of retro products. Started with possibly the most requested and in demand item the WBSps.ca has needed:Â
a 2RU rack enclosure for (2) 14″ WBS modules.
Most rack users have a 3RU box to enclose (2) WBS modules. With Studios shrinking in size and gear filling up the cramped racks with all the killer deals these day… there has been a need for this enclosure.Â
Originally designed by veteran WBS fabricator Erwin S. for the current lineup of WBS AMS-8 products. The design updates and fabrication are carried forward by Shop Manager and Mechanical designer at Ward-Beck systems Dave Adams. Dave is a master metal smith utilizing the tools that built the modules WBSps users want to have rack mounted. Dave has been working with APKaudio to create a stable platform in a 2RU enclosure.
The BUM (Back Unit Mount) will be pre-punched for however you decided to wire it. Power options and i/o varieties make for easy design.Â
Future options will include:
– Internal Power supply
– DB25 pre-wired breakouts
– DB25 to EDAC connectors for the modules of your choice
It’s a banana now, but it will be ripe summer 2014!
pre-order now and get a free WBS mug