The demands only grow as the systems do.
Red – XLRF – TRS
Blue – XLRM – TRS
Green – ground lift
Yellow – polarity inverter
Violet – XLRM – XLRM
Black Expando – XLRF – XLRF
Orange – XLR to TS
Always growing the adapter wall
4
Category Archives: Tools
New console vacuum
I got a new console vacuum today! Backpack Dayton 4TR09… and it kicks serious ass! I hate eBay… but this was the best $125 I’ve spent in a while
looking for a stylus upgrade…
looking for something in the $150 – $300 range… any suggestions?
http://www.ortofon.com/products/cartridges/cartridges-2m-series/2m-bronze
Got the locks
It’s rude not to engrave them :-)
Making a Yamaha SKRM-100 subkick
A few years ago I made another Sub-Kick. I used all Yamaha Parts… so I guess it’s a Yamaha Sub Kick
Drilling the XLR into the side:
Pulling the driver from its box:
I built some Brackets and drilled the holes to line up with the existing lug hardware:
Mesh head:
Filled the lining of the shell with acoustic foam and put another mesh head on the back:
Finished:
Lock and Load!
Got a order of APK orange locks coming in from a good friend. All keyed the same, with a few keys to spare. Thanks Mossman!
Some buddies
Doing some calibration the other day and I brought old Faithful: B and K Tone Generator and HP 400FL meter. I modified the backs to have XLR connectors and the meter has an isolation transformer in it. Can’t work without them!
Looking for a vise like this…
I was watching:
and noticed a vise I could put to use
Engraving practice – Tube Tech compressors
Monitoring wireless
It’s easy to see if a wire is hooked up and transmitting but a task I’ve needed a tool for is watching Frequencies at performances. this little tool can confirm transmission and locate where, who and what freq the hits are at on wireless mics. on the back I’ve got all my mic and BTR frequencies. It’s interesting to watch everything in real time for where ever you are.
I must hand it to the frequency coordinators, it’s very well planned and well executed! 
APK 20100225 – “KCC” – multi cable comb
Tool boxes home for a rest
A rare site… idle tool boxes.
BACK TO WORK!
Contact Cleaner Aplicator
I’m always on the hunt for tools to speed up the work and save product. Here’s my latest find
Engraving tests
A new member of the family: It’s a Gorton!
I’ve been restoring WBS consoles for about 10 years now, and I think I’ve just taken the art of what I love doing to the next level. I have acquired THE Gorton P1-2 used at the WBS factory. It was used for their custom buttons, and their early one off panels.
This all began in 2009 while restoring a console. I was building a panel and wanted the exact engraving the factory did. 
This lead me to ask around and it turned out a past employee of WBS had the machine in his home shop. Fast forward 4 years and it’s got a new home in the Revolution Recording Custom Shop.
I do have some blank stock pender buttons, some ITT buttons and can get others.
I love one of a kind tools
WBS – M568P 24 track monitoring console
This sucks – Bias no longer operating
Doing a migration from one computer to another I’ve lost my ability to licence a software a really enjoyed. Bias Peak and Bias Sound Soap. Their licensing server has been shut down and I cannot authorize it. I understand there are downsides to dongle licensing, but in this case I think it would have saved my tool.
I say boo to bias being gone, but boo to a bad licensing system.
Urge to smash
Image
I recently acquired a new computer and have begun the “Migration” from old to new. I know it’s not a quick process (600+ Gb from machine to machine) but by my math this estimation, using FW800, was WAY OUT. The problem turns out that the computer was going to sleep during this migration!! Why the HELL would it do such a stupid thing? There were no options for sleeping as it’s a fresh install. Shame on Apple.
After three failed attempts, I had to find a solution to me sitting at two idle computers for 8 hours.
AND HERE IT IS!
(standby for video)
I needed to be able to leave it also… so in an audio Macgyver moment of desperation I turn to my biggest fan. The cable for the Trackball is moved by an oscillating fan. The headphones are on top of an upside down trackball, this and the duct tape give the trackball some weight to push on the keyboard (for computer 1) the movement also pushes a button on a Magic Trackpad (computer 1)
so far attempt number four is going smoothly (knock on wood)
Best scraper I’ve ever held in my hands
I found these amazing scrapers and as a tool nerd I MUST SHARE. I scrape a lot of things… cleaning the fronts of gear, labels, smoothing surfaces etc etc…
Someone introduced me to these Nisaku blades. They have a flexible blade that bends when you puts pressure on the tool. I have been using a spoon for this purpose but once I saw these my technique is forever changed.
http://www.nisaku.co.jp/jc/diy/scraperknife/2170/2170kikkake.html
http://www.nisaku.co.jp/njc/diy/scraperknife/2151-2161/2151-2161.html