consoles – Preservation Sound

NBC Custom SpectraSonics mini console circa who knows

admin — Sun, 01 Dec 2019 21:27:39 +0000

PS dot com reader Frank B sent in these pics of his SpectraSonics console. This 6×2 board was custom built for NBC Television in the late 60s or 70s. Here’s Frank’s description of it:

“..its one of a kind…6 preamps and two 610 limiters plus some high pass filters. It was built for nbc-tv. Im guessing this is the only one in existence….The wiring for the patchbay is unique and crazy. “

Interestingly the comp controls are located on the rear of the unit and the compressors have their own points on the bay. Frank, I am curious what that other board you have to the right of it is!

Any of yall got a custom mini-console by a big maker like this? Let us know!

Fairchild Pro Audio Equipment of 1972

chris — Sat, 26 Apr 2014 11:28:53 +0000

Above: The Fairchild Integrated Console of 1972

How y’all doing out there. Today at PS dot com: some interesting bits from the archive: a collection of Fairchild data sheets from 1972. Download all 12 pages here:

Fairchild_1972_prods

Products covered, with texts, specs, and photos, include: Fairchild ‘integrated’ console, Reverbertron 659A, the FPC series of ‘portable mixing consoles,’ 610 and 870 power amps, plus a whole slew of distribution amps and power supplies that i just ain’t got time to list. Enjoy!

Highlights from the 1970 AES Convention, Los Angeles, CA

chris — Fri, 04 Apr 2014 01:56:12 +0000

above: the GRT 500 audio-tape evaluator c. 1970

Just in case you were too-young/too-hypothetical to have attended, we are pleased to bring you highlights from the 1970 convention of the Audio Engineering Society (via ye olde DB Magazine, r.i.p.). You can download the whole shebang here…

DOWNLOAD: AES_1970_DB_mag

…and we’ve also reproduced it below for your browsing enjoyment. Products on offer at that time include: mixing consoles from Electrodyne, Gately, Quad-Eight, Spectra-sonics, Fairchild, Langevin, and Altec. Opamp labs had kits on offer as well. Tape machines include 3M, Otari ‘of Japan,’ Teac 7030, GRT 500, Norelco (Phillips) pro-51, Sony Superscope TC-850, and Ampex. Dolby’s model 360 N/R system debuted, as did the Melcor ‘all electronic’ reverb and the Urei LA-3. New microphones on offer included the Electro-voice DS-35 and the Shure SM-53.

Harrison MR2 and Post Prod’ Series Consoles C. 197*

chris — Mon, 16 Sep 2013 23:07:32 +0000

Download 10pp of period promo materials for the Harrison MR-2 and “Post Production Series” mixing consoles:

DOWNLOAD: Harrison_consoles

I have several other pieces of Harrison documentation; if there is enough demand + attention to this post, I’ll post those as well.

The Quad/Eight Model 248 Mixing Console c. 1980

chris — Thu, 12 Sep 2013 11:13:57 +0000

Download ten pages of literature regarding the Quad/Eight model 248 mixing system:

DOWNLOAD:QuadEight_248

Anyone?

Loft Model 440 Console on eBay

chris — Sat, 30 Mar 2013 13:43:59 +0000

Several years ago we ran a couple of pieces about LOFT AUDIO, a 1970’s era Connecticut Pro Audio manufacturer. LOFT founder Peter Nimirowski got in touch with us and provided some never-before seen factory photos and documentation. Click here to read the initial PS dot com article, and then click here for the follow-up with Peter’s comments. Anyhow, a decent-condition LOFT 440 Console has finally turned up on eBay, and if it wasn’t tax-time you know I’d be buying this thing. As with any 40-year-old piece of audio equipment, caveat emptor. Click here for the eBay auction. BTW, whatya think all those vintage-70’s API-type knobs are worth? Prolly close to the BIN price…

Electrodyne circa 1969

chris — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 17:59:04 +0000

Some random bits of Electrodyne kit that I came across… Above, their ACC-1204… looks pretty neat… anyone?

ADM Mixers and Consoles of the 1970s and 1980s

chris — Wed, 26 Sep 2012 12:06:20 +0000

Above: ADM console constructed for NYC’s A+R Recording c. 1976

Nice set for y’all today, courtesy of reader T.F. T. sent over a large collection of ADM console images spanning the mid seventies into the 1980s. I know next to nothing about ADM, other than it was very well-made equipment: discrete op-amps, UTC or similar-quality transformers, and inductor-based EQs are featured in many of their modules. There’s not a tremendous amount of information on this kit online, but this guy always seems to have a few pieces of sale on eBay: both raw modules and P+P ready racked units.

Regarding the console pictured above, T. writes:

“it’s got the patented CRT spectrum graph option (left top) and it’s a Quad console, note the two panning joysticks on the upper right of the board. A&R made quad records for Project 3 with Enoch Light and some rock quad mixes were done there too. I have one of the ADM joystick panners, it was an interesting piece of machine work. 4 pots controlled by the joystick mechanism, driving VCA’s. All ADM consoles from the mid-70’s forward used their patented Slidex faders controlling VCA’s, nothing was done directly from the fader. In those days, you wanted to protect your console surface from spilled drinks and other substances. For what it’s worth, all the ADM stuff I have is on par with API, Harrison and Spectra of the same era. American design, different from Neve and the Brits.”

In the comments section at the end of the post (click ‘comments’), you can find some additional commentary from T.F. on the ADM brand and their products.

Scroll down for the rest of the photo set. If anyone is currently using any of these modules for audio production work, drop a line and let us know yr thoughts. And if you were involved with the ADM corporation, we’d love to hear a bit about the company; its origins, evolution, and current work of it’s principles/designers.

CIRCA 1976

ADM BC-5 Console

ADM console constructed for KDKA-TV, Pittsburg

Routing system constructed for NBC TV, NY

ADM NRC console

ADM console constructed for Teichiku Recording, Tokyo

ADM TV-32 Console

ADM Console constructed for WSB Radio, Atlanta

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CIRCA 1980

ADM 800 Series mixer

ADM 1600 Series mixer

ADM 2400 Series console

ADM 3200 Series console

ADM ST 160 console

ADM console constructed for KOMO TV, Seattle

ADM Automation system constructed for the Voice Of America

ADM Console constructed for WJZ TV, Baltimore

ADM console constructed for WTLV-TV, Jacksonville

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CIRCA MID 1980s

ADM BCS Series console

A later routing system constructed for NBC

ADM ST-164 radio console

ADM console constructed for the U.S. House of Representatives

Audio Mixing Consoles circa 1959

chris — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 10:42:25 +0000

Langevin stereo console circa 1959

Today: from the “Audio Cyclopedia,” Howard Tremaine, 1959: a quick visual survey of professional mixing consoles in service in 1959. A PS Dot Com reader turned me on to the “Audio Cycolopedia”; many copies of this 1300ppp volume are available on Amazon and eBay starting at around $80; based on the number available, though, i feel like there’s a $1 yard-sale copy waiting for me just around the bend… When the moment presents itself, we’ll be sure to run an Out-Of-Print-Book Report.

A Westrex console built for Todd-AO

The Westrex Portable Stereo Mixer, inside+out

RCA Stereo Console built for 20th Century Fox

A ten-channel stereo console built for the production of USAF training films

An eight-channel Western Electric console

Cinema Engineering Console with integral channel equalization. These consoles were apparently introduced in 1951…

…as seen in this image from Radio & Television News, 1951. We’re looking at Capitol Records’ studio in this image.

“Audio Cyclopedia” presents a range of material in an easy-to-read manner suitable for technical and non-technical persons alike; that being said, the book does not shy away from some very useful circuit data, such as the above-depicted Magnasync mixer schematic. I have been wondering for some time what the proper way was to use a 5879 tube in triode mode: here we see: 100k plate resistor with 1K bias resistor. Easy…

Lang Audio of the 1960s

chris — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 19:34:38 +0000

Download the six-page circa 1965 Lang Specialized Audio Equipment Catalog:

DOWNLOAD: Lang_Audio_Electronics_catalog

Products covered, with photos and text description, include: Lang LRP-1B tape recorder electronics (for Ampex 300 generation machines), LTP-1A tape playback amp, LRA-1C record/playback amp, LMX-4 and LMX-5 broadcast consoles, LMP-1 stereo portable mixer, Record Stereo Mixer, LMX-2 mixer, LPM-2 portable mixer, PEQ-2 and PEQ-3 equalizers, Lang Sync Panel, Disc Recording Equalizer, plus many more accessories.

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Lang was known primarily for the various upgrades and support equipment that they manufactured for Ampex tape machines. As shown above, they also offered solid-state equalizer that appear similar in function to the popular Pultec units of the era. There are also several models of audio mixers on offer, a few of which were available as early as 1961.

Above: the Lang ‘compact’ mono mixer. Advert circa 1961. Looks very similar to my later stereo Gately mixing system , which I spent $250 and several hours on…and i still can’t figure out what the hell i’m gonna use it for.

Above: the Lang Raecord portable stereo (of a sort…) mixer, also introduced circa 1961. Seems pretty scarce.