StudioSystems.co.uk

Already got a password? Click here to enter

OR : Please support Studiosystems for another 20 years for a one off fee of £25.00 GBP for LIFETIME TECH SUPPORT

 

Payments are processed by PayPal - to pay for your access please click below:

(Existing customers who have bought Soundtracs desks from us please contact : tim@studiosystems.co.uk .)

And , if you really cant afford the 25 quid or reckon your desk isnt worth fixing for 25 quid then I will of course oblige , always here to help .

and on ..

 

We have most of the SOUNDTRACS spares for all consoles right back to the SOUNDTRACS 16/8/16 circa 1982 .

 

USER manual copies of course : these are 15 GBP inc UK post * for the smaller 8 buss consoles (Topaz /PC Midi /Mrx /Solo /FM / 16/8/16 ). and 20 GBP for In Line /Quartz and a stonking 50 gbp (they are huge ) for the Solitaire and Jade (so dont let your engineer run off with them !!)

SPARES : although some stocks are dwindling we will try to source anything you need (sorry we dont have any of those UPPER knobs from the QUARTZ /IN LINE dual concentric pots : but we do have a rather nifty substitute)

 

* Europe post please add 3GBP , worldwide post, please contact ..

(Im quite happy just to Email you one- off Circuit diagrams )

ALL the SOUDTRACS pots are now a fraction of the original price , for instance the IN LINE, aux 1/2 pots are only 5 GBP whereas they used to be 30 GBP ! JADE pots (whats left) are only 3GBP each. Unfortunately we ran out of In Line /Quartz EQ pots so thay have to be ordered new at 15GBP each ( 3 gang pot)

We ONLY have limited stocks of the WHITE SOUNDTRACS BUTTS that go on the ALPS switches left : namely

:5: 6 ;7 ; 8; 9; : 10 ; TUNER : MTRX : BEL :FREQ:AUX1 ; AUX 2 : AUX 4 :STUDIO : RET : PH1 : PH2 : SPLIT :

PHONES : INS : EXT 1 : LIFT : DIR : LINK : x2 : Q3 :

all above are 30p each or 10 for 2 GBP

sorry we dont have any TALK or 2 TRACKS left

 

DAY TO DAY MAINTENENCE :

For switch cleaner use CAIG DE oxit at 15 GBP/200ml is the best spray for switches and especially those annoying INSERT /send and return jack sockets .( Remember the Studiospares BURNISHER tool is king for this job too ). We are still searching for a new POT cleaner as you cant get SWISH anymore ( EEC ruling)

TECH STUFF :

THE BIG question I keep getting asked is about UPGRADING the ICs in these older consoles . Steve from VTI who does the USA tech support has to have the last word on this :

The IC looks as if the specs are like that of the TI/BurrBrown and will definitely cause your console to sound sterile. The LM4562 is a higher slew rate (20V vs 8V) lower distortion and noise floor approx 50% lower than the chipos used.
The problem with all this is that the console voltages are at the maximum rail capacity and therefore they will cause extreme problems as well as with all "New and Improved" IC's, draw lots of current and sound completely sterile.
The console was designed with the IC's that were state of the art at the time and maximized for their use. In all my years of playing with some of the IC's out there I find they change the sound so drastically that the console is no longer what it was designed to sound like nor is it preferable to how it was. Almost none of my clients have ever kept the newer chips.
Their consoles were no longer British sounding with a warmth and musical charachteristic that makes them what they are.
Please feel free to try 1 channel with the newer IC 1st, only in the 5532 spot as the TL072 is a J-FET chip and very warm. If you like it then change the TL072.
Please let us know what you think.

Steven M
305-944-2503
Exclusive National Authorized Soundtracs Analogue Service

another "chip" enquirey from Alec in London who wanted to enhance his PC Midi console ,which he loves , he suggested putting in LM4562

Steves reply :

The LM4562 has a better noise spec and higher slew rate. The 55MHz bandwidth
is great but be careful of compensation and stability under unity gain.
Another factor is that the max V is +/-17V and may cause offset if not
failure problems as well as limit headroom.
The 5532 is still the baby to stay with and has a bit more crunch in the
sound but fuller sound vs bandwidth.If you would consider trying the OPA2107
for the 5532 only in the Master summing or fader booster I believe you may
be more pleased even though I still think you will move back to the 5532.
The LT1359 is a very impressive chip from checking the spec sheet and seems
to be unity gain comp'd. The operating voltage may again cause a problem and
be extremely careful with overshoot and ringing as it is a very high slew
rate amp. Never saw one for audio application with 600V/us and would feel
that would have a very fragile high end and possibly limited low end.
Please be careful to not exceed the specified rail voltages.I am sure that
you will find that the TL074's have the warmth and fullness that is more
classic to the vintage console sound.
Please let me know how the test goes. I would appreciate it. Talk with you
soon.

Alecs reply :
Thanks again Tim - I'm sure that will be fine.

Steve has been very helpful indeed with his advice about the chips and I
must say I am close to admitting there will be no benefit. However, if I
do try changing the master summing chip I will let you know how it goes.
If you like I can send some sound files for you to judges yourself.

I intend to recap the power supply with the best quality components I
can get my hands on.

The lead that accompanies it has a Studiosystems sticker on it so it is
quite possible you have already done this yourself. However, as I don't
know how long ago that might have been it can't hurt to do it again.

The desk does sound very good in my opinion. I have no other desks to
directly compare it with but A/B comparisons with in-the-box mixes I
have done are so "night and day" it's almost funny.

Thanks again,

Alec
Tims 1/2 pence : In my opinion if you really want to get the best out your SOUNDTRACS console give the POWER SUPPLY a damn good service !!

It is WELL WORTH fitting new smoothing and other circuit - stability caps', beefing- up the ground planes and replacing any suspect overheated cabling, if the transformer looks like its been on gas mark 8 for the last 10 years , put a new one in .

I can do all this for you : Find a two week break in your consoles busy life and send the supply down to us in Cornwall and we'll give it a good thrashing ! A very good investment if you plan on keeping the "old girl" for another five years (and the console !)

NEW VENTILATED LIDS FOR GRID and SOURCE PSU :

DEC 2007 . Those of you who have a GRID psu (SOLITAIRE) or SOURCE psu ( Megas and SOLO/LOGIC range) will no doubt have noticed it overheating ,(especially the GRID)so we have made some new metal lids . These are be perforated metal and include a 29dB low noise mains fan so you can just plug straight into the mains outlet ,they are be 55GBP plus post , a really good investment if your going to keep your desk for more years to come, I expect some of you are moaning already that that is too expensive, well let me give you a breakdown , the lids cost me 14 quid each the fans are 15 , takes about an hour messing about with the mains feed ,plug ,screws,packing etc , so call that 15 so Im making 11 quid profit on this session saving idea.

What I do to stop it getting damaged is to put the FAN inside the lid for shipping , its a simple case of self tapping the fan to the top of the lid (holes marked in red ) and then use the other self tappers to hold the lid in place on the base of the case (have you ever tried to drill out a 3mm hole where you want it in perforated metal !!! : nightmare !!

Below is a typical E mail I recieve nearly every day of yet another Source psu that has roasted itself to death :

 

"Hi Tim

Hi Greg

I found your site the other night whilst trying to find some info for a rather unhappy SOURCE power supply unit.

TIM: Oh dear

So i thought i would enquire to the range and price of your service.I have one very unhappy SOURCE unit(still works but humms like a trooper) which i am guessing may need the full works,1 source power supply that at prescent would just need a service

TIM: Does it look roasted inside ? (the hummy one ) does it hum on BOTH desks you have ?

,Then we come to the desks first of all is the solo8 32/8/2 with vu metre bridge. ( arnt they LED?)

TIM: Is that the Logic version ? with the VCA auto ?

It was worked hard before we aquired it and to be fair is still going strong but there are plenty of bits that are not up to par,so i would like to get this serviced as well.

Ok
The other desk is a solo 32/4/2 which at present seems fine but it has not had a service in three years so it could also do with the once over later in the year.I am also looking for manuals for the above and a spare source power supply if you can help.Love both these desks as they are solid workers and they sound so rich and full, unlike the alan & heath we added 2 years ago that has all the gadgets but sounds so clinical.

TIM: “Sound so rich and full “ ! that’s what I like to hear !!!!!!!!!

,,, sorry , I cant do a SOURCE power supply but I have a chap who builds a supply (new) that would do the trick ,, only trouble is they are at 2007 prices and are a tidy sum at 500 quid : but this is what the Source psu cost 15 years ago at least ! ( the Solo 32 used to sell at 7000 quid ) - comes with same SOURCE multipin socket

Any way could you let me know when you have gaps in your work load so i can book the first power supply in and then the solo8.And any ball park figures as to what costs are going to be involved say worst case that way i can work my budget around.

TIM: OK: first :we are now based in Cornwall ( near Looe) and I tend not to do “on the road “ service work anymore , ( I burnt myself out on the M25 treadmill a little too much years ago so not keen to travel )

However no problem if you send the PSU down to me and I can give it a damn good thrashing , I charge 75 GBp for a SOURCE service plus parts (usually just bridge rectifiers /regulators / sometimes a new transformer , + 12 carriage return.

ALSO : I have a reliable UK network of techs Ive built up over the years, I could put one of these guys your way to service the desks, where are you based ?

MANUALS :

The Solo USER manuals are 15 GBP each I actually have a few originals left :.. the LOGIC side of things manual has to be photocopied (extra 15) but I doubt you need that its pretty simple stuff ..

I also do a subscription tech’ help line via the web site which can be very useful in times of trouble ( inclusive full Email tech support )

Ive attached a payment /address file if youd like to proceed and send down the naughty- SOURCE !!

Best Regards

tim