Hi guys.
I drove over to GRS early today. They are about 70 miles from my studio. I called them yesterday about making me a psu for my 4032 and they said to come over and that they were building a couple of ssl psus and we could talk.
I got to see the production shop and they were indeed building 2 SSL psu and about two dozen or so other power supplies for other console. Nice operation. And the SSL psus are really. Pretty much the same style as the one we got at the old studio I worked at in 2001. They guys that run the place are ex-aerospace power systems engineers who started building audio and power supplies for a few studios back in the mid '60's. These guys know their stuff, so it was a real education for me listening to them.
One of the big deals was about how clean the DC output is and about the filters they build to do this. The SSL psus are filled with special filters that was explained to me to eliminate the possibility of harmonics getting into the audio bandwidth. They showed me on a scope the difference with and without the filters! HUGE difference. So that answers your one question about the filters.
The still are using a bunch of microprocessors to run everything in the psu. Lots of psu protection devices and console protection circuits. And the AC power turns on with a slow power ramp up to eliminate the power surge. And then they have a processor that sequences on all of the DC output voltages that go on also with a voltage ramp up. While the psu is doing all of this, there are LEDs on the front panel that show the sequencing/ramp-up of the AC. Then once that is completed, you hold over a DC start switch and then the psu sequences the DC start-up to the console while the voltage also ramps up. It's pretty cool.
The system is just like the one we got back in 2001 and it works the same way. Never had a problem with that one. One system can power 56 channels and has multiple DC connectors on the back of the psu. Don't need a changeover box. You get a 5 year parts and labor warranty.
I like the meters on the front with the voltage trimmers on the front. I can appreciate these cause of having to try to do the psu and console calibration using the SSL psu. Man, is that crazy running back and forth to the console and machine room, lol. One way to get your exercise for sure. So this is a better setup for that.
So I bought one. Maxed out two credit cards to do it, but really need a good working power supply and I don't have the time to mess with the old psu and the cost to fix it is stupid to me at this point. So I took the plunge. After CA sales taxes it cost me about $3,400. One of the units they are building is a larger psu going to Warner Bros. for one of their film consoles. That one is a monster.
So all in all a great morning, now I just have to deal with the credit card bills when they come in. Oh well...such is life as a studio owner.
That's about it! I should have the new psu in about 15 days and I'll report back.
Cheers!
Greg
