SSL 4000 G-Series Install - a 4 year journey!

[marcmozart]

It's a simple construction that holds the channels in place - see pic below!

We didn't take out the channel cards (yet), but we'll make recapping channels an ongoing task. Thats when we'll take out the cards. I would say cleaning the contacts with Isopropyl-Alcohol, as usual, should do.

The dishwasher did a perfect job. The markings on the knob cap can only be scratched off with sth sharp like a knife or scissor (or maybe finger-nails), definitely NOT by a dishwasher. Just used the standard detergent I'm always using in my dishwasher.

Do you have more detailed pictures of the channels in the custom surface mount?

For the channel cards, did you just "sucked out" the dust, or did you took off all cards and cleaned with any type of circuit/contact cleaner?

Didn't the washing machine erased the button markings?! You used standard washing detergent right?

Cheers,

Artur

[Artur D'Assumpção]

Thanks!

I'm very curious to know more about the followups!

Keep posting!

Cheers,

Artur

[marcmozart]

Just a quick pic of where we are... next-up bass-traps, room measurements etc.

[marcmozart]

Frequency Response is linear +/- 3dB now from 60 - 200 Hz. Two days of experimenting with 11 packages of Rockwool while measuring different speaker and listening positions did the job. Next up will be treatment of early reflections - cloud above mix position and absorbers at Early Reflection Points. And - of course - the Rockwool will be permanently installed and covered with a wall of red fabric.

[Matt Sartori]

Looks really good...really really good....

Mattia.

[marcmozart]

I really need to catch up posting the latest developments... I'm very busy mixing on the console and also working on some new music business ventures. Anyway, just went through the centre section, taking all the cards out, cleaning contacts, doing some recapping.
What I had not realized yet - the mix-buss cards on my console are very late G+ versions, tested by SSL 12/04 and 01/08!! I'm just posting the pics of the cards, perhaps some of you can elaborate on these and the difference to earlier versions.

[Artur D'Assumpção]

hmmmm those are new to me.

Do I see some SMD chips on that first card you showed? On those small vertical modules?

[kilmister]

Yes you're seeing just right

[marcmozart]

hmmmm those are new to me.

Do I see some SMD chips on that first card you showed? On those small vertical modules?

There are 5534s on these modules. These are called "balancing hybrids" - one of the few parts that are still available from SSL as spares.

kilmister - are these centre section cards similar to what's in your 1999 G+ ?

[kilmister]

Yep, they look familiar to me

[marcmozart]

Recapping is an ongoing process - and thanks to a professional solder station - I'm getting pretty fast at it.

G-Series Channel Logic Card - note the little red WIMA MKS-2 "Metallized Polyester" Capacitor is replacing an Electrolytic Cap (0,47uF). Those WIMAs promise longer life, but are more expensive. For 0,47uF they're still decent (0,42 € ordering 10 at mouser.com).

[marcmozart]

Recapped Film Panning MK2 Card (also see my separate thread about these troublemakers: http://forum.sslmixed.com/index.php?topic=415.0 )

Testing the effects of "bypassing" the coupling cap with a small WIMA 0,1uF (again, the small red cap on the back of the PCB).

[marcmozart]

After I first recapped cards "where necessary", I have now started to do the entire console, channel by channel. All while the console is being used. Basically, the channels in the last bucket (41-48) are taken out, and whenever a complete channel is serviced and rebuilt, I swap it out against one in use.
I am not only recapping, but also, taking out the routing cards to bath them in Isopropylalcohol (for a few days). I also clean the surface of the entire channel motherboard (again with Isopropyl) from dust, and all the card connectors with Q-tips. After cleaning the motherboard gets waxed and polished (using a high quality car wax) for future protection. After recapping the cards I clean them with a soft toothbrush (and, guess what LoL) and also clean the edge connectors with a Q-tip.

This is very time-consuming when doing it to this level of perfection. Probably takes 3-4 hours per channel. I like to think that after this treatment the channels are better than new, considering that todays caps are of much higher quality than 20 years ago, and I am using very high quality caps.

Picture below:
Film Pan MK2 Card and G-Series Logic card (note the little red 0,47uF WIMA MKS Film Cap replacing an Electrolytic Cap).

On the Film Pan MK2 Card I have increased the value of the Non-Polar Cap to 100uF and installed a MKP Film-Cap as a bypass. The Film Pan MK2 Card would measurably cut off the low end which is an effect of the value of this cap being too small. Interestingly I don't see this low-cut on some of my channels that have the Film Pan MK1 Card installed.
The Film Pan Card is pretty much an added circuit at the end of the channel signal chain, that all the Non Film Pan-Consoles do not have. I might do more modifications on it, these are not the most clever design.






VCA Card (top left) on which I increased C9 to 220uF and added MKP Bypass-Caps 0,01uF on C8 and C9 (soldered to the back of the PCB)
G-Series Channel Amp Card (top right) and Dynamics in the front.






Group Card (top) and G-Series 292 EQ (front)






The routing cards are not making any noises any more. I've also cleaned the grey routing buttons in a soap bath and then bathing in plastic cleaner (for car interior) which softens them slightly. A lot of the routing cards on my console were previously replaced (probably in 2008), and cleaning those newer cards was probably more of esoteric value.

[sintech]

Brilliant work

[Matt Sartori]

FANTASTIC!
well done!

Mattia.