SSlmixed.com Forum
Tech discussion => 4K,6K,8K Series => Topic started by: MarconeMusic on December 30, 2021, 02:20:45 AM
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Hi!
So it’s been a while
I’ve been a busy guy playing around with gear and designing equipment with the help of some brilliant people and friends.
Long story short, I really like using my console as it is built, record through it when tracking and mix when mixing.
I found myself wanting flavour but had to reach for external preamps for that. This made me a bit miffed as I like the direct-ness of just using the board and not going out of the sweet spot for doing my work.etc.
What we’ve ended up doing to solve this is, we remade the 149 and 291 preamp / line cards.
Completely left in tact the whole line section as is, because let’s face it, this is where our consoles excel, but the preamp, its a bit … meh…. Good but not wicked.
…well it now rocks!
A completely new drop in card which functions in the channel strip as expected, the line-in is as the day the console shipped, but has a newly designed class A Preamp with a transformer input. Nothing like those first pres, this is a total new beast! Essentially a new flavour for the ssl which will stand up all day long to an API or NEVE in character, but makes the ssl functional for the outboard preamps duties!
I don’t have a ton of details about pricing and availability but, it is aimed at 1st quarter of 2022 for production as prototypes are completed and vetted!
I’m way too stoked to make my console and maybe yours, a beast in the tracking world too!
:) have a great new year y’all!
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cant wait to see/hear it!!!
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Please, please keep us posted. This is very exciting.
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I will! As soon as some minor testing is finished.
Waiting on a different transformer at the moment.
Just to figure out if it will make a significant difference to the one we have currently.
Just weeks away :)
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I'm keen, it would be nice to upgrade a bucket or two.
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Small update
The card has been working and happy for weeks in our console.
Waiting on a new transformer to test with it. (Wait times are mental)
Happy with the current results tho! Very!!!
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Update.
Testing and all is complete.
The preamp / line replacement for the 291 is ready!
Just a recap, this is a pure Class A preamp with transformer input and a part for part replacement line section.
So the mixing portion of the console is unchanged, just new parts. Yet the preamp portion of the card is now a top rate preamp that will stand up to the same duties as a neve or api preamp!
The newly designed pre makes the console fully useable from tracking to mixing!! So excited.
Gone are the days of reaching behind you for a preamp to get that tone!
The best spot to dial in tone is right at the top of the Channel strip. Now it’s sorted!
I have a blind test I’d love to put up. Just a guitar amp > preamp > pro tools.
Used 2 identical mics, positioned in the same spot, split each to two preamps.
1 path was split to a 1073 and to my custom pre.
1 path was split to another 1073 and an original ssl G 291 preamp. .
For continuity and comparison.
What’s the best method for 4 audio samples to be shared?
Link to Google drive folder? Direct links? SoundCloud?
Chat soon!
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Hi,
Google drive folder link would be fine for downloading the files and listen to them.
Than you so much in advance.
Oihan
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Cheers! Here are the samples.
These were made for myself. With no thought in to tone or micing etc.
just had my engineer play some random guitar. For us to test the preamps.
Zero post production. Just as described above in the previous post.
FYI.
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1IVGbK7Fa7KE995SwaArXLQU1BJ84eSJQ
Any questions or concerns. Feel free to ask!
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Hi,
I suposse that F and J wav files are 1073, J is the one you have custom built and L is hte SSL G preamp.
I like how J wav file sounds, is it the custom preamp?
Is it compatible with E series console with transformer amp cards?
Thanks for uploading the samples.
If you have any picture of the prototype card... it would be nice to see it!!
Best regards.
Oihan
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Hopefully I'll be able to visit you again soon and hear it in the studio :D
Cheers,
Andy
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The current cards are in my console. I will be receiving 75 more for populating shortly.
We will be taking orders as of this week.
The main issue right now is the lead time on the transformers.we only have enough for the first order we have to fulfill.
Andy, can’t wait to have you back!
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Also, this preamp wil be available in the 149 style as well.
We just tackled the 291 right away because it was the harder to manage.
The E style will be very shortly and sound identical!
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Will you sell them assembled? Or just pcb, transformer and the rest of components for building each on their own?
Regards.
Oihan
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Oh no. These are complete drop ins.
Pre tested and ready to go.
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Hi,
I suposse that F and J wav files are 1073, J is the one you have custom built and L is hte SSL G preamp.
I like how J wav file sounds, is it the custom preamp?
Is it compatible with E series console with transformer amp cards?
Thanks for uploading the samples.
If you have any picture of the prototype card... it would be nice to see it!!
Best regards.
Oihan
Heya. So I didn’t answer your question of what one is what.
Just on the chance anyone else wants to play along haha
Feel free to dm me and I’ll let y know what your thoughts equaled in preamp! :)
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What about the prices of the cards? You will build them in your place, Canada, won’t you?
I’m just trying to figure out what would be the price buying them from here, Europe.
Best regards!!
Oihan
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Heya!
I thought I replied to this post. But I did send a DM with information and pricing.
Anyone can feel free to message me for information.
Also, yes these will be fully assembled and made in Canada. Priced in Canadian dollars. Will ship world wide. :)
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Hey Marcone,
What would be the price for your preamps? Can you post some pics? I need to understand what typology to expect from it.
Thanks
Erjon!
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Heya,
Sorry for the delay, Im not getting notifications lately.
Its a fully Class A circuit with a fet dealing with the gain on the input.
Transfomer on the input as well : )
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SSL pre
Heya all!
Here’s a bit of info:
Saves me writing back to all the emails individually.
As for the question of prices and such.
The price point for a single card is 749.00 Canadian dollars per single unit.
(This breaks down to 559.00 usd per card, 539.00 eur per card or 469.00 gbp per card)
This is for one unit only.
The price to buy multiples is 629.00 Canadian per card for up to a single bucket of 8.
(469.00 usd, 455.00 eur and 399.00 gbp per card)
Anything passed 8 at a time and the price will reflect a better discount per card.
549.00 cad (399.00 usd, 385.00 eur or 339.00 gbp)
What I’m willing to do for anyone on our forum wanting to taste test the preamp is to sell singles at a bit of a price break from the single card price and as well offer this:
If you keep it and buy a bucket worth or more. I’ll apply the single card purchase price to the next order to keep it aligned with the discount price. Or…
If it doesn’t do it you, I’ll buy the card back with a 15% (restocking fee) no problem.
I’d love to hear anyone’s thoughts on this.
What you end up with is a Class A preamp circuit with transformer input. Great tone.
This stands up to the Neve and other tone style preamps but has more control and focus than the neves etc.
Even just comparing this preamp section to the original preamps. It’s more extended and accurate. Has vibe. Compresses well. Mixes even better.
The other bonus of this upgrade is since the preamp and line are together on one card, you get a fresh line circuit with selected precision parts. These current parts have specs that are identical to the original intent of the console, but with current parts we have the luxury of having available pieces with better response and specs than the parts that were available 30-40 years ago.
Also, it’s a simple drop in plug and play upgrade!
I’ve only got 4 cards left at the moment and will be doing another round of transformer order shortly. (The longest wait is for this part, bout 2 weeks lead time now which isn’t bad since it used to be 16!!)
The website is about to go live.
This preamp and other gear will be under the banner of Desert island gear.
I have a 4 product line coming along side this SSL preamp / line upgrade card.
Keep me posted if you have any questions.
I’m at my studio email : halomusichamilton@gmail.com at the moment before the site goes live.
~Roman Marcone
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Fantastic work!
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Cheers and thank you!
Here’s a link to the new site.
www.Desertislandgear.com
Most of the tech specs and details are up for the SSL card under “products”
Hope everyone’s having a great start of the winter or summer I guess depending on where you are!
M
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Bravo,
Love to hear it.
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So how’s everyone been?
Just an fyi. If anyone in our group wants in on some preamps, I have a few (9) from our latest run that were set aside that can now be put up for order. Once these ones are gone, I’ll be ordering more transformers. Which is a bit of a wait.
FYI these are the 291 style. No 149 ones hanging about at the moment. They’re all gone.
I’m gonna put this out there. If you’re interested and want to message me through the website, let me know you’re one of the forum people and I’ll give a price break! :) (spring cleaning week around here) hot weather and great vibes!
Working on more and more products for our special consoles!
Cheers all!
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Hi , i was very busy last year in the studio , and tonight i read about the Upgraded preamp card. I tried to download the samples but i suppose the files deleted. I was wondering that if it was possible to listen somehow these samples because im interested to test some preamp cards.
Best regards
G
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Hi!
We did clear out our google drive and I think those samples went to the bin
Lemme have some new ones made! Sorry bout this!
We do however offer a 30 day return in case you’re not totally satisfied!! :)
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Hi Ohh great thanks.
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Hi All!
Happy new year 2024!
Just wanted to give an update , took the site down while I built up a few new projects this passed year. Gonna re launch in Feb with new products and media.
Basically spent a ton of time with our replacement LARC unit for the lexicon reverbs.
It’s awesome and feels just like the original , no touch screens just physical buttons and sliders!
But we also spent some time getting a 149 model tweaked for the preamp upgrade world!
The EQ cards are on the list but back burner right now.
Doing a few installs of the preamps this month then sending out demo models to a few special studios.
How are your consoles holding up these days? I just had to do switches on mine. Super fun haha.
Gonna have to do the same on another local one cuz it’s time. Keep em lubed!
Cheers!
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Glad to here.
I'd like a floppy replacement with the gotek unit.
You could figure that out.
I'd buy one.
Thanks
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Ahh that would be funny but.
I’m happy with the Tangerine unit I have so. Computers in my mind are totally obsolete.
I’m sure there are parts floating around
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Hi all!
Two updates:
One, the website is back and ready to go!
www.desertislandgear.com
We’re doing a pre order run of the next batch of preamps, DARC and orange Eqs.
The promo for pre order is 20% off. Would the group here want maybe another 10% off that?
Lemme know if that’s something yall would be up for! I’ll make a special discount for the family in here!
Second update. Spent some time with Andy again yesterday! What a great surprise to have him in our neighborhood again! Such great stories about the console and design etc!
I’ll post about the visit with a pic on our studios Instagram. Hard to post pics here.
Love meeting awesome people from these communities! If anyone is ever in our neighborhood, please do pop by! I do get that everyone’s pretty spread out tho!
Anyways. Great start to the year! :)
Cheers!
R
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The darc looks awesome.
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Cheers! Here are the samples.
These were made for myself. With no thought in to tone or micing etc.
just had my engineer play some random guitar. For us to test the preamps.
Zero post production. Just as described above in the previous post.
FYI.
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1IVGbK7Fa7KE995SwaArXLQU1BJ84eSJQ
Any questions or concerns. Feel free to ask!
Hi , is it possible to listen a sample of the pre amp cards? I prefer the 291 card
That file removed.
Thanks
G
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I’ll see what I can do for the audio samples. I’ve cleared the drive. Unsure if I kept those samples. But can make more soon. We’re gonna do a bunch of audio and video to update the website.