SSlmixed.com Forum

Tech discussion => 4K,6K,8K Series => Topic started by: tko on December 20, 2021, 10:49:09 AM

Title: 8080G I did it!
Post by: tko on December 20, 2021, 10:49:09 AM
So I did it!

I purchased an 8080G that was in a friend's studio locally. I already own a 4024G (ex Peter Gabriels) and when this came up it was both hard and an easy decision to make. Hard because it's a big commitment and easy because I love SSL's and this one is a beautiful one. She needs a little bit of work, but nothing I'm afraid of after owning my 4k for 10yrs and recapping it. But I'll be using this forum to help navigate the journey!

It comes with the works too. An Atomic, Tangerine (which isn't installed), Flying Faders, and every upgrade that was on offer.

I'm not 100% sure what to do yet. I don't need to move it for 6months so I might start on maintenance and installing the Tangerine install where it is.

First Questions:

It has the Programmable EQ - with the outboard SL683. Is that a hard box to remove? I don't intend on using it.
Has anyone here done any 8000 jobs like this removing unneeded features?

Thanks TK NZ.

Title: Re: 8080G I did it!
Post by: amillar on December 20, 2021, 02:39:14 PM
Hi,
Congratulations! I'm sure you'll fun with that.

It has the Programmable EQ - with the outboard SL683. Is that a hard box to remove? I don't intend on using it.
Ok, usual disclaimer that it's 30 years + since I looked at it BUT: no, it should be really easy. We very much designed that as a bolt on extra, it's not really integrated into the desk at all.

For interest the programmable EQ was, IIRC, the only surviving bit of the complete programmable desk that Paul Frindle and (again IIRC) Dave Bell spent several years working on in the early '80s but never made it into production. The programmable EQ was rescued from the design, boxed up, and the computer interface made to work like a bunch of 4k faders, so it could slot into the desk almost as if the rest of the desk didn't know it was there! I can't remember quite when we did that, I think it must have been between the 6K and the G series, so '85 or '86 perhaps? Nice idea but a bit of a solution in search of a problem to solve. (Usual apologies if I've misremembered any of that...)

Cheers,

Andy
Title: Re: 8080G I did it!
Post by: tko on December 20, 2021, 07:31:01 PM
Thanks @Andy.

If anyone has removed a SL683s please let me know how you did it.

I'll be getting into this in the new year.

TKO
Title: 8080G - 683 Prog equaliser
Post by: jimlfixit on December 25, 2021, 10:15:55 PM
'It has the Programmable EQ - with the outboard SL683. Is that a hard box to remove? I don't intend on using it.
[/quote]
Ok, usual disclaimer that it's 30 years + since I looked at it BUT: no, it should be really easy. We very much designed that as a bolt on extra, it's not really integrated into the desk at all.

For interest the programmable EQ was, IIRC, the only surviving bit of the complete programmable desk that Paul Frindle and (again IIRC) Dave Bell spent several years working on in the early '80s but never made it into production. The programmable EQ was rescued from the design, boxed up, and the computer interface made to work like a bunch of 4k faders, so it could slot into the desk almost as if the rest of the desk didn't know it was there! I can't remember quite when we did that, I think it must have been between the 6K and the G series, so '85 or '86 perhaps? Nice idea but a bit of a solution in search of a problem to solve. (Usual apologies if I've misremembered any of that...)

Cheers, Andy

Hi Andy M and others.
My recollection of the Prog Eq 683E was that the SSL designer Graham Hinton designed it (or took it over later on). I worked with him on the first few around 1982-3 I think and got it into production but I have no idea what happened after that. It was a 681 or 682 size piece of gear with loads of PCB's secured to the back, a bit like an earlier 688 panel but in some sort of rack I think. This was at Stonesfield and before SSL fully moved to Witney (test room in unit H and production in units 19 and 20) about 1983? Begbroke came later.
Around the same time (1981-83?) I also worked with Jim Smith on the first 691 11u computer card cage, the 694 Floppy Drive unit, the 686 Events controller and the 687 Real Time Events controller plus all the Adam Smith and Lynx Sync controller systems later on.
Title: Re: 8080G I did it!
Post by: Clip6 on December 25, 2021, 10:54:20 PM
Just leave it in. Mike Shipley used the hell out of it on def leopard albums. You just making work for yourself. You have bigger issues like moving and setting up your new space.