Ultimation fader revisions

[kilmister]

Hi Folks,

I know there's few different revisions of Ultimation faders but that's pretty much what I know about them.
Anyone able to tell more history about them?

I'm asking this because I would like to buy few faders from Kevin (aka audioparlour) but from pics I got from him I can tell they are older revision than ours, so they doesen't work right away. Kevin is nice enought to send me one so I can check if it's possible modify to fit in our console. Only difference I know is touch sense hybrid which is tooken from 9K console to the newer revisions. PCB needs little trace cut and there LM7805 in TO92 package and touch sense has to be changed.
Anything else?

Thanks in advance,
Paavo

[brewery]

are you sure they don't work together?
i don't have any details either, but my console has mainly rev 7 & 6 faders, with a few older ones mixed in.
maybe they have been modified, but the ones with the p&g hybrid seem to be working just fine. (and they stil have the shrink tube around them)

btw, i still have to send you those modules.
i've been working away from home for most of the last months, hopefully i can have somebody send them in the next weeks.

[kilmister]

I got mail below from Keith Skarret some time ago when I was asking price and details of faders. Please note bolded text. I think it's best just belive what Keith says 

The 4K fader has 2 main versions which are very similar and come in several revisions, the difference between the 2 main versions is the touch sense hybrid. Unfortunately you can't just swap the hybrid from one fader to the other as it requires some modifications to be made to the pcb. If you mix the types of fader in a console then the system will work but becomes a little bit prone to bugs the effects of which vary depending on the balance of 4K and 9K hybrids in the console so generally not a good idea.

btw, i still have to send you those modules.

No sweat, take your time.

-Paavo

[brewery]

ok. like i said, i don't really know anything about this either, and it's the way the console came.
maybe all the old modules have been modified somehow.
would be great to get more input about this, there aren't many techs that really know ultimation.

[kilmister]

Just got an idea. It should be quite easy task to clone hybrid PCB and build few of them. I think there's no obsolete parts or at least they are possible to substitute with modern ones. Any interest?

-Paavo

[Matt Sartori]

Just got an idea. It should be quite easy task to clone hybrid PCB and build few of them. I think there's no obsolete parts or at least they are possible to substitute with modern ones. Any interest?

-Paavo

Very good idea especially if it does not require big initial investment. this will provide spares for a long while.
I don't personally need these boards but the forum market place welcomes your idea very much!
 

Mattia.

[kilmister]

Thank you Mattia!

[brewery]

definitely interested!

[kilmister]

Found today "Ultimation Test Set" from Brandon McHale Designs:
http://www.brandonmchaledesigns.com/prod02.htm

The site looks a bit outdated, does anyone know is Brandon in business anymore?

-Paavo

[kilmister]

Ok, some progress with Touch Sense hybrid.

I'm asking a favor, can some of you please check original and redrawed schematic just in case if there's an error I haven't noticed.
Diode D1 has symbol of zener in redrawed schemo but it's ok because pin order is same.

Original Schematic
Redrawed Schematic

And here's a sneak peak of the board: (click for hi-rez)



I've used chinese pcb factory Itead Studio but due their new year holiday it'will take some time before I'll get prototype boards. Meanwhile I have to source VC1 somewhere.

Cheers,
Paavo

[Matt Sartori]

redrawn schemo look right to me!

the preview it's very very good!
please feel free to use the market place to sell it on! I will do a bit of AD for it on facebook as well.

Mattia.

[kilmister]

Great, Thanks Mattia!
I think it's allways wise to let another pair of eyes look even this simple schemos through.

-Paavo

[kilmister]

Little progress.
I'm just about to send gerber files to the factory so I should have first ten pcbs in three weeks or so.

-Paavo

[kilmister]

Allright, time for tiny update.

Finally got some time over night so decided to build one module to see if cloned pcb design works.
Took 3-4 hours to solder everything, one hour to modify the fader and test everything out.  And yes, it does work

Here she is: (click for hi-rez)


Very nice to have few of these as a diy kit so I can basicly use any Ultimation Fader as spare and just mod it to the same we have in our console.
Mission accomplished!

-Paavo

[marcmozart]

Incredible! Looking forward to see more DIY spare parts for our consoles!