701

CP4500 Stereo Bus Compressor / Re: Unable to level match Channel 1

« on: October 20, 2021, 04:16:48 PM »

So what voltages do you get in the voltages check #6 ?

702

CP4500 Stereo Bus Compressor / Re: Unable to level match Channel 1

« on: October 19, 2021, 05:09:28 PM »

I noticed TP2 depends on T1 position, so step6, TP2 is not always 1.5 AC. Right?

TP2 should be at 1.5V AC after T1 has been adjusted.

703

TS500 Tape Simulator / Re: Everything works but high frequencies are getting lost somewhere

« on: October 18, 2021, 09:25:10 AM »

Try replacing U3 as well.
With a cable wire connected to a monitoring input, "listen" to the sound on TP1, TP2, TP3, TP4, TP5, TP6 and compare to the corresponding position on the working TS500.
The test point where the sounds differ will tell you where is the issue.

704

EQ573 Equaliser / Re: MP573 link cable

« on: October 11, 2021, 08:39:26 AM »

Yes, both sides have an identical color order.

705

EQ573 Equaliser / Re: EQ-573 II user manual missing

« on: October 11, 2021, 08:38:18 AM »

We have not yet done a new user manual for the EQ573-II . The old EQ573 manual is still 99% correct.
The link cable wiring is described at the end of the EQ573-II build manual and the connecting is unambiguous.

706

Discussions about the products / Re: SS CP4500

« on: September 25, 2021, 08:44:42 AM »

The THAT 2180 have been in a worldwide shortage since 18 months and it is not finished. This is an explanation by Keith Persin the Managing Director of THAT.

The delays are due to the packaging stage of manufacturing process as this is outsourced and currently THAT Corporation have only one source for the SIP package. Wafer availability and test capacity are not a problem. The packaging vendor is based in India and the initial delays were due to the lockdown because of COVID19. The factory is now at reduced capacity due to new safe distance working practices. However, there are compound problems. The SIP mold for that package is old and has two sections. One section needed repair and has been sent to a specialist tooling company in Malaysia, but shortly after it arrived the tooling vendor shut down due to Covid-19. Efforts are being made to recover the tooling and complete the refurbishing work. When back up and running again the mold process is slow and limited capacity and a 28-week order back log has built up. 

The shortage was only for the SIP packages, not for the smaller SOIC package 2181.

The THAT 2181 is exactly the same chip inside, the only difference being that it is not laser trimmed for distortion (the package is too small).
To avoid being out of stock of CP4500 for 2 years, we decided to reengineer our product in order to use the SOIC packages.
We designed an easy procedure to do the distortion setup with a trim potentiometer. We are now able to achieve even better distortion results than with the pre-trimmed VCA's.

In conclusion, the specs of the CP4500 using the SOIC packages are exactly the same (or better) as those using the SIP package.

707

CP4500 Stereo Bus Compressor / Re: Comp not passing audio

« on: September 18, 2021, 08:45:25 AM »

It could be an issue with the relay RLY1.
Please send me an email here so we can send you a replacement part.

708

CP4500 Stereo Bus Compressor / Re: Setup for Meter

« on: September 15, 2021, 10:49:49 AM »

Something is wrong.
Please do the measurements here : https://www.soundskulptor.com/forum/index.php?topic=3.0

709

CP4500 Stereo Bus Compressor / Re: Comp not passing audio

« on: September 15, 2021, 10:22:42 AM »

I’m also getting a bit of high frequency crackling

Is it still there if you remove only U6?
Is it still there if you remove only U2 to U5?
Is it still there if you remove only U1?
Is it still there if the Mix pot is on 0%?
Does it changes character when you change the threshold and/or makeup?

710

MP512 Microphone preamplifier / Re: kit kudos and questions

« on: September 15, 2021, 10:09:04 AM »

Yes, correct, the rubber spacer is supposed to be placed under the input transformer to prevent the metal case touching a pad. You are OK if you left a gap.

711

MP512 Microphone preamplifier / Re: kit kudos and questions

« on: September 13, 2021, 11:07:03 AM »

It is true that the last batch of 330uF caps are a little too large. We had to purchase these because of the worldwide shortage on the usual kind. It is not an electronic issue at all, actually the larger caps life span is better. Just arrange them the best as you can.

the 1000uF caps are very high, and touch the closing plate
No problem, the case is totally disconnected from the active circuits.

in Eurorack kits, there's this repeated rule of *never* soldering a front panel component
You are correct, the mechanical tolerances on both the plate and PCB are really tight.

712

CP4500 Stereo Bus Compressor / Re: Comp not passing audio

« on: September 10, 2021, 08:57:13 AM »

Check that the contacts in the meter connector housing are well inserted in the correct direction.
Is the IN/OUT switch free to move freely in the front plate hole. If not soldered perfectly vertical, it may not release completely and cause one of the bypass relays to stay on.

713

CP4500 Stereo Bus Compressor / Re: Comp not passing audio

« on: September 08, 2021, 11:32:09 AM »

+16.3 and -16.3 are OK.

running 1k sine wave into the comp i don't seem to be passing any audio at all.

Does it pass audio when in bypass?
Try following the signal with your DMM set to AC Volts, against 0V.
- on TP1
- on TP3
- on TP2
The measured value should follow the level of the input signal.

714

MP573 Microphone preamplifier / Re: 9 x 330u-25V are larger than before

« on: September 08, 2021, 11:23:51 AM »

You are correct, because of the components shortages everywhere, we had to purchase these larger caps.
This is not a problem if they touch other components because the body is insulated by a plastic sleeve.

715

LA502 Optical Compressor / Re: All LEDs locked on

« on: September 06, 2021, 08:18:21 AM »

You may have an issue around U7-R36. Check value, direction and solder joints.
What DC voltage do you get on R37, any side against 0V?

716

First Aid / Re: Very strange problem with Rupert Neve Design R6, CP5176 and LA502

« on: September 06, 2021, 08:15:17 AM »

there is complete lack of bass and more high frequencies than the original.
This sounds like you are only connecting one phase of the balanced signal output. The transformer coupled outputs are floating and need both phases to be connected.
Check your connecting cables and make sure both phases are connected.

717

First Aid / Re: Solder type

« on: September 06, 2021, 08:08:54 AM »

From what I can see via Google, CR2 is a "No clean" flux.

718

First Aid / Re: Solder type

« on: September 03, 2021, 05:42:43 PM »

"No clean" solder is available for unleaded as well.
It means that the flux inside the solder is not corrosive and it doesn't need to be cleaned.

719

CP4500 Stereo Bus Compressor / Re: Setup Help THRESHOLD potentiometer counter clockwise reduces the out ?

« on: September 03, 2021, 05:38:33 PM »

Congratulations!

720

First Aid / Re: Solder type

« on: September 01, 2021, 05:37:46 PM »

Both are OK but I prefer leaded solder for ease and reliability.
Choose "No clean" solder if you can.

721

CP4500 Stereo Bus Compressor / Re: Setup Help THRESHOLD potentiometer counter clockwise reduces the out ?

« on: September 01, 2021, 05:34:12 PM »

On step 4, TP13 does not show any DC, no matter where I have the pot.

7: +2.9V

TP13 and U21 pin 7 are connected together. Find out why the connection is broken.

722

CP4500 Stereo Bus Compressor / Re: Setup Help THRESHOLD potentiometer counter clockwise reduces the out ?

« on: August 30, 2021, 05:24:13 PM »

Are you numbering the pins like this?
Pin 8 should be +16V

723

LA502 Optical Compressor / Meter LED's low brightness

« on: August 28, 2021, 09:42:04 AM »

If you purchased your kit in 2021 summer and your meter is working normally but the LED's seems too dark, then you may have received a bad LM317LZ component for U10.
Indeed, we have received a batch of LM317LZ with about 14% of bad parts.
If this is your case, please send us a message on https://www.soundskulptor.com/en/contact.php and we will send you a new part.
I am sorry for the inconvenience.

724

TS500 Tape Simulator / Meter LED's low brightness

« on: August 28, 2021, 09:38:42 AM »

If you purchased your kit in 2021 summer and your meter is working normally but one (or both) row of 8 LED's seems too dark, then you may have received a bad LM317LZ component for U5 or U6 (or both).
Indeed, we have received a batch of LM317LZ with about 14% of bad parts.
If this is your case, please send us a message on https://www.soundskulptor.com/en/contact.php and we will send you a new part.
I am sorry for the inconvenience.

725

CP5176 FET compressor / Meter LED's low brightness

« on: August 28, 2021, 09:33:21 AM »

If you purchased your kit in 2021 summer and your meter is working normally but one (or both) row of 8 LED's seems too dark, then you may have received a bad LM317LZ component for U5 or U6 (or both).
Indeed, we have received a batch of LM317LZ with about 14% of bad parts.
If this is your case, please send us a message on https://www.soundskulptor.com/en/contact.php and we will send you a new part.
I am sorry for the inconvenience.