It is totally surprising to see all this 110 Jensen (?) transformers in the belly and in the channels where most consoles just have PCBs and ribbon connectors. But it makes total sense. Vintage broadcast consoles had input and output transformers in every module and this certainly leads to a similar sound and exceptional reliability. Just exceptional, thanks a lot!
Thanks for showing that their are actual transformers in these consoles. A lot of young audio interface only users do not understand why analog consoles sound so good. They think its pro tools and plugins only. I keep telling my viewers. NEVE, SSL, API, MCI, HELIOS, TASCAMs, and other consoles on this level is why these types of consoles and the songs sounded so good recorded and mix. Its transformers. op amps, tubes and other circuits in the consoles. preamps,. mics, outboard gear, as well as great rooms, talented musicians, and good engineers.
Hi Mark, I saw you commented on here. I just watched the video a second time last night (from 3 months ago 1st time I watched it)....yes of course, I had to last night make a second comment about this video!...
insane how many transformers. When I think about building guitar amps and right now its a pain in the ass getting transformers and then I see this haha. Amazing video so far. Thanks!
I wish someone would make a MCI style preamp rack mounted, or a 500 series module. So much character on those MCI consoles. Everyone talks about Neve, SSL, and API, but don't realize that a TON of big records were recorded with MCI consoles.
You’re right, and they do sound thick with lots of color. I have another 428 console without the frame. I was thinking of making either 500 Series Preamps or racking up 4 to 8 channels. But I have a lot of outboard preamps and a console full already so it’s pretty far down on my list as I’m busy with a lot of other stuff right now. Steve
Loved my MCI 400, same as this. Pete Clarke in the UK modified it so the monitor returns could feed the mix (and be used as additional aux send if needed).. my desk used to be at Surrey Sound and was used on the first few Police albums 😎
enjoy your videos very much and Appreciate the work that you put in, I love Analog sound my self and have an arsenal of analog gear including Summing devices but thanks so much for this video I am going to bring a few of my preamps into the summing to add more Iron into the chain. Love the sound on that MCI console you have! Thanks for Sharing.
Thanks Eduardo I appreciate it! Let me know how it works for you. I’m going to probably use that method with my summing mixer for the next band I have coming up as well.
hey Steve, I just had a capi sum bus built for me 32 channels, transformer and op amp on every channel in a 2u unit. Pretty cool, but this is drooooool. Great content, really enjoyed watching you go through your console, what a beauty ! cheers
Brother Steve, Thank you for the share. I don't have the budget or your knowledge on restoring consoles although I would LOVE to have an older MCI particularly the one Chris Mara has at Welcome to 1979 Studios. Anyway, what you began sharing at 33:34 is more a fit for me at this point and I would really appreciate a deep dive on that whole process. I'm not a Pro Tools guy. I detest their business model. I am a LOGIC PRO guy and will probably remain in that ecosystem for the rest of my recording life. If I relinquish my creativity and productivity to just being a Producer Executive then my hours billed would only matter on someone's ledger sheet and I will have become a useless scab at that point. However, you caught me at a good time in my life so let's roll! Really wish I could communicate with you outside of this UA-cam format! Keep Doing That Voodoo That You Do!
Thanks JDUBBS, I have the same console as the one at 1979 they’re both Mci 428 consoles mine is from 1976 and I think his is from 1975. Anyway I totally understand where you’re coming from. It took me decades of saving and buying piece by piece to get my studio to this point. Same with learning to repair, maintain, and refurbish. It takes time to learn but we’ll worth it. Now it’s funny you said you’d like to see me show more on what I was talking about at the end of this video using preamps as line amps to mix through. I have a video uploading to UA-cam tonight and I go over my summing mixer and line amps. Then I do a quick ITB mix going through my summing mixer. It’s should be on UA-cam in an hour. Keep in mind a preamp can be used as a line amp all you have to do is pad it down. They’re the same thing. Thanks Steve
Nice video Steve! Thanks I'm very impressed with the MCI. Very clean circuit and so many options. I have seen the amount of x-formers under the hood but it's amazing how many amp stages are on the circuit. Also, thanks for noting the importance of calibration. If you're about to mix with analog gear or even analog emulation plug-ins, I believe it's important to have this procedure in mind. A couple of questions if you have the time: - Any specific reason you went with -18dBFS instead of -20 for example? If I remember correctly, the first in the European (EBU) and the second the American (AES) standard. - Do you plan to try other faders? e.g. ALPS? - I've noticed that you don't use the onboard EQ very often. How does it sound compared to the APIs?
Thanks Takis, Yes my outputs are calibrated for -18 I went over this with Steve Firlotte in detail a while back and it works great for me so I never changed it. My AD inputs are cal’ed around -22. I don’t plan on changing my faders because these are P&G and work great. I don’t even know what new faders would replace these. I’d have to do research if I ever needed to, but doubt I will as these are in good condition, can be repaired, and I have a lot of spares.
Hello Steven. Great channel. Thank you for posting these videos. I have a soundworkshop 34c console that looks similar to yours. I’m curious do you think a full mod with transformers like you did to yours would make a big improvement to my board. Is it worth the investment? Thank you
Very cool. These type consoles are amazing. I think the maintenance is out of my league, but I'd still love to own one of these or a Neve, SSL, etc if money was no object. Great job on the details of this video. Gave you a Sub....Thanks. Phil NYC Area
@@RiotHomeRecording Hi Steve, Thanks for the comment. I remember watching this video 3 months ago and I found it so interesting back then, I just watched it again tonight! I am currently building a hybrid studio with an analog console sitting side by side with a digital console and being recorded/routed into a DAW. I did just recently buy a Neve clone mic pre (Warm Audio WA73-EQ and also their API clone, TB-12) and it makes a world of difference putting those transformers in the signal chain. I plan on getting more of them down the road, when budget allows, and right now my priority is to get the studio fully operational after dismantling it many years ago when I started my video business and now running a photography business. I am looking forward to writing and recording more Jazz Fusion originals like I did years ago. I like playing rock too (I studied jazz guitar quite a few years) and just generally enjoying all the gear and the studio environment in my home. Most of my rack gear is from the late 1980s and early 1990s. (Yamaha Rev 7, Eventide H3000, Lexicon PCM42, SPX900, etc... Your console rocks!...Great info also. I may watch it a 3rd time! All the best. Phil NYC Area
This is awesome. Thank you Steve! About calibration; I wonder - When I monitor the 2 bus of my Harrison while recording and then playback that track monitoring the ext. in - Should the live recording and the track played back through PT appear to be at exactly the same level?
What I do is use protools to trim or raise track levels if needed to go to my console at the level I want that particular track to be at. So I use the software to adjust levels before sending them out to my board. Then I mixdown to 2 tracks coming out of my console stereo Left and right. I record those 2 tracks back into protools below unity, depending on the mix could be just below zero and as low as -16db. Just depends on the mix, the style, if I’m mastering it or if it’s going out to be mastered. Some times I do multiple prints at different levels. Sometimes I capture the print on my Tascam DA-3000 and back into my Burls into protools. Then listen to both and decide which I want to use. Or send both to the band and let them do a blind pick to see what they want to use.
Fascinating stuff. It's always fun to watch you work, thanks for sharing. Did you put together the 990s and AM10s yourself? Also, you mentioned quad several times, was this board set up for the 'short-lived' 4 channel quadraphonic recording? I think that lasted about 4 years in analog. lol
Thanks Malcome, yes I built the 990’s and AM-10’s that are in my console and a bunch more that I haven’t decided where to put yet. Building them myself saves a ton, if I purchased them built and did my entire console it would cost approximately $14.k at $65 a piece. If I build them I can do my entire console for $2700 at approximately $12 a piece. That’s a huge savings. Not that I want to do my entire board. Yes it’s a Quad Console. Basically it’s just 2 separate Mixbuss options like the Satellite 5059. I can have different pairs of Opamps in each front and rear stereo Mixbuss and choose between the two or blend them together in any percentage. I can have the original Mci opamps on the rare buss and spa690’s on the front buss. If I want the all original sound of the Mci Console I just print off the rear buss, if I want cleaner faster transients I can use the front Buss or blend between the 2. I use my front Mixbuss all the time. But will try things like throwing a compressor with a heavy setting on the rear buss and blend it in to the front Buss with no compressor on it. I just have to try out different things and see what I like.
Dear Steve, thanks for your videos and congrats for the great drum sound you're able to achieve. I have a small soundcraft k1, should I consider modding it or considering the type of mixer it won't be worth going through it? Thanks again
Thank you Roberto, I’m not familiar with the K1, if your happy with the sound that’s what matters. A huge part of a great drum sound is how it’s recorded. If you’re not satisfied with your drum sound you should probably focus on how your tracking. Hope this helps Steve
Any tips for replacing relays on these things? Working on a JH-416B for a client and I'm considering just using modern 24V relays adapted with a daughter board.
I was doing a couple channels a night. But then would stop for a couple weeks then start again. So I spread it out over a few months. I was also doing my JH-24 at the same time. Recapping made a great difference. And was well worth it.
Thanks Paul! I’m going to tell you what I use and consider the best stuff, it’s called Detox-it D5 it’s a red and black can. It cost around $18 but is worth every penny. Now they also have 2 others: Detox-it F5 this is specifically for faders it’s in a green and black can. And Detox-it G5 this is in a gold and black can this more for conditioning & coating. I have all 3 but the main one I use is the Detox-it D5.
Thanks Caffeina! No I did not build this one, I have a lot of vintage api cards & parts so I designed it and paid a tech to put it all together and do the metal works and engraving. I am currently building one out of more parts that I have but it’s a different design that will work along with this summing mixer and stand alone. Thanks Steve
@@RiotHomeRecording this is my gears, rack neve 8108, tla audio mono compressor , reverb roland for the moment and a antelope audio orion (only sub plugs) .The studer desk have xlr in/out , 18 channels and 4 groups. there is a patch bantam for this inserts and aux send. What is the best way to plug use all this gears ?? Thanks
@@pascalderne100 Plug the output of your converters into the line inputs if your studer for mixing OTB, not the mic preamps of the mixer. The line inputs. use the inserts on your consoles patch bay to patch in your outboard compression.
It is totally surprising to see all this 110 Jensen (?) transformers in the belly and in the channels where most consoles just have PCBs and ribbon connectors. But it makes total sense. Vintage broadcast consoles had input and output transformers in every module and this certainly leads to a similar sound and exceptional reliability. Just exceptional, thanks a lot!
Thanks for showing that their are actual transformers in these consoles. A lot of young audio interface only users do not understand why analog consoles sound so good. They think its pro tools and plugins only. I keep telling my viewers. NEVE, SSL, API, MCI, HELIOS, TASCAMs, and other consoles on this level is why these types of consoles and the songs sounded so good recorded and mix. Its transformers. op amps, tubes and other circuits in the consoles. preamps,. mics, outboard gear, as well as great rooms, talented musicians, and good engineers.
All I can say is you are 100% correct.
Thanks Mark!
Hi Mark, I saw you commented on here. I just watched the video a second time last night (from 3 months ago 1st time I watched it)....yes of course, I had to last night make a second comment about this video!...
This is so cool. Brings back memory’s
Thanks it’s fun!
insane how many transformers. When I think about building guitar amps and right now its a pain in the ass getting transformers and then I see this haha. Amazing video so far. Thanks!
Time for maintenance. Well done, Steve.
Thanks Joao! Maintenance is important for sure!
omg! the number of discrete opamps. Amazing. AND you have 100s more in storage. Anxiety as I think about this from a custom build perspective.
I wish someone would make a MCI style preamp rack mounted, or a 500 series module. So much character on those MCI consoles. Everyone talks about Neve, SSL, and API, but don't realize that a TON of big records were recorded with MCI consoles.
You’re right, and they do sound thick with lots of color. I have another 428 console without the frame. I was thinking of making either 500 Series Preamps or racking up 4 to 8 channels.
But
I have a lot of outboard preamps and a console full already so it’s pretty far down on my list as I’m busy with a lot of other stuff right now.
Steve
Thanks very much. I’ve juste increased my knowledge on preamps and their electronics. 👌👌👌
Neve a problem! thank you!!!
Loved my MCI 400, same as this. Pete Clarke in the UK modified it so the monitor returns could feed the mix (and be used as additional aux send if needed).. my desk used to be at Surrey Sound and was used on the first few Police albums 😎
Those drums sound great even on my laptop speakers (all I have available) I'd love to sit in the sweet spot listening to music through that desk.
It’s a great experience, I always feel like something is missing when I mix on a different system because I’m so used to mixing on the console.
Extremely helpful, as usual. Thank you, Steven! You are a true asset to the recording/mixing community!
I liked this video before I hit play. Just the title alone is one of the greatest things on UA-cam
Thanks Chris!
enjoy your videos very much and Appreciate the work that you put in, I love Analog sound my self and have an arsenal of analog gear including Summing devices but thanks so much for this video I am going to bring a few of my preamps into the summing to add more Iron into the chain. Love the sound on that MCI console you have!
Thanks for Sharing.
Thanks Eduardo I appreciate it! Let me know how it works for you. I’m going to probably use that method with my summing mixer for the next band I have coming up as well.
Excellent video Steve - thanks for sharing.
hey Steve, I just had a capi sum bus built for me 32 channels, transformer and op amp on every channel in a 2u unit. Pretty cool, but this is drooooool. Great content, really enjoyed watching you go through your console, what a beauty ! cheers
Thanks man I really appreciate it! I have more videos coming up. Let me know how you like the api Sum Bus!
Steve
Brother Steve, Thank you for the share. I don't have the budget or your knowledge on restoring consoles although I would LOVE to have an older MCI particularly the one Chris Mara has at Welcome to 1979 Studios. Anyway, what you began sharing at 33:34 is more a fit for me at this point and I would really appreciate a deep dive on that whole process. I'm not a Pro Tools guy. I detest their business model. I am a LOGIC PRO guy and will probably remain in that ecosystem for the rest of my recording life. If I relinquish my creativity and productivity to just being a Producer Executive then my hours billed would only matter on someone's ledger sheet and I will have become a useless scab at that point.
However, you caught me at a good time in my life so let's roll! Really wish I could communicate with you outside of this UA-cam format!
Keep Doing That Voodoo That You Do!
Thanks JDUBBS, I have the same console as the one at 1979 they’re both Mci 428 consoles mine is from 1976 and I think his is from 1975. Anyway I totally understand where you’re coming from. It took me decades of saving and buying piece by piece to get my studio to this point. Same with learning to repair, maintain, and refurbish. It takes time to learn but we’ll worth it. Now it’s funny you said you’d like to see me show more on what I was talking about at the end of this video using preamps as line amps to mix through. I have a video uploading to UA-cam tonight and I go over my summing mixer and line amps. Then I do a quick ITB mix going through my summing mixer. It’s should be on UA-cam in an hour.
Keep in mind a preamp can be used as a line amp all you have to do is pad it down. They’re the same thing.
Thanks
Steve
@@RiotHomeRecording ❤
Very cool. Just found your channel and subscribed. Cool stuff!
love it!!!
Nice MCI! Totally underrated consoles.
Your page is great!! Extremely helpful
GREAT video, thanks for sharing.
Thanks for watching!
😍😍😍🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻
That's sweet!
Nice video Steve! Thanks
I'm very impressed with the MCI. Very clean circuit and so many options. I have seen the amount of x-formers under the hood but it's amazing how many amp stages are on the circuit.
Also, thanks for noting the importance of calibration. If you're about to mix with analog gear or even analog emulation plug-ins, I believe it's important to have this procedure in mind.
A couple of questions if you have the time:
- Any specific reason you went with -18dBFS instead of -20 for example? If I remember correctly, the first in the European (EBU) and the second the American (AES) standard.
- Do you plan to try other faders? e.g. ALPS?
- I've noticed that you don't use the onboard EQ very often. How does it sound compared to the APIs?
Thanks Takis,
Yes my outputs are calibrated for -18 I went over this with Steve Firlotte in detail a while back and it works great for me so I never changed it. My AD inputs are cal’ed around -22.
I don’t plan on changing my faders because these are P&G and work great. I don’t even know what new faders would replace these. I’d have to do research if I ever needed to, but doubt I will as these are in good condition, can be repaired, and I have a lot of spares.
Hello Steven. Great channel. Thank you for posting these videos. I have a soundworkshop 34c console that looks similar to yours. I’m curious do you think a full mod with transformers like you did to yours would make a big improvement to my board. Is it worth the investment? Thank you
Thank you !!
Thanks Mike!
Steve, Thank you!
Very cool. These type consoles are amazing. I think the maintenance is out of my league, but I'd still love to own one of these or a Neve, SSL, etc if money was no object. Great job on the details of this video. Gave you a Sub....Thanks.
Phil
NYC Area
Thank you Phil!
@@RiotHomeRecording Hi Steve, Thanks for the comment. I remember watching this video 3 months ago and I found it so interesting back then, I just watched it again tonight!
I am currently building a hybrid studio with an analog console sitting side by side with a digital console and being recorded/routed into a DAW.
I did just recently buy a Neve clone mic pre (Warm Audio WA73-EQ and also their API clone, TB-12) and it makes a world of difference putting those transformers in the signal chain. I plan on getting more of them down the road, when budget allows, and right now my priority is to get the studio fully operational after dismantling it many years ago when I started my video business and now running a photography business.
I am looking forward to writing and recording more Jazz Fusion originals like I did years ago. I like playing rock too (I studied jazz guitar quite a few years) and just generally enjoying all the gear and the studio environment in my home. Most of my rack gear is from the late 1980s and early 1990s. (Yamaha Rev 7, Eventide H3000, Lexicon PCM42, SPX900, etc...
Your console rocks!...Great info also. I may watch it a 3rd time! All the best.
Phil
NYC Area
This is awesome. Thank you Steve! About calibration; I wonder - When I monitor the 2 bus of my Harrison while recording and then playback that track monitoring the ext. in - Should the live recording and the track played back through PT appear to be at exactly the same level?
What I do is use protools to trim or raise track levels if needed to go to my console at the level I want that particular track to be at. So I use the software to adjust levels before sending them out to my board. Then I mixdown to 2 tracks coming out of my console stereo Left and right. I record those 2 tracks back into protools below unity, depending on the mix could be just below zero and as low as -16db. Just depends on the mix, the style, if I’m mastering it or if it’s going out to be mastered. Some times I do multiple prints at different levels. Sometimes I capture the print on my Tascam DA-3000 and back into my Burls into protools. Then listen to both and decide which I want to use. Or send both to the band and let them do a blind pick to see what they want to use.
Thank you, yes that answers my question and makes sense.
great job
Thank you
...holy cow! 2520 to t099 adapters?! Please please more info on source 🙏🙏🙏
Gary Barnette, same guy that makes all the GAR opamps.
110 Transformers, that's what I call soup!
That’s funny you say that I used to mix on my friends vintage api 1604, and I would tell him it sounds soupy!
Fascinating stuff. It's always fun to watch you work, thanks for sharing. Did you put together the 990s and AM10s yourself? Also, you mentioned quad several times, was this board set up for the 'short-lived' 4 channel quadraphonic recording? I think that lasted about 4 years in analog. lol
Thanks Malcome, yes I built the 990’s and AM-10’s that are in my console and a bunch more that I haven’t decided where to put yet.
Building them myself saves a ton, if I purchased them built and did my entire console it would cost approximately $14.k at $65 a piece. If I build them I can do my entire console for $2700 at approximately $12 a piece. That’s a huge savings. Not that I want to do my entire board.
Yes it’s a Quad Console. Basically it’s just 2 separate Mixbuss options like the Satellite 5059. I can have different pairs of Opamps in each front and rear stereo Mixbuss and choose between the two or blend them together in any percentage.
I can have the original Mci opamps on the rare buss and spa690’s on the front buss. If I want the all original sound of the Mci Console I just print off the rear buss, if I want cleaner faster transients I can use the front Buss or blend between the 2. I use my front Mixbuss all the time. But will try things like throwing a compressor with a heavy setting on the rear buss and blend it in to the front Buss with no compressor on it. I just have to try out different things and see what I like.
@@RiotHomeRecording Thoroughly amazing, and fun to watch.
Dear Steve, thanks for your videos and congrats for the great drum sound you're able to achieve.
I have a small soundcraft k1, should I consider modding it or considering the type of mixer it won't be worth going through it?
Thanks again
Thank you Roberto,
I’m not familiar with the K1, if your happy with the sound that’s what matters. A huge part of a great drum sound is how it’s recorded. If you’re not satisfied with your drum sound you should probably focus on how your tracking.
Hope this helps
Steve
❤❤❤🔥🔥👑👑👑👑
Any tips for replacing relays on these things? Working on a JH-416B for a client and I'm considering just using modern 24V relays adapted with a daughter board.
How long did it take you to do the full re-cap? & were the drums originally recorded to tape?
I was doing a couple channels a night. But then would stop for a couple weeks then start again. So I spread it out over a few months. I was also doing my JH-24 at the same time. Recapping made a great difference. And was well worth it.
how would the 428 compare to the 528c? what is the power consumption of these boards? been looking at one for some time... thanks
Hi Steve, how many spare modules do you have? Enough to build another console? There's a frame with motherboard and transformers on Reverb.
This is awesome Steve! What cleaning products do you recommend for pots, faders and buttons and any that we should steer clear of? Thank you!
Thanks Paul!
I’m going to tell you what I use and consider the best stuff, it’s called Detox-it D5 it’s a red and black can. It cost around $18 but is worth every penny.
Now they also have 2 others:
Detox-it F5 this is specifically for faders it’s in a green and black can.
And
Detox-it G5 this is in a gold and black can this more for conditioning & coating. I have all 3 but the main one I use is the Detox-it D5.
@@RiotHomeRecording thank you!
Great video! did you build that summing mixer yourself?
Thanks Caffeina!
No I did not build this one, I have a lot of vintage api cards & parts so I designed it and paid a tech to put it all together and do the metal works and engraving.
I am currently building one out of more parts that I have but it’s a different design that will work along with this summing mixer and stand alone.
Thanks
Steve
Hey Steve, do you know any NYC metro based techs who are great with MCI consoles? We have a 528 that needs love. Many thanks.
Sorry Evan, I don’t know any techs in NY, I don’t know many out here either. I’m familiar with my 400 series but not the 500 series.
Hello Steve, where did you find the op amp adapter boards?
Hey Steve, How can you be reached for a mix?
You can email and tell me about your project at Voltiac@yahoo.com
Steve
Hi Steve , I need help to plug a studer 900 an other rack can i contact U?
Thanks.
Sure you can, although I’m not familiar with the student consoles.
@@RiotHomeRecording this is my gears, rack neve 8108, tla audio mono compressor , reverb roland for the moment and a antelope audio orion (only sub plugs) .The studer desk have xlr in/out , 18 channels and 4 groups. there is a patch bantam for this inserts and aux send. What is the best way to plug use all this gears ?? Thanks
@@pascalderne100
Plug the output of your converters into the line inputs if your studer for mixing OTB, not the mic preamps of the mixer. The line inputs.
use the inserts on your consoles patch bay to patch in your outboard compression.