Custom Fabrication

Bespoke Mic Preamp based on Akai/Roberts circuit

(Above: the prototype) Apparently there is a popular internet 'meme' based around the modification of these units (the same machine…

10 years ago

Olmsted BRDCSTR preamp used heavily on latest Sigur Ros album Kveikur

Above: the BRDCSTR in Somers' outboard rack, left side, third from bottom Thanks to reader EL for reporting that Sigur…

10 years ago

Federal AM-864 Limiter Clone: Build Notes: update 1

Note: I performed extensive frequency, level, and actual studio tests on the 864 clone today, and several interesting details were…

11 years ago

Double Button Carbon Mic Interface/Power supply

So you bought a Lifetime Model six (or some other ancient double-button carbon mic) on eBay; how the hell do…

11 years ago

Another Carbon Mic Power Supply

Here is a one-of-a-kind unit using a re-purposed Thordarson transformer.  IT works great, and the vintage Shurite (made in New…

11 years ago

EMI Redd 47 Mic Preamp build

So I was flipping through Recording The Beatles recently and I was reminded that I had yet to make one…

12 years ago

The Black Box

Let's just say hypothetically that you had to write+ record a tremendous amount of guitar-based music very quickly.  And even…

12 years ago

King-Vibe Amplifier

As I mentioned on my Tumblr last year, I used the idle time during our annual Open Studios event to…

12 years ago

Marantz 7 Phono Pre/ Passive Line Preamp

Above: a  Marantz 7 stereo phono stage built for stand-alone use.  See this link for an earlier build of this…

12 years ago

Olmsted Quad Direct Input Amplifier (Quad DI)

Download the specs/user-guide for the Olmsted Quad DI: DOWNLOAD: Olmsted Quad Direct Inject Let's say that you have many vintage…

12 years ago