A-Designs Pacifica Preamp

One of the most amazing preamps available. I tried the 500 series version, the P1, on snare and clean electric guitar a while ago and I was so impressed that I bought the big daddy, full voltage Pacifica version not long after. Based on the Quad 8 Pacifica console that was discontinued long ago - A Designs upgraded the design with Cinemag input and output transformers. It pretty much lives on overheads and acoustic guitar. Bass is pretty darn rad through this guy as well.

Innards for your diy eyes... (the build quality is stunning).

Inside some Urei LA4's

I've been having problems with one of my Urei LA4's, low level distorted output. Someday I hope to be knowledgeable enough to test around and isolate the problem, then fix it. For now I am limited to popping the lid and sniffing for burnt out resistors. Yep. Smells funny. Hope it's not the optical element causing the problem.

I'll have to take it in to get fixed. (It's the single one in the picture - the one with the black mains transformer)



Tangible Technologies has some interesting mods available for LA4's
http://www.tangible-technology.com/optical/LA4_article.htm

Also great reading is this article about caps
http://www.tangible-technology.com/audiobasics/upgrades/upgrade1_opamp_cap.htm

Master Tracks with Moe Berg and Laurence Currie

Interesting show about studio production with Moe Berg and Laurence Currie producing a song in a day. Pretty much all of the bands that I've seen suck, so Tarranno, but it's interesting to see the process nonetheless. Cool to see Metal Works in action. Neve 2254 above the Pultecs. Nice!
...yeah and of course the old U47 is nice too.

http://www.aux.tv/show/Master-Tracks/

Recommended Reading: Alan Blumlein

The Inventor of Stereo - The L!&$@ and #@^rks of Alan Dower Blumlein

Don't be a douche bag. Read this. He's a pretty big deal.