R/E/P Community

Please login or register.

Login with username, password and session length
Advanced search  

Pages: 1 2 [3] 4 5 ... 40   Go Down

Author Topic: Sontecs...  (Read 265818 times)

Bob Olhsson

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 3968
Re: Where are those Sontecs?
« Reply #30 on: January 31, 2006, 11:35:29 AM »

Collins, weren't those things called "gyrator" eqs or something like that?

ammitsboel

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 1300
Re: Where are those Sontecs?
« Reply #31 on: January 31, 2006, 11:45:41 AM »

joeaudio wrote on Tue, 31 January 2006 14:13

Sontec Shmontec if a good enginneer can't make a track sound good
through an MEA-2 it's time to go to welding school

Hmmm... I think there is more to it than just that.
I haven't tried the Sontec, but I'm very careful with the MEA-2

/Henrik
Logged
"The male brain is designed for ecstasy" -Dr. Harvey "Gizmo" Rosenberg

zetterstroem

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 765
Re: Where are those Sontecs?
« Reply #32 on: January 31, 2006, 07:51:36 PM »

the last time i listened to the maselec it sounded %
Logged
Noting the music industry's complaints that illegal downloading means people are getting their music for free, he said, "Well, why not? It ain't worth nothing anyway." (b.dylan)

zetterstroem

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 765
Re: Where are those Sontecs?
« Reply #33 on: January 31, 2006, 07:53:16 PM »

Phil Demetro wrote on Mon, 30 January 2006 23:01

If anyone is interested I'll help out with my MES-432-C-12 (it came from Sony, incidently)

and if you really want to bust things wide open - mine has the  Black Gate capacitors (but just a standard power cable - sorry!)

Phil Demetro



where did you exchange for BG's ?? input.... psu... all over???

i experienced a long burn-in time with them.... did you??
Logged
Noting the music industry's complaints that illegal downloading means people are getting their music for free, he said, "Well, why not? It ain't worth nothing anyway." (b.dylan)

Jerry Tubb

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 2761
Re: Where are those Sontecs?
« Reply #34 on: January 31, 2006, 08:59:02 PM »

bblackwood wrote on Sun, 29 January 2006 20:47

What do you need to know about them? As an owner, I've had to learn quite a bit about them...


Just for grins, here's a scan of a polaroid, of a sweet sounding Sontec I had back in the early '90's. Not a 430 series... I forget the model number.

I borrowed it from Ray Benson who got it from the late great Denny Purcell.
We both used it for a few years until the pots wore out.


index.php/fa/2289/0/
Logged
Terra Nova Mastering
Celebrating 20 years of Mastering!

Ed Littman

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 877
Re: Where are those Sontecs?
« Reply #35 on: January 31, 2006, 09:10:06 PM »

zetterstroem wrote on Tue, 31 January 2006 19:51

the last time i listened to the maselec it sounded %
Logged

bblackwood

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 7036
Re: Where are those Sontecs?
« Reply #36 on: January 31, 2006, 09:23:56 PM »

Jerry Tubb wrote on Tue, 31 January 2006 19:59

Just for grins, here's a scan of a polaroid, of a sweet sounding Sontec I had back in the early '90's. Not a 430 series... I forget the model number.

That's an MEP-250C.
Logged
Brad Blackwood
euphonic masters

Phil Demetro

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 378
Re: Where are those Sontecs?
« Reply #37 on: January 31, 2006, 09:29:21 PM »

I put the BG throughout the entire unit
It was seriously expensive, too!

I would probably do it again if I had the choice but my budget did not include doing all of my outboard gear.

On recollection I don't recall a burn in time that was very long.
There were some slightly nerve-wracking moments as the caps are physically much larger than the stock caps were - so they look a bit crowded on the PCB.

it was instantly sweeter, airier, softer on first listen. That much I do remember. It was an improvement. I'll say that.

On a daily basis it amazes me how unobtrusive it is.

On the other hand, if it died i would seriously consider the GML or the Maselec - and probably be cool with it. There's a guy in LA who uses all Maselec gear and some of his stuff can sure sound good to me. But maybe it's been modded as the sonic footprint of his work sure doesn't sound like my experience - at least the few times I've had with the maselec?

For others that are curious about the sontec- it does not sound anything like the Avalon or a Massive Passive. It sounds like a Sontec.

Funny though - It takes me longer to dial in my "final" setting on the Sontec than other EQ's because everything sounds so good on the thing that it's hard to get a bad sound out of it. So, I have to agree with Joe Yannece there even if that's not his entire reasoning? Maybe Joe can elaborate?

It would be cool to use two Sontec or Sontec/ITI units like Ludwig used to use or Jensen & Marino and Brad Blackwood. A really powerful combo of EQ choices there.

Sontec esoterica:
does anyone know where I can get the "tension-springs" that are part of the switch that creates the tight fit feel when you lock into the frequency? I have one switch that's starting to feel a bit loose or sloppy. Do those springs have an official name?
I'll need to track some down at some point.

Phil  
Logged
____________________________________________________
Phil Demetro
Mastering at The Lacquer Channel, Toronto
http://www.lacquerchannel.com/phil-demetro/
____________________________________________________

dcollins

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 2815
Re: Where are those Sontecs?
« Reply #38 on: January 31, 2006, 09:36:52 PM »

Phil Demetro wrote on Tue, 31 January 2006 18:29


does anyone know where I can get the "tension-springs" that are part of the switch that creates the tight fit feel when you lock into the frequency? I have one switch that's starting to feel a bit loose or sloppy. Do those springs have an official name?



These guys should have something that works:

http://www.mcmaster.com/

Trouble is finding the right one!  I think they call it an "extension" spring.

DC

Phil Demetro

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 378
Re: Where are those Sontecs?
« Reply #39 on: January 31, 2006, 11:18:34 PM »

Dave Collins! of course he knows!

"extension springs"? ....unoffensive enough?
now if you can just get me a line on some HS1000's?

btw, Dave do you use a Sontec these days?
what's your  personal "back up plan EQ" suggestion for sontecs that go south?


thanks again.

phil
Logged
____________________________________________________
Phil Demetro
Mastering at The Lacquer Channel, Toronto
http://www.lacquerchannel.com/phil-demetro/
____________________________________________________

dcollins

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 2815
Re: Where are those Sontecs?
« Reply #40 on: February 01, 2006, 01:49:24 AM »

Phil Demetro wrote on Tue, 31 January 2006 20:18


"extension springs"? ....unoffensive enough?



Personally, I've never been offended by a spring.  Unless you count the ones that shoot off and hit you in the face.

You need to take your spring out, get the dimensions, and see if Macmaster has anything like it.  It's not critical, as long as it's close it should work.

Quote:


now if you can just get me a line on some HS1000's?



I think there's some out there.

Quote:


btw, Dave do you use a Sontec these days?



Nope, just the Davelizer, NSEQ-2 and the TF Pro P9.

Quote:


what's your  personal "back up plan EQ" suggestion for sontecs that go south?



Oh, you just call Burgess, he'll answer on the first ring, and get a RO# -- they are more than happy to overnight a unit to use while yours is being repaired -- and in a day or two it comes back with all the latest factory updates.

DC

JGreenslade

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 824
Re: Where are those Sontecs?
« Reply #41 on: February 01, 2006, 03:54:27 PM »

Bob Olhsson wrote on Tue, 31 January 2006 16:35

Collins, weren't those things called "gyrator" eqs or something like that?


It's a lesser-known fact, but the correct term for an EQ based on gyrator circuits is "gyratory equaliser".

For anyone reading that's unaware: a gyrator is an active circuit that mimics the inductive properties of, you guessed it, an inductor.

Some links: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gyrator
http://www.forsselltech.com/schematics/Gyrator1.htm

The Sontec 430 is quite unlike any transistor-based EQ I've ever heard; it has an "organic", almost "valve-like" quality to it, and I can see why it's a cult item.

You can usually spot a 430-owner from noting the size of their wrist - those attenuators require real muscle!

Justin
Logged
Audio is a vocational affliction

"there is no "homeopathic" effect in bits and bytes." - HansP

dcollins

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 2815
Re: Where are those Sontecs?
« Reply #42 on: February 02, 2006, 12:04:22 AM »

thermionic wrote on Wed, 01 February 2006 12:54

Bob Olhsson wrote on Tue, 31 January 2006 16:35

Collins, weren't those things called "gyrator" eqs or something like that?

It's a lesser-known fact, but the correct term for an EQ based on gyrator circuits is "gyratory equaliser".



The Sontec does not use gyrators.  It's based on a type of notch filter called a T network.

http://www.massenburg.com/cgi-bin/ml/parametric.html

Personally, I've never seen the appeal of gyrators. If you want a inductor, why not just use one?

DC

Bob Olhsson

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 3968
Re: Where are those Sontecs?
« Reply #43 on: February 02, 2006, 12:09:43 AM »

dcollins wrote on Wed, 01 February 2006 23:04

...If you want a inductor, why not just use one?
Exactly!

jazzius

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 458
Re: Where are those Sontecs?
« Reply #44 on: February 02, 2006, 02:32:16 AM »

OK, silly question of the day #1 coming up: If the Sontecs are so special, why isn't someone building something similar? Isn't the Massenburg mastering EQ similar?.....if it's not as good, why not (both were designed by Georgy-boy, weren't they)?

How does the Avalon 2077 stack up?

Or the SPL monster?

What about the new Manley EQ?

So many questions, so little coffee!

Darius
Pages: 1 2 [3] 4 5 ... 40   Go Up