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Generally speaking, an analog audio compressor consists of an input buffer, a variable gain element, an output buffer, and some "side chain" circuitry. Compressors are categorized according to their gain reduction circuits, such as opto, JFET, variable mu, VCA, diode bridge, etc. Each of these circu...

Google is your friend: http://beradio.com/notebook/passive_attenuators/

Hakko 936. Or Metcal, but that's over your budget. My Hakko is great, and I solder a lot.

Care to post a few up close and personal photos the next time you have it apart?

Somebody posted this on our message board the other day. You might find it interesting. I took my A12, which had been powered up and had the voltage tweaked but had otherwise been untested, to Michael Wagener's production workshop in Nashville, where we used it in a mic pre shootout. Michael was qui...

Somebody posted this on our message board the other day, just thought I'd share. I took my A12, which had been powered up and had the voltage tweaked but had otherwise been untested, to Michael Wagener's production workshop in Nashville, where we used it in a mic pre shootout. Michael was quite surp...

Bump, bigger pics.

SAW Studio is very efficient, but the user interface is a disaster, IMO. These days it's mostly about personal preference when it comes to DAW software. Personally, I've been using Nuendo since 1.01 and am completely happy with it. About the only feature it doesn't have that I'd like to see is the a...

Guitars, kick, and snare, how, what, and why, in as much excruciating detail as he'll put up with.

Get the color and character of classic solid state preamp designs with Seventh Circle Audio preamp kits. Improve your signal chain, save money, and learn something while you're at it. All preamp kits feature: * High quality double sided circuit boards, made in USA. Single board design eases assembly...

M-Audio says that the maximum input level (+4 mode) is +20.2dBu. That's plenty hot, but many preamps can deliver higher output levels. The N72, for example, doesn't clip until +27dBu.

You might want to consider a 2 year program as well, especially if you're primarily interested in playing around with audio equipment. Really, I think anyone involved with the technical aspects of audio needs to have at least a rudimentary understanding of electronics, even if you decide to forge ah...

The problem with both Stanford and Berkeley, assuming you get accepted, is that neither is particularly friendly to part-time students. I don't know what your situation is, but if you plan to hold onto your job you'll have a tough time scheduling classes at either of those fine institutions. SJSU ha...

Shure also makes inline pads. If you don't mind a little soldering, you can build a balanced pad out of as few as three resistors. Do a google search for "balanced attenuator" or "H pad" and I'm sure you'll find a few simple schematics.

Well, since Jakob chimed in...

Why settle for two channels when you can have four for the same money? A pair of N72s and a pair of A12s will run just about $1500 in kit form. Have us build them for an additional $550 if you're not into soldering. Either way, you will like them. A lot.