#ml12build — Public Fediverse posts

Re-introduction:

In terms of classic recording equipment clones that I've built, I have a bunch of SSL, API, and Neve mic preamps, and I'm developing my own API clone with a friend for the 500 Series. Here are some hashtags:

#500SeriesAPIClone #500Series #ML12Build #Neve1073Build #MP573Build #SSL9kBuild #SSLBusComp

@havoc

#D87Build
#TubePreBuild
#PMillettBuild
#ActiveDIBuild
#CAPI500Build
#CP5Build
#SSL4000GBuild
#SSL9kBuild
#1176Build
#LoudLifterBuild
#TubeHiFiPreampBuild
#ClassDAmpBuild
#RibbonMicBuild
#SSLBusComp
#CAPIVP25Build
#ML12Build
#MP573Build
#Neve1073Build
#LevelLocBuild
#RatPedalBuild
#Mackie1202Upgrade
#BalancedOutputBox
#LowFiMicBuild
#CarbonMicBuild
#500SeriesAPIClone
#KM84CloneBuild
#FET847MicBuild

If you're into electronics and home recording, recording in general, or making, I've got a ton of projects I've built over the last 3 or 4 years all documented to varying degrees up here with hashtags.

Here they are. Good luck.

#D87Build
#TubePreBuild
#PMillettBuild
#ActiveDIBuild
#CAPI500Build
#CP5Build
#SSL4000GBuild
#SSL9kBuild
#1176Build
#LoudLifterBuild
#TubeHiFiPreampBuild
#ClassDAmpBuild
#RibbonMicBuild
#SSLBusComp
#CAPIVP25Build
#ML12Build

1/2

OK, took the ML 12 our for some glamour shots. Here's a good one.

#ML12Build

So I wanted to button up the ML12 build before I had to vacate the house. I didn't want to bring it with me in parts, only to unpack and not be able to find all of the parts to finish it when I got there.

This took a bit over a year, but that's only because money was tight. If I had all of the parts I would probably spend 2 weeks building it, taking my time, just to limit lower back and neck pain from being hunched over the bench for extended periods.

#ML12Build

When my friend came over to make the RF shield a had pre-bent some scrap solid core wire into the necessary shape and length. He followed that shape as the guide.

I didn't want to paint the RF shield black. That a little too nondescript. I also didn't want to leave it raw sheet metal, so I used some random Krylon blue I had laying around since API does have lots of blue in their designs.

#ML12Build

A friend came over and we ran some errands and I moved some stuff into storage, and he brought his sheet metal brake and made me this RF shield for the ML12. Almost done.

#ML12Build

Tomorrow's project is gluing the schematics for the various ML12 components onto the enclosure's inside top panel kinda like I did for the PMillet tube mic pre. This way if any future tech opens it up they'll have the schematics to help them.

#ML12Build #PMillettBuild

I just did something game-changing to my ML12 build. I changed the IEC inlet mounting screws to #6, from #4. It looks better now.

#ML12Build

I also made another board with the proper value resistors on it so the power rail indicator blue LEDs won't be SUPER bright. I'll post a pic of that later.

#ML12Build

My Mouser order came so I can wrap up the #ML12Build , and do more work on the #BalancedOutputBox and the #CarbonMicBuild .

My $1.28 order of machine screw from Home Despot came. I didn't realize they were coming with hex nuts, too, so it was even a better deal than I realized.

So I fixed that one little thing on the ML12 that was bothering me.

Still gotta make an RF shield, and do a small Mouser order tomorrow to get some stuff to dim the blue LEDs to a level that won't blind you.

Almost done.

#ML12Build

I spent the last 90 mins re-calculating the current limiting resistor values for the 4 blue power rail LEDs for the ML12. If you use the normal formula, they light up beautifully but these particular blue LEDs are SUPER bright, and they all live right next to each other on the panel. Plus the blue color temperature of LEDs is a little annoying to the human eye. So I experimented with some higher value resistors so these don't blind you anymore.

Mouser order this week.

#ML12Build

So I had an idea for the next ML12 build. How about a 6-channel version with no DIs (I have plenty of them) with an external power supply?

Other people have done this.

#ML12Build

@alisynthesis Some are very well documented, some aren't. And some are new projects I've barely begun but created hashtags for:

#D87Build
#TubePreBuild
#PMillettBuild
#ActiveDIBuild
#CAPI500Build
#CP5Build
#SSL4000GBuild
#SSL9kBuild
#1176Build
#LoudLifterBuild
#TubeHiFiPreampBuild
#ClassDAmpBuild
#RibbonMicBuild
#SSLBusComp
#CAPIVP25Build
#ML12Build
#MP573Build
#Neve1073Build
#LevelLocBuild
#RatPedalBuild
#Mackie1202Upgrade
#BalancedOutputBox
#LowFiMicBuild
#CarbonMicBuild

Some people on some of my DIY forums have been asking for glamour pics on the panels. So here they are. The front panel isn't done quite yet. The DI in channel 4 needs to be installed. No big deal. Will take about 90 seconds. The only reason I didn't install it yet is because I need to run the 4 indicator LEDs for the 4 power rails on the right, and I need the room to work.

#ML12Build

Got closer to making the ML12 like I want it. The bottom and top of the enclosure are made of aluminum, and it's not super thick. In the ML12, there are 9 transformers and the weight was making the bottom sag. The enclosure has screw holes in the front and rear middle of the panels in case you wanted to do something, so I made two custom brackets to work with the hardware on each panel to support the bottom. Here are closeups of the rear bracket, and both of them in place.

#ML12Build

ML12 is almost done. I need to wire the LEDs for the 4 voltage rails (these are my power indicator lights), and fabricate a shield to separate the transformer from the preamp cards, and a few other small details, but I'm almost there.

All 4 preamps work great, and the DI boards on channels 1-3 are working. I didn't install the DI in channel 4 just because I'm not done working in that area of the enclosure and I need the room for now. I'll install it when I'm done with that work.

#ML12Build

Busy day. Some metal fabrication and I finally got the AC wired, and PSU installed. Tested one channel and it works great.

#ML12Build

Starting to wire the AC mains part of this build. This part is actually really easy but you want to make sure you heat shrink everything so there are no accidental shorts in the future. In fact, I double-shrink all of the AC mains connections.

#ML12Build

RE my last toot about the panel. Looking from either side you would have no idea the panel wasn't milled correctly the first time.

Sure, if you take the connectors out you can see he was free-handing the cuts, and they're not perfect, but who cares.

#ML12Build

OK, panel all milled and connectors all mounted. In this pic I have 6 of the 8 connectors in and left 2 open so you could see how he milled the holes.

P is a lifesaver. I owe him big.

#ML12Build

Phew.

I ordered that panel thinking it used standard Neutrik D-Series connector cutouts (my bad, I know), and when I got it, it turned out they weren't for D-Series connectors, they were for another Neutrik connector which is an all plastic piece of garbage that I wouldn't put in my gear even if they were the last connectors on the planet.

Well, P milled the panel to accept the better D-Series connectors.

This saved me probably $70.

I owe him big time.

Lesson learned!!!!

#ML12Build

Should have my ML12 rear panel back from being milled by my friend P, on Thursday. Then we can get serious finishing this build.

#ML12Build

My friend P who is milling my ML12 rear panel is almost done. He sent me a pic today and had a question.

I also worked a bit on the SSL 4000G 2 channel preamp's read panel. This was easy. I just took the ML12 panel, removed and altered some text, and chopped off 2 channels.

#ML12Build #SSL4000GBuild

Chanel card number 4 is wired with switches and pot. Tomorrow I'll wire the LEDs on all of the channel cards.

I need to wait for the back panel before I can mount the transformer, so that will have to wait until my friend P is finished milling it.

#ML12Build

Channel card 3 is all wired up with the pot and switches. 3 down and 1 to go.

Since it looks exactly like channel 1 which I did the other day I'll just repost that pic.

#ML12Build

ML12 channel #2 is now all wired, and it looks exactly like the pic I posted yesterday of channel #1, so refer to that for a reference.

#ML12Build

OK, I've actually been avoiding this work because it's very nit-picky work, but it needs to be done if I ever plan to finish this thing.

I wired all of the off-board switches and pot to the main PCB. These will of course all be mounted in the front panel.

#ML12Build

I have all of the input and output XLR pigtails made. These are terminated with Molex connectors to connect to the channel cards.

#ML12Build